Seven fast approaching deadlines...
Chicken Soup for the Soul: Miracles, messages from heaven, angels - The deadline for submissions is FEBRUARY 28, 2024. Stories about miracles, angels, messages from heaven, premonitions, amazing coincidences and other unexplainable but good events! We are looking for powerful, astounding, stories that will make people say "wow" or give them chills. This book is for everyone, whether religious or non-religious.
Chicken Soup for the Soul: The power of thinking
positive - The deadline for submission is FEBRUARY 28, 2024. We know that using the power of thinking positive helps
you to achieve your goals and lead a happy, purposeful, and productive life.
Almost anything is possible if you think you can. You can dream big, overcome
challenges, create the best life possible for yourself, and turn adversity into
opportunity. What do you do to think positive and how did it change
your life? Tell us your success story about using the power of thinking
positive!
GRAYWOLF
PRESS NONFICTION PRIZE
https://www.graywolfpress.org/about-us/submissions
NO MENTION OF ENTRY FEE. Deadline February
29, 2024. A $20,000 advance and publication by Graywolf Press will be
awarded to the most promising and innovative literary nonfiction project by a
writer not yet established in the genre. The winning author will also receive a
$2,000 stipend intended to support the completion of their project. The Graywolf
editors are particularly interested in new approaches to the personal essay,
cultural and literary criticism, creative scholarship, and books exploring
complex ideas from unexpected angles. Must live in the United States,
regardless of citizenship status. Must have published at least one piece of
nonfiction in a literary journal or magazine.
SEJONG
WRITING COMPETITION
https://www.sejongculturalsociety.org/writing/current/sijo.php?fbclid=IwAR3dsNgV_I0yqv-oCp4MFqmMihAVk6cwHbmBCsihV0iPfrSQIjIDtbDwdKU
Deadline February 29, 2024.
Divisions: adult division (age 19 and older) and pre-college division (age 18
and younger). Write one sijo in English on a topic of your choice. Only one
entry per applicant. Adult division: First ($1,000), Second ($750), Third
($500). Pre-college division: First ($500), Second ($400), Third ($300). Must
be a resident of USA or Canada.
LITTLE TOKYO HISTORICAL
SOCIETY SHORT STORY CONTEST
https://www.littletokyohs.org/
NO ENTRY FEE. Deadline February 29,
2024. The Little Tokyo Historical Society (LTHS) seeks fictional short
stories for its 11th annual Imagine Little Tokyo short story contest in the
categories of English language, Japanese language and youth (18 and younger).
The purpose of the contest is to raise awareness of Little Tokyo through a
creative story that takes place in Little Tokyo. Each category winner will be
awarded $500 in cash with their short story being published in The Rafu Shimpo,
Discover Nikkei and Little Tokyo Historical Society website.
ALPINE POETRY PRIZE
https://alpinefellowship.com/poetry-prize
NO ENTRY FEE. Deadline March 1, 2024. Theme: Language. You may
submit one poem or a collection of poems as long as ALL the poems in the
collection speak to the theme. There is a maximum of 500 words per entry. There
is no minimum required word count. First place: £3,000. Second place: £1,000.
Third place: £1,000. The winner and runners-up will be invited to the annual
symposium. Up to £500 travel expenses to help with travel to the event and
meals and accommodation.
ALPINE WRITING PRIZE
https://alpinefellowship.com/writing-prize
NO ENTRY FEE. Deadline March 1, 2024. Theme: Language. All
genres of writing are permitted, including fiction, non-fiction, and
non-academic essays. Open to all nationalities. First place: £3,000. Second
place: £1,000. Third place: £1,000. The winner and runners-up will be invited
to the annual symposium. Up to £500 travel expenses to help with travel to the
event and meals and accommodation. A maximum of 2,500 words per entry.
Last month, I shared a couple of posts on Love (to celebrate any form of love) and upcoming conferences, workshops, and festivals for readers and writers. Today, I thought I would share more opportunities for lovers of the written and illustrated word.
February 17 - Hickory Con is a one day, in person comic con event in North Carolina. To learn more, check out: Home (hickorycon.com)
March 15-17 - Galaxycon is a 4-Day FESTIVAL OF FANDOM with celebrities, creators, voice actors, cosplayers, entertainers, fan groups, gamers, panelists, streamers, and wrestlers in Richmond, VA. To learn more: Galaxycon Richmond
March 27 - see the TWITTER PITCH info below.
April 5-7 - CyPhaCon: https://www.cyphacon.org/ - taking place in the Lake Charles Civic Center Complex, CYPHACON 2024 is the largest fan run Pop Culture Convention in the State of Louisiana!
July 12-14 - ConGregate is a speculative fiction convention held in the Piedmont Triad region of North Carolina. To learn more: ConGregate 7 / DeepSouthCon 59 (con-gregate.com)
July 25 - 28 and OTHERS- Galaxycon is a 4-Day FESTIVAL OF FANDOM with celebrities, creators, voice actors, cosplayers, entertainers, fan groups, gamers, panelists, streamers, and wrestlers in Raleigh, NC. To learn more: GalaxyCon Raleigh This group actually offers multiple events virtually at at multiple locations throughout the year so be sure to follow for more news.
August - Wake Forest mini Comic Con - WakeForest, NC - https://www.facebook.com/WFComiCon/
If you'd like to see an even longer list of opportunities, check out the IWSG page here: https://www.insecurewriterssupportgroup.com/p/publications.html
Will you be participating in #IWSGPit? Have you had success with a Twitter pitch party? How about you? Are you attending any this year? Do you have a favorite that we haven't listed here?
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.
FEBRUARY 7 QUESTION - What turns you off when visiting an author's website/blog? Lack of information? A drone of negativity? Little mention of author's books? Constant mention of books?
MY ANSWER - Information overload turns me off immediately. If I click on a site and there is a ton of text and images (the entire screen), flashing ads, or constantly moving images then I'm done. I prefer simple design and layout that lets me know who the author is, their platform or genre, and how to access more information if I want it. Don't try to cram it all down my throat at once.
What about you? What turns you off when visiting an author's website/blog? Lack of information? A drone of negativity? Little mention of author's books? Constant mention of books?
