Fiction Scribe

Everyone loves a good love story. And we all love stories about how the love started and blossomed.

Join us in a fun new book about dating, romance, love, and marriage, scheduled for publication in January 2010, just in time for Valentine’s Day.

We are looking for true stories and poems about your soulmate, your true love, the one that got away, and all the ups and downs of your love life. Stories can be serious or hilarious, or both.

We prefer stories and poems written in the first person of 600-1,200 words. Stories should not be pre-published unless in very small publications.

Here are some suggested topics, but we know you can think of many more:
Dating adventures - the good and the bad
How you met
Internet searching and dating
Speed dating and other strategies
When did you know?
Proposals
Wedding stories
Parental pressure and support
Pressure and support from children
Senior dating and love at a certain age
Making marriage work
Second chances

If your story is chosen, you will be a published author and your bio will be printed in the book if you so choose. You will also receive a check for $200 and 10 free copies of your book, worth more than $100. You will retain the copyright for your story and you will retain the right to resell it.

SUBMISSIONS GO TO http://chickensoupforthesoul.com/form.asp?cid=submit_story.

DEADLINE IS May 31, 2009.

Teen relationships will be covered in a future book, so please do not submit them for this book.

…Results Stories…
Have you read a particular Chicken Soup story and, after reading it, found that it changed your life? We are looking for stories on how a story made important changes in your life and what specifically happened to you after you read it. Please be sure to let us know the title of the story that touched your life.

A Book of Miracles
Everyone has experienced extraordinary events in their lives that cause wonder and astonishment. Perhaps the only explanation is divine intervention. The true stories in this multi-faith book will awe you with examples of amazing coincidences and prove to you that miracles do happen every day. The deadline date for story submissions is March 31, 2009.

All in the Family
These serious or hilarious, oh so true stories will touch your heart and make you see that even in the most difficult situations, other families are not all that different from your own. Share your stories with others who may realize we all have the same in-laws, siblings, parents, etc. Submit under your real name, but rest assured we expect most of you to use pen names for publication and change the names of family members to protect the innocent (or guilty!). The deadline date for story submissions is June 30, 2009.

Christmas and Holidays
We love holidays! We know you do too. We are collecting stories for our next holiday book. There is no deadline date for story submissions.

Dieting and Fitness
Eat less - exercise more! We have all heard these simple words but, in reality, dieting and staying fit require a lot of work. Tell us about your commitment to health and fitness. What changes did you make in your eating habits? What kind of an exercise program did you follow that made the difference? Were you still able to treat yourself to that occasional delicious piece of chocolate cake and stay in shape? The true stories in this book will inspire you, make you laugh, touch your heart, and let you know that you can do it! The deadline date for story submissions is June 30, 2009.

Endurance Sports (run,cycle,swim)
Whether you are a triathlete, a duathlete, or you just love to swim, run, or cycle, we want to hear about your sports, your races, and how endurance sports fit into your life, whether you are an amateur, a student athlete, or a pro. The deadline date for story submissions is June 30, 2009.

In Harm’s Way - Honoring Our Military
An amazing collection of 101 stories from soldiers who defend and protect our country – both active and retired – and from their families who make sacrifices when their loved ones are far away. You will be overcome with emotion as you read these stories that will acknowledge, entertain and inspire you and will leave you with admiration and gratitude for our nation’s best and brightest. The deadline date for story submissions is March 31, 2009.

Not Really Retired
This book will share humorous and fun stories from those who are actively enjoying their “senior years!” Tell us about your new careers, your volunteer work, your sports, your travels, and those things you always wanted to do that you are finally doing. The deadline date for story submissions is June 30, 2009.

Teachers
We have all had that one teacher who has made a difference in our lives. And teachers, remember that one student who made you know why you decided to be a teacher and who you will never forget? We are looking for stories from both teachers and students that will tell that unforgettable story. The deadline date for story submissions is June 30, 2009.

Thanks Dad
We are looking for stories of thanks from “children” of all ages about their dads. These stories of innumerable joys and challenges will touch your heart, make you laugh, inspire you and remind you that it doesn’t matter how old you are, the job of a parent never ends. The deadline date for story submissions is June 30, 2009.

Thanks Mom
We are looking for stories of thanks from “children” of all ages about their moms. These stories of innumerable joys and challenges will touch your heart, make you laugh, inspire you and remind you that it doesn’t matter how old you are, the job of a parent never ends. The deadline date for story submissions is June 30, 2009.

Tough Times, Tough People
Most of us have lost money and many are losing their jobs, homes, or at least making cutbacks. Many of us have also faced life-changing natural disasters such as hurricanes and fires, as well as health and family challenges. We are all going through difficult times, some with more dire consequences than others. We would like to know what changes you are making in your lives that reflect the times. Are you downsizing, making do with less, discovering new joy in a simpler life? Are you recovering from other challenges such as natural disasters, health problems, or the loss of a loved one? These stories will give you, our readers, inspiration and insight into how others are coping. The deadline date for story submissions is February 28, 2009.

What I Learned From The Cat
Another wonderful collection of heartwarming and humorous stories about what we learned from our feline family members. The deadline date for story submissions is March 31, 2009.

What I Learned From The Dog
Another wonderful collection of heartwarming and humorous stories about what we learned from our companions and best friends. The deadline date for story submissions is March 31, 2009.

Cats have always been wonderful companions and playmates that brighten and enrich our lives but they are also amazing teachers. We want cat lovers, both lifelong and reluctant, to share the lessons they have learned about life from their furry companions. The stories in this book will delight readers with the often humorous, heartwarming, poignant and always inspiring lessons taught to us by our feline friends and family members.

We are looking for true stories and poems written in the first person of no more than 1,200 words. Stories can be serious or humorous, or both. Remember, these stories should be about lessons learned from your cat rather than general stories about your cat.

Here are some suggested topics, but we know you can think of many more:
Learning to heal
Learning to forgive
Learning to know who is really in charge
Learning how to not take yourself so seriously
Learning to put things in perspective
Learning about unconditional love
Learning to overcome adversity
Learning about loyalty
Learning to be kinder
Learning to say goodbye
Learning about family
Learning to have courage
Learning about humor
Learning that beauty is in the eye of the beholder
… Anything else you think is interesting and inspirational about our feline teachers

If your story is chosen, you will be a published author and your bio will be printed in the book if you so choose. You will also receive a check for $200 and 10 free copies of your book, worth more than $100. You will retain the copyright for your story.

SUBMISSIONS GO TO http://chickensoupforthesoul.com/form.asp?cid=submit_story.

The deadline for submissions is March 31, for publication in September 2009.

Solander is published twice yearly, in May and November. It is a magazine of interviews, articles, short fiction and comment - the only such magazine in the world for enthusiasts of historical fiction. We welcome ideas for articles, but have specific requirements to consider.

At Solander we have high editorial standards. We welcome ideas for articles, but have specific requirements to consider. Before submitting material, please contact the managing editor to discuss whether the proposed article is appropriate for Solander.

We reserve the right not to publish any submitted article, solicited or unsolicited. The editor’s decision is final, and we will not enter into any correspondence about why an article has been deemed unsuitable for publication in Solander.

To ensure that your article will be considered suitable for publication, please follow these guidelines:

* If you have never read Solander, familiarize yourself with the types of articles we publish. Recognize that to be eligible for publication in Solander, an article must have a definite historical fiction slant.

* Understand our audience. Solander is read by readers and writers of historical fiction. They know their genre, its authors and the marketplace intimately, and expect the articles published in Solander to tell them something they don’t already know about the world of historical fiction. The Solander audience is worldwide, and the content of articles should reflect this. For example, the author of an article focusing on an industry trend should make it clear that they understand what is happening throughout the English-speaking world and preferably elsewhere as well.

* We expect our articles to be carefully researched, incorporating primary sources when appropriate. We encourage our contributors to solicit quotes from publishers, agents, editors, librarians, academics, booksellers, writing magazines, historical societies, experts, etc. All quotes from published sources must be referenced with full bibliographical citations.

* While we do not expect our writers to be previously published, it does help. We may ask for references and writing samples.

* If you think you may encounter challenges delivering an article as contracted, you must let the appropriate editor know well in advance of the set deadline.

*Disclaimer: Do you research and only submit to places you trust. I do not have the time or the resources to investigate all calls for submissions.

Chicken Soup for the Soul, A Book of Miracles, with co-author LeAnn Thieman, is looking for true stories showing signs and wonders God is performing today. We invite people of all faiths to share their stories of ordinary people whose lives are transformed by wondrous events. Whether a “Divine coincidence,” an appearance of God, or answered prayers, this book will show God’s miracle power in action, alive and very active in the world today!

Please share your heart-warming, humorous and powerfully moving stories of no more than 1,200 words.

Here are some suggested topics, but we know you can think of many more:

“Divine coincidence”
Healing
Angels
Everyday miracles
Safety and Protection
Visions and Voices
Heavenly Connections
Overcoming Obstacles
Intercession of Saints
Power of Prayer
Holy Spirit
Signs from Above

If your story is chosen, you will be a published author and your bio will be printed in the book if you so choose. You will also receive a check for $200 and 10 free copies of the book, worth more than $100. You will retain the copyright and the rights to your story.

SUBMISSIONS GO TO http://chickensoupforthesoul.com/form.asp?cid=submit_story.

DEADLINE IS MARCH 31, 2009. Book is scheduled for publication in 2010

Chicken Soup for the Soul: Tough Times, Tough People
101 Stories about Overcoming the Economic Crisis and Other Challenges

Most of us have lost money and many are losing their jobs, homes, or at least making cutbacks. Many of us have also faced life-changing natural disasters such as hurricanes and fires, as well as health and family challenges. We are all going through difficult times, some with more dire consequences than others.

Tough times won’t last but tough people will. What is your story of tough times? Are you making changes in your life that reflect the times? Are you downsizing, making do with less, discovering new joy in a simpler life? Are you recovering from other challenges such as natural disasters, health problems, or the loss of a loved one?

We are looking for true stories and poems written in the first person of no more than 1,200 words. Stories can be serious or humorous, or both.

Here are some suggested topics, but we know you can think of many more:
Financial problems and solutions
Losing homes and jobs
Putting off retirement
Silver linings
Downsizing, simplification, “staycations” versus vacations
Families pulling together
Challenges of death, disease, and disability
Stories of courage from victims of crime, terrorism, and other abuses
Recovering from disasters such as fire, hurricanes, floods
Inspirational stories of overcoming obstacles and challenges
Putting things in perspective
Examples from nature - pets and other animals overcoming adversity

… Anything else that you think is interesting and inspirational and will help other readers going through tough times and make them realize they are not alone

If your story is chosen, you will be a published author and your bio will be printed in the book if you so choose. You will also receive a check for $200 and 10 free copies of your book, worth more than $100. You will retain the copyright for your story.

SUBMISSIONS GO TO http://chickensoupforthesoul.com/form.asp?cid=submit_story.

In response to the economic crisis and the numerous requests we are getting for this book, the DEADLINE HAS BEEN MOVED UP TO FEBRUARY 28, 2009, for publication in June.

*Graphic used without permission. I will take it down upon request.

**I know I’ve been putting up a lot of chicken soup stuff, but I go by what lands in my inbox…

Chicken Soup for the Soul: All in the Family
101 True Stories Exploring the Fine Line between Comedy and Tragedy in Our Dysfunctional Families

How are your holidays going? Almost everyone thinks their own family is dysfunctional, or at least has a dysfunctional member or two.

We are looking for true stories and poems about your family. Stories can be serious or hilarious, or both, and should help readers understand that their families are not so different from those of other people. Many of us have the same in-laws, siblings, parents, etc.

Submit under your real name, but rest assured we expect most of you to use pen names for publication and change the names of family members to protect the innocent (or guilty!). We prefer stories and poems written in the first person of no more than 1,200 words.

Here are some suggested topics, but we know you can think of many more, since there is no way we can think of all the ways that families can be dysfunctional:

Wedding woes
Compulsions
Holiday meltdowns
Mean or controlling family members
Crazy but lovable
Interventions and family meetings
Abandoning a family member, sometimes to preserve the rest
Funny foibles
Serious family issues such as abuse, mental illness, substance abuse
Reconciliations
Funeral flare-ups and estate issues
Acceptance
… Anything else that you think is interesting about your dysfunctional relatives

We are not looking for stories about divorce or the normal trials and tribulations of raising children and teenagers.

If your story is chosen, you will be a published author and your bio will be printed in the book if you so choose. You will also receive a check for $200 and 10 free copies of your book, worth more than $100. You will retain the copyright for your story and you will retain the right to resell it.

SUBMISSIONS GO TO http://chickensoupforthesoul.com/form.asp?cid=submit_story.

DEADLINE IS JUNE 30, 2009. Book is tentatively scheduled for publication in fall 2009, in time for the next holiday season!

Three Crow Press is calling for submissions to its special erotica issue in February.
Deadline for submissions is: January 25, 2009.

Story Word Count and Parameters

Content: Speculative fiction, fantasy (urban, dark and gothic), horror and steampunk. Should be erotic or sensual in nature. Story can be any rating, including NC-17 but must contain a plot. No porn without plot. Remember, Three Crow Press is het, gay, supernatural and alien friendly. Any form of erotica will be considered on the merit of writing, not orientation of subjects.

Fiction: Between 500 and 3,000 words.

Settings: Any part of the world, mythology or culture.

Timeline: We will consider any story set at any time in the past, present or future as long as the story is within the specified genres.

Payment: One cent a word (USD) upon acceptance and return of contract.

Rating
Please be advised that some content will contain mature circumstances and sexual situations. All NC-17 submissions that are acceptable will be marked so to alert our readers of these situations.

Submission Format and Email:
Submission should have title, author name, email address and word count in the header and the page number in the footer. Manuscripts should be in either the Courier New or Times New Roman font. Please make sure your manuscript is double-spaced. Submissions should be sent as an attachment to your email. Please see submission guidelines at www.threecrowpress.com for additional details.

Only electronically submitted manuscripts will be accepted. Please send to: submissions@morriganezine.com

Please put EROTICA ISSUE and title of your story in the subject line.

Thank you and good luck.

*This image is not used with permission and will be removed upon request.

Chicken Soup for the Soul: Tough Times, Tough People
101 Stories about Overcoming the Economic Crisis and Other Challenges

Most of us have lost money and many are losing their jobs, homes, or at least making cutbacks. Many of us have also faced life-changing natural disasters such as hurricanes and fires, as well as health and family challenges. We are all going through difficult times, some with more dire consequences than others.

Tough times won’t last but tough people will. What is your story of tough times? Are you making changes in your life that reflect the times? Are you downsizing, making do with less, discovering new joy in a simpler life? Are you recovering from other challenges such as natural disasters, health problems, or the loss of a loved one?

We are looking for true stories and poems written in the first person of no more than 1,200 words. Stories can be serious or humorous, or both.

Here are some suggested topics, but we know you can think of many more:

Financial problems and solutions
Losing homes and jobs
Putting off retirement
Silver linings
Downsizing, simplification, “staycations” versus vacations
Families pulling together
Challenges of death, disease, and disability
Stories of courage from victims of crime, terrorism, and other abuses
Recovering from disasters such as fire, hurricanes, floods
Inspirational stories of overcoming obstacles and challenges
Putting things in perspective
Examples from nature - pets and other animals overcoming adversity
… Anything else that you think is interesting and inspirational and will help other readers going through tough times and make them realize they are not alone

If your story is chosen, you will be a published author and your bio will be printed in the book if you so choose. You will also receive a check for $200 and 10 free copies of your book, worth more than $100. We will copyright your story in your name and you will retain the rights to resell it.

SUBMISSIONS GO TO http://chickensoupforthesoul.com/form.asp?cid=submit_story.

DEADLINE IS MARCH 31, 2009. Book is tentatively scheduled for publication in summer 2009.

*Graphic used without permission from CSFTS. Will take it down on request.

Chicken Soup for the Soul: Campus Chronicles
101 Real Stories from Real College Students

We are looking for true stories and poems about your experiences in college. We are looking for stories written by college students, or by recent graduates about their college years. We prefer stories and poems written in the first person of no more than 1,200 words.

Here are some suggested topics:

Moving in and meeting the roommate
Saying goodbye to families and friends
Learning to live away from home
Funny and embarrassing stories about college life
Spring Break
Transferring
Taking a year off from college
Career college students
Semesters or summers abroad
Choosing majors
Dealing with the workload, figuring out professors, grade pressure
Being pre-med, pre-law, and other stressful endeavors before grad school
More tests - MCATs, GMATs, LSATs
Relationships with friends, family, girlfriends and boyfriends
Lifestyle choices, food, drinking or dry.
Personal growth - choosing new friends, coming out, patching up relationships
Money - problems, jobs, scholarships, paying your own way
Medical and psychological challenges
Greek life, eating clubs, pledging, and membership
Sports, clubs, volunteer work, and other extracurriculars
…Anything else you think is interesting about college that you would like to share

If your story is chosen, you will be a published author and your bio will be printed in the book. You will also receive a check for $200 and 10 free copies of your book, worth more than $100. We will copyright your story in your name and you will retain the rights to resell it.

SUBMISSIONS
DEADLINE IS DECEMBER 31, 2008. Book will be published in April 2009.

Found on Sandi Kahn Shelton’s Website:

My friend Holly has a warm heart, a creative spirit, and a wonderful idea. She wants to write a book that allows young men to tell the world what life is REALLY like for them in this, the first part of the 21st century, a time when life can be a bit haphazard, confusing, and even dangerous. Why let so-called experts tell the story? Holly wants to invite guys to tell their stories themselves–knowing the truth can help others like nothing else can.

Here’s an email she’s sending out into the world, and I’m putting it on my blog today because I think it’s such a good cause. Please feel free to send it along to anyone you think might be interested.

The deadline is January 12, 2009 for submissions.

And now here is Holly:

My name is Holly Hanau Koncz and I am writing a book about what it is like being an adolescent male in today’s world. I am a former middle school teacher from Guilford, Connecticut. I have 3 sons, ages, 29, 26, and 22, and I have worked with teenage boys for 35 years.

Boys today are dealing with depression, self-image, drug and alcohol abuse, sexual and racial identity, stress, and loneliness, as they never have before. Many books have been written about you, from an adult perspective, but no one has asked YOU to tell us about your world. It is time to do that.

1- The book is going to be a collection of personal essays, stories, poems, and journal entries. I want to show as diverse a group of boys as possible, covering not only age, socioeconomic status, and race…but religion, birthplace (city or suburb), and a cross-section of the country.

2- Your work must be true and it will have very little editing from me, as long as there is nothing inappropriate. It is your voice I want to get out to the public, not an adult’s interpretation of your voice.

3- 500-750 words maximum

4- I wish I could reimburse you for your written work, but unfortunately that isn’t economically possible. I am hoping that being published will be an honor.

5- I will not reveal your real name in the book, but will list, for example, “a 16 year old from a city in the Northeast.” I will not share any of your personal information. It will be for my eyes only. Please include with your submission: name, home address, college, if applicable, age, cell phone #, home #, and e-mail.

6- I will contact you if your writing has been selected for the book. I need this by January 12th, but would love to receive your submission ASAP so I can show publishers samples of the work, as I am looking for a publisher for the book.

7- In addition to the underlined topics above, here are some subject ideas: friends, family, violence (the war, school shootings, etc), feeling different, learning or physical disabilities, prejudice, religion, academic pressure, bullying/hazing, cliques, hooking up, support, and love. You do not have to be confined to these subjects. Be creative!

You can e-mail me at teenboysbook@aol.com or write to me at PO Box # 243, Guilford, CT. 06437. I look forward to receiving your work. Thank you.

Holly Hanau Koncz

Because calls for submissions are exactly what you want while NaNoWriMo is happening….

Circlet Press is calling for…

General Writer Guidelines

FALL EBOOK ANTHOLOGY READING TOPICS

Like An Animal
Erotic tales of werewolves. We did an anthology with this theme back in 1995 called “The Beast Within.” Explore the animal side of lust, and the attraction of dark magic. Whether you see lycanthropy as a sexually transmitted disease or an intriguing fetish, celebrate sex and desire through this fantastical lens.

Like A Myth
Give us an erotic tale with its basis in non-western folklore or myth. Faraway places and fantasy are the rule, which means avoiding settings anchored in the Western World (Canada, the United States, and the bulk of Europe). There are many other cultures to explore as a basis for fantasy, each with their own rich environment and colorful folklore, that creates the potential for some very engaging erotica. Genie granting steamy wishes in the Arabian desert. Sexy Russian ice princes. Japanese fox spirits. Transport the reader into a whole new world that will leave them gasping for more.

Wired Hard 4.0
Following on from the successful print books Wired Hard 1, 2, and 3, we will be reading for hard-edged erotic stories of men on men. Whether you explore faraway planets, cyberpunk, or space opera, or swords & sorcery, urban fantasy, or something that defies description of genre, if it involves masculine desire for the masculine, we want it. Please note that we expect writers to either be male or to write under male/gender neutral pseudonyms. If you need some examples, ebook editions of Wired Hard 2 and Wired Hard 3 are available for sale.

Planet Boylove
This will be a collection of erotica with a gay male or m/m theme, but its main difference from the Wired Hard books is that female author names and female pseudonyms may be used. It’s no secret that a lot of the gay male pornography, erotica, and romance novels of the past 30 years were/are written by female authors under pseudonyms. Less talked about among traditional publishers is how many readers of m/m fiction may be female.

Through the worlds of fanfiction and japanese yaio in translation, though, there is undeniably an audience whose enthusiasm for boylove ought to be recognised and celebrated! Hence, this book. Science fiction or fantasy explicitly erotic stories of m/m please. If you’re really not sure if your story should go in Wired Hard or in Planet Boylove, don’t worry. We’ll figure it out.

Up for Grabs
An anthology of erotic futures where gender is up for grabs. Today thousands of people spend time on the Internet identified with a gender other than the one they were born with. Sometimes they do so for erotic gratification, and sometimes because they get a special benefit for one gender over another. How will people be able to experience other genders in the future? Why will they do so? Would you change genders just for fun? To carry on the family name? To have a child?

What if you got a tax break for doing so? What if you could choose to be no gender at all until you went on a date? Would you want to try being both genders at once, or would you rather start over and invent your own? In the future, will it be widely acceptable to be gender queer? Illegal? Mandatory? UP FOR GRABS will be strictly science fiction. Setting your story twenty years in the future does not automatically make it science fiction. We will consider stories that are ‘retro,’ that take on gender stereotypes of the past and give them a future twist.

As mentioned above, reading period for all anthologies ends October 31st, but books may fill up earlier than that if good submissions come in, so please do not wait until the last minute to submit!

FAMILY MATTERS
Deadline: October 31, 2008

Prizes:
• 1st place wins $1,200, publication in Glimmer Train Stories, and 20 copies.
• 2nd-place: $500 and possible publication.
• 3rd-place: $300 and possible publication.

Reading fee: $15 per story.

To submit, go to www.glimmertrain.org, and click on the yellow submissions tab. Results post on December 31, 2008. Winning story will be published in Issue 74.

Other considerations:
• Open to all writers.
• Stories–about family–not to exceed 12,000 words.
• This category has stimulated lots of questions about fiction/nonfiction/creative nonfiction, since many people have significant real-life stories they want to write. It seems to us that a substantial proportion of fiction submissions are heavily rooted in actual experience, which is entirely fine with us, but we do want stories to READ like fiction and anything we publish is presented as fiction.

We look forward to reading your work!

Editors of Glimmer Train Stories and Writers Ask

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I don’t usually promote non-fiction, but non-fiction writers are still writers…

Wake Now Discover is calling for submissions to an anthology.

We are seeking creative nonfiction, personal essays, literary true stories that together provide a pro-peace Jewish-American perspective on Israel. The stories themselves can be as unique as each of our voices: from essays directly related to experiences in Israel or elsewhere with Israelis and Palestinians, to tales of peace work here in the U.S., or narratives about personal insight or transformation regarding the occupation and the Arab-Israeli conflict.

Although we welcome the widest variety of submissions, each must be pro-peace and/or in opposition to the Israeli occupation and oppression of the Palestinian people. It must be free of prejudice or hateful language. Our goal is to engage, inform, and provide a forum for Jewish-American voices on peace.

Please read the guidelines to the right and send submissions to: submit2wakenowdiscover@gmail.com

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Masques

You don’t have much time left before submissions for the CSFG anthology Masques closes. Check out the website for details (and to find out what CSFG stands for).

Disclaimer: Use your judgment when submitting your work to anyone. I don’t have the time or resources to research every call for submissions.

(Mind you, I know Gillian - Masques - personally, so I can vouch for her.)

Mirage Books, a Pune-based publishing house, that has recently released the novel titled ‘Square Circles’ has announced another project - a book of experimental short stories. The stories will be selected from open entries submitted by both, amateur and established writers. There is no entry fee nor any formality.

A publishing house set up to combat the monopoly that exists in today’s publishing world where only known writers get published, Mirage Books has announced a contest for short story writers wherein anyone can submit a story of 1000-1500 words. The stories can be as innovatively written as possible. “We want writers to let their imagination soar free and break the rules of short story writing.

For instance, there need not be a typical beginning, middle and end kind of a story. It could jump between time and geographical frames or it can be told from a different perspective altogether. We are looking for stories that will reflect contemporary thinking that will connect with the realities of today’s world,” said Nikhil Khanna, Managing Director, Mirage Books.

Out of the entries received from across the globe, 50 stories will be chosen to be published in a book form. Each story will be accompanied with the writer’s short bio and photograph. “The basic idea behind this venture is to tap into the creativity of writers who are unable to find a publishing platform for their work. We want closet writers to come out and become a part of the new-age publishing movement,” Khanna said.

The last date for sending entries through email is October 15th. The story can be emailed to miragebooks@gmail.com. Further information can be downloaded from the company’s website at www.miragebooks.com.

*Remember, I don’t have the time or the resources to research all contests/publication opportunities. It’s up to you to use your judgment when submitting.

Continuing on from yesterday’s announcements…

Central Coast Poetry and Short Story Contest

Winners will each receive $500

Their winning work will be published in the Spring 2009 Homestead Review produced by Hartnell College. Note: All contest entries will be considered for publication in Hartnell College’s Spring 2009 Homestead Review.

Contest Rules

Eligibility: Open to all work not previously published. Simultaneous submissions allowed, but you must notify us if your work is accepted elsewhere.

Entry Fee: Short stories: $15 per entry. Poetry: $5 per entry.

Multiple Entries: You may enter as many times as you wish.

Maximum Length: Short story: 4000 words. Poetry: no restriction.

Submission Period: August 15, 2008 through November 15, 2008 (by postmark)

Submit to: CCW Contest
c/o Michael Thomas
P.O. Box 51805
Pacific Grove, CA 93950.

Make your check payable to Central Coast Writers. Please note: entries will not be returned.

Format: Typed, white 8½ x11 paper, unstapled, single-sided, numbered pages, with title only (not your name) on upper left corner of all pages. Short stories must be double-spaced. Poetry should be formatted as you want it to appear. Include a single cover sheet for short stories and a single cover sheet for poetry. The cover sheet(s) must include the title(s) of your entry, your name, address, email address, phone number, and word count for20short stories.

Notification: Winners will be notified by March 31, 2009 and announced in Scribbles, the Central Coast Writers branch monthly newsletter.

Questions?: E-mail to ccw-contests@comcast.net

*****
The Dream Quest One Poetry & Writing Contest

The Dream Quest One Poetry & Writing Contest is open to everyone! This competition welcomes anyone who loves to arrange words into beautiful art or to write a short story that is worth telling. And to all who have the ability to dream. Write a poem or short story for a chance to win cash prizes. All works must be original.

Guidelines:

Write a poem, thirty lines or fewer on any subject, style, or form, typed or neatly hand printed.

And/or write a short story, five pages maximum length, on any subject or theme, creative writing fiction or non-fiction (including essay compositions, diary, journal entries and screenwriting). Also, must be typed or neatly hand printed.

Multiple poetry and short story entries are accepted.

Deadline: December 31, 2008

All winners will be announced on January 31, 2009

Prizes:
Writing Contest First Prize is $500. Second Prize: $250. Third Prize: $100.
Poetry Contest First Prize is $250. Second Prize: $125. Third Prize: $50.

Entry fees:
Writing Contest entry fee: $10 per short story.
Poetry Contest entry fee: $5 per poem.

To send entries: Include title(s) with your story (ies) or poem(s), along with your name, address, phone#, email, brief biographical info. (Tell us a little about yourself), on the coversheet. Add a self-addressed stamped envelope for entry confirmation. Fees payable to: “DREAMQUESTONE.COM”

Mail to:
Dream Quest One
Poetry & Writing Contest
P.O. Box 3141
Chicago, IL 60654

Visit www.dreamquestone.com for further details or to enter!

Remember: I don’t have the time or the resources to check out all calls for submissions that I come across. It’s up to you to do your research and use your judgment. I take no responsibility for what does/doesn’t happen if you submit your work to the sites I mention.

Find more calls for submissions at Creative Writing Contests