Wednesday, April 2, 2014

[Mostly] Wordless Wednesday - Lego Fun & Links

Last week I posted some photos of an abandoned old farm in Olathe, Kansas, where I was on a family vacation. While there, we also went into Kansas City to check out Lego Land. They had a great mini-Kansas City set up, and in one corner was Oz. There were fantastic details on Oz, such as having the house in sepia toned Legos to begin with, then putting it in color when it's landed in Oz. The house also got lifted and spun like it was in a tornado. Pretty cool! 

Dorothy's House in Munchkin Land

The Emerald City

Downtown Kansas City

Downtown Kansas City

Western Auto...Duh

The cutest puffer fish EVER!
Perhaps you're wondering why there is a random puffer fish at the end of the photos? Because he was absolutely adorable, that's why! I know, you're thinking he isn't much to look at, but he was so excited by the kids. If he hadn't needed it to swim with, I'm certain he would have been wagging his tail. His little fins were going like crazy and he was swimming back and forth in front of the kids until we left. I thought about fishnapping him, but decided against it.

Now for some links.

Accepting Submissions:

Lamp Light Magazine is looking for dark fiction, both in short and flash form. Current reading period ends April 15. They pay a flat $150 fee for short fiction, $50 for flash fiction. 

Apex Magazine is currently open to submissions. Pays $.05 per word, with a chance of a podcast, which pays $.01 per word. They take short fiction, poetry, and non-fiction. 

Jamais Vu is seeking short fiction, book reviews, film reviews, poetry, and non-fiction. Payment is $.05 per word. Current submission window closes April 15. They are looking for dark subject matter.

Dreamspinner Press has an open call for submissions through April 14 for an anthology, A Taste of Honey. Romantic short stories. I don't see pay mentioned. There are several other anthologies with deadlines about a month apart, as well.

Audubon Magazine seeks journalists to write for them. Open submissions. Pay not mentioned. They expect a pitch first, not a story submission. 

Geek Force Five publishes five volumes per year, each with five stories. Speculative fiction. Rolling deadlines. Short fiction, photography, photo essays, illustrations, and comics. Pay is 10% share of profits. 

Contests:

The Good Life France 2014 is holding a writing contest with the theme of France. Whatever you want to say about France or having to do with all things French, they're game. No entry fee. Up to 1000 words. Deadline is April 11. First prize is a free 10 week online course.

Mash Stories is a short story competition. First prize is $100 and your story in podcast. No submission fee. 500 words maximum. They provide you with three words that have to be in the story. This quarterly contest ends April 15 this time around.

Blog Stuff:

L. Allison Heller is holding a giveaway: a chapter critique by her editor, Kerry Donovan, at Penguin. To enter, all you have to do is like her Facebook page (found at the link above) and comment on her giveaway post. Winner will be chosen April 11, so I assume you have until then to enter.

Of Interest:

If you're attending a conference or writing event, or planning on pitching anytime soon, Delve Writing is presenting a 2-session camp. Say it Like a Pro: How to talk about your book articulately and enticingly. Classes are this Saturday, April 5 and Saturday, April 12. 9-11 AM. Presented by Chris Mandeville. Cost is $25. This is an online class, so you can attend in your pajamas if you want to.

Anything of interest to you on here? Anything to share? Publishing or query news? Any rejections this week? Have you ever attended an online class? Have you been to a Lego Land?

May you find your Muse.




21 comments:

Julie Flanders said...

Wow, how fun! I'm always amazed at how creative people can be when it comes to making stuff like this. The detail is so amazing. I think Munchkin land is my favorite. :)

shelly said...

The puffer fish story was cute. How sweet...

Hugs and chocolate!
Shelly

Susan Gourley/Kelley said...

Love the lego displays.

John Wiswell said...

I love Apex and have been polishing a story just for them this week. Female-identifying writers with a dark streak may also be interested in the upcoming Women Destroying Horror antho: http://submissions.johnjosephadams.com/women-destroy-horror/submit/

Yolanda Renée said...

I think Lego's are amazing, now! When I had to pick them up off the floor after stepping or tripping over them, not so much! LOL

Thanks for the links!

Crystal Collier said...

I LOVED those legos. Actually, we're all lego fanatics around here, and have been since long before Everything was Awesome. (I seriously hear the kids singing that song at least 5 times a day.)

M Pax said...

Awesome lego talents on display, and the puffer fish is really really cute.

Alex J. Cavanaugh said...

I'm amazed what people can do with Legos.

Andrew Leon said...

We still haven't been to Legoland. :(

klahanie said...

Hi human, Shannon,

Off to see the wizard..How as my buddy, Toto?

Love the photos and the puffer fish is well neat. This pawsting fits in well. Lego my Lego.

Again, no mention of blog hops! Are you okay, human Shannon?

Penny, the pawsitive host of the Alphabark Challenge, 2014!

Maurice Mitchell said...

Legoland was amazing, and that Emerald City is incredible.

cleemckenzie said...

I can't imagine where I'd start to build something so great out of tiny bits. Really enjoyed seeing the structures and the puffer fish, too!

Cathrina Constantine said...

My nephew builds tons of cool lego things and won blue ribbons in the county fair. They took him to see Lego Land. This amazes me.

Karen Lange said...

Hopped over from Alex C.'s place - it's nice to meet you! Legoland looks wonderful. My 6 year old grandson, like his daddy before him, loves Legos and would absolutely love to visit sometime.

Thanks for the links. Have a great week!

Robin said...

I can see from the comments that you already know that Alex featured you today.

Love the pics. That puffer fish is too cute.

And the writing submissions are fantastic to know. When will I feel ready to take this plunge? No idea. But I will know where to send something once I do!!!

A Beer for the Shower said...

I've never been to Lego Land but I've also never grown out of Legos. I still have about 3 packing boxes full of them, and the day I have kids is the day I can play with them again without looking creepy and sad.

SpacerGuy said...

Thanx for the submission links Shannon. Geekforce five looks like the real deal! New follower.

Notes Along the Way with Mary Montague Sikes said...

Shannon, thanks so much for the information about places to submit. Nice photos!

Mary Montague Sikes

Mary Aalgaard said...

Legoland is amazing. They have a Lego store in the Mall of America and they always have cool things built. Congrats on being featured on Alex's blog today.
Play off the Page

Unknown said...

Oh my gosh. The Lego Kansas is so cool! I loved Legos as a kid but never built anything nearly that amazing. Nice to find your blog. I came from Alex J's blog. :)

Shannon Lawrence said...

Julie, I feel like there's no way I could put something like this together without plans.

Shelly, I miss that sweet puffer fish!

Susan G., they were pretty cool!

John, I submitted to Women Destroy Horror. Got rejected by them, too. ;) But that's okay. Good luck submitting to Apex!

Yolanda, I was thinking about that when we passed each interactive exhibit where kids could build with Legos and they were all over the floor. I have a "pick it up or mom will vacuum it up" rule.

Crystal, they were singing "Everything is Awesome" around here, too, but now my daughter sings nothing but "Let it Go."

Mary, I tell you, the puffer fish is the big draw! Okay, the Legos are cool, too.

Alex, me, too!

Andrew, I am shocked! If ever there was a Lego family...

Penny, Toto said hi!

Maurice, there were so many cool details with the Emerald City. There was a button you could push and the Lego witch would melt.

Lee, no matter what image I might think I have in my head, I can never make it reality with Legos.

Cathrina, how cool for your nephew!

Karen, my kids love Legos, too!

Robin, good luck with getting to that point!

B&B, haha, indeed! I've found that having kids is handy for getting to do all sorts of things that might otherwise make you look creepy and sad.

Spacer, glad to have you here!

Mary, thank you!

Mary A., I've actually visited the Lego store at Mall of America. Only briefly, on my way to the airport, but it was pretty cool!

Lanise, I didn't really ever play with Legos as a kid. Linkin' Logs, yes. (Or are they actually Lincoln Logs?)