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W R I T I N G W O R L D
A World of Writing Information - For Writers Around the World
http://www.writing-world.com
Issue 3:10 12,500 subscribers May 15, 2003
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SPECIAL NOTICE: Please DO NOT REPLY to this e-mail; any messages
sent to the listbox address are deleted. If you wish to contact
the editor, please e-mail Moira Allen.
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CONTENTS
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From the Editor's Desk
News from the World of Writing
FEATURE: Writing Opportunities on the Road
by Susan Miles
The Write Sites -- Online Resources for Writers
WRITING DESK: Can they claim my copyright?
Is it ok to copy clips? by Moira Allen
From the Managing Editor's Mind
WHAT'S NEW at Writing World/Prize Drawings
MARKET ROUNDUP/Writing Contests
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Get published! Get published! Get published! Get published!
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FROM THE EDITOR'S DESK
=================================================================
Bingeing at the Book Sale
-------------------------
Last weekend was the semi-annual library booksale. Having
already visited the fall sale last October, I came prepared,
armed with two large shopping bags (the big brown-paper kind with
string handles). I filled up the first before I had even left
the history section, and had no trouble filling the second at the
fiction tables. My husband burst out laughing when he came home
to find the table groaning under my "catch" -- 41 books, for a
grand total of $55. I went back on "box sale Sunday" -- all the
books you can stuff into a box for $3. Among other prizes, I
managed to pick up the 2000 edition of the Literary Market Place
-- which sells for $189 on Amazon.com.
I also went "garage-saling" that weekend, and came across a group
that was just wrapping up to go home. A box of books was sitting
on the curb, mostly paperback romances. The asking price was 25
cents per book, but they were more than happy to part with the
box for $5 -- anything rather than pack it up and take it home!
I found a handful of "keepers" and parlayed the rest into $25 in
credit at my local used book store.
I'm not telling you all this just to remind you that I'm an
obsessive-compulsive book-buyer (faithful readers know that my
idea of a great vacation is to visit the bimonthly book clearance
sale in the Shenandoah Valley). Rather, it is to bring up a
thought that occurred to me as I surveyed my weekend "loot."
That thought was simply: "You could never do this with e-books."
Before e-book authors and publishers leap to the defense of the
medium, let me hasten to say that I am not going to launch into
the tired argument of which is better, electrons vs. paper.
Rather, it seems to me that the results of my book-sale binge
point out the silliness of the argument. Neither is "better."
Instead, each represents a model by which "content" is
distributed that can't be duplicated by the other. Rather than
being in competition, or in some sort of "war" that only one
medium can win, the models are complementary. Print books offer
certain benefits that e-books will never be able to duplicate.
E-books offer certain benefits that print books will never be
able to duplicate.
One of the benefits of print books is that they are not simply
"content" -- they are physical objects, which can be bought and
sold and resold and passed on until, eventually, they end up on
the tables of a library booksale. There, one can pick up a stack
of mysteries for 50 cents apiece, and glossy coffee-table books
for $2 to $5. Such sales give avid readers a chance to
rediscover old authors whose works have been out of print for
decades -- and to take a chance on new authors. When a new
paperback costs as much as $8, it's hard to take that chance very
often -- but with that same $8, I can buy a stack of used books
without caring whether I'm going to like them or not. If I
don't, I can resell them, or give them back to the library for
their NEXT sale!
On the other hand, as the owner of more than 2000 books, I can
attest that print books take up space. Lots of space. And
they're heavy -- which doesn't matter so much if you stay put,
but can be a problem if you move every two or three years, as we
do. There's nothing like lifting 40 boxes of books to keep your
chiropractor in business! I would dearly love to be able to
convert some of those shelves of rarely used references to
electrons -- a library I could carry around on a disk or two
instead of a U-Haul. (Of course, I'd probably just fill those
shelves with more books, so the end result would probably be the
same.)
E-books also give authors (like me) the opportunity to PROVIDE
information in a quick, low-cost format. They offer a medium for
reports and "short" books, and for material that needs to be
updated regularly, like my 1500 Online Resources for Writers.
Plus, one can self-publish e-books without becoming a "retailer,"
because one isn't dealing with a tangible product -- whereas
self-publishing in print involves a host of complexities.
Will e-books wipe out print books? Not as long as there are
library booksales. Will the popularity of print books render
e-books ineffective? Not as long as there are niches that only
e-books can fill! It's not an either/or question. E-books and
print books are two separate media that each fill specific needs
for readers.
Now, if you'll excuse me, I've got a box of used books to read!
-- Moira Allen (Moira Allen)
***************************************************************
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NEWS FROM THE WORLD OF WRITING
=================================================================
Harry Potter and the Spycatcher ruling
--------------------------------------
Four people were arrested earlier this month after two copies of
the forthcoming "Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix" were
found in field just a quarter mile from Clays Ltd, the book's
printer. Two 16-year old boys, an 18-year old man, and a 44-year
old man, were arrested in connection with the theft of the books,
which were discovered by a walker in Bungay, Suffolk, who
contacted the Sun newspaper. Lawyers acting for JK Rowling have
issued a High Court injunction against an anonymous defendant,
dubbed "John Doe." The order, intended to prevent whoever was
responsible for the thefts from making any details public, is the
kind normally used to prevent disclosure of nuclear secrets by
renegade MI5 agents. Explaining the ruling, which was given at
the High Court by Justice Laddie on May 7, Rowling's attorney
said, "The true identity of 'John Doe' has not yet been
discovered. It has therefore been necessary to serve this order
under the principles established in the Spycatcher case. In the
meantime rigorous attempts will be made to locate John Doe."
Booksellers urged to tap potential of fantasy
---------------------------------------------
According to new market research undertaken by HarperCollins,
booksellers could be ignoring a potentially immense market by
hiding fantasy books away at the back of the shop and displaying
them together with science fiction. Jane Johnson, Publishing
Director at Voyager HC, says, "It's absolutely overwhelmingly
obvious that the general fiction readership parallels the
readership for fantasy fiction; 86% of general fiction buyers in
our sample of more than 1,000 had read a fantasy book in the last
12 months." HC is seeking to convince booksellers to sell fantasy
as a separate genre from SF, and include it in front-of-store
promotions. Johnson points to the enormous success of such
authors as JK Rowling and Philip Pullman, whose fantasy books
appeal to both the juvenile and adult markets. HarperCollins will
market and package fantasy books in a way that is likely to
appeal to a more mainstream audience. With book sales perceived
as static, HC intends to use the results of this research to grow
the market. "This is a huge opportunity for the trade," Johnson
concludes. "It's a hidden audience, and that's what we're all
looking for."
SynergEbooks to acquire rights to Zander eBooks titles
------------------------------------------------------
SynergEbooks has announced a definitive agreement to acquire all
exclusive ebook contracts currently owned by Zander eBooks. The
acquisition will include several EPPIE-nominated and one EPPIE
award winning ebook title. Financial terms of the agreement were
not disclosed. "It's important to both companies that the authors
are not left without a home," said Debra Staples, SynergEbooks
Publisher and Executive Editor. Zander eBooks will close their
virtual doors for good by December, 2003. "We are happy with our
contributions to this emerging and ever evolving industry, and
are optimistic about the future of ebooks. We are impressed by
the marketing strategies that SynergEbooks has adopted to ensure
the success of each and every title they publish," said Erica
Rosch, co-founder of Zander eBooks. "Our decision to close our
doors derived from our need to focus more time and attention on
our other business ventures at this time."
POD self-publishers rated
-------------------------
PC Magazine has compared six different POD publishers, and
declared iUniverse as their "editor's choice." 1stBooks Library
came in second. In testing, 1stBooks and iUniverse returned the
best-looking books. According to the author, the sample book from
iUniverse was skillfully designed and "showed the best
understanding of the manuscript's content." The article notes
that while 1stBooks Library charges more than many services, the
results are "amazing," including individual cover designs. See
http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,4149,1043161,00.asp for details.
[Editor's Note: Quite apart from the ratings of the various POD
companies, some of the statements in this article -- including
the rather coy line, "We don't call them vanity presses anymore"
(who's "we?") -- have drawn considerable discussion on the PCMag
discussion boards. To read some of the commentary, visit
http://discuss.pcmag.com/n/main.asp?webtag=pcmag&nav=start&msg=22530]
ALA Toronto conference update
-----------------------------
On May 9, ALA President Maurice Freedman issued this statement:
"As you can imagine, the past days have been difficult for
everyone. The American Library Association's (ALA) review of the
health situation in Toronto required a great deal of time and
thought, especially with events and information changing daily.
It is my heartfelt belief that going to Toronto is the right
thing for me and my family to do, and I hope you will join us
there. The ALA Executive Board spent hours consulting with
international and national health officials about the occurrence
of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS). Only after weighing
all of the issues, the Board made the unanimous decision to keep
the 2003 Annual Conference in Toronto, June 19-25." For more
information: http://www.ala.org
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WRITING OPPORTUNITIES ON THE ROAD
=================================================================
by Susan Miles (SusanInJapan[at]hotmail.com)
You don't need to be a travel writer to get a lot of writing
mileage from your summer vacation this year. Whether you write
fiction, nonfiction, are looking for your first sale or your
50th, here are a few tips to keep in mind as you pack your bags
for a well earned break this year.
Check out marketing opportunities
---------------------------------
Browsing the magazine stand or the local bookstore at your
holiday destination will reveal some new marketing opportunities.
You will uncover regional newspapers and magazines you won't find
in guideline databases or directories. Besides the usual
souvenirs of T-shirts and books, my suitcase also includes a
handful of regional newspapers and magazines that I can submit
articles and essays to when I return home.
Writing competitions
--------------------
On a recent trip to Hawaii, while browsing the state's newspapers
over my morning coffee, I came across a number of writing
competitions. I was pleasantly surprised to see that these
competitions were open to all writers (not restricted to local
residents), did not require an entry fee and offered prizes of
substantial value. I had missed the deadline for two
competitions; however there was sufficient contact information to
allow me to follow up with the organizers on my return home and
plan for next year. The information on one competition caught my
eye as it included the winning entries, providing a good chance
to read and learn what makes an award winning entry. I have also
found writing and photography competitions in in-flight
magazines, regional magazines, and local tourist guides.
Ideas for future articles/essays
--------------------------------
My vacation can often inspire me with an idea for an article. It
might be an interesting piece of local history, a passing comment
from a fellow traveler, or a quirky observation. These ideas may
not yield an entire piece but be useful as item in an article on
a related theme. For example, I don't think I can write an entire
article about the Hawaiian Christmas tree I saw, decorated with
tropical fish and seashells rather than tinsel and baubles. But
it may be an interesting example for a piece on different ways we
celebrate Christmas throughout the world.
Travel articles for the non-travel writer
-----------------------------------------
Not all travel articles are glossy, photo-packed features of
exotic locations. They can be hints on how to pack, save money,
or simply navigate the airport without losing your luggage or
your mind! The best way to build a file of these ideas is from
your own personal experience and observations. I learned and
confirmed how to make a successful insurance claim when I lost a
camera on one trip and a pair of sunglasses on another. I knew
this hint would make a great travel article when I found myself
repeating this tip to experienced travelers and even tour
providers who were unaware of this simple yet effective approach.
Meet fellow writers
-------------------
I confess, I don't actually know many writers. Because I live in
a small city in Japan, it's not surprising that my local
community center doesn't have a writers group for me to join. But
my vacations sometimes give me the opportunity to meet and talk
with other writers. Strolling into a bookstore (to check out
those regional newspapers and magazines), I often find
announcements on the notice board for presentations by a local
writer. Even at popular tourist attractions, I have come across
writers conducting book signings who love to talk about their
writing experience with a fellow sufferer!
Develop fiction characters and settings
---------------------------------------
I need all the help I can get when it comes to writing fiction. I
struggle to find new ways to make my characters act in realistic
and interesting fashions that will engage my readers. What better
way to get ideas for my characters than a bit of good old
fashioned people watching while I am on vacation? Either at the
airport, sitting at an outside cafe or just by the hotel pool, I
have picked up interesting lines of dialogue, mannerisms and
character descriptions to incorporate into my fiction writing.
For example, as I looked out from my hotel balcony one evening
during a beach vacation, I noticed the rocky shorefront with a
short jetty -- the perfect setting for the couple in my latest
love story to "stumble" into each other.
But I'm not going on a vacation this year!
------------------------------------------
You can still make use of these ideas, particularly the first
three, if you are planning on having visitors from out of state
or overseas during the summer. Your guests will love you if you
suggest a simple, inexpensive gift that you would appreciate.
Simply ask your friends to bring you one or two of their local
publications for you to glean marketing opportunities or
competitions from.
So where did I write this article? Waiting for a flight at Inchon
International airport in Seoul, mid-air on a flight between Maui
and The Big Island of Hawaii, and the foyer of the Outrigger Reef
hotel, Oahu!
>>-----------------------------------------------------<<
Susan Miles is a Communication Specialist from Melbourne,
Australia, currently located in Chiba, Japan. Susan specializes
in travel, sports, lifestyle, and writing articles for
publications in Canada, the US, and Australia. Her recent
articles on Japan and South Korea have appeared in The Toronto
Star, St Petersburg Times (Florida), GoNomad.com, and Transitions
Abroad.
Copyright (c) 2003 by Susan Miles
****************************************************************
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THE WRITE SITES
=================================================================
Poetry Book and Chapbook Contests
---------------------------------
Exactly what it says!
http://www.zoopress.org/zoo_othercontests.html
Firstwriter.com
---------------
A UK writing site with loads of resources, including articles,
contests, markets and more.
http://www.firstwriter.com
Tips for Book Reviews
---------------------
Suggestions about how to contact reviewers (and a few things NOT
to do).
http://www.murdermustadvertise.com/FAQ/Reviews.html
Erotica Readers and Writers Association
---------------------------------------
Tips for erotica writers; info for readers.
http://www.erotica-readers.com
Artist Colonies and Residency Programs
--------------------------------------
This list includes artist in residence programs, artist colonies,
and retreat programs all over the world.
http://washingtonart.com/beltway/resid1.html
Trade Book Publishing Agreement Checklist
-----------------------------------------
A summary of clauses to expect (and possibly negotiate) in a book
contract.
http://copylaw.com/forms/pubchk.html
*****************************************************************
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THE WRITING DESK
=================================================================
by Moira Allen (Moira Allen)
Can They Claim My Copyright?
----------------------------
Q: I have been publishing articles as a freelance writer with a
particular magazine for over a year. Next to the table of
contents of this magazine, in small print, there is a statement
saying basically that they claim all rights in all media for any
article or photo or material published in their magazine. I have
never signed any kind of a contract for the articles I have
published. We had an email agreement as to price only, and I have
been paid for every article. Do they have a right to assume that
I know their policy based on this small note in their magazine?
Or is there some default if I have not signed any contract? Have
I sold all rights without signing anything?
A: A statement like this printed in a magazine does not
constitute a contract. It is not an agreement that has been
signed between the publication and the author. It is no more
binding than, say, a set of writer's guidelines. Writer's
guidelines are useful in telling you up front what rights are
required -- but a publication can CHANGE their terms even though
the older guidelines reflect different terms.
However, are you sure you're not looking at the "collective
copyright" statement of the magazine? Most magazines have a
copyright statement that says that all material within the
magazine is covered by the magazine's copyright. However, this
statement simply reflects the publication AS A WHOLE, as an
entity -- it does NOT affect the copyright ownership of the
individual materials (articles, photos, whatever) within the
publication. It means that the magazine can reissue that same
publication in exactly the same form, and that the publisher OWNS
the magazine issue "as is", but it does not mean that authors
have transferred their copyright ownership to the magazine.
If the statement specifically claims "all rights," again, it's
not a contract, so it's not binding. If they aren't aware of
that, well, that's their loss and your gain! You cannot transfer
all rights without a legal agreement -- more specifically, no
publisher can claim that they have ACQUIRED all rights from you
in the absence of a legal contract. Without such a contract, the
only rights that the publisher can ASSUME to have transferred are
first rights, or FNASR, or one-time rights, depending on the
nature of the material and the publication. That was established
once and for all in the Tasini case!
Is It OK to Copy Clips?
-----------------------
Q: Sorry to muddy the waters, but I tend to question your advice
about "copying" magazines and sending them out to editors.
Technically, it is illegal to copy magazine articles and send
them to someone. I realize that in most cases, this would
(should) not be a problem -- but, it is the one case in which you
get sued for doing this that worries me.
A: Thus far, I have never heard anyone question the "right" of a
writer to send clips or photocopies of articles, AS clips, as
this is not in any sense an attempt to "publish" the material.
Magazines themselves are well aware that writers use tearsheets;
magazines themselves send out tearsheets to advertisers, so this
is a commonly accepted industry practice. Since a lawsuit
requires that the plaintiff show some form of "damage", no
infringement lawsuit of this nature would ever be accepted by a
lawyer -- as a lawyer would have to be able to show that, by
sending a clip to a publication as part of the process of
querying, a writer was "damaging" the original magazine through a
form of infringement.
I suspect, if pressed, one would be able to make a case of "fair
use" in such a matter. It's not something that I would ever
advise a writer to worry about!
>>-----------------------------------------------------<<
Moira Allen is the author of "The Writer's Guide to Queries,
Pitches and Proposals," "Writing.com: Creative Internet
Strategies to Advance Your Writing Career" (second edition
forthcoming in May 2003), and "1500 Online Resources for
Writers." For details, visit:
http://www.writing-world.com/moira/index.shtml
Copyright (c) 2003 by Moira Allen
*****************************************************************
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FROM THE MANAGING EDITOR'S MIND
=================================================================
A young adult novel not yet released in the US has already
incited a firestorm of controversy.
Randa Ghazy, an Italian teenager of Egyptian-Muslim heritage,
entered her short story about the Israeli-Palestinian conflict in
a contest. She didn't win, but her story impressed one of the
judges, an editor, who asked her to expand it into a novel. In
April 2002, 16-year old Ghazy's, "Dreaming of Palestine" was
published by Italian publisher, Fabbri Editori. It is worth
noting here that Ghazy's mother is an executive with the
publishing company. The novel follows the lives of six young
Palestinians who have lost family members in confrontations with
Israeli solders. One of the characters kills himself and five
Israeli solders in a suicide bombing. Ghazy, who has never been
to the Palestinian territories and had never met a Palestinian
until after her book was published, has claimed she relied on
newspaper and TV reports for her research.
When the French edition was published in November, Rabbi Abraham
Cooper, associate dean of the Simon Wiesenthal Center, and other
anti-racism activists pressured the government to ban the book,
citing a 1949 law that prohibits forms of expression that promote
violence and hate among minors. The book has also been published
in Egypt, Germany and Norway, and will be published in the US
this year by George Braziller, Inc., a small independent
publisher. Rabbi Cooper has promised to organize massive protests
against the American edition. Already the current College Art
Association newsletter contains a letter to the editor signed by
53 students and scholars criticizing the book's content.
Does this bubbling controversy amount to "much ado about
nothing"? A typical teen, Ghazy has called the criticism
"stupid." She may be right. "Dreaming of Palestine" is, after
all, a work of fiction, the product of a young girl's
imagination, published by her mother's employer. At a time when
parents and educators worry about kids spending too much time
watching MTV and playing video games, perhaps we should be
applauding a young writer's effort to understand world conflict
by writing a book about it.
-- Peggy Tibbetts (peggyt[at]siltnet.net)
*****************************************************************
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WHAT'S NEW AT WRITING-WORLD.COM
=================================================================
NEW ARTICLES:
-------------
The Buddy System, by Carol Sjostrom Miller
http://www.writing-world.com/basics/buddy.shtml
The Elephant in the Room: Marketing Your Children's Manuscript,
by Peggy Tibbetts
http://www.writing-world.com/children/elephant.shtml
How to succeed writing Spanish-language greeting cards,
by Susanna Baughman
http://www.writing-world.com/poetry/spanish.shtml
What Do Editors Want? by Laura Backes
http://www.writing-world.com/children/backes.shtml
Writing for the Gaming Industry, by Melissa Brewer
http://www.writing-world.com/freelance/games.html
*****************************************************************
MARKET ROUNDUP
=================================================================
CALL FOR SUBMISSIONS
FREE SPIRIT PUBLISHING
217 Fifth Avenue North, Suite 200, Minneapolis, MN 55401-1299
EMAIL: help4kids[at]freespirit.com
URL: http://www.freespirit.com
Our mission is to provide children and teens with the tools they
need to succeed in life and to make a difference in the world. We
publish high-quality nonfiction books for children and teens,
parents, teachers, counselors, and others who live with or work
with young people. We publish books and creative learning tools
in three main areas: (1) self-help for children and teens, (2)
enrichment activities for classroom teachers and youth workers,
and (3) successful parenting and teaching strategies. Our
award-winning books are recognized and respected for their
creative, practical, jargon-free, and solution-based focus. Your
idea might be precisely what we're looking for. Or we might
request revisions to your proposal. Please see the submission
guidelines at our web site.
LENGTH: No word length requirements
PAYMENT: Advance plus royalty
RIGHTS: Exclusive rights
REPRINTS: No
SUBMISSIONS: Query first by mail. Include your relevant
background, subject of expertise, brief overview, outline or
table of contents, and at least two sample chapters. Queries
only, not full proposals, are accepted by email.
GUIDELINES: http://www.freespirit.com/html/c_author_nf.html
>>-----------------------------------------------------<<
CALL FOR SUBMISSIONS
BLUE MOUNTAIN ARTS
Suzanne Moore, Editor
SPS Studios, Inc., PO Box 1007, Boulder, CO 80306
EMAIL: editorial[at]spsstudios.com
URL: http://www.sps.com
SPS Studios, Inc., publishers of Blue Mountain Arts products, is
interested in reviewing poetry and writings that would be
appropriate for greeting cards. We strongly suggest that you
familiarize yourself with Blue Mountain Arts products before
submitting material. We like to receive original, sensitive
poetry and prose on love, friendship, family, philosophies, and
any other topic that one person might want to communicate or
share with another person. Writings on special occasions
(birthday, anniversary, graduation, etc.) as well as the
challenges, difficulties, and aspirations of life are also
considered. Important note: Because of the large volume of poetry
we receive written to mothers, sons, and daughters, we are
accepting only highly original and creative poetry that expresses
new thoughts and sentiments on these themes. Poetry should be
about real emotions and feelings written from your personal
experience. We suggest that you have someone in mind (a friend,
relative, etc.) as you write. The majority of the poetry we
publish does not rhyme.
LENGTH: No word limit
PAYMENT: $300/poem to publish it on a greeting card and other
products; $50/poem for one-time use in a book
RIGHTS: Worldwide exclusive rights
REPRINTS: No
SUBMISSIONS: We prefer that mailed manuscripts be typewritten,
one poem per page. You may submit as many poems at one time as
you wish. Email submissions are welcome. No attachments. If you
are submitting more than one poem at a time, please include all
of them in one message.
GUIDELINES: To request a copy of our writer's guidelines, send
email to: editorial[at]spsstudios.com
>>-----------------------------------------------------<<
HAUNTED ENCOUNTERS
PO Box 600745, Dallas, TX 75360-0745
EMAIL: editor[at]atriadpress.com
URL: http://www.atriadpress.com
Haunted Encounters is a series of books, each with a different
theme. The next titles in the series are Real-Life Stories of:
Childhood Memories; Departed Family & Friends; Departed Pets. A
submission that is not selected for one volume may be appropriate
for another. Please understand that a delay in a story's
acceptance is not necessarily a rejection. To be considered for
publication, a submission should be based on a true, supernatural
encounter that you have personally experienced. Please note that
this series features supernatural encounters with ghosts,
spirits, etc. Stories regarding monsters, aliens, angels, or any
non-ghostly entities are not appropriate for this series. Photos
relating to the story will be considered, although are not
required. Please send story without photos initially, but note
what photos are available to accompany it.
DEADLINE: June 30, 2003
LENGTH: 1000-2000 words
PAYMENT: $50, plus copy of book
RIGHTS: Author grants rights to the story to the publisher for as
long as the book remains in print. To use the story in print or
other media, contact Atriad Press for approval.
REPRINTS: No
SUBMISSIONS: Submit by mail or email, although email submissions
are preferred.
GUIDELINES: http://www.atriadpress.com/guide.htm
>>-----------------------------------------------------<<
"FNASR": First North American Serial Rights, "SASE":
self-addressed, stamped envelope, "GL": guidelines. If you have
questions about rights, please see "Rights: What They Mean and
Why They're Important"
http://www.writing-world.com/rights/rights.shtml
Please send Market News to: peggyt[at]siltnet.net
*****************************************************************
WRITING CONTESTS
=================================================================
This section lists contests that charge no entry fees. Send new
contest information to Jose Aniceto (jeb_aniceto[at]mail2me.com.au).
For more contests, check our online contests section (170 new
contests added this month!)
http://www.writing-world.com/contests/index.shtml
>>-----------------------------------------------------<<
Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix Contest
DEADLINE: May 26, 2003
GENRE: Essay
OPEN TO: US residents 18 and under, as of May 21, 2003
LENGTH: 300 words or less
THEME: "If you could have one special power taught at Hogwarts,
what would it be and why?" Entries will be judged based on
originality and clarity, and how well the entry communicates the
desired special power and why the entrant would want that power.
All entries must include the parental consent statement and be
signed by a parent/legal guardian or the entry will be rejected.
One entry per person.
PRIZES: Ten grand prize winners and one parent/legal guardian per
winner will be flown to London, England on June 24, 2003 and
return on June 27, 2003.
ELECTRONIC ENTRY: No
ADDRESS: Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix Contest,
Scholastic Inc, 557 Broadway, New York, NY 10012
URL: http://www.scholastic.com/harrypotter/essay.htm
>>-----------------------------------------------------<<
Bordighera Poetry Prize
DEADLINE: May 31, 2003
GENRE: Poetry
OPEN TO: American poets of Italian ancestry
LENGTH: 48 pages or less
THEME: Bordighera, Inc. is dedicated to finding the best
manuscripts of poetry in English by an American poet of Italian
descent, to be translated upon selection by the judges into
quality translations of modern Italian, for the benefit of
American poets of Italian ancestry and the preservation of the
Italian language. The poet must be a U.S. Citizen, but the
translator may be an Italian native speaker, not necessarily a US
citizen. The poet may translate his/her own work if bilingually
qualified. Submission may be made in English only or bilingually.
Please see our online submission guidelines.
PRIZES: $1,000 to the winning poet; $1,000 for a commissioned
translator, and book publication in bilingual edition
ELECTRONIC ENTRY: No
ADDRESS: Daniela Gioseffi & Alfredo de Palchi, Founders, Box 8G,
57 Montague Street, Brooklyn Heights, NY 11201-3356
URL: http://www.gioseffi.com/Prize.html
>>-----------------------------------------------------<<
Voices Anthology Poetry Contest
DEADLINE: June 1, 2003
GENRE: Poetry
OPEN TO: All
LENGTH: No word limit
THEME: The Voices Anthologies are just one of the ways for you to
express yourself at Voices Network. We offer our publications for
sale to the general public after the contests are over to raise
money to run this web site operation. Please submit one entry per
person. Approximately 55% of the works are accepted. Poems are
divided by age. Younger children are judged by less stringent
requirements; as the age of the poet goes up so do the standards
for selection. Editors look for originality, rhythmic sounds,
rhymes, and audience appeal.
PRIZE: 1st Place: $100; 2nd Place: $50; 3rd Place: $25
ELECTRONIC ENTRY: Use the submission form at the web site:
http://www.voicesnet.com/Entry.htm
URL: http://www.voicesnet.com/our_publications.htm
>>-----------------------------------------------------<<
2003 Chicano/Latino Literary Prize
DEADLINE: June 1, 2003
GENRE: Novel
OPEN TO: US citizen or permanent resident
LENGTH: 225 typed, double-spaced pages minimum
THEME: The Department of Spanish and Portuguese at the University
of California, Irvine invites submissions for the 29th Annual
Chicano/Latino Literary Prize. We are now accepting entries in
the genre of novel.
PRIZES: 1st Place: $1,000, publication of the novel if not under
previous contract, and transportation to Irvine to receive the
award; 2nd Place: $500; 3rd Place: $250
ELECTRONIC ENTRY: No
ADDRESS: Chicano/Latino Literary Prize, University of California,
Irvine Dept. of Spanish and Portuguese, 322 Humanities Hall,
Irvine, CA 92697-5275
EMAIL: cllp[at]uci.edu
URL:
http://www.hnet.uci.edu/spanishandportuguese/cllp/rules-novel.htm
>>-----------------------------------------------------<<
9th Chiaroscuro Short Story Contest
DEADLINE: June 15, 2003
GENRE: Short story
OPEN TO: All
LENGTH: 5,000 words or less
THEME: Dark. Well-written. No reprints. No simultaneous
submissions. No multiple submissions. Winners and honorable
mentions will be announced by July 1, 2003.
PRIZES: Publication in Chiaroscuro: Treatments of Light and Shade
in Words at 3c/word, plus a selection of horror titles.
ELECTRONIC ENTRY: Yes, RTF or body of an email (with italics
somehow denoted)
EMAIL: contest[at]chizine.com
URL: http://thechiaroscuro.com/contest_pre.htm
*****************************************************************
New Listings on THE AUTHOR'S BOOKSHELF:
---------------------------------------
1500 Online Resources for Writers, by Moira Allen
Daily Affirmations for Forgiving and Moving On,
by Tian Dayton, Ph.D.
It Had to Be Us, by Harry and Elizabeth Lawrence
Journey Through Womanhood, by Tian Dayton, Ph.D.
Let's Get Financial Savvy! From Debt-Free to Investing With Ease,
by Dr. Lois Center-Shabazz
The Magic of Forgiveness, by Tian Dayton, Ph.D.
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the FREE inspirational/how-to emagazine for women writers. Send
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Chapter near you. Contact us if you'd like to start one.
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Writing World is a publication of Writing-World.com
http://www.writing-world.com
Editor/Publisher: MOIRA ALLEN (Moira Allen)
Managing Editor: PEGGY TIBBETTS (peggyt[at]siltnet.net)
Web Associate/Contests Manager: JOSE ANICETO
(jeb_aniceto[at]mail2me.com.au)
Researcher: JUDY GRIGGS
Copyright 2003 Moira Allen
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