An Oldie, but a Goodie & Links

I haven't installed my photo programs on this new laptop yet, so in lieu of a new photo, I'll post an oldie, but a goodie, especially as I'm daydreaming of the beach right now.

Sigh. Salt spray, the sound of seagulls, soft white sand beneath my feet.

Good thing I love the mountains just as much!

Now for some links.

Accepting Submissions:

It can be kind of hard to find publications that don't say "NO Vampires" right on the main page, but Strange Musings Press is seeking humorous short fiction about vampires for an anthology, Vampires Suck. They've actually updated their requirements to being any sort of humorous speculative fiction, not just vampires. Deadline is February 1. Contributor copy and possible royalties. Reprints accepted for one less share of the royalty pool.

Aercastle Narratives Magazine is looking for submissions of all genres of speculative fiction for their first issue. Payment is $.02 per word, plus a contributor copy. Deadline is February 1 for a March issue.

Nashville Review is in their open review period through February 1. They take art of all different sorts, but the current window is for fiction, poetry, and non-fiction. Comics, film, dance, music, oral storytelling, and oral poetry are accepted year-round. Pay varies per submission type, but fiction and non-fiction are $100, poetry is $25.

Lightspeed is putting together a special issue of the magazine. Women Destroy Science Fiction is a tongue-in-cheek response to those who claim women can't write good science fiction. I would LOVE to see names I know in there! Deadline is February 14. Pays $.08 cents per word for original stories, $.02 for reprints. They also accept flash fiction at $.08 per word. Submissions will be considered for Lightspeed Prime, as well.

Horrified Press is looking for stories for Nightmare Stalkers and Dream Walkers. Deadline is February 20th. It pays in royalties and exposure. They accept flash fiction, short fiction, poetry, and reprints.

Ninth Letter is seeking submissions of fiction, poetry, and essays through February 28. Pays $25 per printed page.

Dark Continents Publishing has put out a call for Guns and Romance, an anthology. They're accepting any genre. Deadline is February 28. Pays $20 per story, plus royalties of the e-book.

Blog Hops (Don't read any further, Gary):

Arlee Bird and a passel of folks are doing the What Works...And What Doesn't...Online Marketing Symposium on January 20. Contribute your own experience as to what works in marketing online. Also, the A-to-Z is gearing up, so keep an eye on the A-to-Z blog for information as the time approaches.

Unicorn Bell has announced their upcoming blog fests, the first of which is the Love is in the Air Blog Fest, January 20-24.

Anything interest you on here? Anything to share? Publishing news? Where are you dreaming of being right now?

May you find your Muse.

[Mostly] Wordless Wednesday - Going Bovine & Links

Today's [Mostly] Wordless Wednesday won't be one of my photos, but a fun book trailer I wanted to pass along. It's a funny book trailer, and one that I've mentally filed away for when the day comes that I'm having to make one.


Libba Bray will be a keynote speaker at the 2013 Pikes Peak Writers Conference. I'm looking forward to meeting her!

Links!

Accepting Submissions:

Voluted Tales has reopened for submissions. At this time, they are only taking pieces for their main magazine, but will reopen the other three as they go. They are seeking sci-fi and fantasy short stories, as well as some steampunk. You can also submit artwork. Paying market.

Etopia Press, via Bothersome Words, is accepting novel submissions for speculative fiction and romance/erotica (or a combination thereof). Royalty paying market.

Contests:

The Stories Space "Darkness and Light" Story Competition has given their last call, deadline February 27. Cash prizes paid out via Amazon Gift Card or Paypal.

The Fountain Valley School of Colorado is holding their annual Althenaea Poetry Competition. Open to 9-12 graders in the Pikes Peak region.

The Pikes Peak Branch of the National League of American Pen Women (and Yours Truly, the Flash Fiction Chair) is hosting their annual flash fiction contest. Cash prizes. $10 entry fee. Theme: Hidden Amongst These Worlds.

Blog Hops/Fests:

Mark Koopmans will be hosting the Got Green? Blog O'Hop on March 15. More details to come along later.

Carrie Ann's Blog Hops is hosting the Lucky in Love Blog Hop from March 15th to 18th. Talk about your love, your romance and how much you love St. Patrick's Day.

The Ninja's next blog fest has been announced: the Top Ten Movie Countdown Blogfest will take place March 18.

Jamie and Allison are holding the Level Up! BlogFest on February 20. Easy peasy, you just post about a game you play or used to play, and why you enjoy it.

Stephen Tremp, Laura Eno, and Luanne Smith are hosting the National Wormhole Day Blog Hop on March 13 & 14th (Einstein's birthday). If you could go through a wormhole and choose your destination, where would you go and what would you do there?

Anything you'd like to add? Any of these you're particularly interested in? Did you watch the Libba Bray video? If so, what did you think of it?

May you find your Muse.

IWSG - Literary Fiction vs. Genre Fiction & Links

It's time for Alex J. Cavanaugh's Insecure Writer's Support Group! You can join at any time. We post on the first Wednesday of each month.

Some days I feel a bit insecure about my choice to pursue genre fiction, rather than literary fiction. I see award winning books and wonder if my books will stand a chance. Are those award accolades what I want? Do I wish Oprah would pick me for her book club (is she still doing that in some way?)

Genre fiction sells, but does it have the same respect that literary fiction has?

I have so many ideas in various genres, but the ones that really peak my interest don't tend to be the more literary ideas. I did start one of them awhile back, though, and it still swims through my mind, but I had trouble deciding on a few of the details in that one. When I started it, I identified with it, and the character reflected that in her life situation. Since then, I've ceased identifying with her situation, and I've started wonder whether I should stick with her family/life or go with other ideas I've had. These are the things that need to be addressed before I write her story. Had I finished it then, I imagine it would have been different.

That story is powerful. It might even be something that could get a certain kind of attention. Yet my love is the fun and action of the stories I'm writing now. The dark sectors that show in them. And I can't help but be swayed back in their direction each time. Even if it means I never get that certain kind of respect for what I've written.

Now for some links!

Accepting Submissions:

On Impression has a listing of editions and deadlines that are taking submissions. Mix of poetry, art and literary.

Dark Moon Digest is always open for short horror fiction for their publications. Pays $10 and a copy of that issue.

This Mutant Life has reopened and is taking submissions for a 2013 neo-pulp/superhuman anthology. Pays $.01/word, plus royalty share (once costs are recovered) and e-book copy. Open for submissions through June 30.

Eye to the Telescope is looking for submissions for their April issue. Theme: Immigrations. Deadline: March 1. Poetry. Pays $.03/word.

Contests:

Author J.A. Kazimer is holding two contests to promote her new book, Froggy Style. Both go through March 30. Prizes include an e-books, books, $100 gift card, and being written into her next novel. Enter to win at her website. For bonus points, take a picture of you (or your child, pet, etc.) kissing a frog, real or stuffed.

Flash Fiction Chronicles has their String-of-10 FIVE Flash Fiction Contest going this week. Deadline is Saturday, February 9, at 11:59 PM PST. Prizes include cash, online publication, and books.

The Pikes Peak Branch of the National League of American Pen Women is hosting their annual flash fiction contest, with the theme Hidden Amongst These Worlds. Despite the group's name, this contest is open to one and all, not just women. $10 entry fee ($8 for each additional entry). Cash prize.

Blog Hops/Fests:

The Indelibles are hosting an Indie-Kissing Blogfest on February 14. You can make it your own, but suggestions include sharing a romance scene from your WIP/book, writing about how to write a romance scene, talking about a real date of yours, giving Valentine's suggestions for romance, etc.

Carrie Anne's Blog Hops will be hosting the Heartbreaker Blog Hop February 8-11. Three prizes available, and the ability to enter 200 times (if you hop around to the host blogs and comment).

Mary, Suze and Nicki are hosting the Back From the Future Blogfest  March 1. Imagine you've received a box from 10 years in the future; what's in it?

Other:

Book Marketing Buzz Blog made a listing of book marketing and publicity tips.

The San Francisco Writers Conference Charity Auction is currently underway until February 11. Some great items to bid on for writers!

Pikes Peak Writers will be giving a free half-day workshop on Saturday, February 23, all about how to Write Your Heart Out. This will be a sampler of speakers from the Pikes Peak Writers Conference in April, including Robert Liparulo, Lisa Renee Jones, and Kathryn Eastburn. RSVP required. More information can be found HERE if you scroll down. This is my maiden voyage as NCE Director!

For those that can't attend Pikes Peak Writers events in person, we put up four online MP3 Write Brains per year. Author Stephen Koonts is our speaker this month. This month's MP3 can be found at the above link.

The Western Museum of Mining and Industry is presenting a workshop Saturday, February 23, on History and Science Writing for Teachers and Learners of All Ages (13+). 9 AM to 1 PM. $20 for adults, $10 for students. Presented by Steven W. Veatch.

Anything to share? Anything you're particularly interested in that I've mentioned today? What makes you feel insecure? 

May you find your Muse.

A-to-Z Sign-ups and Links!

I was going to post photos from the Kim Harrison signing I attended up in Denver last night, but I've decided to save that for my Monday post, as today we're opening A-to-Z sign-ups (though it sort of started yesterday for those overseas...), and because I don't want to make it so wordless.

Yes, today you, too, can add your name to the A-to-Z linky list in order to join us on a wondrous journey of alphabetical proportions in the month of April!

A brief explanation:

The A-to-Z is a blog challenge that asks you to post every day in April, save Sundays, in alphabetical order.  So on the 1st you would post with an "A" theme, the 2nd with a "B" theme, etc.

You can choose to write about any topic for each day, as long as it has to do with that day's letter of the alphabet.  Some do themes.  Others wing it.  I've done both, but am thinking I will do a theme again this year.  No promises.

For more information on the A-to-Z, you can click HERE.

This year, due to popular demand, we are opening up categories.  You may choose to add a single category code to the end of your blog name when you sign up on the linky.  You are in no way required to do this.  I won't be, as I feel my blog fits into several categories, and I don't want to pigeon-hole myself.  If your blog fits several categories, but you want to categorize, choose the one that fits you best, or that best fits the theme people will stumble across during the A-to-Z.  Please write your code in capitals and in parentheses.

Note: If your blog has adult content, that MUST be the code at the end of your blog title.  All adult content sites must be marked as such, because we may have minors participating.

Here is a list of the codes:

1. Writing  (WR)
2. Books  (BO)
3. Film  (FM)
4. Photography  (PH)
5. Gardening  (GR)
6. Craft  (CR)
7. Art  (AR)
8. Music  (MU)
9. Culinary  (CU)
10. Lifestyle  (LI)
11. Fashion  (FA)
12. Personal  (PR)
13. Social Media  (SO)
14. Gaming  (GA)
15. Education  (ED)
16. Politics  (PO)
17. History  (HI)
18. Science  (SC)
19. Humor  (HU)
20. Travel  (TR)
21. Miscellaneous  (MI)
22. Adult Content  (AC)

Due to the length of the sign-up linky, you can find it on the A-to-Z tab above, rather than in this post.

Also, I guest posted on the A-to-Z on how to make a hyperlink signature to lead people back to your blog.  Please check it out if that's something you'd be interested in learning.

And if you'd like to help spread the word on the A-to-Z, we'd greatly appreciate it!

Hope to see you on the A-to-Z road!

Now for some links:

Accepting Submissions:

Severed Press is accepting submissions for horror novels and novellas.

Less Than Three Press is taking submissions for two different anthologies.  One has to do with messages discovered late, and the other has to do with vicious vampires, not afraid to be the beasts.  Paying markets.

Chuffed Buff Books is accepting submissions for novellas and novelettes in science fiction or science-based genres.

Blog Hops/Fests & Contests:

Beth Revis is having a Paying it Forward Contest with 21 prizes.  Check out her blog for requirements.

Horror Novel Reviews is having a monster short story contest.  $100 to the winner, plus being featured in the marquee.

Screenwriters, check out Scriptapalooza, a contest for scripts.  Any genre.  First prize is $10,000.

New Rocky Mountain Voices 2013 Competition is looking for one-act and ten minute plays for their competition.  Winning plays will be performed onstage.

Sharon Bayliss is having a World Building Blogfest that started Monday, the 18th, and goes through February 3rd (not the 34rd, like I typed the first time).  You can still sign up, even though it has already started.

Other/Of Interest:

Chuck Wendig, of Terrible Minds, wrote 25 Hard Truths About Writing and Publishing.

The 2013 Colorado Gold Conference, put on by RMFW (Rocky Mountain Fiction Writers) is seeking workshop proposals through March 15.

Howard VanEs is offering a free webinar on Cashing in with Kindle Books.  You must register.  Thursday, January 31.

Anything to add?  Any of these interest you?  Signing up for the A-to-Z this year?

May you find your Muse.