November steals in on gray clouds and a sharp wind on the west coast of Canada. Our attention scatters as we watch leaves swirl and rain dash against the objects it finds in its way. In today's busy world it is too easy to lose our focus. Focus comes from the Latin word for 'hearth', our home base. Determine where your home base, your focal point is in your writing and return to it if you have strayed.
Sandra

Writing Tip: - In short fiction it is important to maintain the unity of time. This means a short story should cover a short period of time in order to retain a tight structure. This does not include any flashbacks you may include.

Markets

By-Line Magazine seeks general short fiction, mainstream, literary or genre; 2,000 to 4,000 words as well as articles for writers. Pays $100.00 US. Submission details: http://www.bylinemag.com/

Analog Magazine seeks a broad range science fiction articles and stories. Pays up to $ 600.00 US for material. Submission details: http://www.analogsf.com/0512/issue_12.shtml

CHOW Magazine seeks writers to come up with inventive story ideas for the Holiday issue and Jan/Feb. They are looking for articles on food trends we may have overlooked. Pays $0.25/word. Submission details: http://www.chowmag.com/

Poets & Writers Magazine - Although they don't publish poetry and fiction they do look for a large range of articles on writing. Submission guidelines: http://www.pw.org/mag/

Robert Lecker Agency - Looking for a Canadian agent? The Robert Lecker Agency is accepting unsolicited manuscripts. Submission guidelines: http://www.leckeragency.com/submissions/index.html

Beach Holme Publishing accepts unsolicited manuscripts. Submission guidelines: http://www.beachholme.bc.ca/

The Dundurn Group accepts unagented submissions. Submission guidelines: http://www.dundurn.com/index.shtml

Pacific Coast Journal seeks submission of poetry, fiction, essays and book reviews. Submission guidelines: http://www.frenchbreadpublications.com/pcj/

Cue Time - Every month we include a couple of writing ideas to help you kick start your writing sessions.

1. When writing most authors don't read for pleasure in the genre in which they write. It is too easy to emulate what you are reading. With this in mind choose something as far away in style and content and genre as what you write and see how it influences your writing. This should be a good thing~!

2. If you can't settle to your writing, spend 15 minutes at the beginning clearing your mind. To
do this choose a single word like 'water' and repeat it over and over until your mind moves into your writing space.

Industry News: Beating favorites Julian Barnes and Kazuo Ishiguro, Irish author John Banville won the £50,000 Man Booker Prize, the U.K.'s top literary award, for The Sea. Former literary editor of the Irish Times, Banville is the first Irishman to win the prize since Roddy Doyle in 1993.The Sea tells the story of Max Morden, who after his wife dies, revisits the town where as a child, his life changed forever.

Banville was on the Booker shortlist in 1989 for The Book of Evidence, but lost to Ishiguro's The Remains of the Day. This year Ishiguro was on the shortlist for Never Let Me Go.

The answers offered in this column are the personal opinions of the staff at Windshift for Writers. They are in no way meant to take the place of the professional advice you may need to seek for your specific query.

Questions and Answers

Q. Can too much re-writing spoil a piece? Elaine C.

A. It depends on what you mean by too much. Most successful authors do a lot of re-writing. Almost inevitably cutting and thus tightening a piece of prose will improve it. Try to find a balance between improving your style and keeping your prose fresh and exciting. If you tinker too long it may lose its spontaneity.

Win a FREE place at one of our Workshops - Writers who wish to host a workshop can do so by inviting interested friends and acquaintances to a venue (It could be your dining-room table.) and providing the coffee. If you host a workshop, your participation is free. Check the Workshops page for further details.

Home News:

Life at Windshift Press is busy as usual with many new books scheduled for publication later this winter along with a variety of events celebrating current books in print.

In order to keep up with events we have started a blog. Do drop by http://windshiftpress.blogspot.com// frequently to see what we are up to.

Author of Secrets Found in Gimli, Diane Alexander is off for readings in the Winnipeg and Gimli area this month. She will start her tour at McNally Robinson's in Winnipeg.

Note: While every effort is made to check the markets suggested in this newsletter, writers must use their own judgment when submitting their work.

To unsubscribe send an e-mail to info@windshift.bc.ca with unsubscribe in the subject line.