Words by Webb

Just had an experience that cried out to be written about. But after it was sitting on my computer, all written, I wondered what I could do with it? It was a parenting essay but about parenting a college student. Most places that run parenting essays want cute stories about your toddler or tween. Chicken Soup? Cup of Comfort? Nothing quite fit.

The next day my copy of The Sun was in the mailbox. Can you say serendipity?(Actually, I can’t–unless I say it very s-l-o-w-l-y). The Sun’s next Readers Write topic is Rites of Passage which is perfect for this essay! If you’re an essay writer you have to check out the Sun.

If you want to submit to Readers Write(non-paying although you get a year’s subscription and bragging rights) send your essay with your email address and phone number to:

Readers Write
The Sun
107 North Roberson Street
Chapel Hill, NC 27516

The upcoming topics are:

Rites of Passage — deadline Dec. 1
Fights — deadline Jan. 1
Paying Attention — deadline Feb. 1
Rumors — deadline March 1
Cheap Thrills — deadline April 1
Authority — deadline May 1

Book giveaway contest tomorrow!

Normally, my husband is the limerick expert in our family. And no, I’m not going to post any since they are a bit…naughty.

But all you limerick lovers out there have a chance to be recognized for your skill. The Frackville Pumpkin Festival is sponsoring a limerick contest with first, second and third prizes. If you need help with your limerick writing check out Giggle Poetry.

The rules are simple.

1. Must a limerick.
2. Must be about pumpkins
3. Must not be naughty. This is a family festival folks!
4. Must be received in Frackville by Sept. 24
5. On the BACK of your submission include your name, age, address, and phone number

Works can be sent to :

FBPA Limerick Contest

PO Box 261

Frackville, PA 17931

Want to promote your blog, book, writing event? One easy way is to guest post on a blog.

The Muffin, the blog for WOW-Women on Writing, is looking for short posts(500 words or less)from writers about women and writing. Everything from essays to markets to tips to events. Anything and everything! Oh, and you don’t have to be a woman!

Send your Friday “Speak Out” to Marcia Peterson at marcia@wow-womenonwriting.com

Check out the Muffin at http://muffin.wow-womenonwriting.com/

 
While we’re on the subject of guest posting I’m looking for a few writer blogs to trade posts with. I’ll share my followers with you if you share your followers with me

If you have an idea for a mystery book(me) or a completed manuscript sitting on your desk today’s the day for you. I’ve found three great contests including one for debut authors!

Dark Oak Mystery Contest
Submission: 60,000 to 80,000 word completed manuscript
Deadline: July 31
Prizes:
Grand Prize-publication with Oak Tree Press
Second Prize: Manuscript critique
Third Prize: $100 of Oak Tree Books
Fee: $35

Debut Dagger Contest
Deadline: February 2011
Submission: First 3000 words and a synopsis
Prizes:
Grand Prize: $740.60(approximate) and trip to London for two to award ceremony
Fee: $37.30(approximate)

St. Martin’s Minotaur/Mystery Writers of America Writing Contest
Deadline: November 30
Submission: Complete Manuscript of approximately 60,000 words
Prizes:
Grand Prize: Offer of publication agreement with St. Martin’s including $10,000 advance
Fee: $0

Since I wrote a post for the Muffin about magazine fillers I thought I’d give you a few spots to send your fillers.

Catholic Digest

Type: jokes, anecdotes, inspirational, informative    
Length: one line to 500 words
Payment: $2 per line

The Family Handyman

Type: Handy Hints and Great Goofs
Length: varies
Payment: $100

Writer’s Digest

Type: Literary themed humor, tips, news, history
Length: 25 to 500 words
Payment: 30 to 50 cents

The Bark

Type: dog themed tips, how-to
Length: under 600 words
Payment: varies

I Love Cats

Type: cat themed
Length: under 500 words
Payment: $25

Any great filler markets you’d like to share?

I didn’t win Gotham Writers’ Workshops YA Novel Discovery Contest. But on to bigger and better. OK, maybe just different.

The folks at Gotham were happy to tell me about a few upcoming contests and, even though I’m no poet, I’m going to give the Acrostic Contest a shot. The contest is to celebrate the release of the movie Alice in Wonderland. Seems C.S. Lewis was a big acrostic fan. Check out the prizes at The Writer.

I remember when I taught school there were a lot of these for holidays. You know:

Mother

M is for the mountains of laundry you do

O is for the oatmeal cookies you bake

T is for the times you take me to the park

H is for the hugs you give me

E is for everytime you tell me you love me

R is for running to catch the ice cream truck

If you’ve wondering about the Shady Side Review Contest I’ve entered a piece about an overheard conversation. Thank you cellphone technology for making that an everyday occurence–the things I’ve heard while standing in line at the grocery store!

I’m happy to hear about any writing contests you hear about! I’m on a writing contest kick lately!

I frequently come across “found money” in my coat pockets. Quarters, pennies, the occassional dollar bill. I rarely transfer them to my wallet with the “real money”. Instead I let them gather in the pockets, usually until I have enough to buy a candy bar. This is the extent of my financial planning: saving spare change until I can buy a candy bar!

I don’t do much better with my time planning. I have a file in my computer for writing contests. The problem is I push emails about contests into the file and forget about them until the deadline is long past.

But I’ve found a contest that allows me to break both these impossible habits. First, I’m going to use that spare change for something that won’t add pounds around my middle. Second, I’m going to enter a contest. This week!

The Shady Side Review Postcard Contest only costs $1.00(I may still have enough change left over for that candy bar!) and the word count is 100 words. I need a day to think about it but tomorrow I’ll let you know a hint about what I wrote.

I love this contest because the prize is a million dollars. Ok, not really. The prize for first, second and third palce is ten glossy postcards featuring your winnning piece. Shady Side gets an A for originality. they’ll also be handing out the postcards this April at The Association of Writers and Writing Programs in Denver.

Want to join me in NOT missing a contest deadline this week? The contest info is at the Shady Side Review site.

Does every writer have their Mt. Everest? That one special market they want to crack. I suppose the New Yorker is Mt. Everest for many writers. I don’t think I’m a New Yorker kind of gal. Although I like reading the New Yorker, I don’t think my writing is New Yorker style. My Mt. Everest is The Sun.

When I first read The Sun I was amazed. No ads…just words and photographs. And the words! I dreamed of writing like that(I still dream of writing like that).

I’ve never submitted to The Sun. Well, never to the main section of the magazine. Instead I submit to the small section called “Readers Write”. Each issue runs several pages of writers’ short writings on a theme. So I submit to “Readers Write” hoping that if I someday am chosen I’ll get up enough nerve to submit to the main magazine.

If you want to try to climb my Mt Everest you can submit typed, double spaced pieces with your name, address, phone number and email to:

Readers Write
The Sun
107 North Roberson Street
Chapel Hill, NC 27516

The Sun has not embraced email. somehow that makes them all the more special to me. Upcoming themes are:

April 1 — Slowing Down
May 1 — Teenagers
June 1 — The Office
July 1 — Medicine
Aug 1 — Making It Last
Sept 1 — Singing