Zoetrope

Zoetrope: All-Story is a magazine specializing in the best of contemporary short fiction. They boast a circulation of approximately 20,000 (in 2012).

Before submitting, non-subscribers should read several issues of the magazine to determine if their works fit with All-Story. Electronic versions of the magazine are available to read, in part, at the website; and print versions are available for purchase by single-issue order and subscription.

They consider unsolicited submissions of short stories and one-act plays no longer than 7,000 words. Excerpts from larger works, screenplays, treatments, and poetry will be returned unread. They do not accept artwork or design submissions. Simultaneous submissions are accepted, and first serial rights and a one-year film option are required. They do not accept unsolicited revisions nor respond to writers who don't include an SASE.

All-Story does not accept submissions between September 1 and December 31 (with the exception of stories entered in the annual Short Fiction Contest, which are considered for publication in the magazine).

All-Story does not accept submissions via e-mail. Send stories to:

Zoetrope: All-Story
Attn: Fiction Editor
916 Kearny St.
San Francisco, CA 94133

They invite writers to take advantage of the Virtual Studio, a free online writers' workshop sponsored by All-Story and its publisher, Francis Coppola. Writers are encouraged to support the small and independent publications to which they submit; magazines such as All-Story depend on subscriptions to survive, ensuring forums for publication of new and emerging writers.

Young

So many of us wish we had started and/or taken our writing seriously at a young age. If you or someone you know is still in school K-12 and college, there are lessons and markets just for you.

One of my favorites is Hope Clark’s FREE WritingKid newsletter. This letter is mailed out biweekly to ANYONE interested and is full of advice, markets, submissions, contests and more just for ages five through college (some adult as well). To learn more about it or view a sample:  http://www.fundsforwriters.com/writingkid/

Another site for the young, parents and teachers is http://www.newpages.com/npguides/young_authors_guide.htm

There are many places students can learn more and get published FREE of charge. I only wish I had learned to focus and knew about these kinds of opportunities when I was young.

Do you recommend any sites or sources for young writers? 

Xanadu

Samuel Taylor Coleridge wrote about a fictional land named Xanadu in his poem Kubla Khan. I really like the feel of these lines when I read them. How about you?

 

In Xanadu did Kubla Khan

A stately pleasure-dome decree:

Where Alph, the sacred river, ran

Through caverns measureless to man

Down to a sunless sea.

So twice five miles of fertile ground

With walls and towers were girdled round:

And here were gardens bright with sinuous rills,

Where blossomed many an incense-bearing tree;

And here were forests ancient as the hills,

Enfolding sunny spots of greenery. (lines 1-11)

 

 

Writing

Literary Agent Donald Maass has created another quality writing book showing that engaging writing must be deeply personal to snag and maintain the reader.

"Capture the minds, hearts, and imaginations of 21st century readers! Whether you're a commercial storyteller or a literary novelist, whether your goal is to write a best-selling novel or captivate readers with a satisfying, beautifully written story, the key to success is the same: high-impact fiction. Writing 21st Century Fiction will help you write a novel for today's readers and market, filled with rich characters, compelling plots, and resonant themes. Author and literary agent Donald Maass shows you how to: Create fiction that transcends genre, conjures characters who look and feel more real" than real people, and shows readers the work around them in new ways. Infuse every page with an electric current of emotional appeal and micro-tension. Harness the power of parallels, symbols, metaphors, and more to illuminate your novel in a lasting way. Develop a personalized method of writing that works for you. With an arsenal of thought-provoking prompts and questions, plus plenty of examples from best-selling titles, Writing 21st Century Fiction will strip away your preconceived notions about writing in today's world and give you the essential tools you need to create fiction that will leave both readers and critics in awe."

Have you read this or any other book by Maass? What did you think?

VOCABULA

VOCABULA WELL-WRITTEN WRITING CONTEST http://www.vocabula.com/popupads/VRWritingContest.asp NO ENTRY FEE. The Vocabula Well-Written Writing Contest is open to all. Write 200 to 500 words of readable, well-written, even beautiful writing. Work already published, to include on the Internet, is not welcome. Deadline May 31, 2013. Fiction and nonfiction. No poetry. First prize $200. Second prize $100. Third prize $50. First-, second-, and third-place winners, as well as all honorable mentions, will also receive a year-long subscription to The Vocabula Review. Winning entries will be announced in July or August, and published in the September issue of The Vocabula Review.

Uniquely Unexpected

Readers hate obvious storylines and cookie cutter characters. We’ve all heard people complain “There are no original stories, everything has been done.” If that is true, why are readers still purchasing books?

Your story will automatically be unique because you as an individual are unique. You’ll create stand out characters based on your own dreams and fears. You can make them even more unique by giving them an unexpected quality, either in their appearance, abilities, or quirks.

But how do you create an unexpected ending? How do you keep the reader from guessing what will happen? Hopefully, you are creating so much tension and there is so much at stake that the reader can’t see an out for your characters. However, your ending still needs to be believable on some level.

So, how do you accomplish this?                        

1)      Write down the ending you expect.

2)      Cross it out and don’t allow yourself to use this ending.

3)      Come up with at least three alternate endings.

4)      Choose the best one or some combination for a twist.

Remember, your story will be as unique as you are, but blow it up. Make the characters and plot bigger than life. Just remember fiction readers want believability not reality. Good luck and Happy Writing!

How have you struggled with uniqueness? What have you done to make your work better?

TAPESTRY

The TAPESTRY OF BRONZE ODES TO OLYMPIANS is holding their spring contest: http://www.tapestryofbronze.com/OdeForm.html

 

They are sponsoring a series of traditional poetry contests to celebrate Greek and Roman mythology and the Olympian gods. The subject of the current contest is Hephaestus (also known as Vulcan), the God of the Forge.

 

The deadline is April 30, 2013. Limit 30 lines. MAKE SURE your poem is about Hephaestus / Vulcan. The first prize winner in each age group will receive $50 (US). Categories are over 18 and under 18. No entry fee.