Georgetown Ghost Town Writing Retreat, pt 1

This weekend I attended the Georgetown Ghost Town Writer's Retreat. Georgetown is a small town that grew up around silver mining in the Rockies. Unlike some of the old gold mining towns that have become run down or are known more for gambling than history, Georgetown is well cared for and bustling with tourism.

The retreat was pleasant, but I actually only attended two workshops and a movie night (Dead Awake), where the director was present to do a Q&A afterward. Aside from that, I spent the weekend editing in my room, wandering around playing tourist, and hanging out with fellow writers.

I thought it would be fun to post some of the over five-hundred photos I took while I was up there. Today, I'm focusing on the houses and buildings in town. Next week, I'll post photos from the cemetery, train ride, and mine tour.

Before I jump into the photos, I have a couple pieces of news. First, I'll be presenting a two-hour workshop on short stories this Saturday for Colorado Springs Fiction Writers Group. More information can be found under the "appearances" tab. I always love talking short stories, and especially hearing afterward from people who have begun trying their hand at it!

Second, I placed a flash fiction piece this week. Yay! It will be published in October. More information can be found under the "publications" tab.

Third, today's my anniversary! 21 years! Happy Anniversary to my hubby.

All right, photo time. There were a ton of neat houses and buildings from the 1800s, mixed in with some newer buildings. Those buildings on the historical register had plaques or small round signs with the years they were built, including homes people still lived in. It was easy to get lost in history wandering around. As a wild west buff, I even got my share of cool downtown buildings that looked like something straight out of the wild west.

This first house was falling apart. It was nestled between several well kept houses, but this one's yard was overgrown, the porch sagging, and some of the siding peeling off. It looked like someone had loved it once, but maybe they passed away with no one to leave it to, after years of not being able to maintain the property.

The flowers that had sprung up in the overgrown yard were purple, white, and yellow, mixed in with the brown leaves of downed branches, and the faded green of various weeds.

Below was one of the well maintained houses. I'm not sure what year was on the historical marker. There was metal work along the eaves that looked like it dissuade any smart bird from landing there. It looked like the tops of wrought iron gates.

There was an old Presbyterian church with gorgeous stone siding and antique fixtures. It was built in 1874 of native stone.

Below are some random photos from around downtown. 

It was a perfect mix of old and new, well preserved and crumbling. The townspeople (and those working there from surrounding mountain communities) were proud of the town, and eager to share stories of hauntings and history with the hundred or so authors who descended on the town. There were a lot of things I didn't get to do, like tour the electricity museum that included Tesla's involvement, or visit one of the historic houses to tour its hallways and hear about its ghosts. I plan to go back up with my family and visit everything I missed.

Next week, gravestones, silver mines, and locomotives!

Now for links. Bear in mind I'm not endorsing these, merely passing them along. Always do your own due diligence before submitting.

Accepting Submissions:

Chicken Soup for the Soul is seeking personal stories with the theme "Miracles and More" and "Stories of Redemption." 1200 words or less. Nonfiction only. Pays $200. Deadline August 31.

Silver Empire is seeking stories in any genre with the theme "Stairs in the Woods." Must be about a random detached set of stairs. 3000 to 20,000 words. Pays in royalties. Deadline August 31.

Digital Fiction Publishing Corp is seeking horror reprint short stories that appeared in professional or semi-professional short story publications. 3500 to 7500 words. Pays $.01/word. Deadline August 31.

Spider is seeking submissions of children's stories with the theme "Spaceships and Superheroes." Fiction, activities, poetry, recipes, etc. Geared toward ages 6-9. 300 to 1000 words. Pays up to $.25/word. Deadline August 31.

Twelfth Planet Press is seeking short stories about "gender as it relates to the creation of artificial intelligence and robotics" for the anthology "Mother of Invention." 500 to 5000 words. Deadline August 31.

Goblin Fruit is seeking fantastical poetry. Pays $15. Deadline September 1.

Red Ferret Press is seeking BDSM short stories for the anthology "Knotted." Up to 10,000 words. Pays 1/2 cent per word. Deadline September 1.

Independent Legions Publishing is seeking short stories about death by water for the anthology "The Beauty of Death 2: Death by Water." 4000 to 5000 words. Pays $100. Deadline September 1.

Mofo Pubs is seeking apocalyptic erotica short stories for the anthology "Apocalypse." 1000 to 5000 words. Pays $.01/word. Deadline September 5.

Fantasia Divinity Magazine is seeking short stories about mythological creatures for the anthology "Menagerie de Mythique." 500 to 10,500. Pays 1/2 cent per word. Deadline September 5.

Ever visited a ghost town? How about one that was still thriving? Any neat towns you love to wander through and/or photograph? Any of these links of interest? Anything to share?

May you find your Muse.

The Flash Fiction Press, Best Tree Ever & Links

My flash fiction piece, Nice Night for a Splash was published on The Flash Fiction Press yesterday. It's FREE to read, so check it out!

I got out for a hike with the kids for a couple hours in the early evening the other day, and there was this amazing tree.

I love Garden of the Gods!

Now, links. Bear in mind that I'm not endorsing these, merely passing them along. Always do your own due diligence before submitting.

Accepting Submissions:

[tap] magazine is seeking poetry and prose on trauma, mental health, social justice, and marginalized voices. Pays $25. Current deadline April 15.

The Massachusetts Review is seeking articles, essays, short fiction, and poetry. Up to 8000 words. Pays $50. Submission window closes May 1.

Time Alone Press is seeking horror short stories for Let Us In, an anthology. Up to 4000 words. Pays $.06/word, plus royalties. Deadline April 30.

Flash Bang Mysteries will be open for submissions April 1. Mystery and suspense flash fiction. 500 to 750 words. Pays $10. Submissions will be open until April 30.

Graythorn Publishing is seeking science fiction short stories for Dark Clouds an anthology. 3000 to 10,000 words. Pays $.03/word. Deadline April 30.

Alternative Realities is seeking stories for two anthologies: Summer's End (fantasy) and Broken Bones & Ten Dollar Bills (science fiction). 2000 to 5000 words. Pays a flat fee, plus royalties. Deadline April 30.

Liberate Tutemet is seeking stories for a paying charity anthology, Semi-Colonic Irrigation. They want a mix of fiction and nonfiction. This book is to bring awareness to depression and suicide. Pays $.10/word. Deadline April 30.

Memento Mori Press is seeking haunted house stories. 2000 to 5000 words. Pays $10. Deadline April 30.

Aliterate is seeking literary genre fiction. 3000 to 12,000 words. Pays $.06/word. Deadline April 30.

Any cool trees in your neck of the woods? Did you read the story? Ever Submitted to The Flash Fiction Press? Any of these links of interest? Anything to add?

May you find your Muse.

[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.

[Mostly] Wordless Wednesday - Beating the Storm & Links

A rainier than usual summer has been keeping us inside recently, but we got out right before a thunderstorm for an aborted hike at Red Rocks yesterday, so I figured I'd share a couple of the few photos I got before the thunder chased us away. 

Duck, duck, tree.

I love the pattern in the water behind her.

 Babies!

We've had so much rain that the pond is not only full, but there are two now.

Here comes the storm over the Rockies!

I'm having to ease back on computer time for the rest of the month due to my chronic migraine condition, but I'll do my best to post when I'm able and to visit everyone on the good days. Things should improve by September, so I'll see you more then!

Link time! I am not endorsing these, merely passing them along. Be sure to do your own due diligence before submitting.

Accepting Submissions:

Ellen Datlow has put out a call for submissions to Best Horror of the Year. These should be stories you had published in 2015. There is also a section for other forms of horror that came out (novels, for instance), so you can notify her of anything you have that qualifies. Pay is unknown. Deadline December 15. 

Stephen Jones is taking submissions for Best New Horror Volume 27. This should be short stories published in 2015. Like the anthology above, there is a section involving other forms of horror, too. Pay is unknown. Closes in January. 

Paula Guran is taking submissions for The Year's Best Science Fiction and Fantasy Novellas, as well as The Year's Best Dark Fantasy and Horror. Pay unknown. Deadline December 1. 

Freeze Frame Fiction is taking submissions for their October edition. All genres. 1000 words or less. Pays $10. Deadline September 15. 

Sorcerous Signals is seeking fantasy submissions for their next edition. Up to 10,000 words. Pays $5 for short stories, $2 for poems and flash fiction. Deadline September 15. 

Twit Publishing is putting together a Lovecraftian anthology entitled Tales of Unseen Terror and Slumbering Horrors. 4000-9000 words. Horror. Pays in royalties. Deadline September 15. 

Inkstained Succubus Press is seeking horror stories for their December anthology, Winter Shivers. Horror. 5000-10,000 words. Pays in royalties. Deadline September 15. 

Fastrider Magazine is looking for fantasy short stories. 1000-4000 words. Pays $.03/word. 

Zetetic is accepting prose and poetry. Up to 2500 words. Open genre. Pays $.02/word or $20, whichever is more. 

Tumbleweed Books is looking for true stories for their Love of Life anthology. 2000-6000 words. Pays $.01/word. No deadline, but it will close once filled. 

Any of these of interest? Anything to share? Publication news? When do your kids go back to school? Have you gotten much writing done over the summer?

May you find your Muse.

Signs of Spring? & Links

I posted a picture of a hardy desert flower last week as a sign of spring. In the days following that post, we were given completely different signs of spring. Golf ball sized hail, for instance. Thunder storms, hail, flooding, tornado warnings, and snow, all in the same day. So I figured I'd post some different signs of spring.

(Warning: Crappy photos taken from my cell phone.)

An intersection after the 1st of 3 storms. (#2 started less than a mile down the road.)

My windshield when I was stuck in the car during hail storm #2.

A view of the hail coming down in hail storm #2. The blobs are hail.

These are the signs of spring I'm less delighted with, but valid all the same!

Now for some links. I am not endorsing any of these, merely passing them along.

Accepting Submissions:

Unlikely Story is taking submissions of clown flash fiction for a collection, The Journal of Unlikely Coulrophobia. Up to 1038 words. Pays $.06/word. Deadline May 31.

One Story is looking for literary fiction between 3000 and 8000 words. Pays $500 and 25 contributor copies. Deadline May 31.

Sirens Call Publications is seeking pieces for an anthology and their e-zine. Through Clouded Eyes is an anthology of horror stories written from the perspective of a zombie. The issue they're trying to fill is about nature gone bad (Eco-Horror). They will take submissions from 100 words up to 2500 for the e-zine, 4000-8000 words for the anthology. It appears the e-zine only pays in a contributor copy, but the anthology pays $25 for accepted stories. Deadline for both is June 1.

A Murder of Storytellers is looking for speculative fiction stories on broken worlds. 500-13,000 words. Pays $15 and a contributor copy. Deadline May 31.

Submissions are open for Best Women's Erotica 2016. 1500-3500 words. Pays $100 and two copies of the book. Deadline June 1.

Contests:

Brain Mill Press is holding a novella contest. The theme is "over." 20,000-40,000 words. Three novellas will win $250 and publication. Deadline June 1. They're also holding a cover art contest and are open to novel submissions.

The Maria W. Faust Sonnet Contest is looking for sonnets. No entry fee. Cash prizes. Deadline June 1.

Inkitt is holding the Epic Worlds Fantasy Writing Contest. No entry fee. Up to 15,000 words. Cash prizes. Deadline June 3.

Blog Hops:

Alex J. Cavanaugh and Heather Gardner are holding the Blood, Boobs, & Carnage Blogfest on May 18. Post about a book, television show, movie, or all three that falls into the category of blood, boobs, and carnage.

Of Interest:

Harlequin is hosting a  Back to Basics Boot Camp online May 21 and June 18. It will be run by Harlequin editors. I'm unsure of price.

How's your spring weather been? Any crazy weather? What signs of spring do you see around you? Any of these links of interest? Anything to share? Publication news?

May you find your Muse.