Wednesday, September 30, 2015

[Mostly] Wordless Wednesday - Life Finds a Way & Links

A couple weeks ago, we took the Jeep up into the mountains a bit, via Rampart Range Road, which winds through part of the Waldo Canyon Fire burn area. I was struck by the greens and golds of the tiny aspens growing throughout the burn area. Aspens are springing up everywhere; someday they'll hide many of the burned trees. In some cases, otherwise burned trees had crowns of color where a few leaves grew on undamaged branches. While it was a sobering sight, it was also an inspiring sight. Life finds a way.






The smoke around Pikes Peak and the distant mountains in these photos is from fires on the west coast, which made it extra poignant.

Next week I'll be co-hosting the Insecure Writer's Support Group! All are welcome to join. Check it out here if you think you might be interested.

Accepting Submissions:

Crossed Genres will start accepting submissions tomorrow for their theme of Decoration. Today is the last day for the theme of Nonsense. 1000-6000 words. Science fiction and/or fantasy. Pays $.06/word. Theme deadline is October 31.

Hypnos Magazine is accepting submissions for their fall issue. Speculative fiction. Up to 10,000 words. Pays $.01/word. Deadline for this issue is October 31.

The Literary Hatchet is accepting submissions of horror. Short fiction essays, first-person narratives, short stories, poetry, photography, art, and humor. 1000-6000 words. Pays between $0 and $10, depending upon submission type. Submission deadline for the issue to be published in December is November 1.

The First Line gives you a first line and asks you to write a story from that. Any genre. Current first line is "George pressed the call button and said, 'Mrs. Whitfield, you have a visitor.'" 300 to 5000 words for fiction. They'll also take nonfiction on your favorite first line in a story, up to 800 words. They also accept poetry. Pays $10 to $50, depending upon submission type. Deadline for this first line is November 1.

Thema is accepting submissions of short stories, poetry, essays, photographs, and art. Must fit one of the themes. Theme ending soonest is The Neat Lady and the Colonel's Overalls. Pays $10 to $25. Deadline for this theme is November 1.

Microcosm Publishing is accepting "short stories and art on the theme of bicycling and utopias, with a feminist perspective" for their anthology Bikes in Space 4: Utopia/Dystopia. Around 2500 words. Unsure of pay. Deadline November 1.

Devolution Z is accepting horror submissions. Short stories, poetry, and art. 1000 to 15,000 words. Unsure of pay.

Contests:

SQ Magazine is holding a the Story Quest Contest. The theme is Unlikely Partnerships. Free to enter. Six short listed folks will be published in the magazine, and there are cash prizes for the top three. Deadline October 31.

The Insecure Writer's Support Group is holding the IWSG Anthology Contest. The top ten pieces will be published in the anthology and receive royalties. Must be a member of the IWSG, either via blog or Facebook. No entry fee. Theme: alternate history/parallel universe. 5000-6000 words. Deadline November 1.

Eco-Chick is holding their first annual writing contest: women in water. Fiction, non-fiction, or poetry. Up to 15,000 words. Cash prizes. Deadline November 15.

Any of these of interest to you? Anything to share? Experience with any of these publications? Publishing news? What signs of fall are you looking forward to? 

May you find your Muse.

20 comments:

Susan Gourley/Kelley said...

It's great to see nature making a comeback. Hope the west coast gets some rain.

Alex J. Cavanaugh said...

Just think what it will look like in ten years.
Thanks again for co-hosting next week!

Andrew Leon said...

I'm going to have to make a trip up to our new burn area some time soon.

Murees Dupè said...

Poor trees. But it's good that some things are growing again.

shelly said...

Lovely pics. Thanks for the links.

Yolanda Renée said...

Reminds me of the way Mt Saint Helen's came back after that devastation. Nature knows how to rebuild.

Cherie Reich said...

Life finds a way. :)

Thanks for the links!

Meleakua said...

what a poignant & beautiful rebirth~ it's especially striking this time of year- we have a book that is a native american tale about a boy named nanabozho who steals fire to keep his grandmother warm & cook her food so she can eat and in remembrance of his gift to his people he turns the leaves of the trees the colors of fire once a year.. soon the burn area will be ablaze with the new growth. i love the tree with the little tuft of leaves at the top :)

Misha Gerrick said...

It's spring here, but I have to say I'm hoping for some more rain before our dry season (summer) starts.

Anonymous said...

Beautiful photos. Sometimes I think one of my plants is dead, yet given time it grows. Thank you for the links.

Shannon Lawrence said...

They definitely need some rain. I think Oregon usually gets some in fall, so we'll see if they get some now.

Shannon Lawrence said...

I can't wait to see it in ten years! We were told in the beginning that it would take about ten years for any real growth.

Shannon Lawrence said...

How close to you is it?

Shannon Lawrence said...

Definitely poor trees. The pines won't be back any time soon, but the aspens will take over.

Shannon Lawrence said...

Thanks!

Shannon Lawrence said...

I lived in Portland when Mt. St. Helen's blew, but I was just an itty bitty. I'd really like to go back and visit Mt. St. Helen's now.

Shannon Lawrence said...

It always does!

Shannon Lawrence said...

Sounds like a neat story! I always love tales that explain the things nature does. I can't believe that tree is still growing those leaves and living. I hope it does for a long time to come.

Shannon Lawrence said...

I know that feeling. Here's hoping you get it.

Shannon Lawrence said...

My aloe plants just did that. They were dead, but I left them in the pots because there were still a couple living roots. Boom, I've got several new aloe plants.