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Finding The Bacon Greetings,
avid freelancers, and welcome to this month’s markets. As a firm believer in
not sending anyone down a path I haven’t first traversed myself, these
publications have all featured my byline on one or more occasions. While this
certainly won’t be the case in every column, I figured why not start off with
the familiar? The
first, GRIT, was a delightful experience. The editor-in-chief, Donna J.
Doyle, is emphatic, however, about submitting photos with manuscripts. “We support only manuscripts that are submitted with
photos to support the written material,” she says. “Many times, family
photos are all that is needed. We like to have 8 or 10 sharp color photos or
slides.” GRIT
American Life and Traditions GRIT publishes
feature-length articles (1200-1500 words) about topics important to today’s
families: American values and quality of life, outstanding people and
interesting places, parenting and grandparenting, home and garden, arts and
crafts, American history and tradition, family lifestyles, community involvement
or service, family-oriented media and movies, Americana and nostalgia, antiques
and collectibles, and travel. Send for writers guidelines. E-Queries: No Submit completed
manuscripts on spec with accompanying photos. Writer’s
guidelines online: No, but Editorial Calendar is. Pays: Pays upon
publication. Feature articles (1200-1500 words) pay 15-22 cents per word, and
$35-$50 per published photo. *********************************************************** Absolutely
Florida is
an online publication that is near and dear to my heart. Publisher Barbara Bose
is wonderful to freelancers and does accept e-mail queries and submissions. She
was thrilled to hear I’d be featuring her publication in this column. “Yes, by all
means include Absolutely Florida. (I have just uploaded our February issue!)
Our stories generally run around 1500 words and we pay 10 cents per word for
original material,” Bose says. Articles published
in Absolutely Florida have led me to some great writing opportunities. So
if you live in Florida, enjoy visiting Florida, have a longing to check out
Florida, or if you’re like me—just recently bought a retirement home in
Florida—then you’ll love this site. Absolutely
Florida! E-Queries: Yes E-mail: editor@funandsun.com Writers guidelines
online: No. E-mail publisher for guidelines. Pays: Pays on
publication. Feature articles run approximately 1500 words and pay is 10 cents
per word. Absolutely
Florida! features
off-the-beaten path, non-conventional Florida people, places, and things, as
well as a vacationer’s plethora of standard “Florida tourist attraction
articles”. Do you know of a remote but eclectic eatery, museum, or shop? Have
you visited a trendy bar, taken a fabulous shelling cruise, or studied some
intriguing Florida history? Absolutely Florida features the best of the best,
and goes the extra mile to find it. *********************************************************** Paul Tukey, editor
of People, Places, and Plants enjoys the down-to-earth style of New
England gardening enthusiasts. From elaborate gardening to simple flower beds on
the front lawn, he features it all. His “Thumbprints” section became home to
my article about my great-grandmother’s hens and chickens—sempervivium
tactorum, to be precise! This glossy full-color print magazine is published
seasonally, and features some exquisite photography. People, Places, & Plants People, Places,
& Plants features gardening experts, how-to articles, and anything and
everything pertaining to gardening in the New England states. E-Queries: Yes E-Mail: paul@newenglandgardening.com Pays: Varies. Pays
upon publication. My 500-word essay pulled in $75. Guidelines online:
No. E-mail publisher for guidelines. Accepts e-queries.
Sometimes asks for article on spec. *********************************************************** Whispers from
Heaven
claims to be a magazine, but is in fact a small version of a paperback book. Its
glossy front and back covers make for an impressive publication. Personal
accounts of matters of faith, hope, and good human qualities fill these pages
with enjoyable reading. Whispers from Heaven E-Queries: No Guidelines online:
No. Write for guidelines. Pays: On
acceptance. Pays between $175 and $225 for 1000 words. Whispers from
Heaven is a
woman’s magazine that publishes nonfiction. It does not publish overtly
religious material or anything highlighting negative traits. Looks for general
interest, inspirational, and personal experience accounts. Write to Editor Julie
Green for guidelines. Accepts only completed manuscripts. ************************************************************ GP4K (Guideposts
for Kids)
is no longer available in print, but maintains a very impressive online
publication. It is aimed at children aged 6-11. Managing editor Roseanne Tolin
is a joy to work with, and she deals primarily with freelancers. Nearly 90% of
GP4K is written by freelancers. GP4K E-Queries: Yes Email: rtolin@guideposts.org Pays: On
acceptance. Accepts both nonfiction and fiction queries. Pays up to $500 for
nonfiction and up to $600 for fiction. Geared to Christian
kids, but doesn’t want anything remotely preachy. Looks for general interest
stories, humor, profiles, inspirational articles. Accepts most types of
children’s fiction. Kimberly Ripley is a freelance writer and published author from Portsmouth, NH. A wife and mother of five, her family's antics have led her to write books like ''Breathe Deeply, This Too Shall Pass',' a collection of thirty tales of the trials and tribulations of parenting teens. She is the owner/publisher of Writerip Publishing, and editor of a newsletter and web site called ''Freelancing Later in Life,'' based on her book by the same name. Visit her site at http://www.freelancing1.homestead.com.
Contests Corner An interesting selection of contests for you this month. Some require serious thinking, some could get you really far along the road to fame and fortune, and others are just plain fun to try. As usual, I've copied extracts from the various websites and you can go check out the URLS for more detailed information. Remember to look at our archived columns too; many contests are offered annually. Enjoy! Moira. Allen
Ginsberg Poetry Awards "Honoring
Allen Ginsberg's Contribution to American Literature. Sponsored by The Poetry
Center at Passaic County Community College. Winners will be asked to participate
in a reading to take place In Paterson Historic District. "The
entry fee covers the cost of a subscription to The Paterson Literary Review. The
winning poems and all honorable mention winners as well as editor's choice
poems, will be published in The Paterson Literary Review." PRIZE:
$1000, $200, $100 ENTRY
FEE: $13 DEADLINE:
April 1, 2002 URL:
http://www.pccc.cc.nj.us/poetry/allen.html GroundZero
"The
competition is open to poetry and fictional stories of 1,500 words or less. All
entries must be original. Unpublished work is preferred, but entries may have
been published elsewhere provided the writer retains second rights. Copywrite,
Ink. reserves the right to publish the top six submissions on this Web site
without additional compensation beyond the cash prize awards. Authors will
retain all other rights and will be further compensated when Copywrite, Ink.
publishes a hardbound collection of up to 100 winning submissions. "While
we welcome all submissions, we prefer poems and stories that take a fresh look
at life and have an edge. We also prefer stories that appreciate that our site
is intended for all ages. We reserve the right not to publish any stories or
poems that do not observe these guidelines; however, such stories--should they
excel--may still be eligible to win. While considerable effort will be made to
publish the work as submitted, we retain the right to edit submitted
material." PRIZE:
$250, $150, $100 ENTRY
FEE: $5 DEADLINE:
April 15, 2002 URL:
http://www.copywriteink.com/zerosubs.html
"Just
For Openers" Contest "We
promised you another 'Just For Openers' contest - this one for novels instead of
short stories - Here it is! "Send
the opening paragraphs (the Hook) of your mystery novel, up to 250 words.
Winners will be announced by March 20, 2002, and winning entries will appear in
the Summer issue of FMAM and will also be published on FMAM's website." PRIZE:
a
copy of WRITING THE MYSTERY by G. Miki Hayden, plus publication
ENTRY
FEE: None DEADLINE:
February 28, 2002 URL:
http://www.futuresforstorylovers.com
wipout.net
intellectual property counter-essay contest "In
March 2001, the World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO) launched an
international student essay competition. Students were asked to submit essays
with the title 'What does intellectual Property mean to you in your daily
life?'. It is obvious that WIPO are expecting a number of self-congratulatory
essays detailing the plentiful benefits of intellectual property (IP). Anyone
who writes an essay which says that IP means: ' 'as
a farmer, I can't get access to patent-protected seeds for planting' or, 'as a teacher, I can't distribute materials to my students due to copyright restrictions' is
unlikely to win a prize from WIPO, no matter how well argued or valid their
essay was. "If
there are enough people who want to write such essays, there should be a place
where they can submit them. And so we at Wipout have organised a counter-essay
contest. We are using the same title as the WIPO contest, but we encourage
slightly more critical responses to the question of how intellectual property
affects us all in our daily lives. This website is the place where the essays
will be posted. To look at the essays received so far, go to the site. We shall
also be awarding some prizes for essays, though admittedly more modest than
WIPO's. As part of this project, we are also approaching several publishers and
expect to publish a book containing the winning entries, plus a selection of
other essays. "The
organisers of Wipout are not campaigning for the abolition of intellectual
property. We appreciate that there would be much less worthwhile IP created
without some form of incentive for individuals and corporations. Many of the
organising committee are authors and artists themselves and so have some
interest in there being some level of IP protection. We are NOT against IP in
itself. This essay contest is about the current over-protection of IP. We are
strongly opposed to the excessive protection of IP and how it is accorded
trumping power over other values and social priorities such as access to
medicines, to education, and to the sharing of ideas and information. "For
two reasons. Firstly, and most simply, it is important for people to be aware
that excessive IP protection can be extremely damaging to human endeavour. At
present, any discussion about IP is dominated by big businesses who seek to
continually expand and prolong IP protection at the expense of the public
interest. WIPO's own essay contest is an example of rights holders attempting to
show the benefits of IP without concern for how damaging it can be. "Secondly,
the contest is an attempt to show how many areas of life are underpinned by IP
regulations. There are currently a lot of people working in a lot of different
fields who realise how IP affects their own area of interest but may not realise
how it affects others in similar ways. By encouraging contributions from all
walks of life, we hope that people may begin to realise that many of the
problems that they face through IP are similar to those faced by others." PRIZE:
Not specified ENTRY
FEE: None DEADLINE:
March 15, 2002
The
Holocaust Remembrance Project "This
is a national essay contest for high school students that is designed to
encourage and promote the study of the Holocaust. Participation in this project
encourages students to think responsibly, be aware of world conditions that
undermine human dignity, and make decisions that promote the respect and value
inherent in each human being. "The
project serves as a living memorial to the millions of innocent victims of the
Holocaust. The Holland & Knight Charitable Foundation recognizes the moral
imperative of teaching young people about this watershed event and the central
importance of passing on to future generations a profound understanding of the
consequences of the Holocaust and a sense of responsibility to the human
community. "Students
responding to this year’s writing contest should study the Holocaust and then,
in a 1,000 word essay, analyze how the remembrance, history, and lessons of the
Holocaust can ensure that modern man will 'Never Again' embrace genocide or
terrorism as public policy (see contest rules for complete details). "In
preparation for writing, students are encouraged to research information from a
variety of sources to assist them in their study of the Holocaust. Primary and
secondary source material could include: historical and reference material,
interviews, eyewitness accounts, oral testimonies, official documents and other
primary sources, readings from diaries, letters, autobiographies, works of
poetry, video or audio tapes, films, art, CD-ROM and Internet sources. "Possible
research and essay commentary must include one or a combination of more than one
of the following topic considerations: ·
What
has your study of the Holocaust taught you about the devaluation of human life
and the consequences of embracing such inhumanity? ·
How
do the lessons of the Holocaust relate to your understanding of the concept of
diversity in society today? How do these lessons relate to the concept of world
citizenship? ·
The
"Attack on America" on September 11, 2001, has taught our nation that
the hatred and prejudice that exist in the world today can lead to terrorism,
violence, destruction, and even mass death. Why is it so vital that the lessons
of the Holocaust be passed to a new generation? What can you do to combat and
prevent prejudice, discrimination and violence in our world today?" PRIZE:
$$$$, trips, scholarships etc. ENTRY
FEE: None specified DEADLINE:
April 30, 2002 URL:
http://holocaust.hklaw.com/
2002
JOHN LENNON SONGWRITING CONTEST "To
enter your original song(s) fill out the application and... just imagine "Everything
begins with the song." "It's
an old saying that continues to be true today. Yet despite acceptance of this
widely held belief, there remains a noticeable lack of recognition of the art of
songwriting. It is with this in mind that the John Lennon Songwriting Contest
was created. The John Lennon Songwriting Contest is open to both amateur and
professional songwriters. "Songs
may be entered in any of the following twelve categories: Rock,
Country, Jazz, Pop, World, Rhythm & Blues, Gospel/Inspirational, Hip-Hop,
Latin, Electronic, Folk, Children's. "More
than just a contest, the John Lennon Songwriting Contest offers songwriters one
of the most valuable commodities in the music industry: OPPORTUNITY! Winners are
selected by songwriting members of the Songwriters
Guild of America, with all final determinations being made by members
of the JLSC Executive
Committee of noted singer/songwriters. "A
dream you dream alone is only a dream. "I
hope this Contest will encourage, inspire and help the songwriters of the world
to share their dream with us. Love,
Yoko Ono Lennon" PRIZE:
$$$$, studio equipment, music publishing contract, etc. ENTRY
FEE: $30 DEADLINE:
August 28, 2002 URL:
http://www.jlsc.com/ 3-Day
Novel-Writing Contest "The
25th Anniversary Anvil Press International 3-Day Novel-Writing Contest, the
world's most infamous literary marathon, takes place Labour Day Weekend, August 31- September 2, 2002. "In
1977 a handful of restless Vancouver writers accepted the challenge to write a
novel over the Labour Day long weekend. No one finished and no one was eager to
expose their 3-day efforts to the scrutiny of others. Yet, tho there had been no
offspring, a beast was born, and six months later it arose, demanding
recognition and celebration of its existence. "In
true pioneering spirit, the call went out, the gauntlet went down, and the 3-Day
Novel Contest was on its way to becoming the cheeky and uncompromising rebel of
literary forms that it is today. From its modest beginnings as a barroom
challenge, it grew to attract the interest and support of neophyte and seasoned
writers alike. "Over
its twenty-four-year history the contest has inspired the creation of thousands
of novels, twenty of which were considered sufficiently accomplished to warrant
publication. From the inaugural winner, Dr. Tin, to the 2001 winning entry,
Socket, the winners of this notorious literary marathon have impressed both
adjudicators and reviewers with their level of craft and accomplishment. "The
contest has been called a fad, an idle threat, a 'great way to overcome writers
block,' 'a trial by deadline.' Unconcerned, it continues to fly in the face of
the notion that novels take eight years of angst to produce and lush cash prizes
to stimulate. "2002
marks the 25th Anniversary of the contest and we are confident that more writers
than ever will take up the challenge to produce an instant literary masterpiece. "The
contest now attracts over 500 daring writers from around the world, and we
invite writers everywhere to join us in celebrating this uniquely Canadian
contribution to world literary history." PRIZE:
An
offer of publication from Anvil Press Publishers ENTRY
FEE: $35 DEADLINE:
August 30, 2002 URL:
http://www.anvilpress.com/3daynov/ WriteMovies.com
Writing Contest "Studios
and production companies often pay over $2 Million to acquire screenplays,
books, plays, short stories or articles. Find out if your project has what they
are looking for. "Maximum
of 1000 entries allowed. All
participants considered for representation by TalentScout Management. Contest
sponsored by Final Draft software. "We
will pitch the top three entries to high ranking executives at all the studios,
a minimum of ten production companies, (such as Castle Rock, Bruckheimer Films,
Scott Rudin Prods.), several literary agencies. We additionally submit your
material to non- US companies to increase your chances of a sale. We mention the
name and project of the winners in press releases and on the web. PRIZE:
$2000
plus other stuff ENTRY
FEE: $29 DEADLINE:
May 30, 2002 URL:
http://www.writemovies.com/writingcontest.html I have been an accountant for a very long time, but I always wanted to be a writer when I grew up. I realised a year or so back, that there's not that many decades left for me get grown up, and so I'm working part time at learning how to be a writer. Besides my column here, I write a weekly article on Women Abuse for Suite101.com - not a pretty subject, but if you have the stomach, check it out at http://www.suite101.com/welcome.cfm/women_abuse - and have recently been promoted by them to Managing Editor (Food).
The Multimedia Approach to
Publishing: Timberwolf Press is a relative newcomer to the world of publishing, and that’s okay with them. Patrick Seaman, responsible for the world’s first Internet audio book, A Small Percentage by Jim Cline, started Timberwolf in 1999. Seaman’s early success with Internet broadcasting at Broadcast.com shaped Timberwolf’s mission. They are more than just another publishing house; in fact Timberwolf is striving to change publishing, one multimedia experience at a time. I interviewed Carol Woods, Senior Editor at Timberwolf and asked about their unique vision as well as their basic procedures. One innovative practice is how they handle queries; they only accept them by email. TO READ THE INTERVIEW, CLICK HERE. |
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