14 Useful Links for Writers

Contests

http://www.writersdigest.com/competitions/writing-competitions

http://www.pw.org/content/writing_contests_0

http://writers-editors.com/writers/contests/contests.htm

http://www.fundsforwriters.com/contests/

http://www.newpages.com/classifieds/writingcontests/

Grants and Awards

http://www.fundsforwriters.com/grants/

http://www.pw.org/toolsforwriters/

MFA Programs

http://www.pw.org/mfa/

Education/Career Building

http://www.uh.edu/class/english/programs/graduate/creative-writing/

https://www.uhd.edu/academics/humanities/undergraduate-programs/professional-writing/Pages/english-pw.aspx

Jobs, Freelance Markets, and Contract Writing Jobs

http://www.fundsforwriters.com/markets/

http://www.pw.org/joblistings/

Submissions

http://www.pw.org/literary_magazines/

http://www.newpages.com/classifieds/calls/

Writing for Veterans

Thank-you to all veterans and active military. We may not show it enough, but you are so very appreciated!

A couple of years ago my interview of Vietnam War Veteran and author Tim O’Brien appeared in Proud to Be: Writing by American Warriors, Volume 2. Since then, the publishers have continued the tradition of supporting our troops. 

This yearly anthology presents essays, fiction, poetry, interviews, and photography by military-service personnel, veterans, and their families. It is an annual series published by Southeast Missouri State University Press in cooperation with the Missouri Humanities Council's Veterans Projects and the Warriors Arts Alliance.  

"The stories and poems of service and sacrifice are essential in understanding what has so broadly been termed 'the American experience.' For me, Proud to Be: Writing by American Warriors is required reading and worthy of a thousand tears."     ―St. Leger Monty Joynes, veteran, Vietnam

Books can now be ordered from the Southeast Missouri State University Press and Amazon. 

Interested in submitting to Volume 5? They are already accepting submissions which are due by June 1, 2016. Contests and prizes will be awarded in each of the five categories. To learn more, please visit:  http://www.semopress.com/events/proud-to-be-writing-by-american-warriors/

Chicken Soup for the Soul publishers are honoring veterans and their families as well. They are taking submissions to two different titles this month: Military Families and The Spirit of America. To learn more, visit here.

Interested in reading more veteran related material? Try Noir and Returning War Vet Sub-Genre, or Being a Veteran.

10 Submission Opportunities

1) Amazon.com: Day One

2) Chicken Soup for the Soul

3) Children, Churches & Daddies

4) Highlights  

5) Jack and Jill (for ages 7-12)

6) Literary Mama 

7) Mothers Always Writes

8) Saturday Evening Post

9) Tell Us a Story 

10) Wildlife- Grey Wolfe Publishing 

A Bridge to Publication 2015

Save the Date – Saturday, November 14th, 2015.
University United Methodist Church (3501 Patrick Street, Lake Charles, LA)
8:00 am – 4:30 pm

*SCHOLARSHIP: BWG is offering two scholarships this year to persons in need of having the registration fee covered. Please fill out the form below for your chance at receiving the scholarship.

Terry Thibodeaux Conference Scholarship Application Form

*CONFERENCE AGENDA:

*SPEAKERS INCLUDE:

Gordon Warnock, Partner at Fuse Literary

Heather Flaherty, Agent with The Bent Agency

Heather Hildenbrand, Author

Chantelle Aimée, Pitch Coach & Author

Exposure team, Warren Bujol (Editor) & Calvin Tyler (Publisher)

1. Literary Agent Gordon Warnock, Fuse Literary Agency, www.fuseliterary.comWill be taking pitches. Represents a variety of nonfiction, graphic novels, & contemporary realistic literary fiction for adults, NA, and YA.

2. Literary Agent Heather Flaherty, The Bent Agency, www.thebentagency.comWill be taking pitches. Seeking YA and MG (middle grade) material.

3. Author Heather Hildenbrand presents: Author Platform, Economy-Friendly Publishing,www.heatherhildenbrand.blogspot.com, www.phoenixauthorink.comSpeaking Topic: Eco(nomy)-Friendly Publishing.

4. Pitch Coach & Author (and wearer of many other hats) Chantelle Aimee presents Mystery Writing. She will also be available for 15 to 30-min critique sessions for a fee (fee TBD).www.chantelleaimee.comSpeaking Topic: Mystery Writing

5. Exposure team, Warren Bujol (Editor) and Calvin Tyler (Publisher). Will be speaking about their local magazine. www.readexposure.comSpeaking Topic: Freelancing

(Speaker photo sources: All photos are taken from the speakers individual websites listed above.)

If you plan to pitch to the literary agents, or would like to have a critique session (cost TBD) with Ms Aimee, please contact them to see if material is requested beforehand and how to send it. (Email? Regular mail? First 10 pages. First chapter, etc…?)

Pitches will be only 10 minutes each, so it is best to be prepared and not waste your time or theirs. Pitches will be on a first-come first-serve basis with a sign-up sheet at the door.

*SPONSORS:

Supported by grants from the City of Lake Charles, the Calcasieu Parish Police Jury, the
Lake Charles / SWLA Convention & Visitors Bureau, and the Louisiana Division of the Arts, Office of Cultural Development, Department of Culture, Recreation and Tourism in cooperation with the Louisiana State Arts Council as administered by the Arts Council of SWLA. Also sponsored by American Press Foundation. Also donations from L’Auberge Casino Resort Lake Charles, Adsource Outdoor, Obvious Mobile with Obvious Advertising, Wise Publications, and Paradiddle’s Dancewear.

IWSG: Audience of None

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.

It's easy to let fear incapacitate us. We worry about no one liking our creation; agents and editors will turn us down, publishers won't see the merit, readers won't finish reading it. Writer's block takes hold and prevents us from enjoying craft. In short, we feel we're writing for an audience of no one and give up.

You should be writing for an audience of one: yourself. Tell a story you enjoy, exercise emotional turmoil in a tale of your choosing, keep working to improve your talent. In short YOU are the first and only true person who needs to be pleased with your writing. Don't worry so much about what others think.

"Imagine you are dying. If you had a terminal disease would you finish this book? Why not? So change it. Stop arguing with yourself. See? And no one had to die."
                                                        - Booker Prize winning author Anne Enright

This quote may seem extreme, but Enright is correct. Only spend your time working on projects you are happy with. Stop worrying about pleasing everyone else.

Are you enjoying your WIP?

Pen-L Seeking Submissions

Many of you are busy participating in NaNoWriMo. However, if you are ready for the submission phase then the husband and wife duo at Pen-L Publishing is taking submissions.

If you'd like to learn more, check out my interview with them in this months holiday issue of Southern Writer's magazine, or visit their website at http://www.pen-l.com/

Tomorrow, I will be posting my monthly contribution to The Insecure Writers Group. 

Best of luck on your projects!

No NaNoWriMo for Me!

I've decided not to participate in NaNoWriMo this time.

There are only 9 weeks left of 2015, and I hope to spend it finishing up some of my incomplete projects and submission goals.

If you are participating, let me know so I can stop by to cheer you on in your progress. I wish you the best of luck!