Writers Unbound

Thursday 13 Edition #1 (I’ve been Thursday-13ing for a while, but I haven’t actually participated in /linked to the meme. My predecessor here at WU might have, but I haven’t. So, I’m going to start us off again on an official WUThursday 13 roll.)
Here is Edition 1.

Holiday time, already. Yes. Why? Because that’s what they tell us freelance writers. Start writing your holiday articles now.People are searching for gift ideas already. Make your pitches. Bring in traffic. If you so happen to be a freelance writer in hopes of a holiday article in a “real” magazine, well baby, your chance for this year’s holiday is long gone. Write one now and send it in; maybe you’ll be pertinent enough for next year.

I tell ya. It’s enough to make a holiday-loving gal a real Scrooge. Isn’t the thing we love most about holidays the fact that they are brief? That’s what makes us anticipate them. We’re not celebrating holidays, wrapping gifts, baking cookies, singing carols, and tying up mistletoe OR[insert your version of holiday merriment here] 365 days a year. More like 4 weeks, 8 if we stretch it all the way from November 1 to the end of December.

But the freelance writers: we get to live it for much, much longer than that. So to help all of us find a way to enjoy the holidays once we actually get to them, here is my Thursday 13 list:

1. Turn the heat way up all through October and be sure you’re sweating while you write. It will make the holidays seem so-o-o far away. By the time you finish your articles and things are really chilly outside, you’ll appreciate it.
2. For every 3 holiday articles you write, force yourself to write 1 article about modern cannibalism, high school poetry, what really goes in fast food, or something equally repulsive. It will make the holidays seem extremely appealing all over again.
3. Write some of your articles from the perspective of an alien seeking to understand the strange planet earth customs. Let it rekindle your fascination.
4. Whatever you do, don’tgive in to the urge to turn on Christmas carols to “get you in the mood” while you’re writing the holiday articles. It will completely backfire and by the time the radio stations are playing them, you won’t be able to tolerate another chorus of Jingle Bells without jingling somebody’s bells right out the window.
5. In lieu of holiday music, listen to foreign or different-from-your-norm music instead, like gypsy rock or country or African or tonal. Something you’re not normally into. It will help you disconnect from what you’re writing… (I’m totally making that up, but try it and let me know if it works.)
6. Don’t eat any cookies until December 1st. None. No fudge either, of any kind, and limit your chocolate to the minimum level required to sustain life.
7. Try to get the article writing jobs that are about the “other” holidays of winter. If you normally celebrate Hanukkah, write about Christmas and Kwanzaa. If you celebrate Christmas, write about Hanukkah, Winter Solstice, Kwanzaa… You get the idea. It will help you learn about all the holidays and keep your own from becoming stale before Thanksgiving.
8. Use your holiday articles for a cathartic emotional release. Write about all the things you wish you could change about your childhood holidays, or the traditions you hated, or the worst gift you ever got. Cry. Weep over the keyboard. Then lift your head, blow your nose, and create the holiday of your dreams.
9. Write your holiday articles from the opposite of your normal holiday philosophic viewpoint. For example, if you hate the mass marketization of Christmas, write like a person who buys into it all. Or, if you buy into it all, write like a person who is cynical of selling holidays. If you’re into full holiday home regalia, write articles about Christmas minimalism. And vice versa.
10. Go ahead and do all your decorating while you’re in the midst of writing all those holiday articles. It will get you inspired, you’ll be months ahead of the neighbors, and then you can take a nap when you’re through with the holiday writing…
11. Send proposals for Valentine’s, St. Patrick’s Day, and Easter articles to your Christmas clients now. Sure, maybe they’ll think you’re crazy, but it will give you something to write besides more winter holiday topics. And some of them might even be impressed with how ahead-of-schedule you are, hire you on, and then you’ll get to write about St. Patty’s day instead of New Year’s Day! Oh, wow!
12. Ban your friends and family members from mentioning anything to do with holidays, festivities, travel plans, or gift ideas until you have finished writing all your holiday articles. Tell them you simply must be able to think about non-holiday things while conversing, since you are so entrenched in holidays while writing, and that they’ll ruin your entire holiday if they don’t cooperate. If they rebel, threaten to take them off the gift list. But don’t talk about actual gifts…
13. No matter how chilly it gets weather-wise, don’t allow yourself to wear any sweaters, corduroys, scarves, gloves, jackets, winter hats, or pullovers until you have written all your articles. You should consider limiting wool socks, as well. Those items are reserved for “actual holiday time wear” and banning them will help you separate writing from actually celebrating.

Make it a good day.

I originally thought to make this post a list of 13 different podcast sites, each with their own collection of podcasts. You could listen for days.

I decided to narrow it down a bit. Like my productivity post of yore (two days ago), this post should help you save some time by pointing you straight to the best. We spend enough time wading through information. Of course, if you like what you hear from these links, you can browse the various archives and get more. Wading is always an option. But today, maybe it isn’t a necessity.

• From I Should Be Writing, an interview by guest host Christopher Lester with John Scalzi, blogger extraordinare.
• A 2-Part podcast series on Socializing from Business English Pod.
• I’m a big fan of Holly Lyle on Writing. Her podcasting is relatively new; I recommend listening to Episode 1: The One with the Fangs . (You’re intrigued, admit it. Go ahead and click on the link. You know you want to find out about the fangs.)
• And since one podcast from Ms. Lyle just ain’t enough, I recommend Episode 5: Originality vs. Uniqueness, and Other Goodies.
• A nice look at Writing Short from FreelanceWriting.com. Great for regular blog writers and short content producers.
• Okay, these are all on one page and they’re all good, so I’m just going to recommend them all. Roy Clark’s Writing Tools podcasts. They’re up to #30 out of 50 now. You could start at #1 and just work your way up, or go straight to my favorite tips: #10 (Cut big, then small), #16 (Seek original images), and #28 (Put odd and interesting things next to each other).
• Grammar Girl: Quick and Dirty Tips is entertaining, educational, and brief. Go listen to the Top 10 podcasts (scroll down to the bottom of the page).
• The origin of the spork (kind of) is here, at Podictionary. Go listen to it. It’s interesting. You’ll get hooked and want to listen to more. Soon you’ll fill your conversation with vague etymological references.
• Writing Excuses offers a lot, but I think you should start by listening to Episode 17: This Sucks and I’m a Horrible Writer, regarding writer’s block and that self-defeatist attitude we get sometimes. You know the one. Go kick it in the head, listen to the podcast, then continue writing brilliantly.
• On the business side of things, Jim Degerstrom offers us a podcast about Website Writing for Profit, something freelancers can always stand to learn more about.
• An insider’s view that is fascinating to me, because it’s not from the writing insider but the publishing insider: Slush Pile Confessional, by the publisher of Renards Menagerie. Listen to Episode #3 including How to Write a Good Rejection Letter. Aaaah.
• From the radio show “A Way with Words,” you might check the latest (as of this writing) which discusses blogs. Greg reads 900 blogs. I thought I read a lot of blogs.
• And from The Writing Show, it’s a toss-up between Monetizing Your Blog with Nick Wilson of Performancing.com.

That’s all for now. Make it a good day.

Image Credit: Beard Papa at Flickr.

13 Contest Ending Soon

1. June 2008 Scribophile Contest. Fiction: mystery, 2000 to 5000 wds, first chapter of mystery novel; First prize: $50 Amazon gift card; Deadline: June 30th.
2. The Shya Scanlon 7-line Contest. 7-line story, any genre; First prize: $1000 and publication; Entry fee: $10; Deadline: August 15th.
3. The Summer 2008 Short Story Warren Adler Contest. Humor: 1000 to 2500 words; First prize: $1000; Entry fee: $15; Deadline: August 15th.
4. The Writer’s Workshop of Asheville, NC, 19th Annual Poetry Contest. Poetry: 3 poems per entry; First prize: $300; Entry fee: $20; Deadline: June 30th.
5. The Writer’s Workshop of Asheville, NC, Hard Times Writing Contest. Memoir: up to 4000 words, overcoming hard times; First prize: $300; Entry fee: $20; Deadline: July 31st.
6. FenCon Short Story Contest. Fiction: science fiction or fantasy, up to 5000 words; First prize: $50; Entry fee: $10; Deadline: July 20th.
7. 2008 First Annual Benu Press Creative Non-Fiction Award. Non-fiction manuscript; First prize: Publication, 7% royalties; Deadline: July 25th.
8. Costa Rica Pages Travel Writing Competition. Non-fiction, 300 to 800 words, favorite vacation moment; First prize: Vacation to Costa Rica; Deadline: July 31st.
9. The TNPR Book Prize Series. Poetry: 45 - 80 pages; First prize: $1000 plus publication; Entry fee: $25; Deadline: August 31st.
10. The American Poet Prize for Poetry. Poetry: 3 poems, up to 10 pages; First Prize: $500 plus publication; Entry Fee: $16.00; Deadline: June 30th.
11. The KeyHole Chapbook Contest. Poetry chapbook, 18 - 36 pages; First prize: $250 and publication; Entry fee: $15; Deadline: July 30th.
12. The Finishing Line Press Prize in Poetry Open Chapbook Competition. Poetry chapbook: up to 26 pages; First prize: $1000 and publication: Entry fee: $15; Deadline: June 30th.
13. The Dream Quest One Poetry and Writing Contest. Poem, up to 30 lines OR Short story, any genre (including creative non-fiction) up to 5 pages; multiple entries accepted; First prize: $500; Entry Fee: $5 for poetry, $10 for short story; Deadline: July 31st.

Make it a good day.

Many of these are unpaid possibilities, which I know is not as nice as getting cash for your work. However, unpaid publication is still publication and can be well worth the time for the publicity and credibility you receive. Be smart about this and it can be a boost to your paid work.

A few tips before we get to the real list:

• Don’t bother submitting for unpaid jobs that are not in your area of expertise. The point of these publications is to build your credibility, and that only works if it is concentrated on an area that you want to write in long-term. Use unpaid articles to build yourself and your reputation as an expert. Pick topics that are related to your specialty.
• The only exception to the rule above is if you have already established yourself as an expert in one area and are wanting to branch out to another. In that case, you start applying and submitting to those unpaying publications that specialize in your new area. Once you build up enough of those publications, you will have sufficient material on your CV to start submitting to the paying publications in that new area of yours.
• Do use articles you’ve already written. Check the guidelines, first, of course; even some unpaying publications will only take previously unpublished material. Many, however, realize that writers are trying to make it and are content with one-time-rights to a piece. So comb through your blog, your website, your previously published articles, your Associated Content account, your lit class notes from college… Find something appropriate for the publication and tweak it so it fits perfectly, then send it on in. This is really the trick to making these unpaying jobs worthwhile, especially if they’re of smaller circulation (which is often the case). You can spend half an hour or so on finding, tweaking, and submitting a piece, and you get a decent return of publicity and credibility.
• Do follow the guidelines just as seriously as you would for a paying publication. Your reputation matters everywhere you are published. Treat the editors and publishers with respect, read through the FAQs before you email a question, and follow the guidelines with great care. There is always a possibility that they will be so impressed with your conduct and your writing that they might seek you out for later, paying jobs. Never be careless when it comes to your writing and how you get it published.

And here is the Real List.

1. Women’s Interest:LifeToolsForWomen.com. Ezine; 50-word bio; No pay; 500-1200 words; email submission. Topics: “informational articles on family, relationships, work, money, health, nutrition, time management, goal setting and faith. These articles must be uplifting, positive and relevant.”
2. Women’s Interest: Balance Magazine. Print magazine; 15-word bio; No pay; 650-1250 words; email submission as MSWord attachment and indicate section (Health, Wealth, or Happiness); deadline Sep. 1 for winter issue. Topics: “original work providing tips, tools, strategies or a call to action reflecting balanced living and personal growth for women.”
3. Issues/Ethics/Culture: Raving Dove. Online literary journal; Bio w/ weblinks; $10 honorarium; up to 1000 words (nonfiction), 2000 words (fiction); email submission; 2-4 month response time; previously unpublished work only. Topics: “original poetry, nonfiction essays, fiction, photography, and art with (universal) anti-war, anti-violence, peace-related, and human rights themes.”Now Open: The Annual Evolve Beyond Violence Nonfiction Essay Award. Guidelines here. $1000 first prize; entry fee $15, requiring membership (also $15); deadline Sep. 1.
4. Christian Women’s Interest; Christian Books for Women’s Christian Writers Showcase. Online Christian Women’s site, article may be included in the site’s newsletter; published on-site for reader comments; no pay; use submission form. Topics: “the practical, hands on ideas, suggestions, and concepts. So please try to incorporate some of that great stuff!”
5. Fiction/Literary Perpetual Magazine. Online literary journal; publication on-site; no pay; email submissions. Topics: “Action/Adventure, Sci-Fi, Fantasy, Western/Historical Fiction, Literary, Detective, Romance,” or creative non-fiction in those categories.
6. Women’s Interest - Work at Home Moms; WAHMZone.com. Online WAHM site; article database/learning center; newsletter; publication on-site; bio/byline; no pay; email submissions; possible weekly contributor positions (also unpaid). Topics: Items of interest to WAHM in three categories: Business Zone, Family Zone, or Recipe Zone.
7. Gardening/Horticulture; GreenPrints.com. Print magazine; open-ended, up to 2000 words is a loose suggestion; snail-mail submission but personal response guaranteed; payment, yes, up to $200 but often less. Read the guidelines, as there are some very particular pointers you should be aware of before submitting. Topics: “best, personal (important word, that) garden writing I can get. Expressive, thoughtful, humorous, angry, contrite, flippant, searching, witty, observant, sad, inviting— whatever! We focus on the human, not how-to side of gardening. On the people as well as the plants.”
8. Small Business;MyBusiness Magazine. Print magazine and online companion site with daily updates; length varies depending upon section, see guidelines; queries preferred (I suggest checking the editorial calendar first; pay not mentioned. Topics: “a guide to survival and success in this new small-business economy. We seek to highlight and celebrate the people and ideas making this movement a reality. That’s why the experiences of real small-business owners are essential to every story.”
9. Personal Finance;Budget Savvy Magazine. Online magazine/website; $25 per article; no length guidelines given; no writer’s guidelines onsite, but the editor (Melissa Tosetti) accepts queries (she responded to my request for guidelines that I sent through the contact form). Topics: “Ways to add style and simplicity to your home, Affordable travel and entertainment ideas, Putting together a great look with imagination and style, Cooking and kitchen management basics, Career and personal finance advice and information.”
10. Adventure/History/Travel; Lost Treasure Magazine. Rather specialized, but if this is a hobby then you’re in luck. Monthly publication. 500 to 1500 words, depending; Source documentation required; photos help get you published; not clear on pay; very particular requirements, read the guidelines if you’re interested. Topics: “lost treasure, folklore, personal adventure stories; legends; and how-to articles for treasure hunters and metal detector­ users; personal adventure stories when accompanied by a sidebar consisting of a how-to lesson or tips (hunting, research, technique, etc., related to the story); who’s who features (by query only) and miscellaneous how-to tips.”

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11. Women’s Interest - Writing; WomenWriters.net. Ezine; byline; no pay; accepts book reviews, poetry, fiction, and scholarly nonfiction; email submission as attachment (preferred format indicated on guidelines). Topics: Women writers, women’s issues, reviews of books written by women, feminism.
12. Women’s Interest - Christian Mommies; ChristianMommies.com. Ezine and website; no length guidelines mentioned; no pay mentioned; online publication, listing in Author Index; email submissions. Topics: Children, Parenting, Home and Family, Health and Spirit. Browse the site for more ideas.
13. Spirituality; Spirituality and Health Magazine. Bimonthly Print Magazine; length ranges depending upon section; manuscript for shorter items, query for features; email submissions. Topics: “the people, practices, and ideas of the spiritual renaissance in contemporary society and their impact on personal and community well being. It provides readers with practices to aid them in their own spiritual formation and strives for journalistic objectivity in the presentation of stories about specific religions and denominations.”

Go get ‘em. Make it a good day.

And with no further ado…

1. Idealist.org is a forum and resource for non-profit organizations. They have a job board which you can search according to your criteria. This morning I found 10 results under “freelance writer” and 5 under “contract/editing and writing.” Not a lot, perhaps, but also not a really well-known site in the freelance world.
2. JournalismJobs.com is a great resource for freelance work. Under “freelance” keyword search today, I found 78 offers.
3. Berkeley’s Journalism Jobs page is also a great resource. You’ll find some repeats here, but it’s worth scrolling through.
4. Writerfind.com offers a job board and a place to list your profile.
5. Creative Hotlist. 20 or so opportunities under Writer or Writing.
6. Indeed.com pulls from a large database of classifieds, sites, etc. to list job opportunities. You’ll find some repeats from other pages, sure, but there are also lots of more obscure sources that you might not have seen.
7. FreelanceWriting.com offers this Magazine Guideline Database. Great resource.
8. Allena at About.com’s Guide to Freelance Writing offers a thorough list of Where to Find Freelance Jobs and Resources. Very helpful.
9. Freelance Writing Jobs is my favorite. I started watching this list first, and I got this gig at 451Press through the site. Job listings every weekday, plus lots of helpful articles.
10. FictionFanatic.com offers a job board with listings for “Fiction Writers, StoryTellers, and Poets.” Updated twice daily…
11. Performancing.com and BloggerJobs are sister sites; you might see some overlap, but they are worth checking regularly.
12. The Yahoo Job Directory is big. Check various topics, like Literature and Creative Writing Jobs as well as Freelance Writing Jobs.
13. Check The Burry Man Writers Center for links to lots of different sites and job opportunities.

Happy Thursday. Read these blogs. (Short and to the point, right?)

• Writer Beware: “Literary scams, schemes and pitfalls.” Got a question about a publisher or agent? Wondering if you’ve been scammed? This is a great place to start looking.
• Grammar Girl: Study up! My personal recommendation for better grammar? Add a second language to you repertoire.
• MFABitch: “A litblog for all those bitches who survived their MFA.” I’m guessing if you weren’t a bitch going in, you’ll become one before you get out?
• GalleyCat: Rhymes with allycat (which is mynickname, no stealing!) Keep up with the ups and downs and superdowns of the publishing industry.
• Workerette. I read this blog but don’t communicate in it much, but don’t let that fool ya- it’s really a good read for working mothers (ie writing mums like myself).
• Well, let’s not leave off working men- check out Men With Pens. They recently dived into Why Your Novel Isn’t Written Yet. 
• Indigenous Issues Today. Ok, so this is a personal interest of mine. Simply replace this suggestion with your own personal interest. The point here is to read a blog about something that interests you- not having to do with your work!
• Meagan Francis. This is a local(ish) writer whose columns I tend to read. She also has a book out.
• Inkthinker. Follow this freelance writer’s quest for 100,000 in one year. (My husband, the tax accountant, is frowning over there at her goal. Hope she doesn’t let ‘the man’ take too much of it!).
• Plagiarism Today. If you’re a writer, you need to have a clue what plagiarism is (and what it’s not, which comes a little harder for some apparently).
• The author of Write For Cash has a PhD in feminism. Sounds GREAT to me!
• Here’s one that will make you LOL: Nice Mommy, Evil Editor.
• Last, but certainly not least, Mom Writers Lit Mag.
• Bonus Blog: Like books? Who doesn’t? Visit The Bookstacks.

Happy reading, don’t forget to bookmark!

Ahh, I love Thursday Thirteen lists, I love talking about books, and I like blogging. Let’s get on with the Thursday 13 list o’ the day!

• Lady Chatterleys Lover by DH Lawrence: Whew. Have I read it? Mutiple times. Why I recommend it? Well, it’s racy. It’s a good time…er, I mean..read ;}
• Twelfth Night by Shakespeare. Ok, so it’s a play, but Twelfth Night has been banned in at least one school because one of the main characters disguided herself as a man. (Oh the carnage! geez) Have I read it? Yes, in college I studied it extensively. Would I recommend it? Yes, although if you’re not up to the challenge, you may prefer the movie with Helena Bonham Carter.
• Bless Me, Ultima by Rudolfo Anaya was banned in one school in Arkansas because of its depiction of paganism. I would especially recommend it to those interested in Latino literature. 
• The Awkening by Kate Chopin. I haven’t read it, I’m sorry! But it is very much on my list. It is banned due to…you guessed it…sex. Oh my. <–Note sarcasm here.
• The Bluest Eye and
• Beloved both by Toni Morrison were two of the most alarming books I’ve ever read. More sex, and again being hcallenged in Arkansas. Who else is picking up on this pattern?
• Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe. I can’t recall if this is a book or a short story, as I read it in an anthology and I recall devouring it all in one sitting. Best read with
• Poisonwood Bible by Barbara Kingsolver. I adored this book, too.
• The Satanic Verses. Ok, so I haven’t yet read this famous banned book, but it is most definitely on my list.
• How is this for irony? Read Farenheit 451, a baned book with themes about banning books! Oh, the hilarity.
• A couple to read with your kidlings: A Series of Unfortuante Events and
• Harry Potter series and
• The Lorax.

Happy Reading to you!