Writer's News, Resources

When I see myself, I see you
When I am away, I think of you
When I am asleep, I dream of you
When I am in trouble, I talk to you
When I am hurt, I run to you and
When I am sad, I cry to you

For dealing with me through thick and thin
I thank you mom from deep within.

-Written by: Jennifer Hanes for My Mom on Mother's day!

I love you VERY MUCH

10/31- Parents, librarians and school teachers may want to be on the lookout for this book, called "The Breadwinner", about life under Taliban rule in Afghanistan. The book was written before September 11, but the publisher, Oxford University Press is rushing publication so parents can more easily explain the Sept 11 attack. Author Deborah Ellis, a 41 year old Canadian councillor made numerous visits to Afghan refugee camps in Pakistan over the years. The book is based in truth.

The heroine, 11 year old Parvana, masquerades as a boy so that she can work to feed her family after her father is imprisoned. Though aimed at 9-11 year olds, the book is gives an accurate portrayal of life under the Taliban, including bombings, the beating of women, and starvation.

Writing Contests...

BEFORE YOU ENTER any writing contest, make sure that it's not a scam. Read this Literary Contest Caution before getting your hopes up and digging into your wallet.

I found a big fantasy writing contest at GPY International Design Group. Deadline: February 1, 2002.
Three first place winners: $500 bucks apiece.
Three second place winners: $300 bucks.
There is no entry fee specified on the contest rules page. That doesn't mean there's not a fee somewhere, so read everything carefully. The contest is open to ALL age groups. They prefer US residents, but the contest seems open to anyone.

KIDS ONLY! Candlelight Stories.com, a Net Mom-approved, Cyber-Safe site, runs a mystery contest for kids. Entry: free. Prize: three free mystery books. The rules are at the bottom of the page. Any kids who hit this, read them carefully before entering.

THE WRITER'S DIGEST Chronicle is back. Entries: email only, no attachments. I see no entry fee. First prize: $100. Deadline: the 25th of every month.

SCRIBES HILL has a Regional Story: deadline Dec 15th 2001.
Entry fee: $5 bucks. General Rules; payoff: work published in book, with royalty. Cash prizes may be given, depending on number of entries. Mail entries to the address at the bottom of this link.

WHIMSICAL FANCY has a monthly short story contest. Entry is free. Prize: $100 dollar gift certificate. They are a gift store; this isn't a bad deal, because it costs nothing to enter, and I took the time to look through their gifts. They are tasteful and nice. The link I put in here is not to their home page. It is to their page which lists writing contests, both theirs and others. This is a resource I strongly suggest you check out.

THE SCIENCE FICTION WRITERS OF EARTH 2001 short story contest is now open. Entry fee: $5 bucks ( includes one year membership ). Additional entries: $2 bucks. First prize: $200.

Publishers for First Time Submitters...

ANALOG is looking for writers! Sci-fi only; payment on acceptance. Submission info here.

SCI-FI AND FANTASY ONLY. Penguin Books accepts manuscripts from first-time writers. I found that in their FAQ, which is in a newsletter, so I don't know if the link will take you there.

Send a self-addressed, stamped envelope for guidelines to either John Morgan or Anne Sowards at:

Penguin Putnam, Inc.,
375 Hudson Street, 5th Floor,
New York, NY 10014

This came in an email from my dad.<G>

Subject: Writing Contest Winners:

These are the 10 winners of this year's Bulwer-Lytton contest (run by the English Dept of San Jose State University), wherein one writes only the first line of a bad novel.

#10: "As a scientist, Throckmorton knew that if he were ever to break wind in the echo chamber he would never hear the end of it."

#9: "Just beyond the Narrows the river widens."

#8: "With a curvaceous figure that Venus would have envied, a tanned, unblemished oval face framed with lustrous thick brown hair, deep azure-blue eyes fringed with long black lashes, perfect teeth that vied for competition, and a small straight nose, Marilee had a beauty that defied description."

#7: "Andre, a simple peasant, had only one thing on his mind as he crept along the East wall: "Andre creep... Andre creep... Andre creep."

#6: "Stanislaus Smedley, a man always on the cutting edge of narcissism, was about to give his body and soul to a back alley sex change surgeon to become the woman he loved."

#5: "Although Sarah had an abnormal fear of mice, it did not keep her from seeking out a living at a local pet store."

#4: "Stanley looked quite bored and somewhat detached, but then penguins often do."

#3: "Like an overripe beefsteak tomato rimmed with cottage cheese, the corpulent remains of Santa Claus lay dead on the hotel floor."

#2: "Mike Hardware was the kind of private eye who didn't know the meaning of the word 'fear', a man who could laugh in the face of danger and spit in the eye of death - in short, a moron with suicidal tendencies."

AND THE WINNER IS...

#1: "The sun oozed over the horizon, shoved aside darkness, crept along the greensward, and, with sickly fingers, pushed through the castle window, revealing the pillaged princess, hand at throat, crown asunder, gaping in frenzied horror at the sated, sodden amphibian lying beside her, disbelieving the magnitude of the frog's deception, screaming madly, 'You lied!' "

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