God Allows U-Turns

WRITER’S GUIDELINES
SEND US YOUR TRUE SHORT STORIES NOW

Multiple Volumes Currently in Pre-Production

SUBMISSION DEADLINE: December 1, 2008

Release Dates: TBA 2008, 2009 & 2010 (check website)

GENERAL INFORMATION ON THE BOOK SERIES:
God Allows U-Turns,100 W. Southlake Blvd., Suite 142-238, Southlake, TX 76092
Phone/Fax (817) 442-0721
Web: www.godallowsuturns.com
E-mail: stories@godallowsuturns.com
To submit stories: stories@godallowsuturns.com

With 23 books under the God Allows U-Turns brand, new volumes in this acclaimed Christian inspirational book series will be published by the newly formed God Allows U-Turns Press. Each book in the series will contain approximately 50 uplifting, encouraging and inspirational “slice-of-life” true short stories written by contributors from all over the world. 98% unsolicited freelance. Includes byline and short bio. Stories 500-1,200 words. Pays $30 upon publication, plus one copy of book, for one-time or reprint rights (no returns.) “The choices we make change the story of our life©” tell us how the choices made either changed your life or the life of someone else. These true stories must touch the emotions. We want human-interest stories with a spiritual application, affirming ways in which faith choices are expressed in daily life. Show how the choice made, either through a change of heart, attitude, thought, and/or behavior, clearly shows moving closer toward God. Using a “u-turn” lesson/analogy within the story is a plus. We will accept simultaneous submissions & reprints (tell when and where it appeared.)

SPECIAL NEEDS: Three topical volumes are in pre-production now with future release dates in 2008/2009/2010. More details appear on our web site at: www.godallowsuturns.com

God Allows U-Turns – Parents Setting Boundaries
Seeking stories primarily about overcoming challenges with adult children who overstep boundaries. Have you been victorious in overcoming enabling patterns? How has parenting (or grand-parenting) a difficult adult child brought you closer to God?

God Allows U-Turns – Boomer Babes Rock!
True faith-filled stories by, for and about baby boomer women. From empty nesting to menopause, no subject is taboo. Have you stopped sweating the small stuff? How is God changing your perception of the world in your boomer years? What new path has he led you on?

God Allows U-Turns – Writing from the Heart and Soul
Do you have a passion for the written word? Perhaps you write on your lunch hour at work, or journal every day, or maybe you make a living as a writer, it doesn’t matter. If you view your world from the eyes of someone who writes, share your true faith-filled story with us now. How has God blessed you in your journey as someone who writes?

HOW TO SUBMIT YOUR STORY: All stories must be sent as an attachment to your email – not within the body of an email. One story attachment per email. The attached document must be an MS Word Document. (If you use any other word processing software, simply save your final document in MS Word format before emailing it to us). The file name of the attachment must be your last name, first name and the story title.

Example: Smith, Edith - Gone With the Wind.doc.

The subject line in your email must begin with the topical volume, as in Parents, Boomers, or Writers. Stories not specifically addressing one of these topics will not be forwarded to the proper editorial teams and therefore will not be read or able to be considered. No snail mail submissions.

Submit your true short story to us at: stories@godallowsuturns.com

DEADLINE: December 1, 2008

STORY FORMAT: Submissions from 500-1,200 words. Keep it real. Ordinary people doing extraordinary things with God’s help. Write a great story with drama, description and dialogue. “Show” us, don’t “tell” us. Avoid moralisms and preachy tones. The point of the story should be how faith in God resulted in a u-turn choice changing someone’s life for the better. Send your story double-spaced, one-inch margins, and 12-point “Times” font – please, no fancy formatting with bold text or oversized headers. No graphics, logos or photos. Add an extra space between paragraphs, but do not indent the paragraphs. Please take the time to use spell check before submitting your story. Make sure your full contact information is including on the first page of your story, and not only in your email. Read the sample story on our website www.godallowsuturns.com.

CONTACT INFORMATION to include at the top of the first page of your story submission:

Date - First and Last Name - Mailing Address/City/State/Zip and Country - Home Phone, Cell Phone and Fax Number (if available) - Compilation Topic (Parents, Boomers, or Writers) - Title of the Story - Word Count

RIGHTS and FEES PAID: One time non-exclusive rights. Reprint rights. We will reserve full editorial rights, including possible title changes. You will be sent a Permissions Form (contract) in the event your story is chosen for possible publication. This form must be signed and returned promptly. 100% freelance. Pays $30 honorarium within 90 days of publication, plus one complimentary copy of the book, by-line and short bio. Contributing authors may purchase bulk quantities of the book at a discounted price for resale or promotional purposes.

TIMELINE: Due to the volume of material we receive, we regret we can not respond personally to your submission. You will only be contacted in the event your submission is selected for possible publication. Our professional team of editors is taking considerable time reading, rating and discussing all stories before final decisions are made. Feel free to submit your story elsewhere during this review process. In the event your work is chosen for inclusion in a future volume, you will be notified by email to see if your story is still available.

FUTURE VOLUMES: Visit our website at www.boomerbabesrock.com for news on other books in development and make sure to visit to sign up for our free monthly Dream-Zine publication where you’ll hear about the news first.

Submission Guidelines for INTERFICTIONS 2

We’re delighted to announce that everyone liked the first one so much, we’re doing another!

Interfictions II will be edited by Delia Sherman & Christopher Barzak. It will be published by Small Beer Press under the auspices of the Interstitial Arts Foundation in the Fall of 2009.

Here are Submission Guidelines for
Interfictions II: The Second Anthology of Interstitial Writing

What We’re Looking For
Interstitial Fiction is all about breaking rules, ignoring boundaries, cross-pollinating the fields of literature. It’s about working between, across, through, and at the edges and borders of literary genres, including fiction and non-fiction. It falls between the cracks of other movements, terms, and definitions. If you have a story idea that’s impossible to describe in a couple of sentences, it may be interstitial.

We’re looking for previously unpublished stories that engage us and make us think about literature in new ways. Rather than defining “interstitial” for you, we’d like you to show us what genre-bending fiction looks like. Surprise us; make us see that literature holds possibilities we haven’t yet imagined.

We are also open to graphic stories of about 10 pages.

Who We’re Looking For
Writers in all genres of fiction (contemporary realism, mystery, historical, fantasy, whatever) who have an idea that challenges generic tropes and expectations..

Practical Matters
Our submission period will be from October 1, 2008 to December 2, 2008. Please submit electronically only. Send your stories as .rtf attachments to: interfictions@interstitialarts.org. You will hear from us after January, 2009.

Overseas submissions are welcome. Stories previously published in other languages may be submitted in English translation for first English language publication. Please send disposable manuscripts and include email addresses.

Please follow standard manuscript formatting and submission conventions: ie, double-spaced, with 1” margins, and the name of the story on each page. No simultaneous or multiple submissions. Word count is open, but the ideal range is 4,000-10,000 words. Payment will be 5 cents a word for non-exclusive world anthology rights, on publication, along with 2 author’s copies.

– Delia Sherman
– Christopher Barzak
Any questions? Write us at interfictions[AT]interstitialarts[DOT]org

Traveling Mamas Anthology

TravelingMamas.com is in search of true uplifting, funny, inspirational, and touching stories with a travel theme for an upcoming anthology series. Possible themes may include family travel, romantic escapes, girlfriend getaways, and solo trips.

We’re looking for stories that inspire us, force us to laugh out loud or make us reach for the tissue box. Bring us into your story by using the five senses. Every story must have a beginning, middle, and end.

Rights:

• We are requesting one-time rights. Reprints are acceptable as long as you own the rights.
• If your work has been published before we ask that you please send the name of the publication the story appeared and the date it was published with your submission. We will have the right to edit your work.

Submission:

• Word count: 300-1000 words.
• More than one story may be submitted.
• The story can be told in first or third person. You don’t have to be a mom to tell the story.
• Deadline is midnight September 1, 2008.
• In the body of your email please include your name, address, phone number, and preferred email address. At the bottom of your story please include a brief author bio (no more than 100 words) to be included in the back of the book. If your story is chosen you will be able to revise your bio before publication.
• Please send your submissions in the body of an email to anthology@travelingmamas.com (no attachments will be opened).

Compensation:

• $50 (Payment upon publication)
• A Traveling Mamas travel pack that includes one copy of the book your story appears in.

Please be patient. This is a long process. We will let you know as soon we know if your story has been selected. If you don’t hear from us, we may be holding your story for upcoming books.

Thank you for joining our journey. We look forward to reading your stories.

The Traveling Mamas

Namaste Valley Book 1

Welcome to Namaste Valley. We’re glad you’re here and invite you to stay. Namaste Valley is situated in a beautiful mountain valley with steep peaks rising on all sides. There is only one pass in and out of the valley and that can be closed due to inclement weather several weeks a year. The area is open to spiritual individuals who follow the paths of his or her heart. Some of its citizens follow more established religious paths, while others choose to carve out personal beliefs. The one thing that everyone in Namaste Valley shares is tolerance and a belief in a better world. You’ll find technology here, though it works for the people, instead of the people working against them. Most are content with the basic necessities of life. It’s a simple place, yet one deep with meaning and heart. You’ll find individuals of all nationalities, sexual orientations, religions, races, and creeds here, all living in harmony with the earth and each other. Though not everyone believes in a “heaven”, those that do, say Namaste Valley is a bit of that right here on Earth.

What We Seek: Jupiter Gardens Press wants your fiction stories in all genres (though given the setting true crime or mystery might be difficult to sell) set in Namaste Valley. The time period is modern day and we’d prefer a spring setting. We encourage authors to explore the diversity that could be found in such a place as well as the ingenuity of humans learning to work with nature and the environment. Stories should be set directly in Namaste Valley.

Word Count: 5000-12,000 words

Payment: $25 from earned royalties and once the anthology sells enough to go to print (it will be released in ebook first), a copy of the anthology in print. Contributors are able to purchase additional copies in accordance with our regular contract.

Deadline: Essays must be received by August 15, 2008. Final decisions will be made by August 31, 2008.

Send submissions to: publisher@jupitergardens.com Please attach your essay in rich text (RTF) format in standard manuscript format (1” margins, Times New Roman or other readable font, your name, address, and contact information in the upper left-hand corner). Please also include a cover letter (in the body of the email) with your essay that indicates your previous publishing history (if any, none is just fine) and any relevant information.

For further information about our other projects or regular lines, please visit our website at http://www.jupitergardenspress.com and read our full submission guidelines and FAQs. Thank you.

Call For Submissions: Ghosts In The Machine

Phoenix Imprints Presents is now accepting art and literary submissions for its new anthology:

Ghosts In The Machine, edited by Aitch Jae Esse of Phoenix Imprints Presents, an original collection of short stories focused specifically on the supernatural as relates to technology, most particularly with the Internet/Computers but other areas of technology will certainly be considered.

Literary submissions should be less than 7000 words and, while authors are encouraged to ‘push the envelope’ with their submissions, excessive sexuality and violence are acceptable only to the degree that they serve the overall story. Successful submissions will be those stories that tell a genuinely scary, original tale with memorable characters and story arcs. If you have questions about submissions, policies, etc., please email the address below.

• Submission Deadline: June 1^st, 2008
• Anticipated Publication Fourth Quarter, 2008, First Quarter 2009
• Submission Details: 1000-7000 words
• Authors’ Recompense: $20 per story accepted, publication credit and contributors’ copy
• Artwork Sought: Original Cover Art as well as interior illustrations, recompense negotiated based upon submissions.

Authors may submit their literary artwork to the email address below. Please place the following in the subject line: “Ghosts In The Machine: Literary Submission”. Acceptable formats include MSWord (DOC) and Rich Text Format (RTF). Please be certain to include your contact information including Name, Address, Email Address, Telephone and any other relevant contact information.

Artists may submit their artistic submissions to the email address below. Please place the following in the subject line: “Ghosts In The Machine: Artist Submission”. Please make sure to include all photographs of work in TIFF, JPG or BMP formats. Other formats may be acceptable if arranged in advance. Please be certain to include your contact information including Name, Address, Email Address, Telephone and any other relevant contact information.

Contact Information: AitchJaeEsse@Hotmail.com

ANTHOLOGY: Chicken Soup for the Soul - Middle School Story Call Out

Chicken Soup for the Soul: Teens Talk Middle School to be published Fall
2008

We are looking for true stories and poems about your middle school years. We prefer stories written in the first person and no more than 1200 words. We would like to include stories and poems on the following topics, among others:

• Regrets (lessons learned from making bad choices)
• Sports
• Discovering the opposite sex
• Embarrassing moments
• Humorous moments
• Religion and faith – its place in your life
• Issues, good and bad, with cell phones, email, texting, instant messaging,
the web
• Self image, self acceptance – including eating disorders, different body
types, different rates of growth, short boys, tall girls, early puberty,
late puberty
• Homework – being responsible for it, having a lot of it
• Cliques/popular kids
• Family relationships – siblings, parents, other family members
• Friends – best, losing friends, cliques, support of friends
• Tough issues – divorce, cancer, death
• Failures and rising above them
• Getting new privileges and responsibilities – jobs, cell phones, grades

If your story is chosen, you will be a published author and your bio will be printed in the book. You will also receive a check for $200 and ten free copies of your book, worth more than $100.
If your story is published by us, we will copyright it in your name and you will retain your rights to resell the story to another publication.

SUBMISSIONS GO TO http://chickensoupf orthesoul. com/form. asp?cid=submit_ story

DEADLINE IS June 15th, 2008

GLIMMER TRAIN SHORT STORY AWARD for NEW WRITERS

I realize that the deadline is very near, but Glimmer Train runs these types of contests many times each year, so if you are not ready this time, maybe next. Go to their web site and check them out for yourself.

GLIMMER TRAIN SHORT STORY AWARD for NEW WRITERS

Deadline: May 31, 2008
Prizes:

* 1st place wins $1,200, publication in Glimmer Train Stories, and 20 copies.
* 2nd-place: $500 and possible publication.
* 3rd-place: $300 and possible publication.

Reading fee: $15 per story.

To submit, go to www.glimmertrain. org, and click on the yellow submissions tab.

Results will be posted on August 31, 2008.

Other considerations:

*Open only to writers whose fiction has not appeared in any print publication with a circulation over 5,000. (Entries, of course, must be unpublished. ) * Stories not to exceed 12,000 words.

The Book of Tentacles

Welcome to a new anthology from Sam's Dot Publishing. This one will be called The Book of Tentacles. The editors are Scott Virtes, Edward Cox, and Susan R. Campbell. We'll remain open to submissions as long as necessary, but we're hoping to have this one in print by April 2009. We will issue periodic updates in our Current Events newsletter, which you can read at http://www.samsdotpublishing.com/currentevents.htm

The premise of The Book of Tentacles is very simple. We're looking for original science fiction, fantasy, and darker stories and poems that have something to do with tentacles. That's it. The interpretation is up to you.

The stories must be well-crafted, with characters we care about, and with plots and subplots and themes and layers. Stories must feature proper grammar, spelling, and punctuation. We are not open to first drafts or other unspeakable shash. Send us your best work. Good enough will not be good enough.

No single genre will dominate the final selections. Undoubtedly, many of you will try your hand at horror. This means the competition will be extremely difficult for this genre. Others of you will try your hand at Cthulhu or Cthulhu sex stories. Again: no single genre will dominate the final selections. Your chances for landing a story with us will probably be better in the genres of science fiction or fantasy. A word to the wise . . .

Formatting: all stories and poems are to be submitted either as Word or rtf attachments or in the body of the e-mail. Text should be double spaced, and paragraphs should be indented five spaces. If submitted as Word or rtf, italicize those words you want italicized. If submitted IBOE, indicate italics with underscores. Include your contact information at the top of the first page of the attachment and in the e-mail itself.

Now let's talk specifics:

1. Story length should fall between 2,000 and 7,000 words. We'll pay 1/2 cent per word plus one contributor's copy upon publication. We'll probably accept between twelve and fifteen stories. No simultaneous submissions, please. No multiple submissions--wait until we respond to your first story before you submit your second.

2. Poem length should not exceed 100 lines. We'll pay $5.00 per poem plus one contributor's copy upon publication. We'll probably accept between five and ten poems. Please submit no more than three poems at a time.

3. Submissions process: submit all work and queries to bookoftentacles@yahoo.com . We will respond to queries within 2 weeks. We will respond to submissions within 2 months. If you have not received a reply to your submission in 3 months, please query.

And if you have any questions, please ask.

Finding Your Way

Please share your true miracle story of Divine guidance and direction with others and we will consider your story for publication in our book called Finding Your Way.

Have you ever been at a crucial moment in your life when you needed clear guidance on which fork in the road to take?

Perhaps you needed spiritual guidance to help you make a big decision about taking a new job or leaving an old one.

Or maybe you asked for inspiration or help in knowing whether to deepen or discontinue your involvement in a relationship.

Did you ask for and receive Divine guidance in an unusual and miraculous way?

Did miracles occur in your life as a result of your following the Divine guidance and direction you received when you were at that crossroads?

SPECIAL NOTE:

Although the stories submitted up to now have been about truly miraculous experiences, we are asking that all future submissions be stories that are specifically related to having received Divine guidance or direction in a miraculous way at a time of indecision in your life.

We value ALL miracles, but the scope of this site is limited to only those which are about receiving Divine guidance and direction to clarify a decision or choice.

Please use the Story Submission Form to submit your miracle story.

We will respond via email to you within a couple of days about your story. Thanks for sharing your story!

Soul Shelter: $2,000 in Prizes

Essay Awards: $2,000 in Prizes, No Fees

Announcing the Soul Shelter First-Person Essay Award, with U.S. $2,000 in prizes and no entry fees:

• Grand Prize: $1,000 and publication online
• Second Prize: $500 and publication online
• Third Prize: $250 and publication online
• Plus Five Runner-Up Awards of $50 each

All entries must be nonfiction and 400-1,500 words in length.

Essays should tell a true story based on the author’s personal experience and relating to the Soul Shelter theme of “balancing fortune and fulfillment, or getting a living while having a life.”

We’re interested in personal, affecting, and inspiring entries more than slick writing. There are no entry fees, and there will be no future attempts to sell or market anything to entrants.

Submit your entry online by July 1, 2008. Awards will be made on or before July 31, 2008. All entries will be considered for publication with author credit at SoulShelter.com.

Interested? Take a look at the blog, then read “How to Enter.”

Lyrical Press - Two Anthologies

Scare us. We dare you.

We’re planning two anthologies featuring classic ghost story themes. Be they dark, steamy, humorous, sentimental or downright creepy, we want your ghost stories.

Tip Sheet:

* Suggested submission length: 20-25k
* Romantic elements preferred, but not required for either holiday-themed anthology.
* Holiday (Halloween or Christmas) theme preferred, but not necessarily required. If the story’s compelling enough, won’t discriminate.
* Meta data: Straight-up, good old-fashioned “tales told ‘round the campfire”; folklore and ghost stories; Haunted houses, visitations, Dickens; Legends (but not necessarily myths); Rather more “Things that go bump in the night” than “Things that hump in the night”.
* Be sure you edit very carefully before submitting. (I'm not horribly forgiving, I'm finding)
* All submissions should be sent to: submissions@lyricalpress.com, SUBJECT: Ghost Story
* See below for submission deadlines:

TALES FROM THE SHADOWS
Release Date: October 20, 2008
Submission Deadline: June 1, 2008
Genre: Paranormal
Sensuality Level: Any

ONCE UPON A MIDNIGHT CLEAR
Release Date: December 15, 2008
Submission Deadline: June 15, 2008
Genre: Paranormal
Sensuality Level: Any

SUBMISSIONS FOR 2008 AV ANTHOLOGY SOUGHT

Contact: G. L. Helm
(661) 951 6306
Mouseprint@earthlink.net

MousePrints Publishing, Publisher of the Antelope Valley Anthologies, is soliciting submissions for the 2008 Antelope Valley Anthology. The 2008 Anthology will be the fifth in an on going series of anthologies containing the work of current or former residents of the Antelope Valley.

Prose and Poetry are sought.

Prose may be fiction in the form of short stories, or creative non-fiction in the form of essays. Prose may be any subject, any style, but the bounds of good taste as exemplified in the previous Antelope Valley Anthologies will be considered by the editors. Prose must not exceed three thousand (3,000) words—approximately twelve (12) typed doubled spaced pages—and must be typed in 12 point type using Times New Roman or similar font. Poetry may be any style, any subject matter but, as with prose, good taste should be taken into consideration. Poetry may not exceed 100 lines in total and must adhere to the same format guidelines as those listed for Prose.

All pages of all manuscripts must be numbered and contact information including author’s name, address, telephone number, and e-mail address must be on the first page of the manuscript.

One copy of the 2008 AV Anthology will be given as payment to authors whose work is included in said anthology. All rights remain with the authors

Submissions will be accepted from 1 January, 2008 through 31 May, 2008. All submissions must be received via e mail attachment. Said attachment must be in MS WORD format.

For further information call G. L. Helm at (661) 951 6306, or e-mail mouseprint@earthlink.net

To order previous AV Anthologies please go to www.mouseprintspublishing.com

The Norton Anthology of English Literature, Volume 1

By Charles Clark

With 274 authors, the Eighth Edition deepens its representation of essential works in all genres, ranging from Seamas Heaney's award-winning translation of Beowulf, Milton's Paradise Lost, and More's Utopia to the great poets and prose writers of the nineteenth century—Blake and Austen, Wordsworth and Byron, Tennyson and Barrett Browning—to twentieth-century classics of a truly global English literature—Conrad's Heart of Darkness, Woolf's A Room of One's Own, Achebe's Things Fall Apart, and Friel's Translations, to name but a few. Color plates—over 75 in all—and thematic clusters of brief and historically significant texts bring to life the cultural concerns of each period. Concise glosses and annotations, period introductions, biographical headnotes, timelines, and selected bibliographies help readers understand and enjoy the rich diversity of English literature.

The Norton series of anthologies never fails to disappoint, and this is proof that they're not about to. A hefty book, it delivers on its' promise; from cover to cover it is full poems and prose from the Middle Ages clean through to the Eighteenth Century. On (nearly) every author there is a detailed biography, helpful to get inside the mind of the writer and understand where they're coming from. A nice feature is the inclusion of full-length texts. From shorter plays, as Marlowe's "Dr. Faustus" through two complete Shakespeare's (whether you believe he wrote them or not :) )and even all the books of Paradise Lost-- and that's just in one time period. Included in the middle are colour plates of a smattering of different items, and while not necessarily critical to the enjoyment or usefulness of the Anthology, it's certainly a nice touch -- a way to give the eyes a break after digesting a few hundred lines of poetry.

Overall, great, both for the student reading through it for a Humanities course to the Accomplished professional reading through on a quiet evening.

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Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Charles_Clark

A Cup of Comfort for Adoptive Families

The primary purpose of this book is to celebrate adoptive families and to recognize the extraordinary and challenging experiences unique to "chosen children" and their adoptive families. We are most interested in stories written by adult adopted children and their adoptive parents and siblings, but the book will likely include some stories written by members of the extended adoptive family (i.e. grandparent) and birth family members. Virtually any topic relevant to adopted children and their adoptive parents is acceptable-as long as it is authentic, positive, insightful, and uplifting or inspiring. We do not want heartbreaking stories about adoptive or birth families that regret the adoption. All of the stories in this collection must reveal a positive aspect of adoption and must bring comfort, joy, or inspiration to those who have been adopted and/or to the families who adopted them-no matter how difficult the experience and emotions portrayed in the story might be.

Submission Deadline: 6/15/2008
See Writer's Guidelines, below, for additional details.

Short Story Collection Contest

How to Enter the Short Story Collection Contest

Step 1:

If you have not already, register at: http://www.wordclay.com/BookWork/UserRegistration.aspx

Becoming a member and registering your personal information with Wordclay will ensure we know how to contact you should you become a winner.

Step 2:

Send your short story collection via e-mail. Complete all of the following details when sending your submission:

* E-mail your collection to contests@wordclay.com as an attachment, in a Microsoft Word® file.

* In the subject line of the e-mail, type "Short Story Collection Contest."

* In the body of the e-mail, include:
o your full name
o physical mailing address (no P.O. Box, please)
o phone number
o e-mail address
o the title of your collection
o the title of your three best stories within the collection for judges review (maximum of 15,000 total word count)

* Include a short cover letter, detailing your previous publishing experience, listing your submission with Wordclay as well as your contact information.

* Wordclay will only accept your first e-mail with your submission, so be certain the one you initially submit is your final draft. All subsequent e-mails from an individual with revisions or additional submissions will be ignored.

* Your entire work must be submitted for review at the time of entry.

Deadlines

The deadline to submit an entry for the contest is 11:59 PM ET on May 31, 2008 (before June 1st).

By submitting your story and entering this contest, you accept and agree to the Terms & Conditions of the contest.


Contest Details: Short Story Collection

All literature is by nature unique and individual. We are supportive of all forms of expression; however, for this contest, we ask that you adhere to these terms:

* In order to enter, each writer should register online at www.Wordclay.com and submit his or her work electronically as a Microsoft Word document.

* There are no entry fees, no subsidy payment and no purchases of any kind required to enter and/or win the contest.

* There are no previous publishing requirements to enter this contest.

* Entries are judged on the basis of originality, creative imagination, characterization, artistic quality and the adherence to length limitations. All decisions by the judges are final.

* Important note: Entrants in the Short Story Collection Contest must submit their entire collection at the time of entry. Entrants must list the titles of the three best stories (total word count limit of 15,000 words for the three stories) to represent their work as a whole. While these three stories will act as the lead pieces for judging, judges may review additional stories at random if further reading is needed to make a decision.

* Each writer retains the copyright to his or her work. The winners' stories may be included in a book published through www.Wordclay.com. The contest's winners will be featured on www.Wordclay.com.

* Wordclay is under no obligation to publish every story that is entered and can disqualify an entry at any time. The contestant is under no obligation whatsoever to purchase a copy of the publication in which his or her story may appear.

* Due to formatting restrictions, www.Wordclay.com retains the right to reformat the stories for size and placement. Though we will make every effort to preserve section breaks and forms, we will not be able to guarantee retention of format from the writer's original file.

Notification: All prize winners will be notified via e-mail and posted on Wordclay's Contest Connections page.

For the short story collection contest, keep in mind that there is a minimum page count requirement of 48 pages for a completed book. If you do not have enough material to fill 48 pages of a 5 inch by 8 inch book (or larger), please enter the short story contest instead.

Note: While we respect the right of individuals to freely express themselves in literature, we do not accept prose that is explicitly offensive. Therefore, we ask that writers who submit their work to our contests be considerate of this policy.

For more information about our finalist judges, click here.


Prizes for Short Story Collection Contest

One Grand Prize winner will receive:

* A check in the amount of $500
* 25 free copies of their book (shipping and handling included)
* Publishing package that includes: Custom Typesetting Interior ($249 value), Custom Cover Design ($999 value), 1 Year Softcover Channel Distribution ($99 value) and Press Release Composition ($149 value).

One Runner-Up will receive:

* A check in the amount of $250
* 10 free copies of their book (shipping and handling included)
* Publishing package that includes: Custom Typesetting Interior ($249 value), Custom Cover Design ($999 value) and 1 Year Softcover Channel Distribution ($99 value).

Namaste Valley Book 1

Namaste Valley is situated in a beautiful mountain valley with steep peaks rising on all sides. There is only one pass in and out of the valley and that can be closed due to inclement weather several weeks a year. The area is open to spiritual individuals who follow the paths of his or her heart. Some of its citizens follow more established religious paths, while others choose to carve out personal beliefs. The one thing that everyone in Namaste Valley shares is tolerance and a belief in a better world. You’ll find technology here, though it works for the people, instead of the people working against them. Most are content with the basic necessities of life. It’s a simple place, yet one deep with meaning and heart. You’ll find individuals of all nationalities, sexual orientations, religions, races, and creeds here, all living in harmony with the earth and each other. Though not everyone believes in a “heaven”, those that do, say Namaste Valley is a bit of that right here on Earth.

What We Seek:Jupiter Gardens Press wants your fiction stories in all genres (though given the setting true crime or mystery might be difficult to sell) set in Namaste Valley. The time period is modern day and we’d prefer a spring setting. We encourage authors to explore the diversity that could be found in such a place as well as the ingenuity of humans learning to work with nature and the environment. Stories should be set directly in Namaste Valley.

Word Count: 5000-12,000 words

Payment: $25 from earned royalties and once the anthology sells enough to go to print, a copy of the anthology in print. Contributors are able to purchase additional copies in accordance with our regular contract.

Deadline: Essays must be received by August 15, 2008. Final decisions will be made by August 31, 2008.

Send submissions to: publisher@jupitergardens.com Please attach your essay in rich text (RTF) format in standard manuscript format (1″ margins, Times New Roman or other readable font, your name, address, and contact information in the upper left-hand corner). Please also include a cover letter (in the body of the email) with your essay that indicates your previous publishing history (if any, none is just fine) and any relevant information.

For further information about our other projects or regular lines, please visit our website at http://www.jupitergardenspress.com and read our full submission guidelines and FAQs. Thank you.

IT CAME FROM PLANET MARS ANTHOLOGY

Editor: Doyle Eldon Wilmoth, Jr E-subs: Submission@specficworld.com

SUBMISSION GUIDELINES

Update: April 15, 2008 - CALL FOR SUBMISSIONS. Deadline extended until June 15, 2008

• Needs: Looking for dark science fiction in all styles, mixes, and viewpoints. Please pay attention to the title of the anthology -- it should be obvious what kind of stories we're looking for with this project.
• Tip: Send only your best. The darker the better.
• Length: 1k-12k/wds.
• Payment: We will pay a token payment of $5 + copy in PDF Format and 1 year subscription to our Market & Literary Agent Database ($12.97 value).
• How you will be paid: Payment will be made through PayPal paid on publication July 15, 2008.
• Rights: We are buying World-Wide electronic rights. All rights revert back to the author after publication, but we retain the right to archive your story on our site up to a period of five years after the date of publication.
• Distribution: The anthology will be exclusively offered as a free download from the SpecFicWorld.com site.
• Reprints: No.
• Deadline: June 15, 2008.
• How to submit: Submissions should be sent to the above e-mail address. No need for a cover letter; but make sure to include a short bio (written in third-person for publication purposes) embedded in the body of the e-mail and your manuscript. Subject line: MARS SUBMISSION. Please NO multiple or simultaneous submissions.
• Format: RTF, WORD, (RTF preferred) file sent as an attachment. Make sure to color all italicized text in red or underline. And make sure to mark all breaks in the text with three *** asterisks.
• Response time: 1 month after deadline.
• Publishing date: July 15, 2008.

Short Stories - Canadian Modern Fiction Magazine

I don't have an anthology review or market for today so thought I'd pass on this new magazine market. Their debut issue comes out this month.

Modern Fiction Magazine - Short Story Publication - Modern Fiction accepts most genres of fiction and will pay you between $50-$200 (Canadian) for your stories if they are chosen for publication.
see http://www.modernfi ction.net/ index.php

HAUNTED LEGENDS

Call For Submissions: HAUNTED LEGENDS
Below are the submission guidelines for the forthcoming anthology Haunted Legends. We are releasing them now so that submitters have all of May and June and much of July to write a new story for us. Do not submit immediately. Do not submit trunk stories.

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Haunted Legends, to be published by Tor Books, seeks to reinvigorate the genre of "true" regional ghost stories by asking some of today's leading writers to riff on traditional tales from around the world. We don't just want you to retell an old ghost story, but to renovate it so that the story is dark and unsettling all over again.

Classic tales of the Jersey Devil, the spirits of the Tower of London, ghost lights, and phantom hitchhikers continue to capture the imagination. The Haunted Legends difference is that our contributors will tell the stories in ways they've never been told before.

We pay 6 cents a word, up to 8000 words.

The open-reading period will begin on midnight, EDT of July 15, 2008 and end 11:59p.m., July 31, 2008.

All submissions must be emailed as a RTF file to Ellen Datlow and Nick Mamatas at hauntedlegends@ gmail.com. Please send no more than one submission. Please send no correspondence, such as queries, to hauntedlegends@ gmail.com either before or after the reading period – all mail sent to the address at any time other than the reading period will be automatically deleted unread.

Note that much of the anthology is full and that a large number of ghost stories, especially those with an American or UK origin, are thus already “taken” by authors who have been personally solicited for work. Your best bet for this anthology is to go far afield – we are especially interested in renovations of traditional ghost stories from Africa, Latin America, and Asia, or in other tales that may not be well-known.

We also want to emphasize that we are interested only in traditional ghost stories made new again by the ingenuity of the writer. We do not want “campfire” versions of old stories, or slavish recitations. Think of new forms, new voices, new themes, new ways of considering these classic tales. Do not send us your trunk stories. It should be as though your version was always occulted within the classic rendition, but never before perceived or acknowledged.

SHE SAID, SHE SAID

Call for Submissions!

SHE SAID, SHE SAID: Selected Essays from Enlightened Eves to Clueless Adams
(What Women Really Talk About Behind Closed Doors)

Coming in the Fall of 2008, women around the world speak out in the controversial and eye-opening anthology, SHE SAID, SHE SAID. Tired of volume after volume on what men absolutely have to have to be satisfied with the women in their lives, we decided it was time to flip the script. Since men selectively listen, we've selected essay prompts designed to push the envelope and help them find their way inside from the dog house. Now all they have to do is roll over, sit up and pay attention...just like Spot.

Ladies, bring it and your essay could be chosen for SHE SAID, SHE SAID.

In 2000-3000 words, respond to the essay prompt that speaks to you. What we'd especially like to see is a well written narrative account of your experience, along with commentary on how you overcame your dilemma and the positive lesson(s) you learned because of it. Try to refrain from male-bashing, please. We want our audience to personally connect with you and the message you're conveying. Of course, an epiphany or two would be nice, as well. Write to answer the question, "What do women really want?" Be as witty, satirical and/or humorous as you dare!

Please only address one essay prompt per submission and submit no more than two separate essays per author. Only one essay per author will be included in the anthology and if it comes down to choosing between two essays by the same author, we will choose the one that makes our toes curl the hardest. Chosen contributors will receive two free copies of the book, $25 and a full "author page" in the book (publicity text of your choosing). ** Note: Special arrangements can be made for chosen contributors who might wish to remain anonymous.

Essay Prompts:

1. I never thought I'd seek intimacy outside of my relationship but... (Why did you step outside of the relationship and what did you discover about yourself in the process? What do you want readers to learn from your experience? Define intimacy on your own terms.)
2. With friends like these, who needs enemies? (How were you betrayed, by whom and what did you learn as a result of the betrayal? If you betrayed someone else, tell us why and touch on the lesson(s) you learned.)
3. I knew I was in love when... (Tell us about your definition of love, a time when you knew you were in love and how it moved/changed you for the better. Think of this as positive reinforcement, like Pavlov's bells.)
4. Dear Lover... (Something you've always wanted to tell your man, your girlfriend's man and/or men everywhere about loving a woman correctly. In your opinion, what do women need from their men and how should men give them what they need? By contrast, don't be afraid to laud your partner for doing you right, if that's what you need to do. Just make sure you're clear on what "right" means to you.)
5. When the relationship became unhealthy for my soul, I... (Now safely on the other side of some form of abuse, tell us how you found yourself in an abusive relationship and how you escaped. If you could sit down with an/your abuser, what would you want him to know?)
6. Back from a trip around the world: (Help men unravel the mystery of the infamous "baggage" women are said to carry around with them. When did you start packing yours and why? What will it take for you to leave it behind or can you? How much of the load are men responsible for carrying (if any) and how much of the load are you responsible for hiding behind?)

Second round of submissions accepted January 15, 2008 - May 15, 2008. Email submission(s), including a brief bio and contact information to editors@brownreclusebooks.com. Please note: essay text must be pasted into the body of the email, as attachments will not be opened. Or mail submissions to:
Acquisitions
Brown Recluse Books
P.O. Box 779
Florissant, MO 63032

All (female) Writers Welcome!

Olympia Anthology

Info and Guidelines for Cartoonists submitting work to be printed in Olympia

Olympia is an anthology of small press comics published annually in conjunction with The Olympia Comics Festival. This year the festival will feature Craig Thompson, Peter Bagge, and Paul Chadwick as Guests of Honor. The 2008 Olympia Comics Festival will take place Saturday, June 7th. The purpose of this anthology is to promote both the festival and the work of the cartoonists included. Olympia is published by Cathartic Fart Press.

Cartoonists submitting work for inclusion grant Olympia one–time printing rights. Upon publication, all rights revert back to the author or authors. All works are copyrighted to their respective authors. Work submitted to Olympia must be owned in whole by those offering it for publication. Every cartoonist will be sent email confirmation upon receipt of their work.

Every cartoonist included in Olympia will receive a free copy. If you were in last year’s issue and did not receive a free copy, please let me know. Additional copies may be purchased at printing cost. I also send a few free copies to publishers such as Fantagraphics and Top Shelf. Any profit made off of Olympia will roll into next year’s issue.

I expect to print about 150 copies of Olympia this year.

Guidelines

1. Submissions should be 1 – 6 pages in length and sized to fit pages that are 8.5 inches by 5.5 inches (standard sheet folded) –– I'd allow a .25 inch margin all around. I got a few oversized ones last year and had to work to make them fit. I have learned my lesson and will be less forgiving this year.
2. Please submit photocopies only.
3. Please submit two copies of each page, just in case.
4. Your pages should be in “portrait” rather than “landscape” orientation.
5. Please do not submit pages that have art on both sides.
6. Please include your name on the back of all pages.
7. Please include full contact information with your submission. Also, a couple pages will be set aside for contact and sales info for the included cartoonists so please include a sentence or two of extra information, if you’d like, for that section.

Things I Will Actually Consider When Selecting Which Stories to Include

• There is no official theme, but you get one bonus point if your story is about or set in Olympia.
• You get one bonus point if you currently or have ever lived in Olympia.
• You get one bonus point if you are getting a table at the Olympia Comics Festival.
• You get three bonus points if I love your work.

Please send any questions for the editor to hotcrackelorum@yahoo.com

Friday, May 16th is the absolute, final deadline for submissions. Please send (or drop off) submissions to: Attencione! Frank Hussey, Danger Room Comics, 201 4th Ave., Olympia, WA, 98501.

• Contact: Chelsea Baker (360)-705-3050 (Danger Room Comics)
• E-mail: olympiacomicsfestival@gmail.com

HCI Upcoming Anthologies

HCI has a bunch in the works:

The Ultimate Christmas
The Ultimate Mom
The Ultimate Teacher
The Ultimate Golfer
The Ultimate Wedding
The Ultimate Honeymoon
The Ultimate Home
The Ultimate Vacation


For their earlier titles, they've offered $200 per essay. I don't yet see guidelines for this new list. Visit http://www.theultim atehorselover. com/. Scroll to the bottom to see this new list of books under development!

Second Edition of Coach's Midnight Diner

Second Edition of Coach's Midnight Diner are Open!

Coach's Midnight Diner is a hardboiled genre anthology with a Christian slant. No ABA restrictions on God, no CBA restrictions on reality. Didactic preachy works are dismissed unceremoniously; we're looking for high quality works that are uncompromising in craft, content, and quality.

Submissions for the 2008 Edition of Coach's Midnight Diner are now open at the Relief Writer's Network. Here's what we're looking for; please read carefully. Submissions that are completely out of gamut will be subject to ridicule and unceremonious rejection.

1. Unpublished Short Fiction up to 10,000 words. Simultaneous submissions okay, but you need to pull your submission ASAP if it gets accepted elsewhere.

2. Submissions are only accepted via the Online Submission System at the Relief Writers Network. Absolutely NO email or snail mail read or even remotely considered unless your name is Stephen King and you wrote The Stand. Anne Rice, Neil Gaiman, and F. Paul Wilson are also exceptions. Everybody else, get with the program. There's a big button at the top of this website that says Submit Your Writing. If you email me asking where the link is, expect severe sarcasm.

3. Categories for Submisisons are:
Category Examples (for clarification only)
Horror Stephen King, Anne Rice, Dean Koontz
UFO/Aliens X-Files, Coast To Coast AM
Conspiracy Millennium (TV Show), X-Files, Coast To Coast AM
Hardboiled Detective/Crime Raymond Chandler, Janet Evanovich, F. Paul Wilson
That One That Happens in Diner All categories - just has to happen in a diner
Jesus Vs. Cthulhu No posers. If you're submitting in this category,
you had better be familiar with Lovecraft
or Derleth's work, and the piece had better reflect
it. I'm not kidding.
Paranormal/Archetypal Exploration Neil Gaiman, C.S. Lewis, G.K. Chesterton
Weird Western- NEW! Cowboys and Indians meet something weird
Weird War - NEW! In honor of all our soldiers in all branches of the armed forces
Monster Stories - NEW! Dracula, Frankenstein, Godzilla, Buffy - yes, you can submit your
Christian vampire story here.
Adventure Indiana Jones, Dan Brown (hey, the guy's a great writer, even
if his theology sucks)
Shatner On A Plane
Twilight Zone, Outer Limits, Night Gallery

Note: Combinations of Genres are encouraged. For example, a hardboiled detective investigating a paranormal crime, or a monster story that has a Twilight Zone twist. You may and probably should select multiple categories when submitting your work.

Compensation: Three Editor's Choice awards will be selected. Prize money for Editor's Choice is a hundred bucks. All categories are eligible. Everybody else gets their names up on Amazon, a contributor's copy, bragging rights, and the possibility of being on the Diner staff for the next edition. Approximately 21 stories will be selected for publication.

4. No hardcore sci-fi. I don't want to read stories that I have to learn a new vocabulary or solar system for. I don't want to read about what happened after the fourth war for Alpha Centuari, Beta Centauri, or any other Centauri. Besides, you can't fit a starship into a Diner. Other places are more suited for these genres, i.e. the incredible site at raygunrevivial.com for Sci-fi helmed by Diner-approved editor Johne Cook.

5. No sword-and-sorcery fantasy. Do you know what happens when you let ogres and trolls in Diners? You will be billed for any messes they make.

6. Know what we've published in the last edition. The Diner is available on Amazon.com, Barnesandnoble.com, and of course on the Relief store here A Sample Size Edition of the Diner is available on Scribd.com, http://www.scribd.com/doc/230614/Coachs-Midnight-Diner-Sample-Size-Edition

6. Spiritual warfare is allowed, but should have an original twist. Absolutely no shining swords - you can poke somebody's eye with one of those in a diner, and we don't have the insurance for that sort of thing.

6. The Diner is not for children, or the faint of heart. Jesus dressed up as Thor, a whore who moonlights as an exorcist, a bouncer at a strip club, and more offbeat characters were regulars in the first edition of the Diner. This is not Guideposts or your Sunday School quarterly. Pansy sanitized work will be unceremoniously dismissed. Do not send me work where gangbangers say things like, "Golly gee, Beav, what ever are we going to do with this swell crack?"

7. Submissions will tentatively close May 1, 2008. Do not send queries. Submit your work. All your base are belong to us.

8. Release Date for the second edition of Coach's Midnight Diner is October 2008. The Second Edition will be available in print, soft cover and perfect bound in a 7"ishx10"ish trim size at Amazon.com, BarnesAndNoble.com, and several other venues. It will also be available in Amazon Kindle and Sony Reader format.

Go pour some coffee, and let's see what you've got. Give me your best shot.

Your friendly neighborhood fry cook,
Coach Culbertson
Editor-In-Chief | Coach's Midnight Diner