Thinking about Writing Classes
It came today! The University of Iowa Summer Writing Festival’s pre-notification of the upcoming catalog. Sigh…..already my head is spinning with possibilities for summer writing classes. Iowa City is a six hour drive from the Twin Cities, the perfect summer trip. (Except for the time my sister and I were driving to the workshop for classes and breezed past Des Moines’ turn, ending up in Missouri. That added a few extra hours to the trip. But that’s another story, one that can only be understood by someone who has gotten so deeply into a conversation that time and space disappeared.) I encourage you to contact your local arts council to see if there are grants available for writers. You could write a grant for the funds necessary for...
Read MoreFirst Line Writing Contest
Here’s a contest with a February 1 deadline that gives us a first line prompt. If your story is selected, you will be paid $30 and published online and in a chapbook. This is a great opportunity to write something different and submit (without a fee). My friend once won a $5,000 prize with a contest just like this. Although prize amounts of that size are very unusual, perhaps this contest will help hone your skills for another contest that pays more. But then, it’s not really about the money, is it? It is about writing and the joy it brings. So write! Submit! And have fun. Thanks again to Hope Clark’s newsletter for this great contest opportunity. THE FIRST LINE http://www.thefirstline.com/ — Spring Prompt: “There are a few things...
Read MoreDylan Days Poetry/Fiction Contest
If you are like most writers, you have made a resolution to submit often in 2012. Here is a contest out of Hibbing, Minnesota, that is getting national attention. It is a no fee contest (those are the kind I like the best) and the deadline is March 1. I know a few people who have won or placed in this contest. If your work is chosen, it will be a wonderful addition to your resume and you might win the $100 prize! Thank you Hope Clark for this call-out. B.J. ROLFZEN MEMORIAL DYLAN DAYS CREATIVE WRITING CONTEST http://www.dylandays.org/a/j/dylan-days/contests/creative-writing — Open Division Poetry Poems limited to 1,000 words on any subject. Contest open to all poets. Because of overwhelming interest in our small contest, limit yourself to entering your best...
Read MoreTalking Stick Call-Out
Talking Stick is accepting submissions for their next anthology. This is a beautiful Minnesota publication with cash prizes ($300 for first place and $100 for second place). If you are interested in submitting your poetry, creative nonfiction, or fiction, follow the link below to read the guidelines and print the form you will need to include with your submission. The word count is 1,000 to 1,200 words, depending on the genre. Published Books If you have attended one of my classes, you have probably heard me mention Talking Stick. There is no submission fee and you have a chance to win as much as $300! The submission deadline is earlier this year. You will need to get your stories or poetry in by February 20, 2012. ...
Read MoreHow to Write a Memoir
Merry Christmas! I am busy preparing for a house full of people next Saturday but wanted to take a moment to talk about writing. I have to admit that I don’t get much writing done during the holidays, but I spend a lot of time thinking about it. My best ideas often come to me while I am doing some mundane task, such as cleaning the fridge or washing pots and pans. If I am stuck on a writing or editing project, I often clean something. It’s funny how the simple repetitive motions of vacuuming or dusting can bring up some great new ideas to move ahead on a project. Another tip: The next time you need to decide where to go with your story, ask yourself what you were thinking when the event happened. Your stories need to reveal something about yourself....
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