Some homing beacon draws notices about writing contests to my files. I often avoid contests because of the four-letter word “fees” attached to them. But these are mostly fee-free, and not something you’ll find on writing research sites. I'll list them in order of deadlines, some looming imminently.
-- August 1 is the extended deadline for the FenCon short story contest offered through the science fiction/fantasy convention meeting in the Dallas suburb of Addison this fall. Winners can win cash and publication in the convention’s program book. First entry is free for FenCon members (and yes, you may buy a membership if you like). First entry for nonmembers is $10. Full disclosure, I am a longtime FenCon member who actually made it to the top 10 entries once in this contest and managed to sell a few stories from tips picked up on the convention’s workshops. For details, see www.fencon.org/story/html.
-- August 1 is also the deadline for the fall writing prompt contest offered by The First Line magazine. Entries must use the magazine’s designated first line, in this case, “There must have been thousands standing in the rain that day.” No fee, no genre limitation, and you may win money or other goodies. While you’re at it, take a look at the prompt on line for the winter issue, with submissions due November 1. I found this after the magazine’s editor published a book review in the Dallas Morning News. I have no information about the publication except what’s on its website, which, however, looks interesting. See www.thefirstline.com/submission.htm/.
-- September 1 -- The first ever Prompt-A-Palooza Writing Contest from Free Expressions, the company of professional editor Lorin Oberwetter and associates. Your complete short story (1,250 words) must use a prompt from the dozens offered on the site’s blog. No fee. First and second place winners get cash and credits on the sites workshops and editorial services. See
www.free-expressions.com/.
-- September 3 is the deadline for the new DFW Writers’ Conference short story contest. Special criteria -- your story must open by writing the first paragraph of YA author Jonathan Maberry’s upcoming book. No genre limits, no fee. The winner gets a free ticket to next spring’s conference. See www.dfwcon.org/.
The next contests are for limited demographic groups, but are dear to my heart. And of course -- they’re fee-free!
September 15 -- Fourth Annual Literature + Medicine writing contest, sponsored by Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital of Dallas. Workers active in health care fields, including pre-med, medical students, residents and interns, may compete in the categories of essays, poetry or short stories, based on their experiences in medicine, working with patients, delivering difficult news to family members and balancing work and personal life. No fee. Cash prizes to winners in each category and to a grand prize winner. I’ll also recommend the hospital’s conference October 24, with New York Times best-selling author John M. Barry. Details at www.texashealth.org/litmed./
-- November 1-December 13 is the time to enter the annual Thanks-Giving Square Expressions competition on the theme, “I am grateful for the values of sports.” Competition is open to students worldwide from kindergarten through grade 12. Art and essays on the theme must be submitted by the students’ teachers. Cash prizes to students and credit for school supplies available to teachers. For information, see
www.thanksgiving.org/.
March 31, 2014 -- The deadline on this one isn’t so urgent, but I’ll mention it while I’m dealing with contests. It’s the State-Fish Art contest sponsored by conservation organization Wildlife Forever. U.S. students in grades four through 12 must submit an art work and essay. Only a drawing is required for students in kindergarten through grade three. See www.tpwd.state.tx.us/spdest/visitorcenters/tffc/education/fish_art/.
Showing posts with label Free Expressions. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Free Expressions. Show all posts
Monday, July 29, 2013
Monday, July 1, 2013
Wordcraft -- Rollins' box of writing ideas
Best-selling thriller writer James Rollins stopped in Dallas last week on his promotional tour for his new novel, The Eye of God, to a crowd-packed mezzanine at the Lincoln Park Barnes and Noble bookstore.
Arriving on a gigantic black bus, looking like something out of one of his own Sigma Force stories, Rollins deadpanned he’d arrived from San Antonio, where fans assured him since he was going north to Dallas, the weather should be cooler. He arrived, of course, on a day when the temperature in Dallas passed 100 degrees F. Maybe he’ll add the deadly Texas heat to his book ideas.
Because, yes, he confided, he has a box full of story ideas.
He tried to play stump the audience by asking what question authors most dread hearing. But the fans were on to him. The question, of course, was “where do writers get their ideas.”
“We don’t like that question,” Rollins said, “because we don’t know where they come from, and we’re afraid if we ask, they’ll stop.”
Shortly before his first book was released in 1999, he confided, he attended the discussion of a famous author (who he declined to name), in answer to that very question. Talking to her privately, he congratulated her, mentioning that he also was an author.
“Come closer,” famous author said. “That question about where you get your ideas from? I made it up!”
Leaving us to wonder whether Rollins’ story box is the real deal or if he just made it up. Either way, it’s worth considering.
In planning a novel, he looks for three things, he said -- a historical angle, a piece of weird science, and a mystery. These scraps of ideas he drops into a cardboard box -- “a mess -- in the bottom are mice, breeding.”
(As a still sometimes practicing veterinarian, Rollins is probably less squeamish about mice than most writers.)
When from time to time he sorts through them -- the ideas, not the mice -- “this piece of history and that piece of science just end up next to each other.”
“I’m not going to tell you how them end up together, because somewhere in this store is a cash register,“ he said, but the research involved a visit to the Fermilab where he asked a group of physicists to tell him “something about your research that keeps you up at night”; and an exhibit on Genghis Khan at the Field Museum, both in Chicago, which made him imagine a treasure hunt for the khan’s tomb.
And in researching the lost tomb (which currently is being sought by archeologists), he talked to Mongolians who assured him that their country holds the belief that if Genghis Khan’s tomb is ever discovered, the world will end.
Rollins paused at this point, miming a checkmark.
The result, The Eye of God, was released last Tuesday. It’s available on Amazon and in bookstores, which probably are restocking even while you read.
Although the latest release was the focus of the tour, Rollins fielded questions about other projects as well, including USA Cares, a nonprofit organization helping soldiers and their families through job placement, housing assistance, and emergency aid; and his short story “Tracker“ about a soldier and his war dog, inspired by a USO tour of Iraq where he “gravitated to the dogs and their handlers.”
For more about Rollins, his writing, and USA Cares, see www.jamesrollins.com/.
Personally, I’m look for a large cardboard box to drop ideas in -- mice optional.
Can’t wait until November to NaNoWriMo? The Free Expressions website that hosts seminars by agent Donald Maass, among others, is opening its chat room this July from 7-11 p.m. U.S. Eastern Time in connection with its Camp NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month). Sign up for free discussion at www.free-expressions.com/.
Arriving on a gigantic black bus, looking like something out of one of his own Sigma Force stories, Rollins deadpanned he’d arrived from San Antonio, where fans assured him since he was going north to Dallas, the weather should be cooler. He arrived, of course, on a day when the temperature in Dallas passed 100 degrees F. Maybe he’ll add the deadly Texas heat to his book ideas.
Because, yes, he confided, he has a box full of story ideas.
He tried to play stump the audience by asking what question authors most dread hearing. But the fans were on to him. The question, of course, was “where do writers get their ideas.”
“We don’t like that question,” Rollins said, “because we don’t know where they come from, and we’re afraid if we ask, they’ll stop.”
Shortly before his first book was released in 1999, he confided, he attended the discussion of a famous author (who he declined to name), in answer to that very question. Talking to her privately, he congratulated her, mentioning that he also was an author.
“Come closer,” famous author said. “That question about where you get your ideas from? I made it up!”
Leaving us to wonder whether Rollins’ story box is the real deal or if he just made it up. Either way, it’s worth considering.
In planning a novel, he looks for three things, he said -- a historical angle, a piece of weird science, and a mystery. These scraps of ideas he drops into a cardboard box -- “a mess -- in the bottom are mice, breeding.”
(As a still sometimes practicing veterinarian, Rollins is probably less squeamish about mice than most writers.)
When from time to time he sorts through them -- the ideas, not the mice -- “this piece of history and that piece of science just end up next to each other.”
“I’m not going to tell you how them end up together, because somewhere in this store is a cash register,“ he said, but the research involved a visit to the Fermilab where he asked a group of physicists to tell him “something about your research that keeps you up at night”; and an exhibit on Genghis Khan at the Field Museum, both in Chicago, which made him imagine a treasure hunt for the khan’s tomb.
And in researching the lost tomb (which currently is being sought by archeologists), he talked to Mongolians who assured him that their country holds the belief that if Genghis Khan’s tomb is ever discovered, the world will end.
Rollins paused at this point, miming a checkmark.
The result, The Eye of God, was released last Tuesday. It’s available on Amazon and in bookstores, which probably are restocking even while you read.
Although the latest release was the focus of the tour, Rollins fielded questions about other projects as well, including USA Cares, a nonprofit organization helping soldiers and their families through job placement, housing assistance, and emergency aid; and his short story “Tracker“ about a soldier and his war dog, inspired by a USO tour of Iraq where he “gravitated to the dogs and their handlers.”
For more about Rollins, his writing, and USA Cares, see www.jamesrollins.com/.
Personally, I’m look for a large cardboard box to drop ideas in -- mice optional.
#
Can’t wait until November to NaNoWriMo? The Free Expressions website that hosts seminars by agent Donald Maass, among others, is opening its chat room this July from 7-11 p.m. U.S. Eastern Time in connection with its Camp NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month). Sign up for free discussion at www.free-expressions.com/.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)