IWSG & Linkies

Today's the Insecure Writer's Support Group, created by Alex J. Cavanaugh.

Do you ever feel like the only thing holding you in the publishing rigmarole is that you've put yourself out there and declared yourself a writer, so you feel like you have to go through with it?  

I love writing, so that isn't the issue.  But there are days where I look at all the work that goes into publication and wonder if it's worth it.  Do I want to jump through all these hoops?  Is publication that important to me?  Is this what I want?  Did I kill the joy of it?

Then I stumble across a blog where someone's posting that they've been accepted, agented, published or optioned.  Or I pick up a new book at the store and I get a tingle of excitement that starts in my gut, and I think "Some day this could be me."

And then I remember what I want and why, and I get excited and inspired all over again.

Really quickly, before we get to the links, I've posted over at the A-to-Z Challenge Blog asking for feedback on questions you'd like the A-to-Z co-hosts to answer during our introductions when the new A-to-Z "season" begins.  Let us know!

Links!

Accepting Submissions:

Assent Publishing is accepting submissions at various imprints.  See the tabs along the top to check out the different types of stories they are seeking. 

Giveaways:

Konstanz Silverbow of No Thought 2 Small is running a giveaway for those who help her cheer up her friend by commenting on her blog, as well as other fun duties that will earn you additional entries.

Jeremy Bates is giving away 20 free Kindle copies of his book The Taste of Fear to celebrate the holidays.  Stop by and enter!

Workshops:

Savvy Authors has tons of awesome workshops/classes online.  They appear to average about $15-20 per class.  If there's something you're struggling with, chances are they've got a class in the next year to cover it.  Great option if you can't attend in-person workshops.  

Other:

Need help getting your social media organized and linked together?  RebelMouse looks like an easy and interesting way to do it.  I haven't tried it yet, though.

Pretty sure I've passed this website along before, but they've got great resources, so I'm doing it again.  At FundsforWriters you can find submissions being accepted, grants, active markets and contests.

Duotrope is switching to a paid service, due to not having the funds to continue providing the data for free.  If you don't know what Duotrope is, it's a phenomenal resource for open markets of all kinds.  There will be some data available free, I believe, but it will be limited.  Cost will be $5 per month or $50 annually.

Jodi Renner at Crime Fiction Collective put together a great resource for writer's conferences.  The Pikes Peak Writers Conference is in there!

Anything to pass along?  Anyone tried RebelMouse?  Have experience with FundsforWriters?  How do you feel about Duotrope going paid? What makes you insecure as a writer?

May you find your Muse.

Thursday Helpful Links: Writer's Grants, Contest, Fun Stuff & #atozchallenge

Before jumping into this week's links (which I think are pretty awesome), I'd just like to say that IT'S ALMOST THE WEEKEND!!! Despite the short week, thanks to President's Day, I've thought it was a day ahead all week. That makes today Friday...if only!

Also, see my new banner?! Jeremy over at Retro-Zombie rocks! I sent him one sentence and he completely nailed my inspiration for The Warrior Muse! Maybe you recognize his digital signature in the corner of the banner; Jeremy is also the person responsible for many of the A-to-Z banners and badges you're seeing around the blog-o-verse. Like this one:

Speaking of the A-to-Z and my co-hosts, we are hoping to get to 1000 signups for the A-to-Z Challenge by March 1. If you're waffling, now's the time to sign up! If you've already signed up, would you help us meet our goal by posting about it/sharing? This year's A-to-Z is going to be amazing!

Image courtesy of OCAL at CLKER.com

First, we have FundsforWriters. This site lists contests, grants and publications. You can sign up for a newsletter that will automatically bring you updates on these things. Very cool! I'm kicking myself because I know one of our fellow bloggers was asking for help due to medical reasons. If anyone knows who that was, can you send her the link? There are grants to pay medical bills for writers in need.

Image courtesy of OCAL at CLKER.com

There is a writing contest open, no entry fee. They also have an art contest associated with it, so this isn't just for writers! This is the Tarcher Top Artist Competition. It is associated with Penguin and the winners receive $5000 cash and, for the writers, a critique of their entire book by a Tarcher Books editor. Not too shabby, eh?

Image courtesy of OCAL at CLKER.com

This binder from the Novelists, Inc. was recommended by someone on LinkedIn. You will find tons of helpful information in it, and it is FREE! I scanned through it before I downloaded it and it is chock full of information helpful to writers.

Now, just for fun, here's some art carved out of old books (encyclopedias, dictionaries, textbooks, etc., all out of date, I believe).

Weekly Reminders:

Are you devious at heart? That's the theme for the PPB NLAPW Flash Fiction Contest. More information can be found on the Flash Fiction Contest tab at the top of my blog.

The A-to-Z Challenge is filling up fast! No worries, though, there is no limit to how many people can sign up to participate. The sooner you sign up, the sooner you can start getting to know your fellow A-to-Z participants. Click on the A-to-Z tab at the top of my blog or go to the official A-to-Z website for sign-up, information, helpful posts from our team and past participants, and video challenge pieces.

The Pikes Peak Writers Conference is filling up fast! The sooner you get registered, the better your chance at getting a Read & Critique appointment or Pitch appointment.

The Flash Fiction Contest I'm chairing for the Pikes Peak Branch of the National League of American Pen Women is open through May 1. I received the first official entry this week! Now if only someone would submit the first official online entry, I'd be all sorts of pumped!

Anything to share? Anything you'd like me to be keeping an eye out for that I'm not? Let me know!

May you find your Muse.