Mar 01

Linda Harris Sittig: Our March Featured Author

March 1, 2014

Our featured author for March is Linda Harris Sittig.  Linda has published stories with us in Summer Shorts: Airing out Secrets and also in Leaves of Change. She has also published non-fiction text, newspaper columns, and national newsletters. Linda also has a historical novel ready for future publication. Her strong passion for, and background in, women’s history makes her an excellent choice for March, Women’s History Month. Linda’s writing is heartfelt, close-to-the-cuff, and captures the realism of the everyday trials that make up womanhood.

Linda was born in New York City and raised in northern New Jersey before being lured to study in Lausanne, Switzerland. She returned to the United States, earning a B.A. in History and M. Ed. in Reading.

Linda’s initial reading inspirations were Lad, a Dog and the mysteries of Nancy Drew, Girl Detective. Her passion for history, stories, and the need for literacy led her to publish commentaries on how parents could encourage the love of reading with their children. That led to a 20-year weekly newspaper column, “KinderBooks” (Loudoun Times-Mirror); a non-fiction text, New Kid in School (Teachers College Press); and writing for a nationally syndicated educational newsletter, The Connection (PSK Associates).  Twice recognized by the Virginia Press Association, she holds two Certificates of Merit for journalism.

Her articles have appeared in The Washington Post, The Reston Connection, and The Purcellville Gazette, in addition to numerous professional journals. In 2005 she launched her own staff development company, KINDERBOOKS, LLC, helping teachers implement the best practices of literacy instruction.

Currently seeking an agent for her novel, Cut From Strong Cloth, Linda is paying tribute to an ancestor who in 1860 Philadelphia struggled to become a successful textile she-merchant; while jealousy, deceit, and prejudice threatened her very existence.

Linda lives in Purcellville, Virginia, where, she says, “the Blue Ridge Mountains are the first to greet the dawn.”

We spoke with Linda about her longtime loves of reading and writing, her strong yearning to relate the tales of unsung women heroes, and how a story about a nonexistent dog can be an inspiration to all writers.

 

When did you first start writing?

I started writing in elementary school but became discouraged when a teacher challenged me on a story about our family dog – because we didn’t own a dog.  It took years before I wrote for public reading again.

 

Where did you grow up, and how did it influence your writing?

I was born in Manhattan, but we moved out to the northern New Jersey suburbs when I was five.  My parents were voracious readers, and my father would take us to see where real authors had lived. I still remember standing at the edge of the lane where Albert Payson Terhune lived. He was the author of Lad, a Dog.

 

Where do you write? Describe this area for us.

I am quite fortunate to have an entire room all to myself for my writing. I compose on a laptop which sits on an antique library table that my husband found for me.  The room is surrounded by book cases stacked with all my research and travel materials, and on the top of the bookcases are objects that keep me inspired – like an old miners’ canary cage which will appear in my next novel.  Looking out the window, I can gaze on the town library across the block from our house and make the wish that someday all my books will be there.

 

When you aren’t writing, how do you spend your time?

I love to travel and am usually ready to plan a trip at the drop of a hat. During the week I take a yoga class, and I belong to both a Readers Group and a local Writers Group.

 

What inspires you to get out of bed each morning?

When I open my eyes, the first thing I say is, “Thank you, God for giving me another wonderful day of life.”  Then I start thinking about my writing – really! Even before my first cup of coffee.

 

What are your five favorite books, and why?

I have been a sucker for historical novels ever since I turned 12 and was able to move from the children’s library up to the adult library where I discovered Ana Seton. She was an incredible historical fiction writer, and, by the time I graduated from college, I had read everything she wrote.  I guess I am still drawn to historical novels because they combine my two favorite passions: history and travel.

 

What is the best writing advice you can give another writer?

Study how you can improve your writing, network with other writers for support, and never give up – even if a teacher tells you that you must own a dog in order to write about one.

 

What are you working on next?

I am in the process of trying to get my historical novel, Cut from Strong Cloth, picked up by a literary agent.  In addition, I just sent off an essay on obtaining personal freedoms to a small press, and I am working on my monthly blog, www.strongwomeninhistory.wordpress.com. April will mark the beginning of my third year of writing the blog! I highlight women who made a significant contribution to making this world a better place, but perhaps did not receive all the accolades they deserved. I feel it is a privilege to highlight their accomplishments. This month (March) is on Elizabeth Kenny, an Australian woman whose unorthodox techniques in the 1940s helped many children with polio be able to walk again – but because she was not an accredited nurse she was not revered by the medical establishment. I love her even more because eventually her techniques became the basis for today’s rehabilitation in physical therapy.

 Linda Harris Sittig

 

You can find out more about Linda and her works at the following links:

Website: www.LindaSittig.com

Twitter: @LHSittig

Facebook: Linda Harris Sittig

Blog: www.strongwomeninhistory.com

Permanent link to this article: http://editingandebooks.com/linda-harris-sittig-march-featured-author/

Feb 25

Fee-based and Free Writing Contests, March 2014

February 25, 2014

In January, we posted a piece about the writing opportunities we had discovered for writers. These included fee-based and free writing contests for writers. The piece seems to have been very beneficial for the writers we work with here at Durham Editing and E-books, as well as for many authors who simply visited our blog to take a look at what we discovered. With March around the corner, we wanted to be sure to post the contests for writers accepting entries in the month of March. Some of these may be short notice, but we hope that you all find the list beneficial. Happy writing!

 

pencils-93817_640

Ongoing 2014 (free)

Durham Editing and E-books

Of course, we had to make the top of our own list. We are a small editing and e-books site that offers writers of all experience levels various opportunities throughout the year to publish poetry, short stories, memoirs, or songs. Publishing opportunities vary throughout the year, but there are five planned anthologies for 2014.  The number of pieces allowed for submission also varies per collection. Deadlines and collection details will be updated as publishing approaches. Submission is always free. Durham Editing and E-books asks only one-time rights to publish in the specified anthology, and writers retain rights to any pieces accepted to the collection. We also offer coupon codes for free e-book editions via Smashwords.com for all contributors and their followers and friends. We had great fun with our collections this past year, including Whispers, Shouts, and Songs: Exploring Poetry Through the Independent Voice; Summer Shorts: Airing Out Secrets; Leaves of Change: Lessons on Love, Laughter, and Living; and Wrapped Up In Ribbon: Stories and Tales of the Christmas Season. More information on past collections and future opportunities can be found at http://editingandebooks.com.

 

 

Midlife Collage

Midlife collage holds weekly nonfiction contests for writers over age 40. While we did not see an entry fee posted, there are a good many ifs, whys, and buts in their instructions that writers should read thoroughly to make sure they are okay with the conditions set forth. It seemed like an interesting opportunity for nonfiction essay writers who enjoy writing on a given topic. These topics change regularly, so we have decided to decline to post the topic here since it very well may have changed. Pieces are short, ranging from 500-800 words, and the $50 first prize seemed like a good enticement to give the website a try. We would love to hear from anyone who has entered or won this contest in the past. More information can be found at http://midlifecollage.com.

 

 

March Free Contests

The Carriage House Poetry Prize

Deadline: March 1, 2014

Fee: FREE

Prize: $250 (first prize)

Contest: Poem must be unpublished and contain a reference to a tree or trees, not necessarily a poem about trees. Up to two submissions per person, no more than 40 lines long each. Submit via mail.

Website: http://carriagehousepoetryseries.blogspot.com/

 

 

Binghamton University Milt Kessler Poetry Book Award

Deadline: March 1, 2014

Fee: FREE

Prize: $1000

Contest: Poetry books in English, over 48 pages long, published in 2013 will be considered. Writers must submit three copies of the book along with completed application from the website. Books cannot be returned, but, instead, they will be donated to the university and county libraries.

Website: http://www2.binghamton.edu/english/creative-writing/binghamton-center-for-writers/binghamton-book-awards/kessler-guidelines.html

 

 

The Madeleine P. Plonsker Emerging Writer’s Residency Prize

Deadline: March 1, 2014

Fee: FREE

Prize: Two Month Residency at Lake Forest College in Illinois ($10,000 stipend with a housing suite and campus meals provided by the college), as well as publication of the manuscript.

Special Requirements: Writer must be under age 40 with no major book publication. Poets only for 2014.

Contest: 20 to 30 page manuscripts in progress maybe submitted online. Include one-page plans for completion of the book. Cover letter should include education, employment, significant publications, etc. in narrative form.

Website: http://www.lakeforest.edu/academics/programs/english/press/plonsker.php

 

 

Words of Fire and Ice, Second Annual Poetry Anthology Compiled by Durham Editing and E-books

Deadline: March 31, 2014

Fee: FREE

Prize: Publication in 2014 Poetry Anthology, Words of Fire and Ice

Contest: Open submissions for poetry. No set theme. Writers may submit up to five pieces. Published and un-published material considered.

Website: http://editingandebooks.com/publishing-opportunities/2014-poetry-anthology-words-fire-ice/

 

 

Foley Poetry Contest

Deadline: March 31, 2014

Fee: FREE

Prize: $1,000 and publication in America, runners-up will be published in later editions of America

Contest: Writers may submit one typed, unpublished poem of 30 lines or fewer that is not considered elsewhere. Submit via mail.

Website: http://americamagazine.org/foley-poetry

 

 

 

March Fee-Based Contests

South Carolina First Novel Prize

Deadline: March 3, 2014

Fee: $35

Prize: $1,000 advance against royalties and publication by Hub City Press

Special Requirements: Must be first novel and SC resident

Contest: Writers submit up to three novels. Novels should be 150-400 pages long single-spaced.

Website: http://www.southcarolinaarts.com/firstnovel/

 

 

CWA Margery Allingham Short Story Competition

Deadline: March 16, 2014

Fee: 10 pound

Prize: 1,000 pound

Special requirements: Must be unpublished and meet Margery’s definition of a mystery, “The Mystery remains box-shaped, at once a prison and a refuge. Its four walls are, roughly, a Crime, a Mystery, an Enquiry and a Conclusion with an Element of Satisfaction in it.”

Contest: Writers may submit a story up to 3,500 words long that fits the above requirements. Submissions must be done through CWA website.

Website: http://www.emperorsclothes.co.uk/2013/10/the-cwa-margery-allingham-short-story.html

 

 

Northern Colorado Writer Short Fiction Contest

Deadline: March 31, 2014

Fee: $20

Prize: $1,000 (1st), $250 (2nd), and $100 (3rd): Winners and honorable mentions will be included in Annual Winner’s Anthology, Pooled Ink

Contest: Writers may submit short fiction on any subject in any style. Pieces must be under 5,000 words. Personal essays and creative non-fiction accepted April through June. Poetry accepted in September.

Website: http://northerncoloradowriters.com/upcoming-events-mainmenu-133/writing-contests

 

Glimmer Train Family Matters

Deadline: March 31, 2014

Fee: $15

Prize: 1st prize: $1500, publication in Glimmer Train Stories, and 20 copies of the issue; 2nd prize: $500 (if acceptable for publication $700 and 10 copies of publication); 3rd prize: $300 (if acceptable for publication $700 and 10 copies of publication)

Contest: Stories should be about families and will be presented as fiction. Maximum word count: 12000 words. Also accepting entries for the same subject matter in September.

Website: http://www.glimmertrain.com/familymatters.html

 

 

 

Permanent link to this article: http://editingandebooks.com/free-writing-contests/

Feb 15

2014 Poetry Anthology- Now Accepting Submissions

February 15, 2014

In honor of National Poetry Month, April 2014, Durham Editing and E-books will be compiling our second poetry anthology. We accept poems from writers of all experience levels.

Our goal is to help independent authors increase their audiences. We have found that one of the best ways to reach new readers is to work with other independent writers. Our aim is to compile a collection that will appeal to a wide variety of readers. To do this, we ask that pieces not contain or describe any obscene, vulgar, offensive, profane, provocative or otherwise inappropriate material. They should also not defame, libel, or slander any person or entity. Stories must be original to the person submitting the piece and should not violate the rights of any other person or company.

words of fire and ice3

Submission Guidelines:

  • Deadline is March 31, 2014 at 11:59 p.m. EST.
  • Submissions should be submitted via email to wordsoffireandice@editingandebooks.com.
  • This collection is open to writers over age 18 with any experience level.
  • There is no set theme for this collection.  We are looking for exceptional writing by exceptional writers.
  • Each author may submit up to five pieces total.  (Fiction and nonfiction accepted.) Please include each submission in a separate document (file name: YOUR NAME-Piece title).
  • Each poem should be less than 8 pages long.
  • Each author will also contribute a short bio for the collection. To maintain continuity, we reserve the right to rewrite bios to fit within a consistent length and point-of-view for this collection while using the information in the bio provided (approximately 250 words in length, third-person point-of-view). Please include this bio in a separate document along with your submission (file name: YOUR NAME-Bio).
  • Each author needs to include a written answer to the following: What part do emotions play in your poetry? Answers should be 100-1000 words. Please include this in a separate document along with your submission (file name: YOUR NAME-Guiding Question).
  • Each author may include up to four links to social media or websites where readers may connect with her in the future. Please do not include email addresses. Please include these in a separate document with your submission (file name: YOUR NAME-Social Media).
  • All submissions may be sent in one email. In the email, please include your name and a little about you. Please also include any information that might be helpful in understanding your pieces (i.e. background on the selection if applicable).
  • Each submission must include the following acknowledgement and agreement to the terms and conditions of publication in this collection. Please copy and paste and fill out completely.

2014 Poetry Anthology- Words of Fire and Ice

Author’s Full Name:

E-mail Address:

Submission Title:

By typing my name below, I accept the terms of agreement for submission to/inclusion in the Durham Editing and E-books 2014 Poetry Anthology- Words of Fire and Ice. I also certify that I am 18 years of age or older.

(Type Name Here)

Terms of Agreement: All contributors must be 18 years of age or older. Contributors may submit original work only. If plagiarism is found, submissions will be excluded and original authors will be notified if applicable. Furthermore, Durham Editing and E-books and all other contributors will be in no way implicated or involved in the plagiaristic act. Submission to or acceptance of individual or multiple submissions implicates absolutely no financial agreement between participants and Durham Editing and E-books. Submission to or publication in the Durham Editing and E-books 2014 Poetry Anthology- Words of Fire and Ice does not establish or precede a publishing contract between this company and any participants. By submitting written works for consideration, authors grant Durham Editing and E-books one-time rights to publish any submitted written work, About the Author information, submitted social media/website links, and answers to any questions requiring written responses asked as part of the submission process in the 2014 Durham Editing and E-books Poetry Anthology- Words of Fire and Ice in the digital/print/audio versions of the 2014 Poetry Anthology- Words of Fire and Ice.  Author retains all official rights to submissions and may submit/print/publish/distribute submitted pieces in any way they choose outside this collection. All entries may be proofread or edited for clarity and any/all spelling or grammatical errors corrected, unless such errors were deliberate on the part of the author. No cash or material prizes are rewarded for submissions. There is no charge for submission, and no purchase is required. Electronic copies will be offered free of charge via coupon codes to an online e-book vendor at various times throughout the year, and coupon codes may be awarded as prizes during future contests and promotions. Contributing authors may share these codes with their friends, family, and social media followers. Generally these coupon codes are made available through Smashwords.com. Print books will also be available for purchase. All accepted entries may be used in promotional purposes related specifically to and limited by the 2014 Durham Editing and E-books Poetry Anthology- Words of Fire and Ice.

We look forward to working with you!

Please submit your works via email to wordsoffireandice@editingandebooks.com.

Permanent link to this article: http://editingandebooks.com/2014-poetry-anthology-now-accepting-submissions/

Feb 03

Mellissa Black- Our Featured Author for February

February 3, 2014

We are proud to introduce our very first Featured Author, Mellissa Black. Mellissa has had poems appear in our first anthology, Whispers, Shouts, and Songs, as well as short stories in Summer Shorts and memoirs in Leaves of Change. She has had work published by Storey Publishing (“Mini Craft and Tool Belt” as Mellissa Abreu) and is awaiting the spring release of “Barney” with Fringeworks. Mellissa’s poetry melds the classicism of Browning with the stark intensity of the 21st century. Her stories shift from modern literary to supernatural and beyond. Her voice really hits its stride in the recollections and narratives of her southern heritage. Whatever genre Mellissa takes on, she is, without a doubt, a literary heroine.

Mellissa is a small town southern girl who, since high school, has lived across the United States. She has a BS in Computer Science from Limestone College and is currently working on her Masters in English from the University of Alabama in Huntsville. She now resides in Vinemont, Alabama, where she spends time with her two children, works on her writing, and lives the life of a busy grad student.

We caught up with Mellissa and asked her a few questions about her writing. We are proud to work with Mellissa and have her join us as this month’s featured author.

writers corner mellissa black

When did you first start writing?

I started writing in 2010. I’m not like most writers who dabbled as they grew up. My family wasn’t the type to foster and support creativity. In a way, I’m glad I came to writing when I was mature. At the age of 33, I’d seen and understood much more of the world than I had up until that point. I guess you could say I finally grew up.

 

Where did you grow up, and how did it influence your writing?

I grew up in Westminster, South Carolina. All my works contain southern characters and a lot of colloquialisms. I love the way southerners talk and try to convey that in every story.

 

Where do you write? Describe this area for us.

Lord have mercy. I can’t describe all the places I write. Writing is a mobile hobby, and I write everywhere. I’ve been known to write on anything I can find, like wrappers and receipts. I write at school and at home and most anywhere I’m standing when an idea hits me.

 

When you aren’t writing, how do you spend your time?

I’m an English Masters student, so I am constantly reading. I have to read about three novels (or plays) a week and the corresponding critical analyses of the works. When I finally have free time to do what I want, I am a reality show fanatic. This is the way I study people and come up with characters. Reality shows are my guilty pleasure. I should be ashamed, but I’m not.

 

What inspires you to get out of bed each morning?

Mainly my doggie needing to go pee. No, really. It is her because I love to lay in the bed and think up stories in my head. If it wasn’t for her, I’d be in there ‘til I had to go to class.

 

What are your five favorite books, and why?

Oooo…hard one. I never have a favorite anything. One mood or the other usually dictates what I’m into. I really love Apocalyptic Sci-Fi and Fantasy, though. I’m also a big cyberpunk fan. So, I’ll do my best to pick five.

  1.       Snow Crash (for its beautiful use of present tense)
  2.      Lucifer’s Hammer (because it dares challenge what morals we can afford)
  3.      The Mote in God’s Eye (because it asks what not is better but what is best)
  4.      Glory Road (because every person should answer an ad in the paper and find adventure)
  5.      The Book of Margery Kempe (there is always someone crazier than me…or as crazy anyway)

 

What is the best writing advice you can give another writer?

Do it and do it a lot. Writing only gets better by writing, and you will suck at first and you will suck later, but in between all the suck fests will be beautiful works you will pour your heart and soul into, and they will sing. Never, ever, never be afraid.

 

What are you working on next?

I’m working on several things. I have a couple poems that are slow in coming. I have a Mainstream novel that first was formed as a short story but needs expansion. I also have an epic fantasy that will probably take me years because of the intricacy, but it is by far my favorite thing to work on right now. I have a middle grade novel that my kids are in love with so far. I always have projects going, and I’m sure next week I will have three other things I’m writing.

 

 

You can find more about Mellissa and her works at the following links.

Blog: http://terminalsunshine.com

Twitter: @black_mellissa

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Mellissa-Black/242135835815021

You can read Mellissa’s works in these publications:

Whispers, Shouts, and Songs: Exploring Poetry Through the Independent Voice

Summer Shorts: Airing Out Secrets

Leaves of Change: Lessons on Love, Laughter, and Living

Permanent link to this article: http://editingandebooks.com/mellissa-black-featured-author-february/

Jan 26

Aspiring to Inspire: Our Upcoming Women Writers Anthology

January 26, 2014

Aspiring to Inspire

In honor of Women’s History Month (March, 2014), Durham Editing and E-books will be compiling an anthology of works by women authors. We will be accepting poetry, short stories, personal/narrative essays, and memoirs written by women writers.  There is no set theme for this collection. We are seeking great pieces by great women. We know each writer has a story, and we would like to share the works of women in the independent publishing world. We accept pieces from writers of all experience levels.

Our goal is to help independent authors increase their audiences. We have found that one of the best ways to reach new readers is to work with other independent writers. Our aim is to compile a collection that will appeal to a wide variety of readers. To do this, we ask that pieces not contain or describe any obscene, vulgar, offensive, profane, provocative or otherwise inappropriate material. They should also not defame, libel, or slander any person or entity. Stories must be original to the person submitting the piece and should not violate the rights of any other person or company.  Last year, we released four very successful anthologies of works written by independent authors. This collection of women writers will be our fifth anthology.

aspiring1

Submission Guidelines:

  • Deadline is February 28, 2014 at 11:59 p.m. EST.
  • This particular collection is only for women writers.
  • There is no set theme for this collection. If you have pieces concerning inspiration or women, please feel free to include them in your submissions. This is not a requirement. We are looking for exceptional writing by women authors.
  • Each author may submit up to five pieces total.
  • Poetry, prose, personal/narrative essays, and memoirs by women writers will be considered. (Fiction and nonfiction accepted.) Please include each submission in a separate document (file name: YOUR NAME-Piece title).
  • Stories should ideally be in the 500-8,000 words range.  Each poem or essay should be less than 8 pages long. These lengths are an estimate. If you have an awesome short story that is 10,000 words long, we will be happy to consider it.
  • Each author will also contribute a short bio for the collection. We ask that bios not exceed 250 words. Please include this bio in a separate document along with your submission (file name: YOUR NAME-Bio).
  • Each author needs to include a written answer to the following: What woman has inspired you the most in your life? Explain how this person is an inspiration to you and why you find her inspiring. Please also include how you hope to inspire others. Answers should be 100-1000 words. Please include this in a separate document along with your submission (file name: YOUR NAME-Guiding Question).
  • Each author may include up to four links to social media or websites where readers may connect with her in the future. Please do not include email addresses. Please include these in a separate document with your submission (file name: YOUR NAME-Social Media).
  • All submissions may be sent in one email. In the email, please include your name and a little about you. Please also include any information that might be helpful in understanding your pieces (i.e. background on the selection if applicable).
  • Each submission must include the following acknowledgement and agreement to the terms and conditions of publication in this collection. Please copy and paste and fill out completely.

2014 Aspiring to Inspire Women Writer’s Anthology

Author’s Full Name:

E-mail Address:

Submission Title:

By typing my name below, I accept the terms of agreement for submission to/inclusion in the Durham Editing and E-books 2014 Aspiring to Inspire Anthology. I also certify that I am 18 years of age or older.

(Type Name Here)

Terms of Agreement: All contributors must be 18 years of age or older. Contributors may submit original work only. If plagiarism is found, submissions will be excluded and original authors will be notified if applicable. Furthermore, Durham Editing and E-books and all other contributors will be in no way implicated or involved in the plagiaristic act. Submission to or acceptance of individual or multiple submissions implicates absolutely no financial agreement between participants and Durham Editing and E-books. Submission to or publication in the Durham Editing and E-books 2014 Aspiring to Inspire Anthology does not establish or precede a publishing contract between this company and any participants. By submitting written works for consideration, authors grant Durham Editing and E-books one-time rights to publish any submitted written work, About the Author information, submitted social media/website links, and answers to any questions requiring written responses asked as part of the submission process in the 2014 Durham Editing and E-books Aspiring to Inspire Anthology in the digital/print/audio versions of the 2014 Aspiring to Inspire Anthology.  Author retains all official rights to submissions and may submit/print/publish/distribute submitted pieces in any way they choose outside this collection. All entries may be proofread or edited for clarity and any/all spelling or grammatical errors corrected, unless such errors were deliberate on the part of the author. No cash or material prizes are rewarded for submissions. There is no charge for submission, and no purchase is required. Electronic copies will be offered free of charge via coupon codes to an online e-book vendor at various times throughout the year, and coupon codes may be awarded as prizes during future contests and promotions. Contributing authors may share these codes with their friends, family, and social media followers. Generally these coupon codes are made available through Smashwords.com. Print books will also be available for purchase. All accepted entries may be used in promotional purposes related specifically to and limited by the 2014 Durham Editing and E-books Aspiring to Inspire Anthology.

We look forward to working with you! Please submit all submissions via email to aspiringtoinspire@editingandebooks.com.

Permanent link to this article: http://editingandebooks.com/aspiring-inspire-upcoming-women-writers-anthology/

Jan 20

Fee-Based and Free Writing Contests 2014

January 20, 2014

The internet is both a help and a hindrance when it comes to looking for opportunities for writing recognition. List upon list exist of different writing opportunities. Some are out-of-date. Others have information but no links to find the original site. This weekend, we took a little time and sifted through a hundred or so links. We were able to put together a decent list of opportunities. Some are truly limited in scope and only apply to certain locations or certain genres, and some require a publication from the previous year while others require new material. There are also opportunities that are free to enter while others require a ‘reading fee’ or entry fee.

We decided to narrow things down and create a list that was relatively easy to use. As a result, we hae compiled our own list of fee-based and free writing contests for 2014.  This article is dedicated to fee-based and free writing contests for January and February 2014. Other articles will follow with contests later in the year. All contests for novels included in this article are open to independently published novels and/or novels sold in e-book format. Other requirements vary per contest.

Ongoing 2014 (free)

Durham Editing and E-books

Of course, we had to make the top of our own list. We are a small editing and e-books site that offers writers of all experience levels various opportunities throughout the year to publish poetry, short stories, memoirs, or songs. Publishing opportunities vary throughout the year, but there are five planned anthologies for 2014.  The number of pieces allowed for submission also varies per collection. Deadlines and collection details will be updated as publishing approaches. Submission is always free. Durham Editing and E-books asks only one-time rights to publish in the specified anthology, and writers retain rights to any pieces accepted to the collection. We also offer coupon codes for free e-book editions via Smashwords.com for all contributors and their followers and friends. We had great fun with our collections this past year, including Whispers, Shouts, and Songs: Exploring Poetry Through the Independent Voice; Summer Shorts: Airing Out Secrets; Leaves of Change: Lessons on Love, Laughter, and Living; and Wrapped Up In Ribbon: Stories and Tales of the Christmas Season. More information on past collections and future opportunities can be found here on our website, http://editingandebooks.com.

 

Midlife Collage

Midlife collage holds weekly nonfiction contests for writers over age 40. While we did not see an entry fee posted, there are a good many ifs, whys, and buts in their instructions that writers should read thoroughly to make sure they are okay with the conditions set forth. It seemed like an interesting opportunity for nonfiction essay writers who enjoy writing on a given topic. These topics change regularly, so we have decided to decline to post the topic here since it very well may have changed. Pieces are short, ranging from 500-800 words, and the $50 first prize seemed like a good enticement to give the website a try. We would love to hear from anyone who has entered or won this contest in the past. More information can be found at http://midlifecollage.com.

 

January 2014 FREE

Bethesda Literary Festival Essay and Short Story Contest

Deadline: January 24, 2014

Entry Fee: FREE (limit 1 submission)

Prize: Adult- 1st prize=$500, 2nd prize= $250, 3rd prize=$150; High School- 1st prize=$250, 2nd prize=$150, 3rd prize= $50.

Special Requirements: This contest is only open for residents of Washington DC, Maryland, and Virginia.

Contest: Writers must write an essay of 500 words or less on a topic of the writer’s choosing.

Website: http://www.bethesda.org/bethesda/writing-contests

 

American Kennel Club Fiction Writing Contest

Deadline: January 31, 2014

Entry Fee: FREE

Prize: 1st prize= $500; 2nd prize= $250; 3rd prize= $100

Contest: Writers may submit one short story (less than 2,000 words) on any topic, as long as the story features a dog. The dog does not have to be a purebred dog or one registered with the American Kennel Club. They basically just want a really good story about a dog.

Website: http://www.akc.org/pubs/fictioncontest/

 

Highlights Short Fiction Contest

Deadline: January 31, 2014

Entry Fee: FREE

Prize: $1000

Contest: This is a holiday-themed short story contest for writers over the age of 16. The audience is children, generally upper level elementary school children, so no violence, crime, or derogatory language is allowed. This tidbit of knowledge should also help you focus the rest of the content, as well. Stories can be up to 800 words long.

Website: http://www.highlights.com/highlights-fiction-contest

 

Nelsen Algren Literary Award

Deadline: January 31, 2014 (extended to 2/1/14 as of 1/24/14)

Entry Fee: FREE (limit 2 submissions)

Prize: Grand Prize= $3500; Finalist Prizes (4) = $1000; Runner-Up Prizes (5) = $500

Contest: This contest is for short stories no longer than 8,000 words and not previously published. All characters must be fictional and no mention of trademarked items is allowed. Stories must be suitable for publication. Stories should not include obscene, vulgar, offensive, profane, provocative, or otherwise inappropriate content.

Website:  http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2013-11-26/news/chi-2013-nelson-algren-award-official-rules-20120906_1_grand-prize-enter-or-win-chicago-tribune-company-llc

You can also visit the page for submissions for this contest for basic information and to submit your piece: algren.submittable.com.

 

Imagine Little Tokyo: Short Story Contest

Deadline: January 31, 2014

Entry Fee: FREE

Prize: 1st prize= $1000, 2nd prize= $500

Special Requirements: Specified setting of the story is Little Tokyo.

Contest: Writers must write a 2,500 word short story that is fiction. The story may be set in past, present, or future, but the setting must be Little Tokyo. Selection will be judged on storytelling and best use of Little Tokyo as a cultural setting.

Deadline: http://www.littletokyohs.org/short-story-contest.html

 

January 2014 Fee for Submission

Thomas Wolfe Fiction Prize

Deadline: January 31, 2014

Entry Fee: $15 for North Carolina Writer’s Network members/ $25 for non-members

Prize: $1000 and possible publication in the Thomas Wolfe Review

Contest: Writers may write a short story up to 12 pages, double spaced, with one-inch margins. Submissions can be online or via mail.

Website: http://www.ncwriters.org/news/network-news/4183-thomas-wolfe-fiction-prize-open-now-accepting-online-submissions

 

New Millennium Writings

Deadline: January 31, 2014

Entry Fee: $20 per submission

Prize: $1000 for each category (poem, fiction, nonfiction, and short-short fiction) and publication in New Millennium Writings and their website

Contest: Writers may submit in the categories of poetry, fiction, nonfiction, and short-short fiction. Fiction and nonfiction may be up to 6000 words. Writers may submit in one entry up to three poems, not to exceed five pages total. Works previously published online are accepted. Honorable mention poems will also be published.

Website: http://www.newmillenniumwritings.com/awards.php

 

CYGNYS Sci-Fi and Fantasy Awards

Deadline: January 31, 2014

Entry Fee: $40

Prize: Grand prize= $1000; 1st place= $250; winners also have the opportunity to be placed on the Chanticleer Book Shelves which promote and see the winning titles, blue ribbon, and a Chanticleer Book Review

Special Requirements: Accepted genres include Steampunk, Science Fiction, Time Travel, Fantasy, Paranormal, Mythological, Soft Sci-Fi, Young Adult, and Speculative non-fiction. No erotica or graphic violence.

Contest: Writers may submit novels over 30,000 words long. Novels will fall into two general categories, published and not published.  Self-published books can be submitted in the published category.

Website: http://chantireviews.com/store/#!/~/product/category=5193080&id=21521218

 

William Saroyan International Prize for Writing

Deadline: January 31, 2014

Entry Fee: $50 per submission

Prize: $5000 for fiction and $5000 for nonfiction

Special Requirements: Work must have been published (self-published accepted) in 2012- 2013.

Contest: This contest is for novels, short story anthologies, drama and nonfiction (biography/memoirs/history) published in 2012-2013. No poetry collections will be accepted this year. Self-published e-books are accepted as long as they are available for purchase online. Entries must be mailed.

Mailing Address:

Administrator of the Saroyan Prize Committee

Stanford University Libraries

557 Escondido Mall

Stanford, CA 94305-6004

Website: http://library.stanford.edu/projects/william-saroyan-international-prize-writing

 

February 2014 (FREE)

Glamour Magazine My Real-Life Story Essay Contest

Deadline: February 10, 2014

Entry Fee: FREE (1 submission only)

Prize: $5000

Contest: Writers should write a personal essay based on the theme “My Real-Life Story.” Pieces should be between 2,500 words and 3,500 words long. All entries must be typed and double-spaced and formatted in one document.

Website: http://www.glamour.com/win/2013/10/2014-real-life-story-essay-contest-rules

 

Winter 2014 INSPIRATION Travel Writing Contest

Deadline: February 14, 2014

Entry Fee: FREE (up to 5 submissions allowed)

Prize: 1st prize= $1000, 2nd prize= $500, 3rd prize= $250

Special Requirements: The theme is inspiration, a place that inspires you to spend your time wisely with no regrets.

Contest: Submissions must be in Standard English, edited and proofread for proper grammar and language. All pieces must be related to the chosen theme and family-friendly (G-rated). Pieces must be 500-800 words in length and previously unpublished. All submissions which meet the requirements will appear on the WeSaidGoTravel.com website.

Website: http://www.wesaidgotravel.com/writing-contest

 

AARP and the Huffington Post Post-50 Memoir Contest

Deadline: February 15, 2014

Entry Fee: FREE

Prize: $5000, book publishing contract with S&S for publication of memoir in hard cover, trade paperback, and e-book (advance of $5000 on contract), excerpt from memoir published in AARP magazine and on their website

Special Requirements: Writer must be a legal resident of the 50 states born before December 31, 1964.

Contest: Writers will submit a synopsis of their memoir as well as the first 5,000 words of the memoir.

Website: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/11/22/memoir-contest-rules_n_4317794.html

 

Amazon’s Breakthrough Novel Contest

Deadline:  Begins 2/16/2014, Ends March 2, 2014 or once 10,000 novels have been submitted.

Entry Fee: FREE

Prize: Grand prize=$50,000 contract advance and publishing contract through AmazonPublishing and advance of $15,000; First prize= publishing contract for $15,000. Second and third prize will receive reviews from either Publishers weekly or Amazon Editors.

Contest: This contest is for novels in the genres general fiction, mystery/thriller, romance, science fiction/fantasy/horror, and young adult. Works must be 50,000 to 125,000 words long. The first 3000 to 5000 words of the novel excluding the tableof contents and front material and a pitch of the manuscript up to 300 words long must be included, as well.

Website: http://www.amazon.com/gp/feature.html?docId=1000633821

 

February 2014 Fee for Submission

2014 Memphis Magazine Fiction Contest

Deadline: February 1, 2014

Entry Fee: $10

Prize: 1st prize= $1000; 2nd prize= $500; 3rd prize= $500

Special Requirements: Authors must live within 150 miles of Memphis, Tennessee.

Contest: Writers may submit short stories on a theme of the author’s choice. Pieces may be between 3000 and 4500 words. Stories do not have to have a Memphis or southern theme.

Website: http://www.memphismagazine.com/Fiction-Contest-Rules/

 

 

Phoebe Winter Writing Contests

Deadline: February 1, 2014

Entry Fee: $17 (limit one submission)

Prize: $750 plus subscription to and publication in the Phoebe Journal for nonfiction; $1000 plus subscription to and publication in the Phoebe Journal for fiction

Contest: This contest is for creative nonfiction pieces up to 5,000 words long or creative fiction up to 5,000 words long.

Website: http://www.phoebejournal.com/2014-winter-writing-contests/

 

Greg Grummer Poetry Award

Deadline: February 1, 2014

Entry Fee: $17

Prize: $1,000 plus publication in and 1-year subscription to Phoebe 43.1 Journal

Contest: Writers may submit up to four poems per submission. One submission should not exceed ten pages.

Website: http://www.phoebejournal.com/2014-winter-writing-contests

 

Doris Betts Fiction Prize

Deadline: February 15, 2014

Fees: $10 for North Carolina Writer’s Network members, $20 for nonmembers

Prize: Publication in N.C. Literary Review

Special Requirements: Must be a N.C. resident, member of NCWN or N.C. Literary Review Subscriber with N.C. connections.

Contest: Writers may submit short stories up to 6,000 words long in either Word or RTF formats.

Website: http://www.ncwriters.org/

 

Erma Bombeck Writing Competition

Deadline: February 17, 2014

Entry Fees: $15 (limit one submission)

Prize: $500 and free registration for the Erma Bombeck Writers Workshop

Special Requirement: Must meet the following criteria: “A personal essay ‘deals lightly, often humorously, with personal experiences, opinions, and prejudices, stressing especially the unusual or novel in attitude and having to do with the various aspects of everyday life.’ Phillip Lopate, The Art of the Personal Essay.”

Contest: Writers may submit a 450-word personal essay that has not been previously published in a book, blog, magazine or website.  All entries must be human interest or humorous, preferably both. Writers must be over age 14.

Website: http://www.wclibrary.info/erma/

 

Wag’s Revue Winter Contest

Deadline: February 28, 2014

Entry Fee: $22.09

Prize: 1st prize= $1000 and publication, 2nd prize= $500, 3rd prize=$100

Contest: This contest is open to poetry, prose, and essays. Editors of Wag’s Revue serve as editors in the competition. Sixteen previous issues of the journal are available online for writers to read for free and see the type of material the journal prefers. This contest also has a summer version.

Website: http://www.wagsrevue.com/submit

free writing contests 2014

Permanent link to this article: http://editingandebooks.com/free-writing-contests-2014/

Jan 10

Sharp Axes and Red Pens: Surviving Revising

January 10, 2014

As I’m sure you’ve heard, writing is a process. It’s so much of a process that there are different processes to the writing process. The 4-Step Process gave way to the 5-Step Process and has now moved even further to the 6 Traits Process. Most people get the idea of Brainstorming or Prewriting. And they certainly move on to the Drafting stage. Many of us even remember to proofread (in so far as Spell Check and Grammar Check don’t help). But there’s a much overlooked part of the process that many folks look up with a shrug when it’s mentioned: Revision.

 

When I was a teacher, my students always dreaded revision. They didn’t want to write and rewrite and rewrite until their work was polished and ready for the final draft. One lovely group began to accuse me of deforestation because I was forcing them to use so much paper to write and revise. I would begin class with the announcement, “Sharpen your axes; we’re gonna chop some trees today!” The not-so-soft dreary sigh of depression would fall over the classroom as I produced the infamous Red Pen and told them to get to work. As I made my rounds from desk-to-desk, answering questions, re-reading drafts and corrections, I realized that many of them didn’t hate revision because they were lazy. Many of my students just didn’t know how to actually revise.

 

There are plenty of checklists out there for revising. Most are for essays. Some are linked to narratives. But you don’t really see too many revision checklists for fiction or poetry (Why, yes, even poetry stands to be revised; we’re not all Robert Frost, nor are we Jack Kerouac). I put together a launch pad of sorts to help to guide revision in creative writing.

 

  1. Will the beginning catch my reader’s interest? The first words are just as important as the last words. The best beginning line I’ve ever read is from Charles Bukowski’s Post Office: “It began as a mistake.”
  2. Have I covered the who, when, and where? You know your character (I hope), and you want to make sure that your audience does too.
  3. Have I eliminated repetitious information? There’s nothing more irritating to a reader than to be told the same information over and over and over and over and over…. Get the idea?
  4. Have I included enough information for clarity? Even short short stories and haikus should have enough in the lines to let the reader know clearly what’s going on.
  5. Are my sentences clear and precise? There’s only one Faulkner and only one Joyce. Convoluted sentences do nothing but lose your reader.
  6. Have I included enough detail to make this believable? The key word here is believable. Even in fiction, you want your reader to believe what you are saying, otherwise she will cast your words to the wind.
  7. Is my conflict evident? A story has to have a conflict or it’s not a story. End of discussion.
  8. Do I have a resolution? All good writing has a resolution. Sometimes you will have resolutions that leave the reader to think, “What next?” Even so, there has to be resolution in your characters to guide the reader.
  9. Does it have the right tone? Funny, sad, horrific… sometimes they mix well together. Sometimes they don’t. You have to know.
  10. Is my dialogue uncluttered and believable? Dialogue works in two parts. It moves the story, and it gives life to the character. Always re-read your dialogue and even say it out loud. If it doesn’t ring true in your ear, it probably won’t ring true in your reader’s ear.

 

Writing is fun, but it’s also work. You’ve got to put in the work to see the results. Before you ever start proofreading, you must revise. Write, revise, leave it for a while, come back and revise again. Cross your t’s and dot your i’s later. Your sentences need to be clear for your ideas to be clear. Sharpen your axes and get out your red pens. Let the revision begin!

john irving

Permanent link to this article: http://editingandebooks.com/sharp-axes-red-pens-surviving-revising/

Jan 09

Great Opportunity for Indie Authors

January 9, 2014

Featured Author

Durham Editing and E-books is proud to announce that we will begin having a Featured Author each week from the pool of talented writers we work with every day. Every week we will post an interview with our Featured Writer, a photo of him or her, links to the author’s website and social media accounts, and links to his or her books. We would love to hear what type of questions you would like us to ask authors, as well as what other information you feel would give readers a well-rounded view of the authors we feature. We can’t wait to get started!

 

henry miller

Book Reviews

Durham Editing and E-books will also begin featuring book reviews on our blog. We are huge indie author fans, and we truly look forward to sharing our reviews with you. Each review will provide our honest opinion about the book, as well as a link to the book so that you can check out the book for yourself. Since we read each book we review, we are not sure how many reviews we will be able to post each week, but hopefully we can get a few each month. We will also be looking into reviews we have done in the past as well. Also, we will provide reviews on other books we read or have read that aren’t written by indie authors.

 

We hope each of you have a safe and happy week. Keep writing, and be sure to join us on Thursday nights for our online writers’ group on Linked In, Writer’s Crown.

 

 

Permanent link to this article: http://editingandebooks.com/great-opportunity-indie-authors/

Jan 07

Online Writers’ Group

January 7, 2014

We would like to invite each of you to join us every Thursday for our online writers’ group, Writer’s Crown, on Linked In. This is a private group for writers to share works, provide feedback to each other, and enjoy a little time writing for fun each week. We meet on Thursday nights at 7 p.m. EST. Writers choose a prompt, write for twenty minutes, and then share their responses as new discussion posts. Each week we provide prompts for prose, poetry, expository, and memoir writing.

Do you need help with your writing but are not very good at creative writing? You are still welcome in our writers’ group. Writers of all experience levels are welcome to join in the writing and feedback process. You can simply write your opinion on the expository response or tell a story from your life using our memoir prompt. We encourage writing for the sake of writing. You never know when you may just find the right prompt to encourage you to write more.

We hope each of you will join us this Thursday, January 9, 2014. Happy writing!

writerscrown

Follow this handy link to our group: Writer’s Crown. Please mention in your request to join the group that you found us through the Durham Editing and E-books website blog.

Permanent link to this article: http://editingandebooks.com/online-writers-group/

Jan 07

New Year- New Prices

January 7, 2014

Are you on a tight budget but need quality work?money-235586_640

 

We can help you.

Thanks to our loyal clients, we are able to now offer the same top-quality editing services at a new prices that cannot be beaten. Basic Editing is now $0.0075/word. Revision editing in now $0.02/word. We are also adding in percentage discounts based on the number of words in a given piece. Written works 20,000-30,999 words long will receive a 5% discount. Written works 31,000-50,999 words long receive a 10% discount. Pieces that range from 51,000-70,999 words long will receive a 20% discount, and pieces over 71,000 words will receive a 25% discount. You can’t beat these prices!

We hope to help you publish your masterpiece in 2014. Happy writing!

Permanent link to this article: http://editingandebooks.com/new-year-new-prices/

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