Squirrel! & Links

Okay, it's not a squirrel. It's not even a ground squirrel. But I like yelling "squirrel!" Because I'm easily distracted.

My husband surprised me with a new camera before I headed up to Estes Park for a writing weekend with a friend. Believe it or not, we actually got a whole lot of writing done, so we didn't venture out to take photos much. However, during a break in writing one afternoon, I wandered around the cabin we were staying in and took some photos of the chipmunks (that were, surprisingly, the only real wildlife we saw). I also took some closeups of plants and flowers that I might share next week. We'll see.

Without further ado, meet Chuckie, the Chipmunk.

We did actually see regular gray squirrels, but no bears, moose, or elk. Someday I'll get a photo of a moose. I've got plenty of elk! This is actually the first time I've been to Estes with no sign of an elk.

I got a lot accomplished on Wendigo Nights, but I've got a long road ahead. I cut about 3000 words, then added 6000 more. Not too shabby, except for the fact that I went there knowing I needed to add about 16,000 words. My urban fantasy is currently sitting at about 52,000 words, post-weekend. Not enough. Sigh.

Accepting Submissions:

Contrary Magazine is seeking original commentary, fiction, and poetry for their next issue. Pays $20. Deadline September 1.

Emby Press is looking for scary atmospheric horror for The Monster Waiting in the Woods. 2000-8000 words. Pays $25 and an e-copy. Deadline September 1.

The Anthology of Quitters is looking for novels that never found fruition. If you started a novel, but trunked it, they might just be interested. This anthology will publish 2000-5000 words of your trunked novel. Pays $25. Deadline is given as Early September.

Sirens Call Publications is seeking short stories for Witches, Warlocks, Demons, & Evil-Doers, an anthology. 4000-8000 words. Pays $25. Deadline September 1.

Briarpatch Magazine wants writing on current issues. Profiles, essays, reviews, parting shots, feature stories, photo essays, investigative reports and articles. Pays from $50 to $150, depending upon submission type. Deadline September 4.

Cracked Eye is open for submissions of short stories. 500-6500 words. Pays professional rates.

Unsung Stories is seeking speculative fiction short stories (and novels). Up to 3000 words. Pays £25 .

Maniacal is looking for short fiction. They like weird and funny. Up to 3000 words. Pays $2, plus e-copy.

The Fiction Desk is seeking short fiction. 2000-20,000 words. Pays £15 per thousand words.

Filling Station is accepting fiction, poetry, nonfiction, creative nonfiction, and art. Paying market.

Any of these of interest to you? Anything to share? Publication news? Do you have any chipmunks or ground squirrels? Do you know what the difference between a ground squirrel and a chipmunk is? I do now! But I didn't before I looked it up (ground squirrels don't have stripes on their faces.)

May you find your Muse.

[Mostly] Wordless Wednesday - Little Critters of Estes Park & Links & IWSG

Had a test and a quiz (pop, except we knew it was coming since today was the last normal day of class...) today! Only things left on my CNA course are clinicals, starting this weekend, finals, then state boards.

Edited to add: Whoops! I almost forgot IWSG! Insecure Writer's Support Group happens the first Wednesday of each month, created by the Ninja, himself, Alex J. Cavanaugh.

My insecurity this month is pretty simple. I've got too much going on, and I have not been making time to write. I worry that it's going to be like this for awhile. I can't let that happen, so I need a plan of attack. I've given myself permission to not beat myself up about it until the end of the month. I've got CNA-related stuff that I'm stressing about, which doesn't end until next Thursday (and doesn't completely end until state boards in mid-September). Then I've got a writing event, first day of school for the kiddos, and a trip with my mom, sister, and youngest brother. When I get back, I'll be buckling down, creating a schedule so I can get back into the writing routine. And honestly, it won't be too hard not to beat myself up, because my writing falls by the wayside each summer. Things change so much, the kids are home, I try to do fun stuff, and I pack a lot into summer. So it's time to tell myself it's OKAY to set it aside for summer. To everyone who's in the same situation, don't beat yourself up! Create a plan of attack. Set a date to get back into it. Create a schedule. Or do whatever works for you.

Now to [Mostly] Wordless Wednesday.

I was going to do an animals of Estes Park, but decided to split it up. Next week - elk! Including the buck I mentioned before. For today, here are some of the little critters we saw on our weekend trip up to Estes Park (which seems soooo long ago now).

This little guy's a pika, and he was intent on studying me back.

Here he was being aloof. He then went on to bathe himself to show me just how unconcerned he was. "I laugh in the face of danger!" Except, you know, he bathes...

Prairie dog!

Ground squirrel (not to be confused with a chipmunk, which would have stripes on its face, as well, and wouldn't have the white around the eyes - yes, I looked it up just for you.

So these were just some of the bitty creatures we got to see up at Estes Park. Next week, elk! (I'm sad I didn't see a moose.)

Now for some links!

Accepting Submissions:

Diabolic Publications, in addition to accepting novel-length works, is seeking submissions for their sci-fi anthology, Ether World. Short stories, 4000 words or less. Deadline is September 1. Pays $.03 per word.

Martinus Publishing is accepting submissions for their sci-fi adventure anthology, VFW-Veterans of Future Wars. 2000-6000 words. Deadline December 31. Pays in royalties. Additionally, they're seeking submissions for Altered America, an anthology. Deadline is the same, as is pay.

Bottom Drawer Publications is looking for short stories for an anthology about Geeky Boys. Please note that this must be a romance between men. If you aren't comfortable with this, don't click on the link. Deadline September 1. Pay unknown (to me, anyway).

Untreed Reads is seeking submissions of short stories for their anthology, The Killer Wore Cranberry: Room for Thirds. Stories must involve "murder and mayhem happening at Thanksgiving." Must be a humorous mystery. 1500-5000 words. Deadline September 1. Pays in royalties.

She Writes Press is putting together a collection of works, including short stories, poems, photographs, and illustrations, inspired by the movie Return to Zero. Though She Writes is a female group, men are welcome to submit. Must have to do with a miscarriage or loss of a child. Will pay a contributor copy, with royalties to follow after initial costs of putting the book out are met. Deadline September 1.

Chupa Cabra House is seeking submissions for their anthology, Invisibility. Inspired by H.G. Wells Invisible Man. 3500-10000 words. Pays $25 plus wholesale price for book purchases. Any genre, but they really like horror, mystery, sci-fi, and bizarro. Deadline September 1.

Contests:

Enchanted Conversation: A Fairy Tale Magazine is running the Beyond the Glass Slipper Writing Contest. Deadline is August 15. Grand prize $200. Your story must involve one of ten fairy tales of their choice. Short story or poem.

Cahoodaloodaling is hosting their first annual In Cahoots Collaboration Contest. Deadline September 1. $50 first prize. No entry fee. Must be written as a collaborative project between 2 or more people.

Any of these you're interested in? Ever heard of a pika? Did you know there was a ground squirrel versus a chipmunk? Anything to share? Any good publication news?

May you find your Muse.