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Thursday, March 31, 2011

Writing the Short Story


Short stories are a fiction writer's toe in the water. They are short, or can be, poignant and usually must pack a punch if they're going to see publication beyond the tattered notebook in your top drawer. However, any writer who has written or attempted to write a short story knows that those 1,500 words may be the hardest you'll ever write. There simply is not enough space to delve as deeply as you want to - not enough pages to build to climax and then wrap it up in some meaningful way.

I have written and struggled to write short stories for years. I have obsessed over the words, closed the file and then refused to look at it for months afterwards, Eventually when I get some much need space, I can return to the work, edit it and start submitting. I get rejected frequently, but those few journals that say they're considering it and even one that accepted a short story and then later published someone else's - somehow keep the flame alive.

T.C. Boyle, fiction author and English Professor at the university of Southern California, stresses that "there are no rules," when it comes to writing short fiction. Boyle says that fiction is an art (I'm sure we all agree) and that it is merely an individual work by an individual person. Understanding this helps us to let go of a need to mimic greater writers or to drown ourselves in the self-deprecating tendencies that arise when we review and edit our own stories. Boyle, in his courses, advises students to read a lot - and not just the classics, but contemporary writers also. Additionally, he is a supporter of writing what you don't know (not the normal writing advice) because he believes that fiction is a process of discovery. (Read the full article here at Writers Digest.com)

Writing advice is everywhere these days, but read it anyway. Read it because in doing so - you're reading, you're seeing someone else's style and maybe you're gleaning some piece of advice that has not crossed your desk before. Then go for a walk in nature, return to your computer and let the words flow. If you like what you've written - look below for some online journals and magazines seeking submissions. 










Contests 

Echoes of the Right to God - Accepts Essays, Fiction and Poetry - No Entry Fee - Deadline: April 16th

Writer Advice Sixth Annual Flash Prose Contest - Accepts Fiction, Memoir and Creative Nonfiction - Entry Fee: $10 - Deadline: April 15th 

Never be bullied into silence.  Never allow yourself to be made a victim.  Accept no one's definition of your life; define yourself.  ~Harvey Fierstein

Thursday, March 24, 2011

Writing Jobs for Thursday March 24th

Well Spring had arrived, but it appears Mother Nature wanted one final reminder just who is in control around here. I hope that you are all staying warm, keeping safe on the roads and getting lots of exercise shoveling your driveways (like me). Look below for writing jobs in Michigan and From Home.

Writing Jobs in Michigan

Writer: Ann Arbor

Managing Editor: Ann Arbor

Technical Trainer/Writer: Ann Arbor

Writer/Editor: Auburn Hills

Grant Writer: Detroit Metro

Technical Writer: Detroit

Technical Writer: Detroit

Technical Writer III: Detroit Metro

Technical Writer: Dundee

Photographer/Editor: Edwardsburg

Assistant Community Editor: Flint

Community Content Coordinator: Flint

Process Documentation Analyst/Writer: Grand Rapids

IT Technical Writer: Kalamazoo

Copy Editor/Designer: Port Huron

Business Analyst/Tech Writer: Saline

Reporter/Editor/Producer: Southfield

Copywriter: Troy

Copywriter Internship: Troy

Senior Acquisitions Editor: Wayne State

Telecommute (From Home)

Fresh Healthy Vending Writer/Blogger

Fresh Healthy Vending Intern Internet Marketing/Blogger 

Business Website Seeks Writers/Researchers 

TurnEdit Seeks Editors  

Journalists Wanted (Unpaid) 

Short Articles 

Opportunities at Yahoo Contributor Network 

Smart Freelance Writers for WiseGeek

SEO Content Writers

Small Appliance Enthusiast

Daily Fashion Blogger Needed

Audio Transcriber 

Savvy, Skilled, Committed Editor Needed 

Write About Money for Demand Studios 

Art and Fashion Bloggers (Unpaid) 

Jumping at several small opportunities may get us there more quickly than waiting for one big one to come along.  ~Hugh Allen

Saturday, March 19, 2011

Travel Writing Scholarship

Sorry for the last minute post about this, but I just learned of it from a wonderful organization that I'm a part of - Couchsurfing.org - and it is a scholarship for writers who love to travel. Keep in mind that this will be a raw travel experience (no mints on the pillow) so only apply if you're up for traveling to and writing about Istanbul.

The deadline is March 28th so there's no time to waste if you're interested.

Applicants must be 18 years or older.

To apply you must craft a 500 word travel essay on one of the following topics:

Responsible Travel
Journey in an Unknown Culture
My Big Adventure

Find out all of the details at WorldNomads.com .

The World is a book, and those who do not travel read only a page.  ~St. Augustine

Thursday, March 17, 2011

Writing Jobs for Thursday March 17th

Happy St. Patrick's Day writers! I just went for a beautiful walk and listened to the groaning trees and clucking birds with such glorious fervor. Spring has finally shown her beautiful face and we can, at long last, see the lingering entrails of winter melting into the earth.

Look below for new writing jobs in Michigan and from home. Please also feel free to post comments, send suggestions or say what ever moves you. This is a space for writers (even if I seem to be the only one talking currently).

Writing Jobs in Michigan 

Technical Writer: Ann Arbor

Financial Advisor Needs Writer: Bloomfield Hills

Service Writer: Chelsea

Marketing Internship: Detroit Metro

Grant Writer: Detroit

Write/Send Press Releases: East Lansing/Telecommute

Exceptional Woman Ghost Writer: Grand Rapids

Social Media Coordinator: Grand Rapids

Process Documentation/Analyst/Writer: Grand Rapids

Editor/Proofreader: Grand Rapids

Sports Editor: Hillsdale

Technical Writer: Kalamazoo

Technical Writer: Lansing

Video Journalist: Lansing

Newspaper Hiring Journalists: Southfield

Marketing Plan Writer: Southfield

Business Plan/Technical Writer: Southfield

Technical Writer: Troy

Proposal Writer: Troy

Service Writer: Waterford

Telecommute (From Home)


Web Writer Wanted

Talented Ghost Writers

Macroeconomics Writers

Freelance Writers Wanted

Analyst/Editor for Stock Market Site

Blog Writer and Contributor 

Tax Review Researcher/Writer


Freelance Academic Writers

Skyword Hiring Native Spanish Language Freelancers

Webisode Scriptwriters Wanted 

Tech-Savvy Blogger

Telecommute Writers

Travel Writers and Bloggers 

Experienced Proposal Writer for Gov. Contracts (Michigan)

Submissions

Literary Magazine Seeks Submissions 

Online Magazine Calls for Submissions 

Unpaid Blog Editor/Writer Internship 


And Spring arose on the garden fair,
Like the Spirit of Love felt everywhere;
And each flower and herb on Earth's dark breast
rose from the dreams of its wintry rest.
~Percy Bysshe Shelley, "The Sensitive Plant"

Saturday, March 12, 2011

Writing Jobs for Saturday March 12th

Writing Jobs in Michigan 

Technical Writer/Proposal Writer: Ann Arbor

Marketing Communications Writer: Ann Arbor

Proposal Writer: Ann Arbor

Technical Writer: Ann Arbor

Clarity Report Writer: Ann Arbor

Writer/Editor: Auburn Hills

Technical Writer: Auburn Hills

IT Technical Writer: Dearborn

Travel Writers: Detroit/Telecommute

Producer/Writer: Wayne State/Detroit Metro

Swedish Translator: Grand Rapids

Experienced Banking Technical Writer: Lansing

Service Writer: Roseville

Editor: Warren

Desktop Publisher: Warren

Telecommute (From Home)

College Football Writer Needed

Business Education Editor 

Guns.com Review Writer 

Freelance Content Writer

Entertainment Bloggers and Guest Bloggers (unpaid)

Entertainment Blogger  (unpaid)

Gourmet Food Packaging Copywriter

Newsletter Writing and Website Editing 

Writers Needed

High School Science Writers 

Writers Wanted (revenue sharing)

Talented Writer for Lesbian Community 

Writer: 3 Articles Per Week

Clever Freelance Writers 

SEO Content Writers for Higher Education

Ecommerce/Web Development Blogger

Food, Cooking and Grocery Bloggers

Submissions

Weight Related Articles (unpaid)

Short Stories and Novels for Ebooks 

L Magazine Calls for Short Fiction 

So often is the virgin sheet of paper more real than what one has to say, and so often one regrets having marred it.  ~Harold Acton, Memoirs of an Aesthete, 1948

Tuesday, March 8, 2011

Writing Jobs for Tuesday March 8th

Writers - please leave me comments if you have any success with writing jobs or submissions. Also leave a comment or send me a message if you have any writing news or events that you would like linked to here.

Writing Jobs in Michigan

Writer/Editor: Ann Arbor

Ad Writer: Auburn Hills

Service Writer: Chelsea

Service Writer: Coldwater

Copywriter: Detroit Metro

SQL Developer and Report Writer: Detroit

Publications Devel. Specialist: East Lansing

Proposal Writer: Farmington Hills/Telecommute

Editor/Writer: Flint

Condition Report Writing: Jenison

Pharmaceutical Technical Writer: Kalamazoo

Medical Writer: Kendle

Madness Copywriter: Madison Heights

Proofreader for Chrysler: Southfield

Technical Writer: Taylor

Finance Writer/Editor: Troy

Script Screenplay Writer: Troy

Analyst: Warren

Technical Writer/Editor: Warren

Copywriter: Warren

Telecommute (From Home)

Gay Men's Lifestyle Writers 

Online News Writers 

New Writers Welcome 

Relationship Writer/Blogger

SEO Content Writers

Writers Wanted 

Academic Writers

Freelance Writer for Art/Photography Magazine 

Humor/Joke Writers 

Forum Poster 

News Desk Writer 

Native German Speaking Writer

Online Book Publishing Writer/Editor

Submissions

Lifestyle Blog Seeking Submissions

Literary Magazine Seeks Submissions 

Cleveland Writing Contest 

Fiction and Poetry Submissions 

To me, the greatest pleasure of writing is not what it's about, but the inner music the words make.  ~Truman Capote, McCall's, November 1967

Sunday, March 6, 2011

Freelance Markets

Happy March Writers. I began this post as a listing of jobs; however, several of my usual job sites are down this evening so I bring to you instead some submission information. Magazines submissions are a great way to earn a living as a freelance writer. Consider areas of interest or, better yet, areas of expertise when brainstorming article ideas.

Also keep your network of friends and family in mind as they are great resources for interviews. For instance, do you have a girlfriend who owns a bakery? A single interview could leave you with a variety of pitches such as women in business, small business during recession, baking trends for 2011 and many more. Most magazines prefer a query first, which allows you to offer some ideas without having to pen the entire article. See the end of the post for some links on How to Write Query Letters.

Magazines and Websites

Fourtean Times: World of Strange Phenomena

Smoking Mountains Living Magazine 

Backpacker Magazine 

Submissions for Thin Threads and MamaZina Magazine 

The Escapist Magazine 

Fiasco Magazine 

Praise and Coffee Magazine 

Defenders of Wildlife Magazine 

Upper Room Writing Devotionals 

Road and Travel Magazine

Bird Times Magazine 

Blue Suit Mom Online Magazine 

I Love Cats Magazine

Fuse Magazine: Art, Culture and Politics

Short Story Submissions/Contests

Suns and Silences: Poetry, Fiction and Nonfiction

Room Magazine: Fiction, Nonfiction and Poetry

Short Story Contest for Deadly Ink 

The StorySouth Million Writers Award

Trading Card Fiction Contest  

Witness: Accepts Fiction, Nonfiction and Poetry

Query Letter Help

Writing.com: Query Letter Do's and Dont's 

How to Write an Assignment Winning Magazine Query Letter 

What no wife of a writer 
can ever understand is that a writer is working when he's staring out of the window.  ~Burton Rascoe