This way to crowds of summer literary confabs!

 (Updated 9:08 a.m. June 9 to include information about writing workshops at FenCon and ArmadilloCon.)

Is it summer already? Unseasonably boggy weather has kept temperatures in North Texas at far from balmy levels. And those crowds of kids I’d expect to see? Time lost to the pandemic as well as last winter’s one-two punch of killer cold and equally deadly power outages has extended the school year weeks longer than usual.

At least, we have plenty of literary conferences to look forward to, in a mix of in-person, virtual, even hybrid venues. I’ll concentrate on those with a Texas twist. But in a virtual world, around the country – or the world – can be as close as our hometowns, starting with:

June 10-12: REH Days

Image: wikimedia commons

celebrates the life and works of Conan creator (and Texas native) Robert E. Howard in his hometown of Cross Plains, Texas. Of course, it’s in person – we’re all barbarians! – but feel free to mask up. (Maybe with one of the stylish Conan versions available online?) Free, as always. The only paid event is the annual banquet which is already sold out. Access to Howard’s home and museum, the Cross Plains library’s collection of original typescripts and memorabilia, readings, and more. Cross Plains is approximately a three-hour drive from Dallas. Lodging is available at nearby towns, including Brownwood, site of REH’s grave. See the REH Days site for full list of events.

June 11-13: Houston Writers Guild’s annual conference goes virtual. Saturday speakers include Dallas-own Arianne “Tex” Thompson Agent/editor panel, agent pitch sessions, plus sessions on marketing, networking, genre writing and blending, memoir writing and more. Early bird registration (ends June 11), $30 plus processing fee. Editor/agent pitch sessions (which still appear to be available) are $25 each. See the site for details and registration.

June 21-27: Historical Novel Society North America’s annual conference will be virtual. This year’s guest of honor is Lisa See (Snow Flower and the Secret Fan), with special presenters Libbie Hawker and Jane Friedman, master classes, panels, and more. Unfortunately, it’s too late to register for agent pitches. Registration: $259 for HNS members, $289 for nonmembers. See the site for complete schedule.

June 28-July 1: Thrillerfest XVI stays virtual. Options include master classes ($399) consulting ($75) and pitching ($50 sessions), and more. There’s also a free “Best First Sentence Contest,” open to registrants. Deadline for registration by mail as well as entries for the Best First Sentence Contest is June 15.

July 22-24: When the conference goes virtual, location is not a problem. So, although the Writer’s Digest reports itself to be sad not to see participants in person, it’s eager to proclaim a virtual conference. Pre-conference workshops July 22 ($199 each), and a choice of fiction or publishing business tracks for the main conference July 23-24 ($199 each). See the site for add-ons, including recordings.

August 25-29:  BoucherCon, the world mystery conference, plans to meet in-person in New Orleans, with guest of honor Michael Connelly. Registration is $195, fully refundable if an in-person meeting in deemed to be not available. See the site for tentative schedule and list of special guests.

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How many literary conferences have pushed their normal summer dates back in order to proceed in-person? Lots! Including the Writers League of Texas in Austin, Texas, now scheduled for September 17-19.

Those are also the dates for the Dallas-area science fiction/fantasy convention FenCon. A Facebook message stated that due to limited staff, FenCon will not have an organized writing workshop this year. The convention is considering what it terms "workshop-style panels" for 2021 with a return to the formal workshop in 2022. 

The hands-on event, Writers in the Field returns in person October 9-10, to Mansfield, Texas. Registration opens in June, with more information to come.

The Mayborn Literary Nonfiction Conference plans a hybrid conference – part in-person, part by Zoom – October 15-16. The site says plans are still being made but assures that the traditional writing contests and networking opportunities will be part of its lineup.

The Austin, Texas, science fiction/fantasy convention ArmadilloCon is delaying its return until October 15-17. At this point, information only appears to be available at the convention’s Facebook page. A Facebook message stated that ArmadilloCon will have an in-person writing workshop October 15, with format similar to previous years. More information will be available when the website is updated.

The Dallas-Fort Worth Writers Conference follows on October 23-24, in Hurst, Texas. Early registration (through October 10) is $379 for both days. Saturday only registration, which includes the keynote address, is $289; Sunday registration, which includes the Query Gong game show) is $239. I’ll update as more information is available.

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Still to come: The Romance Writers of America (RWA) conference will be held virtually in November. Check the site for details.

Worldcon, the World Science Fiction Convention, is moving its 2021 dates to December 15-19, with provisions for a virtual conference if necessary.

The World Fantasy Convention is still monitoring the pandemic situation but hopes to have an in-person event in Montreal this year, apparently sometime in late fall.

As always, I’ll update this blog as new information arrives.

Kick the COVID slump – winter writing contests abound

(Updated January 14 to show dates of Writers' League of Texas Manuscript Contest, possible updates to WRiTE CLUB contest)

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I did a lot of posting in 2020 about writing contests that go marching on despite pandemic quarantines. If 2021 looks like a lot of the same, the good news is still that contests aren’t dependent on masks, social distancing, or vaccines. A click of a keyboard can still send them on distant journeys without fear of contagion. Read on for some ways to stretch our writing skills!

Now - April 30: Writers League of Texas Manuscript Contest is now open. Writers don't need to live in Texas to enter in multiple fiction and nonfiction genres. We don't even need a completed manuscript -- only the first 10 pages and a synopsis that describes the rest of the planned book. Winners receive free registration to the conference (now scheduled for September 17-19) in Austin, Texas, plus one-on-one critiques (in person or by phone call) from a top literary agent in each category. Fee: $55 for WLT members, $65 for nonmembers (includes written critique) or $25 for WLT members, $35 for nonmembers who prefer not to receive a critique. See the site for details.

January 15 -29: #10Queries, not exactly a writing contest but a chance to find out if our queries and first five pages have what it takes to hook an editor’s/agent’s/reader’s attention. Writers submit their names in a random drawing via Rafflecopter. If selected, their query and first pages will be randomly assigned to an editor who will tweet comments using the Twitter hashtag #10Queries. Writers must have a compete query letter and first five pages of their manuscript to enter but will not submit these unless their name is drawn. Free. See the Revise & Resub site for details.

Now – January 31: The Masters Review Winter Short Story Award for New Writers contest for fiction up to 6,000 words. $20 entry fee, celebrity judge, cash prizes and potential for publication and agency reviews. See the site The Masters Review | Submissions for details.

Now – January 31: The early pricing deadline ($25) for Book Pipeline’s Book Pipeline Unpublished Contest.  Cash prizes and distribution to selected agents and publishers for unpublished manuscripts in nonfiction and multiple fiction genres. 

Now – February 26: Crime Writers’ Association competition for unpublished writers. No completed novel needed to enter, but writers must be able to send their first 3,000 words and a 1,500-word synopsis. Cash prize for winner. Entry fee: £36, payable through PayPal, which will be happy to convert your currency. See site  for details for this and the following:

Now – February 26: Also from CWA, the Margery Allingham Short Mystery Competition. Submissions limited to 3,600 words and must pay homage to the Golden Age author’s definition of a mystery, “The Mystery remains box-shaped, at once a prison and a refuge. Its four walls are, roughly, a Crime, a Mystery, an Enquiry and a Conclusion with an Element of Satisfaction in it.” Cash prize plus perks for winner. Fee: £12. See the site for details.

Now – April 1: Early bird deadline for entry in Writer’s Digest 2021 Self-Published Book Awards. $99 for first entry, $85 for each additional entry.  See the Writer’s Digest WD Competitions - Writer's Digest site for details.

Now – May 7: Early bird pricing deadline for entry in Writer’s Digest Annual Writing Competition. $20 for first poetry entry, $15 for each additional poetry entry. $30 for first prose entry, $25 for each additional prose entry in multiple categories. See the Writer’s Digest site  (WD Competitions - Writer's Digest for details.  

Although DL Hammons has said his WRiTE CLUB readers’ choice contest is still on for 2021, he hasn’t announced dates yet. This may be due to the contest’s association with the DFW Writers Workshop conference. I learned at the January 13 evening meeting of the DFWWW that the conference is now schedule for October 22-24 as an in-person event. I'm waiting to hear back from Hammons about how this affects the dates of his contest. 

In the meantime, of course we still want more contests! Check out the listings on Ralan.com, Kotobee, Erica Verrillo’s Publishing. . . and Other Forms of Insanity blog , and Reedsy.

Writing contest roundup – spring into a new season

How long as it been since I posted about writing contests? Well, that’s too long! In the press of other business, I’ve let some of these nearly get away. So, get a move on – I’m listing this potpourri of spring contests in order of urgency.

Now-April 14: WRiTE CLUB. I've posted before about this fun, free and totally anonymous writing contest from the brain of MG/YA writer DL Hammons but the deadline is coming up. It's a readers' choice contest, pitting pairs of writers – their work, that is – against each other. Each writer submits a sample – 500-word maximum. Or two. Slushpile readers (like me!) pick 30 starting contestants who advance round by round until a panel of publishing pros determine the final winner, to be announced at the DFW Writers Conference June 22-23. All genres of fiction, memoir, and poetry included. See DL's site for how-tos. 

Also, note – WRiTE CLUB’s final official Twitter party will be held tonight (April 11) from 6-7 p.m. CDT. Hear what slush pile readers (including me!) have to say, including, possibly answers to your most burning questions.

Now-April 15: Book Pipeline Fiction Competition . This contest seeks new works with potential for TV and film adaptation. Open to published or unpublished books, graphic novels or comics, short stories, and plays. No genre restrictions and judging is weighted between concept originality, marketability, and overall talent. Prizes include $5,000 to the winner, $500 to the runner-up, long-term circulation and promotion to producers, and more. Fee: $35. See the site for details. 

artist: Frederick Remington

Now – April 30: Glimmer Train New Writer & Family Matters contests. These are the final contests for this great story magazine whose last issue comes out this fall. If you've always wanted to add publication in this family-run journal to your resume, time is running out. As always, the rewards are tempting – $2,500 for first place winners in each category, lesser cash or possibility of publication for second and third place winners. The New Writer contest is limited to emerging writers. Family Matters contest welcomes stories about families of all configurations. Word count in each contest is 400-12,000. Reading fee: $18. See the site for details. Stories will also be accepted for publication outside the contests through May 15.

Now – May 6: Writer’s Digest Annual Writing Contest. Lots of categories for short writing, including genre and literary fiction, memoirs/personal essays, articles, inspirational and poetry, theatrical and movie/TV scripts, and children’s/young adult fiction. Grand prize winner receives $5,000 cash plus promotional aids. First place winners in each category take home $1,000, second place winners $500. May 6 is the early-bird deadline, with discounted fees of $20 for first poetry entry ($15 for additional poetry entries), and $30 for first prose entry ($25 for additional prose entries). After May 6 through the final deadline June Final deadline: June 3, fees in each category increase by $5. 

Now – May 15: Raymond Carver Short Story Contest. The annual competition of Carve magazine (www.carvezine.com) seeks literary short stories (up to 10,000-word maximum). This year’s guest judge is prize-winning author Clair Fuller. The contest offers $2,500 in total prizes, publication in Carve’s October issue, and readings by three literary agents. Fee: $17/entry for online submissions, $15 for mailed submissions. 

Now – June 30: Bulwer Lytton Fiction Contest. And now for something completely different – a contest inspired by the notorious opening sentence of Victorian novelist George Edward Bulwer-Lytton, "It was a dark and stormy night. . ." and continuing for some 50 additional words and almost every conceivable punctual mark. No cost and virtually no prize except "bragging rights," the site proudly proclaims. Entries in a multitude of categories must be an original, previously unpublished single sentence of any length (although judges who beg for mercy strongly suggest not exceeding 50-60 words). See the site for additional rules, inspiring examples from past winners, and entry form.

June 6: #PitMad (https://pitchwars.org). The pitch party on Twitter where writers tweet 280-character pitches for their completed, polished but unpublished manuscripts to agents and editors. (Subsequent #PitMads on September 5 and December 5 this year).  

Still crazy for contests? As always, check out the listings in New Pages and Ralan.com, which may be perused at no cost.

Book proposals – beyond the hearts and flowers

As I took notes furiously during a recent meeting of the Writers Guild of Texas, speaker P.J. Gover used a term that that brought me up short. Proposal. No, it wasn’t the kind of proposal you might hope for from your beloved on Valentine’s Day. It was a book proposal. And although I’d learned to expect the term in connection with nonfiction narratives, what truly shocked me was its use in querying agents for fiction manuscripts.

Ms. Gover’s agent, she said, had told her he loved to hear that novelists could actually furnish a proposal for their books. My right hand stopped taking notes and shot up questioningly. In all my contacts with agents, no one had ever mentioned writing a proposal for a novel. But as I returned to listening, it became clearer that they had. Just not in so many words.

It felt kind of like the way a beloved might start discussing wedding venues without so much as uttering the words, “marry me.”

Maybe an explanation is in order. In some ways resembling a marriage proposal, a book proposal is a sales pitch. Only instead of explaining to the recipient why this guy/gal is THE ONE to invest your life to, a book proposal explains why this book is the one an agent/editor/publisher should invest time and money in. 

Although there’s no single way to write a book proposal, it typically includes the following sections:

·       Competitive title analysis

·       Target market or target audience

·       Marketing plan

·       Author bio

·       Overview (summary of the project)

·       Chapter outline (or table of contents)

·       Sample chapters

At this point, readers who’ve paid attention to posts about writing query letters will be saying, hey, this looks a lot like that. Because with the exception of the chapter outline (which sounds a lot like a synopsis) and the sample chapters, both elements an agent may ask to see, a query letter is indeed the very short version – think of it as the CliffsNotes version – of a proposal.

image: pixabay

Target market/audience? It’s the stuff of the first paragraph of a query – age of audience, genre and word count – adult, 90,000-word thriller, for instance. 

Overview and competitive (or comparative) title analysis? That’s a query’s middle two-three paragraphs: who did what to whom and why, and what other recent (and notable) books does this one resemble? However, in looking for other tips on writing proposals, I particularly loved the suggestion of marketing strategist Jane Friedman – “Rather than focusing on the content, focus on why the content will benefit the reader or why the reader will care.” Oh. Yeah. Because you’ve got to care before you say, “I do!”

Author bio/marketing plan: It’s that last paragraph of the query – who the writer is and what chops that person can bring to get this book into readers hands and hearts.

(At this point, I must also thank Writer’s Digest for its post, “How to Write the Perfect Query Letter.") 

Nonfiction writers typically will not have written their entire manuscript beyond outlining and sample chapters. Even so, their book proposals (without sample chapters) may extend to 40 pages or more. At that point, they’ll start shopping the proposal to agents or publishers before investing themselves more fully in the writing. 

Writers of fiction, and often memoirs, however, generally must have a completed manuscript before approaching agents. So which comes first – chicken or egg, novel or proposal? The answer may be – either one.  

If we first write a proposal (minus the sample chapters), we’ll have a plan to steer out book through the time it takes to write it. Equally, over those months, maybe years, it takes to write and revise (and re-revise, etc.) a novel that may stretch to nearly 300 pages (or more!) we writers may not know for sure what we’ve written until we hit “save” on that final version. We may have outlined it fairly well upfront, only to find our outline morphing somewhere along the writing journey. So our initial proposal may morph as well – maybe into something that would have been unrecognizable when we began the writing journey.

The actual title of P.J. Gover’s talk – the one that started this whole post – was “Acquiring an Agent, 101.” And yes, she had a lot more to say beyond advising her audience of the benefits of writing book proposals for fiction narratives. As usual, I’ve provided only a smidgen of the information gleaned from groups such as the Writer’s Guild of Texas. For the whole story, you’ll have to ask your own group to invite P.J. and hear her for yourselves!

Hit ‘em with your best shot: spring writing contests

Writers know it’s spring when our inboxes fill with lists of writing contests!  Please note, some of these are requests for anthology submissions. Not exactly contests, but the same limited-time offer, minus the fees. Please note, I have not tested all of these, so feedback from contestants and former contests is welcome. Also listed – a couple of additional contest-rich sites and – a free reference to all the literary magazines you’ve been craving.

Here, listed in order of urgency:

Now – March 30: Corpus Press’s 2018 Halloween Anthology. With a name like Corpus, it’s got to be horror! The editors say these can be frightening, thought-provoking, humorous or satirical, but not “extreme horror” or “splatterpunk”. No fees and pays 3 cents/word. See the site for submission guidelines and editorial preferences. (Thanks to critique group member LD Masterson for sharing!)

image: pixabay

Now – March 31: The Masters Review seeks 10 stories or essays by great emerging writers for volume 7 of its anthology series. Entries may be fiction or narrative nonfiction, with a chance to be shared to agents and editors across the country. Fee: $20 per entry. See the site for details.

March 12 – April 1: DL Hammons’ WRiTE CLUB contest is back! Give it your best 500 words, and let readers’ votes determine the winners of bouts that begin April 16. Literary agents will determine the final bout. No fees. Prizes include free admission to the 2019 DFW Writers Conference in North Texas. See the site for details. I’ve participated in this contest for a couple of years, and found it thrilling both from a writer’s and reader’s view. However, since Hammons is now one of my critique partners, it’ll be tough for me to come up with anything he’s never seen before! 

April 1 – May 15: Carve Magazine’s Raymond Carver Short Story Contest is at the top of any short story writer’s list. Cash prizes, entry fees $17 (online), $15 mailed. Multiple submissions OK, but stories must be literary – no genre accepted. See the site for details and submission information.

Now – April 30: Level Best Books seeks stories for its 16^th Best New England Crime Stories anthology. Stories must be set in New England or be written by a New England author in the genres of mystery, thriller, suspense, caper or horror. All time periods (including future) are OK. No fees, but I don’t see any payment information at the site. See the site for details. (Thanks to LD Masterson for this one.)

Now – April 30: The Fiction Open and Very Short contests at Glimmer Train are in progress. Cash prizes for first through third-place winners, and guaranteed publication for first-place stories, although all stories are considered for publication. Reading fee is $21 for Fiction Open, $16 for Very Short. See the site for details and submission form.

Now – April 30: Craft Short Fiction Prize is open with cash and publication possibilities.  

Now –- May 1: Gulf Coast: A Journal of Literature and Fine Arts is accepting entries in fiction, nonfiction and poetry for prizes of $1,500! Entry fee of $23 includes a one-year subscription to the magazine. See the site for submission form and details, including judges.

Now – June 1: Dark Moon Digest is looking for – and I wouldn’t have believed it if I hadn’t seen it – pizza horror! How can anybody possibly write a horror story about pizza? The editors say, “We don’t know. But we sure would like to read it.” (Maybe with extra cheese?) No fee, pays 3 cents/word and both multiple and simultaneous submissions are OK. See the site for details. Again, thanks for LD Masterson for this one.

Now through June 1: Writer’s Digest’s annual writing competition seeks entries in several genres, including poetry. Nearly 500 chances to win cash and other prizes. Early bird (to May 4) entry fee is $20 for the first entry from a writer, $15 for additional entries. Regular entry fee (to June 1), $30 for first entry, $25 for each additional entry. See the site for details.

In addition to the sites listed above, Writer Unboxed’s Arthur Klepchukov gives us his seasonal list of fiction writing contests worth our time.  In addition to several anthology announcements, LD Masterson also provided the site of mystery story blogger Sandra Seamans who lists frequent mystery writing contests. And genre site Ralan.com is also rich in contest listings. 

Finally, Reedsy provides a searchable database of literary magazines that can put work before new audiences! 

Trick or treat! A long fall of autumn writing contests

Writing contests are piling up like the leaves of a long, slow Texas autumn, which may linger into December. Or it may be blasted by a blue norther, which can roar through as early as Halloween, so don’t wait too long. I’m listing a sampling of opportunities by order of urgency. Some readers complain about contest fees, but please note that these help fund cash awards to winners as well as administrative costs of the contests.

image: pixabay

Now – October 22: Feed Your Monster’s Halloween Writing Contest challenges writers to a terrifying 1,000-word or less trick. Sweeten it with humor that leaves a sour aftertaste, and you would be treated to a £10 prize, publication in the site’s 2017 Halloween podcast, and more. Your first entry is free, the second costs you £0.5 pound. Limit, two entries per person. (Remember, Paypal is always happy to convert your currency.) See the site for details. 

(Did you like that monster contest? It’s new at Ralan.com, the free genre-friendly writing clearinghouse.)

Now – October 24: Writers Guild of Texas has announced its third annual Flash Fiction Contest for short stories from 300-1,000 words. Contestants may submit up to three entries at writersguildtexas@gmail.com/ (only one entry per email, please). Submissions are free for WGT members, $25/entry for nonmembers. But since WGT’s annual membership fee is only $25, why not join, effectively giving yourself additional contest entries free? Cash prizes and publication in the WGT newsletter and website for first, second, third and honorable mention winners. See the site for additional details.

Now – October 31: WOW! Women on Writing adds a new contest for creative nonfiction essays. Word count – 200-1,000. Cash prizes, publication and blog interview for first three winners, gift certificates and publication for seven runners-up, even publicity for 10 honorable mention winners. Fee: $12, or purchase a critique for an additional $13. You don’t have to be a woman to enter, but entries should be aimed at women readers. See the site for details and information about WOW’s short fiction contest. (Or check WOW!s listing below.)

Now – October 31: Glimmer Train magazine’s Short Story Award for Emerging Writers. All genre categories welcome, but this contest is limited to writers whose work has not been published in any print journal with a circulation of more than 5,000. (The entries themselves must never have appeared in any print publication. However, online publications don’t tell against the writer or the entry.) Cash prizes, publication for first place winner, and optional publication for second and third place winners. Fee: $18. Although October 31 is the “official” deadline, as always, Glimmer Train allows a one-week grace period. See the site for details.

Now – November 15: Writer’s Digest seeks high impact, low word-count genre stories for its Popular Fiction Awards program. Cash prizes plus perks for the winners. Fees are $20 for early-bird entries through October 16, $25 for first entry, $20 for additional entries through the drop-dead deadline of November 15. See the site or details.

Now – November 15: Carve Magazine’s Prose & Poetry Contest, for fiction, nonfiction, and poetry. This highly-regarded (and Texas-based) literary magazine offers $1,000 cash prizes and publication in its Spring 2018 issue for winners in each of the genres. Fees: $17 for fiction and nonfiction, $12 for poetry entries. 

Now -- November 30: WOW! Women on Writing's flash fiction contest is limited to 300 entries, so don’t delay. (The site’s Paypal button will be disabled when the magic number is reached.) Fee: $10, or add another $10 to request a critique. As mentioned above, you don’t have to be female to enter. 

These WOW! contests were also gleaned from Ralan.com. If you’re stiff miffed (or even if you’re not) by Duotrope Digest’s move to paid subscriptions, check out Ralan’s always-free listings.

Stuff I’m keeping an eye on: By my calendar, it’s nearly time for the Writers League of Texas to announce its annual manuscript contests. And for the Historical Novel Society to announce the opening of its 2017 short story award and 2017/2018 new novel award. I’ll post as soon as information appears on any of these. 

Also, DL Hammons assures me that his wild-popular, readers’ choice WRiTE Club contest will reappear sometime in 2018. Again, stay tuned. 

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UPDATE: As promised, the Writers' League of Texas 2018 manuscript contest is currently open, and even sweeter than ever. Ten winners receive free registration to the WLT's 2018 Agents & Editors Conference to meet an agent as well as the final judge in their category. See www.writersleague.org/109/Manuscript-Contest for details. And if you published a book this year, check out the book award contest.

Am still awaiting word about the Historical Novel Society's 2017/2018 manuscript and short story contests, and about DL Hammons' WRiTE Club readers' choice contest.

Contests & more: getting the most for our writing bucks

Sometimes it seems as if I spend as much time studying the writing craft as I do actually writing. And although I try to attend at least one writing conference, workshop, or class yearly, I’m always on the lookout for what’s free. Still, I sometimes barely bother opening emails from writing organizations. A class sounds great but – not in my budget. (I have dogs to support!) Or it’s in another city. Or, it’s not at a good time.

But I’ve got to mention one email I finally clicked on, from the Writer’s Digest Shop: “Expert Tips and Tricks to Revise Your Manuscript.” It’s free! It’s online (no transportation required)! It’s got a great list of experts on tap. And it’s – today – Tuesday, July 25, 2017, from noon till 1 p.m. EDT, at the Writer’s Digest site.

image: Wikimedia commons

Try it, see what you think, and tell me if it’s worth an hour of your time.

OK, that’s not exactly a contest. But to show you this isn’t a bait and switch post, here are some more of the writing contests filling up my inbox, listed in order of urgency.

Now – July 31: Narrative magazine’s short story contest. Big cash prizes, exposure to worldwide audiences. See the site for details. 

Now – August 1: (Early Bird Deadline): Writer’s Digest Self-Published E-Book Awards. Winner receives $5000, magazine publicity, and entry to the Writer’s Digest Annual Conference. See the site for details.

Now - August 15: Dallas Areas Writers Group (DAWG) 2017 Short Story Contest. Cash prizes and recognition in DAWG publications. Open to all genres, original unpublished stories only, with word counts between 800 – 3,000 words. See the DAWG site for details.

September 25 – October 24: Writers Guild of Texas Flash Fiction Contest. Cash prizes and publication for winners in the WGT newsletter. $25 for nonmembers (which will also entitle contestants to a year’s membership); free for members. See the site for details.

October 16, 2017: (Early Bird Deadline): Finally, again from Writer’s Digest, the ever-popular Popular Fiction Awards. See the site for genres, fees, extended deadlines.

Ongoing: The Trident Media Group's challenge at Prose.com threatens to close, but then keeps going, and going, and going. Try it at the site and see if you become one of the week’s fabulous four who gets recommended to Trident, a leading U.S. literary agency

Which reminds me. . . I signed up for Prose challenges after noticing that an agency I was interested in was sponsoring one. Most of them are free, good to check out and see what others are writing.

Which also reminds me – are we getting the most out of all the contests, workshops, and classes we signed up for?

Just as I receive emails about contests and workshops from Writer’s Digest after a comparatively brief paid subscription period, I also continue to reap benefits from other contacts. A relatively inexpensive online course taught by mega-bestselling author James Patterson from MasterClass and found a new community of fellow writers. Once taken, the class material stays online forever, and students have the right to submit questions to Patterson in perpetuity. The online community has also sponsored its own writing contest.

Similar benefits accrue to anyone who has ever signed up for NaNoWriMo. What started as a once a year writing challenge now offers year-round support, online seminars and webinars for writers. Check your own contacts and see what unused benefits may lurk within!

Wordcraft – Ready, set, write! Contests galore!

image: wikimedia commons

Once again, notices for writing contests fill my inbox. I’m listing these in the order of urgency – some have looming deadlines!

Now – October 14: Writer’s Digest Popular Fiction contest closes this Friday (11:59 p.m. EST). Don’t get caught short! Enter short stories (4,000 words or less) in any of several genres. Grand prize includes cash, a trip to the Writer’s Digest annual conference, and exposure in the May/June 2017 issue of the magazine. Fee: $25 for first story, $20 each for additional stories. Or enter WD’s short short fiction contest (1,500 words or less), with a November 15 deadline. See WD's site for details on both contests.

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Now – October 25: Writers Guild of Texas Flash Fiction Contest. Stories must not be more than 1,000 words, and no less than 300. Cash prizes in first, second, third and honorable mention categories. Winners will also have their work published in the WGT’s 2017 newsletter. Fee: free for WGT members, $25 for nonmembers. See the site for details.

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Now – October 31: Houston Writers Guild Press’s newest contest celebrates diversity and how it strengthens society and/or individuals. Categories include fiction in all genres, nonfiction, and poetry. Fiction and nonfiction entries should be no longer than 5,000 words. Cash prizes for first, second and third place winners in each category, and publication in the HGW Press anthology, “Out of Many One – Celebrating Diversity.” Fee: $15 for first entry by HWG members, $10 for each additional entry (up to three per category); $30 for first entry by nonmembers, $25 for each additional entry (up to three per category). See HWG's site for format and additional information.

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Now – November 15: Carve Magazine’s Premium Edition Contest for fiction, nonfiction and poetry. Winners in each category receive $1,000 and publication in the magazine’s premium print edition. All contestants receive a discount on new subscriptions to the magazine. See site for details.

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Now – January 15, 2017: Writers’ League of Texas Book Awards Contest. This one is open to Texas authors of books published in 2016. Winners in each of five categories receive $1,000 cash, a commemorative award and recognition at the 2017 Texas Book Festival in Austin, Texas. An additional Discovery Prize winner in each category receives $250. Fee: $40 per title for WLT members, $60 for nonmembers, $70 for publishers/agents submitting on behalf of writers. See the WLT site for details.

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image: wikimedia commons

October 21 – January 15, 2017: Writers’ League of Texas Manuscript Contest. Previous winners in any of several categories have won recognition at the WLT conference in Austin, Texas, and a complimentary consultation with an agent in their genre. Full details available October 21.

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Now – December 1: Third Annual Book Pipeline Competition for authors with material suitable for film or television adaptation. Entries may include: novels, nonfiction, plays, graphic novels and comics, book proposals or pitches (fiction or nonfiction) and short stories. Grand prize winner receives cash, airfare to Los Angeles for meetings with industry professionals, and exposure to production companies and agencies. Fee: $65. See Book Pipeline for details. The similar Script Pipeline includes details for its screenwriting contest, with a December 31 deadline.

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Upcoming: Moonlight Mesa Associates’ Cowboy Up Contest for western fiction and nonfiction. Entries accepted January 1, 2017, through May 1, 2017. Fee: $25 per entry. In previous years, prizes have included cash and publication in a print anthology, but Moonlight Mesa for upcoming details.

Wordcraft -- The contest issue

Since Kristen Lamb, author of We Are Not Alone, gave me a lesson in blogging last year, I’ve tried to figure out what you, my reader, wants from this site. You’ve taught me, partly through comments, but most of all through the posts you look at, that you want to know 1) how to improve your writing, 2) how to network with other writers, and 3) how to market your work. So raise a glass -- or a pen -- to yourselves for prompting this post on contests. (You can see Kristen’s blog at http://warriorwriters.wordpress.com/ ).

A writing friend, understandably, recently questioned the point of fees for writing contests. So before you dive in, read “The Economics of Competition: A Look at Contest Budgets,” in the current issue of Poets & Writers magazine (www.pw.org/ ). And consider what the fees you pay to enter contests actually accomplish.

I feel comfortable listing contests vetted either by P&W’s staff, or that I’ve entered personally, but I’m including some others I’ve gleaned from various sources. They’re focused on fiction writing, since that’s my specialty. As always, read the fine print.

The May/June 2012 issue of Poets & Writers lists dozens of upcoming deadlines, mostly for literary fiction and poetry. Read carefully -- all have specific requirements. Also take a look at the lists of craft-building and resume-building residency programs and workshops.

P&W listed Writer’s Digest’s annual writing competition in its listing. But although the early bird deadline for this contest is May 1, the absolute deadline isn’t until May 15 for a variety of genre writing. See www.writersdigest.com/competitions for information. Check out the magazine’s current issue to see what judges have liked in the past.

You know I love Duotrope Digest’s listings (www.duotrope.com/ ). But although it’s added fee-paid sites, its search engine doesn’t differentiate between contests and regular submissions. So check out www.ralan.com/. This science fiction/fantasy/horror (aka speculative fiction) site lists contests, even by literary publications, if they also accept its genres.

Speaking of genre fiction, take a look at the Abandoned Towers 2012 Writing Contest. The newly restarted site, like many ezines, asks for donations to support its projects. It accepts any genre of short fiction or poetry for consideration, provided the concept of “abandoned towers” is incorporated. See http//abandonedtowers.com/contest/ for specifics.

Feminist writers (not necessarily female) will want to check out www.mzbworks.com/ for specifics on the Sword and Sorceresses anthology based on the work on Marion Zimmer Bradley. Free -- but deadline is May 12, 2012.

And if you plan to attend any writing conference, check its site to see if it offers low-cost contest add-ons, such as those for the Writers League of Texas, www.writersleague.org/, and FenCon (www.fencon.org/).

(Beginning today, April 30, “Wordcraft” moves to Mondays. “Adventure classics” moves to Wednesdays on May 2, for a quick, fun read to get you over the work week hump. “Totally Texas” moves to Fridays on May 4, to help you plan your weekend.)

Wordcraft -- Perseverance, iron will & Wodehouse

The cynical will call it coincidence. I call it a message from the Muses when articles in unrelated magazines -- Writer’s Digest and Smithsonian -- simultaneously address the power of willpower.

(Remember last month’s post about subscribing to, and reading, magazines? We have to read to write.)

Okay, the Writer’s Digest version, in its February 2012 issue, was about submitting short stories. But the point of the article was that the author, Jacob M. Appel, won a writing contest with a story that had been rejected seventy-five times. Including a previous rejection from the magazine sponsoring the contest he won. Seventy-five rejections. I find three or four discouraging. And the thought occurred -- what willpower Mr. Appel has.

The Smithsonian article, from December 2011 was a review of the book Willpower: Rediscovering the Greatest Human Strength . It analyzed the components of nineteenth century explorer Henry Morton Stanley’s legendary determination.

The last story I read about willpower was by inimitable comic writer P.G. Wodehouse. After the equivalent of getting the sand kicked in his face, Wodehouse’s character sends for a book on developing iron will. It includes the usual terrible things like getting out of bed early and taking cold showers, followed by hilarious results.

Stanley didn’t bother with cold showers. In his explorations, he was probably lucky to get enough water to shave with. Which he did every morning, even while companions dropped dead of starvation around him. (Although the artist’s version of his meeting with missionary Dr. Livingstone accompanying this post depicts him with a beard.)

British biographer Tim Jeal, in his analysis of Stanley in Smithsonian, concluded that the explorer’s habitual neatness and order created “an antidote to the destructive capacities of nature all around him.”  Mental tricks such as neatness may have helped form Stanley’s formidable willpower.

And that and other tricks are ones even sedentary writers can employ.

Focusing on a goal other than our own glorification:  Even if the goal is only to entertain, distracting our fellow beings from their cares is not a light calling.

Keeping things neat:  Besides improving my willpower, I found half a dozen things I’d considered hopelessly lost while cleaning out a bookshelf!

Distracting ourselves from the immediate pain of our problems:  Rejection hurts? Write something else. Or send the story to another journal. Or even get a blog post or an article credit out of our rejections. (For further discussion of Stanley’s habits and why they helped, see www.smithsonian.com/)

And that guy from Writer’s Digest with his seventy-five rejections? Apparently Mr. Appel -- rather, Dr. Appel -- distracted himself by earning degrees in law and medicine. Again, a cynic would wonder what he wants to do when he grows up. But writers rejoice in knowing he’ll never run out of things to write about. Which is the topic for next Wednesday -- the value of nonwriting jobs for writers.