May Scribbler Box

I just received my second box from Scribbler, and so far I love it even more than the first box! You can learn about the April box, and why I subscribed here.

This months box was full of interesting, useful, and fun items. Just as before, the first thing you see upon opening the box is a fun writing exercise postcard. Each month provides a new challenge for writers to practice.

The first surprise was a package of old-fashioned hard candies called "Lemon Drops." I've never had them before, but I absolutely loved the flavor. My husband and I have been devouring them.

Some other goodies included a pin depicting a skull with a pencil in its mouth and the phrase "Write Your Wrongs," a red journal with a battery life symbol and the words "Loading Ideas," and a nonfiction book by Gail Carson Levine called Writer to Writer.

Then were the main reasons I joined this service: a new release novel, a revision letter from an editor, exclusive invitation to chat with a publishing professional, and a collectible "writing passport" from a bestselling author. 

This months theme was CONTEMPORARY, and the selected novel is The Secret of Clouds by Alyson Richman. This book sounds really good, and I'm anxious to dive in after I complete my current read. The author also included an autograph plate, a pretty blue pencil with the title of her book, and an envelope with a writing project from the books publisher. The revision letter she included was from a different novel which is interesting.

The most exciting item included in this box is the invitation to chat with an Associate Director of Marketing for Berkley at Penguin House. I absolutely love that this subscription service is connecting us to professionals in the field. I had to miss the previous months invitation to the live interaction due to a work conflict, but I plan to access the recording soon. I'll let you know how that goes.

This is only my second box, but I am truly excited about the posibilities offered so far. To learn more about this service: https://www.goscribbler.com/

Do you subscribe to any boxing services? Have you heard of SCRIBBLER? Are you tempted to join?

Memorial and Graduation Reading and Writing

It's soon to be Memorial weekend in the USA. It's also that time of year for high school and college graduations, as well as an opportunity to enjoy some extra time reading, or prepare a submission for a few anthology calls:

1) Southeast Missouri State University Press and the Warriors Arts Alliance have joined together once again to create the eighth volume in a series of anthologies about military experiences. I was fortunate enough to be included in the second volume with my interview of award winning author Tim O'Brien (The Things They Carried). For more information on supporting these great Americans or to learn more about the Proud to Be series: https://www.mohumanities.org/proud-to-be-anthology-series/ and http://www.semopress.com/events/proud-to-be-writing-by-american-warriors/

2) The "Faust Sonnet Contest" is now accepting submissions. There is no entry fee, and the sonnets may be written in Shakespearean, Petrarchan, Spenserian or non-traditional form. Only previously unpublished sonnets are eligible. Each entrant may submit one to three sonnets, maximum, with sonnets to be received no later than June 1, 2019. Cash prizes total $2,000. For more information, visit http://www.sonnetcontest.org/

Not sure how to write a sonnet? Try reviewing these guidelines, tips, and examples: http://examples.yourdictionary.com/sonnet-examples.html

3) Interested in a graduation flash fiction? Read mine here, or try writing your own. You can also see my list of 5 Books for Graduates.

4) Chicken Soup for the Soul has a call out for five different anthologies right now. To learn more, check out: https://www.chickensoup.com/story-submissions/possible-book-topics

5) Challenge: Compose a letter of thanks to a soldier you do not know or donate books to the troops. For more ideas on how you can help: http://www.give2thetroops.org/

Have you ever written a sonnet? Does this seem like something you might want to try?

IWSG Anthologies and Contest

The Insecure Writer’s Support Group Annual Anthology Contest is now open!

The genre is middle grade historical – adventure/ fantasy and the theme is voyagers.

See the site for full details: http://www.insecurewriterssupportgroup.com/

And the previous anthology is now on sale!

Masquerade: Oddly Suited – an IWSG Anthology is available now! Find it here - Barnes and Noble, Amazon, iTunes, Kobo, and Goodreads

Find love at the ball…

Can a fake dating game show lead to love? Will a missing key free a clock-bound prince? Can a softball pitcher and a baseball catcher work together? Is there a vampire living in Paradise, Newfoundland? What’s more important—a virtual Traveler or a virtual date to the ball?

Ten authors explore young love in all its facets, from heartbreak to budding passion. Featuring the talents of L.G. Keltner, Jennifer Lane, C.D. Gallant-King, Elizabeth Mueller, Angela Brown, Myles Christensen, Deborah Solice, Carrie-Anne Brownian, Anstice Brown, and Chelsea Marie Ballard.

Hand-picked by a panel of agents and authors, these ten tales will mystify and surprise even as they touch your heart. Don your mask and join the party…

Will you be submitting to the new contest?

Festival and Faust Sonnet Contest

The "Faust Sonnet Contest" is now accepting submissions.

There is no entry fee, and the sonnets may be written in Shakespearean, Petrarchan, Spenserian, or non-traditional form. Only previously unpublished sonnets are eligible. 

Each entrant may submit one to three sonnets, maximum, with sonnets to be received no later than June 1, 2015. Cash prizes total $2,000. For more information, visit http://www.sonnetcontest.org/

Not sure how to write a sonnet? Try reviewing these guidelines, tips, and examples: http://examples.yourdictionary.com/sonnet-examples.html

Have you ever written a sonnet? Does this seem like something you might want to try?

IWSG: Learning Language Has Power

It’s time for another group posting of the Insecure Writer’s Support Group! founded by Alex J. Cavanaugh. Time to release our fears to the world – or offer encouragement to those who are feeling neurotic. If you’d like to join us, click on the tab above and sign up. We post the first Wednesday of every month. Your words might be the encouragement someone needs. You can also join us on twitter using the hashtag #IWSG, or on the Facebook page.

Now, IWSG hosts have changed up the format in an effort to make it more fun and interactive.Every month, they will announce a question that members can answer in their IWSG Day post. These questions may prompt you to share advice, insight, a personal experience or story. Include your answer to the question in your IWSG post or let it inspire your post if you are struggling with something to say. 

Don’t forget to visit others that day to see their answers. Want to join, or learn more? Visit our - Sign-up List.

MAY QUESTION: What was an early experience where you learned that language had power?

MY ANSWER: I think on some level, I always knew. However, my most conscious recognition would have been in elementary school. I was an extremely shy girl. We moved a lot, family situations kept changing, and I felt an overwhelming sense of confusion and even worthlessness at times as a result. Music helped a lot. I can remember not just feeling and connecting to the songs on the radio, but to receiving cassette tapes (yes, I'm that old) and studying the lyrics included. I can remember connecting with individual artists after realizing they could give voice through their words to what I was feeling and experiencing. Some of my earliest writing includes poetry and short stories that I attempted after studying lyrical style.

Don't forget, the IWSG anthology contest begins today. This year the genre is – Middle Grade Historical – adventure or fantasy. To learn more about the theme , check out: http://www.insecurewriterssupportgroup.com/

Previous IWSG anthologies can be found: http://iwsganthologies.blogspot.com/