Reasons For Moving

Poetic

nobody@vox.com(Stephanie) — Sat, 10 May 2008 16:03:04 -0400

There's a knitting magazine I like that has a blog (updated daily, usually with a pattern or tip). Last month they had a contest: use their magnetic poetry kit to create a poem. Second place was a subscription to the magazine, which I aimed for. I didn't take it seriously as a submission since, hey, it's magnetic poetry. But I did spend time on it.

They suggested taking a photo of your magnetic poem but since purchase of the kit wasn't required, it was necessary (and when I look at the rules now, it no longer says optional; when I submitted and triple-checked to make sure, it was). I submitted my "poem" and said that if an image was needed, I would create one but since it was optional and I don't own the kit, I only included text.

Yesterday they announced the winners. I am not among them. All three winners had an image. Hrm. And one of the prizes was for the "best presentation." That tells me where the focus of the contest was: visual. And doesn't that put the visually impaired at a disadvantage (not that I am but I think of these things)? So anyway, my heart was not broken but I can't help feeling a little gypped on the "image optional" part. I think it was actually "image not required but if you want to win, we want a pretty picture to post when announcing the winners."

This was my "poem:"

I want pleasure,
soft edges, color
He felt you must stitch, weave, hook, knit
count, swell, spin,
play the fringe friend for me.
Get rhythm.
Trying is easy;
to do, luscious

Theryn said it was probably too risque for the knitting magazine. Hey, it's their kit. I was just pleased to find a selection of verbs and to be able to create some semblance of structure. Silly me for concentrating on the poem instead of finding a way to take an attractive picture of it. That'll learn me to submit to non-writing writing contests.

I think I'll go write some calendar prompts. I thought May's were done and when I checked the calendar yesterday, they weren't. I already sent out a sub today and researched some markets. Mentally composing a 150 words story about sand dunes for a contest. I think my writing -centric quota for the day is finished.

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New contest open at TC

nobody@vox.com(Stephanie) — Fri, 02 May 2008 00:23:41 -0400

A Midsummer Tale is a creative non-fiction contest. We are looking for non-fiction stories told using fiction techniques. This means characters, dialogue, and some semblance of a plot are musts. Please, no essays or articles.

Details, including specific theme and length, are announced May 1.

The deadline for submissions is June 21.

Entries are blind-judged by Beaver. The judge’s decision is final. Winners are announced July 31.

Winning stories are published in the September issue of Toasted Cheese. Winners receive Amazon gift certificates: $20 for first, $15 for second, $10 for third.

Stories should be essentially true, but do not need to have journalistic accuracy. This is your version of what happened, not a “Joe Friday” accounting of The Facts. Creative license can be taken in order to recreate dialogue that took place 20 years ago, for example.

You may use pseudonyms to identify the people in your story; however, please indicate that you have done so on your entry.

For a better idea of what we are looking for, please visit our archives and read some of the creative nonfiction we have published in the past.

The theme of the June 2008 A Midsummer Tale contest is: Snapshots. Photographs can trigger memories of events you thought you had forgotten. Has it been a while since you’ve looked at the dusty albums or boxes that hold your family photos? This year’s AMT contest is a chance for you to dig through your yellowing snapshots and reminisce. Choose one old photo and write about the events surrounding it.

Stories must take place in the summer.
The word limit is 3,000 words.
This is a non-fiction contest; your story must be about something that actually happened, not something you invented.

IMPORTANT:

Attach a copy of the photograph to your entry. Photos will be published along with the winning stories. Entries without an attached photo will be disqualified.
By entering the contest, you warrant that the photograph you have included is a personal snapshot and that you have both the right to publish it and the permission of anyone identifiable in the photo to use their image.

The contest opens May 1, 2008. The deadline for submissions is June 21, 2008. E-mail entries to amtcontest08[at]toasted-cheese.com. Your subject line must read: A Midsummer Tale Contest Entry.

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Cheer cheer cheer tiger

nobody@vox.com(Stephanie) — Fri, 21 Mar 2008 19:09:09 -0400

Can you write a mystery in (now less than) 48 hours?

The Spring 2008 Three Cheers & A Tiger short fiction contest is now open.
Remember: This is a mystery.
Word count: between 1850-1950
Theme: http://www.toasted-cheese.com/images/3c1-2008-crocus.jpg (The First Flower)
Send your entry, titled "Three Cheers and a Tiger Contest Entry" to threecheers08[at] toasted-cheese.com
Deadline is 48 hours from the time of this post. (5 PM ET Sunday)
Further details here: http://www.toasted-cheese.com/ezine/contest.htm#3cheers
Remember: NO ATTACHMENTS!

I'm a judge so if you do it, don't tell me anything about your story. If you have questions, you can post them at TC. Spread the word & have fun.

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Submitting

nobody@vox.com(Stephanie) — Wed, 05 Mar 2008 01:40:39 -0500

Well I submitted a story. I wrote it on Saturday after I found the listing at Duotrope. It's a WD story contest so there'll probably be a bazillion submissions. It was free, flash and had a good theme to use. I did a couple of rewrites, including one after I posted a second draft at TC. I know if I futz over it too much, I might miss the deadline (the 10th). Who knows what'll come up in the meantime? So I put it in. I don't know if I'll do something else with it if it's not picked. I might. I mean, it's here, I might as well send it off to some flash journals. Oh and the best part is I never had to title it ;)

I haven't put my changes to the "Cole" story in the computer yet. This flash story, I never edited it in hard copy. I edit flash electronically b/c I'm always kissing the word limit, cutting & adding and I want to know where I stand w/ that. I also make a lot of little edits w/ flash.

It's been a long time since I submitted anything. Especially something other than erotica. So this is fun to get back into. I like the idea of working with a theme. I know from our contests that a lot of writers try to shoehorn in the theme. I think from that standpoint, I have a good chance w/ this piece and with any other themed writing piece I might want to try.

Next I'm going to work on the "Cole" edits and I have some AB stuff to do.

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