48 Hour Writing Contest Starts 5 p.m. Today

(This news courtesy George Lies and the Morgantown Writers Group Bulletin)

48 Hour Writing Contest Starts 5 p.m. Today

Toasted Cheese Literary Journal 48-Hour Writing Competition
http://www.toasted-cheese.com/tclj/contest.htm

Three Cheers and a Tiger: FALL is a science fiction / fantasy contest.

This is a 48 hour competition that opens today. The September 2008 contest opens at 5:00 pm Eastern Time, Friday, September 19, 2008 with details posted at Just the Place for a Snark. Web - http://forums.toasted-cheese.com/viewforum.php?f=4

Deadline: E-mail entries to threecheers08[at]toasted-cheese.com by 5:00 pm Eastern Time, Sunday, September 21, 2008. Your subject line must read: Three Cheers and a Tiger Contest Entry.

Entries are blind-judged by Boots & Ana. The judges' decision is final. Winners are announced October 31. Winning stories are published in the December issue of Toasted Cheese. Winners receive Amazon gift certificates: $20 for first, $15 for second, $10 for third.

Toasted Cheese Regular Submission Guidelines are at -
http://www.toasted-cheese.com/tclj/submit.htm

West Virginia: Words and Music Call for Submissions from Writers, Playwrights and Songwriters

WEST VIRIGNIA WRITERS, PLAYWRIGHTS, SONGWRITERS:

West Virginia: Words and Music will present a series of monologues and songs written by West Virginia playwrights and writers depicting a host of different fictional characters: men, women, and children from all over the mountain state. Submissions from all WV writers are welcome; we ask that entries be limited to a maximum of three monologues per writer and about 2-4 minutes in length. Monologues selected will be intermingled with music (some originally written for the production and others that are West Virginia standards). We hope to have a diverse set of monologues; some dramatic; some funny. We hope that some of the stories will challenge perceptions and stereotypes; others could be commentaries on life in the mountain state: past, present and future.

We envision a modern-day equivalent of Edgar Lee Masters’ classic play, Spoon River Anthology, in a style reminiscent of contemporary playwrights such as Jane Martin (Talking With), Moises Kaufman & the Tectonic Theatre Project (The Laramie Project) and Blank & Jensen (The Exonerated).

Writers are asked to send their submissions along with a completed submission/release form to:

David Wohl, Artistic Director
Charleston Stage Company
123 Summers Street
Charleston, WV 25301

Songwriters should submit CD’s of their songs (maximum length: 5 minutes) along with a lyric sheet to the same address.

Writers and contributors will be notified by December 1st, 2008


DEADLINE FOR SUBMISISON: NOVEMBER 1, 2008

TO PRINT OUT THE SUBMISSION/RELEASE FORM, CLICK HERE

Union County Writers' Club Annual Adult Literary Contest

Rules for Union County Writers' Club Annual Adult Literary Contest.

Each year the deadline for our contest is October 31st.

Categories for 2008 include: short story, fantasy, poetry, and childrens' story.

Rules for the Union County Writers' Club Annual Contest are as Follows:

Entrants must be at least eighteen years old and U.S. residents.

Entry fees are: $3 per poem, or 2 for $5; $5 per short story, childrens' story, or fantasy story.

Each entry must be an original work that is previously unpublished in a paid publication.

Poetry may be any form, on any subject, but not longer than 40 lines.

Short stories are 1000 - 5000 words.

Childrens' stories are for children in the age range of pre-school through junior high and are limited to 3000 words.

Fantasy is limited to 300 words maximum.

Material of explicit sexual nature is discouraged.

Entries that have won or placed second or third in either of the previous 2 years are not eligible for entry.

PRIZES

Short Stories and Childrens' Stories: First Place $30, Second Place $25, Third Place $10.
Poetry and Fantasy: First Place $25, Second Place $15, Third Place $10.
Honorable Mentions will receive a certificate.


HOW TO ENTER

Entries must be typed and submitted on standard 8 1/2 by 11 inch paper. Poetry single spaced, short stories double spaced. Two copies of each entry must be submitted without author's name, address, or any other identifying information on the entry. A cover letter must accompany the entry giving the author's name, address, phone number, and the title of the submitted story or poem. Multiple entries are accepted and may be listed on the same cover letter.

Checks must be made out to: Union County Writers' Club and mailed with entries to P.O. Box 496, Monroe, NC 28111

Authors should retain copies of their submissions. They will not be returned.

Please indicate on the envelope or cover letter which category is being entered for each submission.

OTHER INFORMATION

Judges are selected from among writing teachers, college staff members, or members of professional writing organizations. They do not live or work in Union County. Contest winners will be notified by mail of the time and place for the Awards Ceremony. Contest winners will be invited to read their winning entries at the Awards.

Call either 704 291-7829 for more information. Or email to ghost2@carolina.rr.com
or writer19@gmail.com

Prize checks will be presented at the January meeting on the third Tuesday of the month. Winners are invited to attend and read the winning entries. Checks and certificates will be mailed in January to winners who are unable to attend.

Union County Literary Contest Winners 2007

Many thanks to all those who entered.

Congratulations to the winners. The judges were very pleased with the high quality of the entries.

SHORT STORY:
1st place: Mr. Dearborn's Big Vacation - Philip Loyd, Houston, TX
2nd place: Southern Girl - Philip Loyd, Houston, TX
3rd place - Like Father, Like Son - Philip Loyd, Houston, TX
Honorable mention 1: Equal Gifts - Linda Evans, Matthews, NC
Honorable mention 2: Nickel Bread and Hope - J. Dixon Hearne, Huntington Beach, CA

FLASH FICTION:
1st place: Catalog Fantasies - Janet Hartman, Beaufort, NC
2nd place: Westward with Hope - Claudia Shelton, O'Fallon, MO
3rd place: The Equator - Donna McClanahan, Irvine, KY
Honorable mention: The Toughest Kid in Town - Linda Evans, Matthews, NC

CHILDREN'S STORY:
1st place: Fraidy-Cat - Bonnie Brown, Industry, ME
2nd place: The Little Old Fire Truck - Emily Soares, Decatur, GA
3rd place: Native Heart - J. Dixon Hearne, Huntington Beach, CA
Honorable mention 1: Sonny - Linda Evans, Matthews, NC
Honorable mention 2: Kicks Are for Kids - Linda Evans, Matthews, NC
Honorable mention 3: The Carpenter's Cup - Dana Williams, Arlington, WA

POETRY:
1st place: Perfection - Dr. Billy O. Fleming, Jr., Waxhaw, NC
2nd place: Sound Effects - Olga Penzin, Rock Hill, SC
3rd place: Autumn Song - Doris Jeane Haigler, Monroe, NC
Honorable mention: The Edge of Darkness - Phyllis McManus, Monroe, NC

Call for Submissions: Barrelhouse

http://barrelhousem ag.com/joomla/ index.php? option=com_ content&task= view&id=52& Itemid=2

Deadline September 12 (must be received by this date). Barrelhouse, a literary magazine with a pop-culture twist, seeks unpublished poetry, fiction and more....

Are you an optimist? Is the future so bright you simply gotta wear shades?

Maybe, but what if that flash of light you're protecting your precious retinas from is really the first strike in a nuclear attack launched by robots who speak in monotone Austrian accents as they strive to wipe mankind off the face of the earth?

Ever think of that?

Barrelhouse, like any writer with a hint of an alcohol problem, both loves and dreads the future. But who cares what we think? What are your thoughts on the topic? Got a great story about what the world will be like in 2327? Got a super essay delineating why the hover board is not yet flying off the shelves of your local Toys R' Us? Got an amazing poem about what type of programming will dominate network television schedules in the next millennium? When it comes to writing about the future, the possibilities are virtually limitless. That's why our new contest is all about the future. We present The Barrelhouse Invitational: The Future. Send us your best writing (fiction, essays, or poems) on ANY topic related to the future and we'll give you our undivided attention.

A quick note: Please keep in mind this is not exactly a sci-fi writing contest. That isn't to say we won't publish an awesome future-oriented sci-fi story if you've got one, but keep in mind Barrelhouse is a little more interested in people than in plot, in personal connections with ideas than in personal connections with crazy aliens who have three penises though if you could effectively work that into an essay or story we'd love to read it).The future is about lots of things, including what might happen next week, with you and that bike messenger with the tattoo of Gary Coleman on his calf, or when your kids go to college, or when Ryan Seacrest is finally crowned King of America.

Enter today at our fancy online submissions center (choose "the future" as
genre).

http://barrelhousemag.com/submissions/

National Christian Writers Conference & Book Expo

Offering Writers the Tools They Need to Be Successful

By Rebekah L. Pierce

On Saturday, September 20, 2008, hundreds of novice and seasoned writers from all across the country will converge on the Crown Plaza Hotel in Virginia Beach , Virginia to attend the National Christian Writers Conference and Book Expo. Founded by prolific writer and self-publishing guru, Renee Bobb (www.reneebobb.com), the conference is billed as an event where Christian authors can not only learn about the book publishing industry, but promote and market their works as well.

Kevin Johnson is author of the nine-book series, Give God the Glory,
(www.writingforthelord.com and www.writingforthelord..org) and is not only presenting a workshop at the conference, but is a vendor as well. “I am most looking forward to networking and expanding my current sphere of influence and learning about new technologies,” says Mr. Johnson. When it comes to writing a book, Johnson says that what he has learned about the process is “patience and persistence.”

Project Coordinator and also a speaker at the National Christian Writers Conference, Antonio Crawford (www.topbooksales.com) hopes participants take away three things from his session, “Place Your Book in The Marketplace Using Strategic Planning.” How to position and promote books in the marketplace using the magic P(s); identify and employ multiple distribution channels to deliver books; and create several exchange outlets to sell books or products.
“What I also hope people take away the most from this conference, though, is learning how to create multiple streams of income through publishing and strategic planning,” says Crawford.

One of the most anticipated topics at this year’s conference is book placement. A major key to making a profit for writers who have given their blood, sweat and tears in “telling the story,” book placement is oftentimes a roadblock that many novices and sometimes seasoned writers experience in the overwhelming, overcrowded and complex book publishing industry. But Cheryl Donovan, author, inspirational speaker, talk show host, and entrepreneur knows how to get around all of this.

According to Donovan, “Placing books is all about research - identifying the proper niche as well as the proper message. Once this is done, you are better equipped to place your books in locations that will be frequented by readers interested in your material. There are a myriad of opportunities for placement available. You just have to look for them.”
Participants will spend the entire day not only attending workshops, but meeting and networking with local authors, independent bookstore owners, suppliers, editors, printers and much, much more. (Private consultations are also being offered for a small fee for those who want more one-on-one time with the experts.)

Cheryl Donovan sums it up best: “The National Christian Writers Conference will be an opportunity for individuals involved in the literary industry to get together and share ideas, strategies, and information related to improving literacy overall.”


Tickets are still available. For more information and to learn about the National Christian Writers Conference and Book Expo, please visit http://www.NationalChristianWritersConference.com or call Renee Bobb at 804-998-8014 and via e-mail to bobbrenee@yahoo.com..

~Rebekah L. Pierce is the Editor in Chief and founder of Average Girl Magazine, a motivational magazine for women (www.averagegirlmagazine.com). She is also the author of Sex, Lies & Shoeboxes, a mystery/suspense novella, has written, produced and directed four full-length plays for the stage and has recently released her first short film, The Briefcase (www.myspace..com/thebriefcase2008). For comments or questions, send an email to: editor@averagegirlmagazine.com

50,000 FREE BOOKS FOR WEST VIRGINIA

If you would like to participate and be a part of getting 50,000 free books for our state’s young people, just do this.

Go to - http://www2.firstbook.org/whatbook

Answer two questions and vote for West Virginia. The people in Kentucky are giving us a pretty good battle for these books but with a little effort, we might just whup ‘em.

Please take time to do this and remember, you can vote daily!

WV Autumn Festival writing contest

The WV Autumn Festival is sponsoring a writing contest featuring categories for all ages and skill levels. The categories are Short Story, Essay, and Poetry. Although the contest judges haven’t been announced, they come from the writing community of West Virginia. All entries will be copied to each judge in advance. There is one adult age division, and the children's age levels are: six and under, seven to twelve, and thirteen to seventeen.

Any questions may be sent to: Renita Loyd, at: wvwriter007@hotmail.com

Entry fees are: Children -- $3.00 per entry and; Adults -- $5.00 per entry
Entry must be postmarked by October 2, 2008.

Prizes include:
Ø Age Division Winners -- $5.00 cash, a gift and a trophy.
Ø Children Category Winners -- $20.00 cash, a gift, and a trophy
Ø Best Overall Children Writer --$50.00 CASH, a gift, and trophy
Ø Best Overall Adult Writer -- $100.00 CASH, a gift, and trophy

NOTE: Depending on response, award values may increase.

All entries should be sent to: WVAF, P.O. Box 102, Flatwoods, WV 26621.