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Finding the Bacon Greetings,
avid freelancers, and welcome to this issue of Finding the Bacon. Summer finds
many of us in the throes of various home improvements—some by choice, some by
necessity. Don’t discount these home improvements and creative home and yard
decorating adventures when querying magazines. ************************************************** While
not technically accepting work from freelance writers, there are ways to get
published in The Family Handyman. Probably classified as fillers, savvy
freelancers know these are quick and cost-effective ways to earn writing
dollars. The Family Handyman Guidelines
Online: Yes http://www.familyhandyman.com/200108/handyhints/ E-Mail
Queries: No E-Mail
submissions for fillers: Yes Pays:
On publication. $100. The
Family Handyman is
a staff-written publication dedicated to instructing homeowners in the basics of
being a Mr. or Mrs. “Fix-It.” In addition, they publish how-to pieces and
remodeling suggestions. The only parts of the magazine open to freelancers—and
general readers—require helpful hints and humorous looks at attempts at being
a handy man or woman. These sections are called “Great Goofs” and “Handy
Hints.” Pays:
Upon publication. $100. ************************************************** Country
Accents is
aimed at those with a flair (or the desire to develop one!) for decorating their
home in a country style. Country Accents Guidelines
Online: No E-Mail
Queries: No Affordable
decorating ideas accompanied by photos, and written in a style that speaks to
those with minimal decorating expertise—these articles are the best bets for
getting acceptances at Country Accents. Send written query via standard
mail and include color photos, slides, or transparencies with a manuscript
outline. Each issue includes an essay on country living as well—approximately
750 words. Pays:
On publication. Per-word rate varies for articles. Essays pay $200-$250. ************************************************** There’s
no place like home—even if you’re not stranded in the land of Oz. But Home
Magazine is a better option for querying with your remodeling, improvement,
architecture, and gardening ideas. Home Magazine Guidelines
Online: No E-mail
Queries: No Experts
must be quoted in articles for Home Magazine. Such quotes lend
authenticity to a publication known for being an authority in decorating,
remodeling, and related topics. Send
a query via standard mail with an outline of your 1000-2000 word article.
Include published clips with your query. Pays:
On acceptance. 50-75 cents per word. ************************************************** Where
do homeowners look to make their house more beautiful? House Beautiful,
of course. And your freelance article may very well be among those they read
when contemplating a style change or home improvement. House Beautiful Guidelines
Online: No http://magazines.ivillage.com/housebeautiful E-Mail
Queries: No House
Beautiful
is filled with tips from novices and experts, and projects range from simple
enhancements to exclusive makeovers. Articles run 1000-1500 words, and include
topics like entertaining ideas as well as decorating projects. Send query via
standard mail to Elaine Greene. Include clips. Pays:
On acceptance. 50 cents-$1 per word. ************************************************** They’ve
never shown up on my doorstep—how about yours? Better Homes and Gardens
has long been the standard of all standards regarding home décor, furnishings,
and style—both indoors and out. Better Homes and Gardens Guidelines Online: No E-Mail
Queries: No Better
Homes and Gardens
features freelance articles on household renovations, decorations, parties,
holidays, garden and patio designs, and more. It is the most prestigious
publication dedicated to homeowners and consumers. It features parenting,
education, health and travel pieces as well. Send query with published clips via
standard mail. Pays:
On acceptance. Starts at $1 per word. ************************************************** 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 Lots of interesting contests this month! Whether you fancy yourself as writer of American advertising copy, Japanese-style poetry, Australian crime, or have in your heart an unwritten letter to your mother, you'll find here a contest to measure your skills. And there's much more in this bumper column, including something for the kids to keep them occupied during the sometimes, seemingly endless, holidays. Enjoy! Moira
**************************************************
"Book
Club Today publication has launched its national search for the Best Book Club
in America. Tell us in 1000 words or less why your group would be considered the
most upbeat and innovative reading group around! "We
want to know about your wild and zany meetings, your serious and focused
discussions and your 'on-location get-togethers.' We want to know what you eat
and drink at your meetings, where they’re located, where you get your ideas
from and most importantly what you discuss! "Any group is eligible if they meet at least six times per year, and have four or more members. Upbeat, Innovative and Fun will win the Contest!"
PRIZE:
$500, and others ENTRY
FEE: None DEADLINE:
July 31, 2002 URL:
http://www.bookclubtoday.com/issue2_page11.htm
**************************************************
THE
2K2 WRITING AWARDS Presented
by The Peralta Community Colleges "Writing
contests open to all writers across the country and around the world. Maximum
Length: Fiction & Non-Fiction: 2002 words. Poetry:
30 lines. All
entries must be original and not previously published. All
entries will receive a complimentary copy of The Peralta Press’ Spring 2003
issue." Mail
manuscripts, entry fee(s), and additional information
PRIZE:
$250 ENTRY
FEE: $10 DEADLINE:
August15, 2002 URL:
http://www.peraltapress.homestead.com/ **************************************************
POTPOURRI’S
2002 CNL FICTION AWARD CONTEST "Potpourri
Publications invites submissions to its Council on National Literatures Fiction
Award. "The
Council on National Literatures, a Non-Profit Educational Foundation,
Whitestone, NY, is a forum concerned with comparative studies of the 'diverse
contemporary literatures of the world.' In keeping with these objectives, CNL
has established this award which celebrates the multicultural diversity and
historic background of our nation and its people. Awards alternate: odd numbered
years for poetry; even years for short fiction.
PRIZE:
$300, plus publication ENTRY
FEE: $5 DEADLINE:
September 1, 2002 URL:
http://www.potpourri.org/ **************************************************
Poetry
Institute of Africa "This
poetry contest is open to all poets of any age, whether they have been
previously published or not. All are eligible without regard to sex, race or
experience. Each poet may submit one poem only in English and/or Afrikaans.
PRIZE:
R3 000 (about $300), and others ENTRY
FEE: None DEADLINE:
October 31, 2002 ************************************************** I
DREAM... A
Writing Contest for Kids from 6 - 10! "What
do you dream about doing, or having, or being? What kind of life would you like
to plan for yourself? What kind of
dreams do you have for the world? Or for your family? Write about it—you might
win a prize!! "The
contest judges are all writers, and they will pick one girl and one boy winner
in each age group: the 6-8 Year Old group, and the 9-10 Year Old group. Read
the right rules for your age group!!"
PRIZE:
Many and various ENTRY
FEE: None DEADLINE:
August 31, 2002 URL:
http://www.thehumorwriter.com/ ************************************************** HAIKU
WITH HUMOR haijinx
is very pleased to announce the john crook award for haiku with humor. "Haiku
with humor? Isn’t that senryu? "Humor
is essential to haiku. Senryu, on the other hand, are (satirical) jokes for the
sake of joking and not for the sake of attempting to capture an elusive moment
of realization. Realization, as Steve Allen notes above and Blyth notes often,
of the essential absurdity and humor of life. As with the relatively recent push
for the traditional use of season words (or keywords that involve nature if you
prefer) in modern English-language haiku, we feel the traditional role of humor
needs to be emphasized. So, we invite you to submit your haiku with humor to us!
We will accept haiku, haiga, and sumi-e, as well as essays and articles on the
role of humor in haiku."
PRIZE:
$150 and others ENTRY
FEE: $10 DEADLINE:
September 20, 2002
************************************************** The
HSA Benard Lionel Einbond Renku Competition From
the Haiku Society of America "For
the purpose of this contest, a renku may consist of 36, 20, or 12 stanzas (kasen,
nijûin, or junicho forms) written by two or more persons, each of whom
contributes a substantial number of individually-authored stanzas. To see the
poems that won last year, visit the HSA
Benard Lionel Einbond Renku Collection. See also the judge’s
commentary for 2001, which will give you an idea of what judges look
for in a renku. "There
are some important elements in kasen renku. There should be close responsiveness
between the hokku (the first verse) and the wakiku (the second verse). The omote
(#1-6) should be calm and cheerful. In the ura (#7-18) and the nagori-omote
(#19-30), the poets should shift and develop verses with the feeling of ‘ha’
(breaking the rhythm). The kasen renku should contain the compulsory two blossom
verses and three moon verses, as well as two sets of love verses. There should
be unlimited variations in the materials and the flavor of linking. The topics
can be on society and its subjects, human nature, humor and current events. In
linking, the poets can find the strings from the previous verse by picking up
the flow through the topics, the emotions, the scents, the sounds and the
hierarchies. They can also leap. An ideal ageku (the last verse) should have a
hopeful and cheerful tone."
PRIZE:
Up to $150 and publication ENTRY
FEE: $15 DEADLINE:
October 1, 2002 URL:
http://www.hsa-haiku.org/index.htm ************************************************** Honickman First Book Prize in Poetry "The
prize is open to any writer in English who is a U.S. citizen and who has not
published a book-length collection of poems. Poems previously published in
periodicals or limited-edition chapbooks may be included in the manuscript, but
the manuscript itself must not have been published as a book-length work
exceeding 25 pages. Translations are not eligible nor are works written by
multiple authors. The editors of The American Poetry Review will screen
manuscripts for the judge."
PRIZE:
$3 000 and publication ENTRY
FEE: $20 DEADLINE:
October 31, 2002 ************************************************** MAMMOTH books "Read
Big. Write Big. Publish small. MAMMOTH books is an independent publisher of
literary fiction, nonfiction, and poetry based in Western Pennsylvania. "Prose
manuscripts may be creative non-fiction (a collection of essays or a single long
work) or fiction (a collection of stories or novellas or a novel). Poetry
manuscripts may be a collection of poems or a single long poem. Translations are
acceptable. "Manuscripts
as a whole must not have been previously published. Some or all of each
manuscript may have appeared in periodicals, chapbooks, anthologies, or other
venues. These must be identified. Authors are responsible for securing
permissions. "Manuscripts
may be any length. Manuscripts may be an author’s first book or a subsequent
one. Manuscripts may have one or more authors, but edited anthologies are not
acceptable."
PRIZE:
$750 advance against royalties and publication ENTRY
FEE: $20 DEADLINE:
Ongoing URL:
http://www.mammothbooks.com/guidelines.htm ************************************************** Writer’s
Contest - Short Story From
Weekly Dialog
"This
contest is for quality short stories, fiction or non-fiction. Maximum 4000
words. All submissions must be unpublished as of the date of entry. If published
prior to award date but after submission, notify Weekly Dialog immediately.
Success in securing publication after submission does not nullify your chances,
but it is essential that we know. Author retains all rights. Winning submissions
will be posted on this site only by permission of the author. Prizes may be
awarded without permission to post the work. Our purpose is to help you sell
your work, not to stand in the way of that achievement."
PRIZE:
$125 and others ENTRY
FEE: $10 DEADLINE:
September 15, 2002 URL:
http://www.weeklydialog.com/
**************************************************
LETTER
WRITING CONTEST "Heartfelt
Matters, Inc., home of the Letters From The Heart Project ™, is asking
specifically for letters from daughters to mothers…letters that evoke emotion
and offer insight and depth. Honest expression of feelings is our priority. The
Letters From The Heart Project™ seeks letters from daughters to mothers about
the challenges in the daughter/mother relationship, its sorrows and triumphs-its
heartfelt expression of truth and lessons learned-about forgiveness. Be specific
as you can. The more detailed you are in your letter, the more it will make a
difference for you. Entry letters can feature any emotions of the heart, such as
understanding, acceptance, love, resentment, anger, betrayal, sorrow, regret,
guilt, joy, celebration, vulnerability, gratitude, respect, courage, letting go,
freedom, control, fear, estrangement, etc. "All
letters chosen for the competition will be in the forthcoming book about the
daughter-mother relationship, Forgive Your Mother; Heal Yourself, to be released
in 2003. Each letter entry will be judged on depth and content-the ability to
articulate emotions to resolve issues, and lessons learned. As I shared my
letters and my cathartic experience with others, I realized how many women still
have unfinished business, unspoken emotions, and unfulfilled relationships with
their moms. I truly believe in emphasizing the importance of expressing our
feelings and healing our relationships while we still can. Thus, The Letters
from the Heart ProjectTM was born."
PRIZE:
$1500 and others ENTRY
FEE: None mentioned DEADLINE:
November 30, 2002 URL:
http://www.lettersfromtheheartproject.com/ ************************************************** CHI-CHI’S
Salsa “GOOD NO MATTER WHAT” CONTEST
"Create
a CHI-CHI ‘S Salsa headline! Just tell us in 10 words or less why CHI-CHI'S
Salsa is 'GOOD NO MATTER WHAT.' Entry must be entrant’s original work in
English, cannot have been previously published or submitted in any other contest
and not subject to any rights of any other parties. Entry must be in keeping
with the CHI-CHI ‘S Salsa image and may not be offensive, as determined by the
judging panel, nor can it defame or invade the publicity rights or privacy of
any person, living or deceased, or otherwise infringe upon any person’s
personal or proprietary rights. "Entries
will be scored on a 100-point scale using the following criteria: Originality
and creativity: (65 possible points); appropriateness and consistency with
CHI-CHI ‘S Salsa brand image (25 possible points); suitability for an
advertising campaign (10 possible points)."
PRIZE:
$1000 and others, including lots of free salsa! ENTRY
FEE: None DEADLINE:
October 1, 2002 URL:
http://www.chi-chissalsagoodnomatterwhat.com ************************************************** Crime
Factory Short Story Competition
"Theme:
the plot must involve a crime. Entry
is open to residents of Australia only. They must be over 18 years of age and
must not have had a novel published by the closing date. Word limit: 5000
words."
PRIZE:
$1000 and publication ENTRY
FEE: $5.50 DEADLINE:
October 25, 2002 URL:
http://www.crimefactory.net/ ************************************************** Positively
Secular Writers’ Contest "While
Obadiah Press is a Christian publishing house, we recognize that most Christians
don’t need to work in churches to be effective. It’s important to get out in
the world and live a Christ-like life without necessarily pushing your 'faith'
or 'religion' at people who aren’t ready for it. A good many Christians are
doing extraordinary things in this world that have no direct relationship to a
church, mission, or non-profit ministry. And hey, that’s OK!!! The Lord works
in mysterious ways. "Share your writing with us. The theme of this contest is 'Positively Secular' and is wide open to your individual interpretation! Submit a poem, essay, article, manuscript, or whatever other form of writing you desire in keeping with this theme. There is no minimum or maximum word count. Write the story-write the piece. When it is complete-no more, no less-stop. We are looking for quality writing of any length." PRIZE:
$550 and $250 ENTRY
FEE: $15 DEADLINE:
December 31, 2002 URL:
http://www.obadiahpress.com/ 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). |
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