Grab bag of goodies for Texas writers

My (multiple) inboxes are overflowing with more goodies than I can categorize, so I’ll toss them out for whoever can use them. 

Contests:

February 1: Jim Baen Memorial Short Story Contest, 8,000 word maximum, set in the near future (no more than 50-60 years out) of manned space exploration. Free, but limited to one entry per contestant. See the site for details. And hurry – submissions must be received no later than 12:01 a.m. February 1, U.S. Pacific time! (If you’re unsure what that translates to in your part of the world, check out this time conversion site.)

February 2: The Masters Review announced that all of its contests in 2020 will end on Sundays, starting with its Winter Short Story Award for New Writers, closing February 2. (This is an updated submission date, but I can’t find an exact time for this one.) Entry fee: $20. First, second, and third-place winners receive cash prizes, publication, and agency review.

February 3: On a personal note, my query + first 5 pages is among those editors will be tweeting about in Revise & Resub’s #10Queries posts on Twitter. Thankfully, all participating writers will be granted anonymity!

image: Gerd Altmann from Pixabay

Whew! Now get started on your submissions for D.L. Hammons WRiTE CLUB readers’ choice contest. Although Hammons is currently busy revising a novel for his agent (and writing a sequel) he promised at the recent group critique meeting we attended to hold the annual WRiTE CLUB contest in 2020, with celebrity judges to be announced on his site March 23. 

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Literary events:

March 7: African American Book Expo + Mixer-Dallas, Grace Banquet Hall, 7111 Marvin D. Love Freeway, in Dallas. Noon – 10:30 p.m. See Eventbrite site for tickets and details.

Not yet on the FenCon website but workshop organizer says I’m free to spread the word that the Dallas-area sci-fi/fantasy convention’s September 18-20, 2020 workshop instructor will be author Kevin Ikenberry. Keep an eye on the FenCon site (and this one!) for specifics.

Also up – registration is now open for the North Texas WORDfest’s March 21 “all-you-can-meet” festival of creative connection. Free is always an option – registrants get all the activities plus a map. But WORDfest now offers $10 premium and $35 ultra-deluxe options. These include raffle tickets, discount codes for other Dallas-Fort Worth-area writers events, goodies from the treat counter, and more. Whichever way you decide to go, you can feel good about making this event even better!

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What else have I left out? Drop me a comment, and I’ll consider updating. Still to come, I haven’t forgotten about all those class/workshop events I promised earlier this month. (Where has the year gone?)