Racquel Writes

Friday Fives - Why Didn't I Think of That?: Novels to Admire

2012-02-17T07:39:00.000-08:00

Song of the Day: Love You Like a Love Song by Selena Gomez
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EgT_us6AsDg

Hello all! Today's post will be short and sweet. As usual, the blog Paper Hangover has provided us with another fun topic for this week's Friday Fives. Today they're asking:

What are the FIVE novels you wish you had written?

Understand me when I say, that this is a HARD list to make. I love so many books! Really, this list could go on forever.

1. The Help by Kathryn Stockett

2. Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen

3. Zombie by Joyce Carol Oates

4. Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte

5. The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

What are some books you wish you'd written? Hope you all have a fun and or productive weekend!

Opportunities in the Great Big Literary World- February 13, 2012

2012-02-13T08:56:00.000-08:00

Song of the Day: Superhuman by Chris Brown and Keri Hilson
www.youtube.com/watch?v=fhMlSITt7hU

Hello all! My favorite holiday is tomorrow! In the spirit of things the song of the day will be a love song for the remainder of February. Can you tell that I'm a hopeless romantic?

Some of you may be wondering where the heck I've been. I have some "splaining" to do. I had a sick family member in Trinidad and I had to make an unexpected trip. I really didn't have access to the Internet and the whole point of taking the trip was to spend time with the loved one. That's exactly what I did. I was sort of cut off from my cyber world while I was there. On one hand it was nice to not have to worry about checking my email or twitter account every five minutes. On the other hand, it made me a little uneasy not having instant access to those things. It's amazing how dependent we are on the Internet. I kept thinking, "I wonder what's going on with Twitter?" or "I wonder if so and so sent me that email?" Anyway, my relative is much better now so all is well!

Can you believe we're already into the month of February? And lost mid-way no less! Have you submitted anything for the year? I have only had the chance to submit to one place, which I did last month. I have to get on the ball this month. It's never too late to start submitting. Pick something off of my list and go!

Contests:

1. Whidbey Emerging Writers Getaway Contest

The Whidbey Writers MFA Alumni Association is holding a first novel contest, with a grand prize of a seven-day retreat at a fully furnished, rustic-luxury Smoky Mountain cabin in North Carolina, with daily continental breakfast ($2,000 value), plus a cash award of $300. Second and third place winners receive cash and other prizes. Top three finalists' entries will be reviewed by Andrea Hurst Literary Management, for possible representation. The top twenty-five entries will each receive two critiques from members of the association. Deadline is May 15, 2012.

http://www.whidbeymfaalumni.org/?page_id=862

Calls for Submissions:

1. Certain Circuits Magazine

Accepting Art, video, film, audio, poetry, and prose. Cross-genre is encouraged.

http://certaincircuits.tumblr.com/

2. Ninth Letter

A literary journal looking for submissions of Fiction, poetry, Essays and interviews.

http://ninthletter.com/printed_journal/submissions/

3. New Ohio Review

The New Ohio Review is seeking literary prose and poetry. Contributors are paid $20 per page for prose and $30 per page for poetry.

http://www.ohio.edu/nor/submis.html

4. Palooka Journal

Palooka is looking for fiction, creative non-fiction, poetry, plays, graphic short stories, graphic essays, comic strips, photography and multimedia for inclusion in issues #3 and #4.

http://palookajournal.submishmash.com/submit

5. Star Line

The quarterly journal of the Science Fiction Poetry Association accepts submissions of poetry year-round.

http://www.sfpoetry.com/starline.html

As always, Black Fox Literary Magazine is always looking for fiction, poetry, non-fiction, art and articles related to the craft of writing. Happy Writing!

Friday Fives- Five Books to Watch For in 2012

2012-01-20T09:23:00.000-08:00

Song of the day: I Can't Wait by Hilary Duff
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qeIB3BX6Evc

Hello all! Time to get ready for the weekend! This post will be fairly short, as I'm working on Black Fox Literary Magazine today. Issue #3 will be released January 30, 2012. I can't believe we're already on issue #3! We're all very excited.

It's Friday, so that means it's time for Friday Fives again. This week the blog Paper Hangover asks:

What are the FIVE books you're looking forward to in 2012?

Here's my list:

1. Mudwoman by Joyce Carol Oates

2. I've Got Your Number by Sophie Kinsella

3. Open Space by Joshua Ferris

4. The Fault in Our Stars by John Green

5. The House at Tyneford by Natasha Solomon

Are there any books you're looking forward to for 2012?

Girl in Translation by Jean Kwok

2012-01-19T12:14:00.000-08:00

Song of the Day: Keep on Keepin' On by JoJo
www.youtube.com/watch?v=EI-DQBtei4k

I used to do posts where I would comment on a book I read recently and that I thought was really stellar. I stopped doing that because, well, I didn't read as voraciously as I should have last year. I guess this kind of post is what would be considered a "review," but I like to think of it as me just talking about a book I happened to like.

Girl in Translation is a coming of age story about a girl named Kim, or Ah-Kim according to her Chinese culture. After her father dies, she comes to America with her mother from China, by way of her aunt. Instead of really helping Kim and her mother like she should, the aunt puts Kim and her mother in a run-down apartment plagued with rodents and insects and gives them a job in her husband's factory. The factory turns out to be a sweatshop.

Throughout this novel, Kim and her mother fight to make their way out of the slums of Brooklyn, escape the sweatshop and release themselves from under the jealous and watchful eye of Kim's aunt. Kim's only hope to get herself and her mother out of their situation is to excel in academics.

Kim's story really moved me because I know what it's like to come to the U.S. and have nothing but a dream, then build yourself up. That's the story of my family, only we had a loving uncle to look out for us and so I think we weren't as unlucky as Kim and her mother were.

Kwok has done such an excellent job with the characters of this novel, especially Kim. I was heavily invested in her, so much so that I was thinking about what was going to happen to her next when I wasn't reading the novel. There are very few authors that can make me do that. Girl in Translation is my second complete book of the year and I'm so glad that I chose to read it.

Friday Fives- Favorite Writing Places

2012-01-13T06:38:00.000-08:00

Song of the Day: Friday by J.J. Cale
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tdzlop4p0vc

Hello all! TGIF! Anyone have any big plans? Even better, anyone have any writing plans? I'm going to do some editing this weekend and also finish reading the novel, Girl in Translation. I'm really trying to stay on top of my reading. I think I may also try and submit a story somewhere. I haven't done Friday Fives in a while, so today I just had to participate. This week the blog Paperhangover asks:

What are your FIVE favorite writing places?

1. My Couch

This is my favorite spot. Why? Because I like to be comfortable when I write. There is much debate as to whether this is good or bad, but the truth is that most of my writing gets done here. In fact, I'm writing this blog post from my couch. If it works, I don't think it's such a bad thing.

2. My Desk

My apartment no longer has a dining space because I turned it into an office space. I have my desk against the wall and my book shelves along the side. I absolutely love sitting at my desk and going to work on a story or a novel. However, I sit there mostly on the weekends and my days off because I'm usually too tired from work. I much prefer the couch after a work day!

3. My Bed

Yes, I write in bed. Like the couch, it's comfortable. What other reason do you need?

4. Panera

I'm not a huge fan of actually going to a cafe or coffee shop to write (I prefer my house) but when I do, I like to go to Panera. I've done a lot of writing at Panera and they have a really good breakfast souffle!

5. My Car

A little unconventional, but let me explain. I'm usually thirty minutes early to work, so a lot of the time I sit in my car and write before I actually start the work day. I've written huge chunks of my NanoWriMo novels in my car.

What about you? What are your favorite places to write?

Opportunities in the Great Big Literary World- January 9, 2012

2012-01-09T05:59:00.000-08:00

Song of the Day: Good Life by OneRepublic
www.youtube.com/watch?v=jZhQOvvV45w

Hello all! How was the weekend? I have to say that I had a rather productive one. I finished reading my first novel for the year, which means I'm right on schedule. I really hope I can keep it up. I also got some work done for Black Fox. The latest issue will be released on the last Monday of this month so it's crunch time! I must admit, I still need to get some work submitted. I'm ready to get the ball rolling on my short stories for 2012. Have you submitted anything yet? If not, I've got options for you, including Playboy. Yes, you read that right! Turns out you don't have to take your clothes off to get into Playboy. You can be a college student and write a really good story. Read on for the contest details.

Contests:

1. WRITERS' Journal Fiction Contest

WRITERS' Journal will host its annual fiction contest. First place will win $500, second place will win $200 and third place will win $100. Honorable mentions will also be announced. Publication in future issues of WRITERS' Journal will be given to winners and selected honorable mentions. Entry fee is $15 and the contest closes on January 30, 2012.

http://www.writersjournal.com/FictionContest.htm

Playboy College Fiction Contest

The contest is open to college students of any age. First prize is $3,000 and publication in the November 2012 issue. Second prize is $500 and a year subscription. Third prize is $200 and a year subscription. Entry fee is $5 and the deadline is February 15, 2012.

http://playboymagazine.submishmash.com/submit/3963/account

Calls for Submissions:

1. Cumberland River Review

Cumberland Review is currently accepting submissions of fiction, poetry, essays and arts.

http://crr.trevecca.edu/submissions/

2. Don't Look at the Sun

Don't Look at the Sun is accepting submissions for its next issue titled, Paper Plane Poems/Paper Plane Prose. The issue will feature poems, short stories, flash fiction, and any bits of misfit lit. All submissions must fit on a single sheet of paper so that they can be folded into paper planes and flown off from the rooftops in Paris.

http://www.donotlookatthesun.com/Contact-Anthony-Cuthbertson.html

3. Unswept

Unswept, a Singapore based literary magazine, is looking for poems, stories, essays, reviews or other creative texts. The current reading period will end May 1, 2012.

http://unswept.org/?page_id=20

As always, Black Fox Literary Magazine is accepting submissions of fiction, non-fiction, poetry and art. Be on the look out for issue #3 later this month! Happy Writing!

Check-In: 2012 Goals

2012-01-06T07:50:00.000-08:00

Song of the Day: Perfect Day by Hoku
www.youtube.com/watch?v=07jpCp68nQw

Hello all! We have made it to our first Friday in 2012! Wow! Time is already flying. I thought it might be a good idea for me to do a check-in post about my 2012 goals. I'm thinking I may do this at least once a month or maybe even weekly. Last year I wrote down my goals and I think I glanced at them once. If I do this check-in post regularly I think it will hold me accountable and also keep my goals at the front of my mind. It's so easy to get caught up in life and forget about them. So here's what I accomplished my first week of 2012.

1. My personal reading challenge- I'm almost done with my first book, which is called Go Ask Alice. I should finish it this weekend which will be right on schedule. I think this year I'll also keep track of how many short stories I read. While I didn't make my book reading goal for 2011, I know that I read A LOT of short stories. I've already read three this week.

2. My editing goal- I got three chapters edited and sent them off to my wonderful adopted sisters and writing buddy. They're going to tell me what they think.

3. Black Fox- Lots of good things happening for Black Fox. Looks like we'll be having additions to the staff soon! We are also gearing up for issue #3!

4. Exercise- I usually exercise on the weekends so today and tomorrow will make my minimum requirement.

5. Blogging- this post makes my second post of the week! My goal is 2-3 times a week.

Not too shabby! I hope I can keep it up! How have you been doing on your 2012 goals?

Opportunities in the Great Big Literary World- January 3, 2011

2012-01-03T11:20:00.000-08:00

Song of the Day: Beautiful People by Chris Brown feat. Benny Benassi
www.youtube.com/watch?v=e2oRqyn7ToQ

Hello all! Well, 2012 is finally here! Can you believe it? I always get excited about the new year because it's a chance to start over or improve. I read several tweets and Facebook statuses this weekend where people stated that all the "new year, new me" statements were "BS." I beg to differ. Yes, we should constantly be trying to improve ourselves, but if someone wants to acknowledge that they need a change at the end of the year, then let them have their moment. No one literally thinks that they can change over night. A "new me" simply means I'm going to work on things to change who I am. I think that confident people who know themselves sometimes have a hard time understanding that not everyone is happy with themselves. So, I say good for you if you can admit that you need to change and that you set out to create a new you in 2012!

Now that it's a new year, it's a fresh start for us writers to get our work out there. Have you sat down and planned where you'll submit your work this month? Remember, even if you can submit your work just once a month it can make a huge difference. You never know who is going to like that short story or poem. Submit your work and use the rejections as a learning experience (I sure have) rather than take them personally. Maybe people will love your work and you'll get very few rejections. You'll never know if you don't try. I have tons of opportunities today. Pick one, I dare you!

Contests:

1. Switchback's Flash Fiction Contest

A prompt is provided each month and writers are encouraged to send poetry, fiction non-fiction and art in response to the theme. Submissions should be under 500 words. The January prompt is "No, that's not funny." Deadline is 5:00 pm on January 31, 2012.

http://www.swback.com/call/

2. Ruminate Magazine

Ruminate is thrilled to announce its second annual Ruminate Nonfiction Prize. The winning entry will receive $1,000 and publication in the spring 2012 issue. One runner-up will receive publication in the the Spring issue. Entry fee is $15 and the contest closes on February 1, 2012.

http://www.ruminatemagazine.com/submit/contests/nonfiction/

Calls for Submissions:

1. Hoot

A new literary magazine publishing prose and poetry on a postcard. Send your best fiction, non-fiction, memoir, poetry, and book reviews. Graphic fiction and non-fiction are accepted also, as long as they fit on a postcard. Submissions are $2 but they do offer payment for published pieces.

http://www.hootreview.com/submissions/

2. Magic Lantern Review

An online publication seeking poetry, critical cinema analysis and short digital films.

http://www.magiclanternreview.com/Submissions.html

3. NAP

Currently accepting short fiction and short poetry.

http://nap.submishmash.com/submit

4. Rufous Salon

Rufous Press is looking for submissions of poetry, short stories and flash fiction from American and Swedish writers for an anthology of contemporary writers. The deadline is January 30, 2012.

http://www.rufoussalon.net/#!rufous-press

5. Versal

Versal is currently accepting submissions of poetry, prose and art that is urgent, involved and unexpected. Deadline for the current submission period is January 15, 2012.

http://www.wordsinhere.com/guidelines.html

As always, Black Fox Literary Magazine is accepting fiction, non-fiction and poetry. We are also looking for regular bloggers and book reviewers. If interested, email racquel@blackfoxlitmag.com. Issue #3 will be out this month! Happy Writing!

Let's Get it Started- 2012 Goals!

2011-12-29T07:33:00.000-08:00

Song of the Day: Let's Get it Started by The Black Eyed Peas
www.youtube.com/watch?v=IKqV7DB8Iwg

Hello all! Yesterday I shared how I matched up with my 2011 goals. If you're curious, you can find that post here. Today, I'm sharing what my new goals are for 2012. Some of my goals are the same and some of them are modified. Not that I believe in lowering the bar, but I do think some of my goals needed to be more realistic. So here's what I plan to accomplish in 2012.

1. Read 50 books.

For 2011, I said I wanted to read 75 books. That probably wasn't realistic considering I was trying to finish up my MFA. I figure a book a week is reasonable right? And I still have an extra two weeks of leeway.

2. Finish editing my NanoWriMo novel and begin querying agents.

I had this goal last year. I'll be working on a different novel, however. I actually really like this one. In fact, I can't wait to start editing it. I gave myself a month away from it. I hope that's enough time because I'm dying to start working on it.

3. Blog at least twice a week.

Last time I said three times a week, but I think two is a good number. If I happen to do more posts, great. I think it's safe to say I can manage two a week. I would also like to work on the content. I'd like to do more posts on the actual craft/process of writing.

4. More growth for Black Fox Literary Magazine

I think this will always be on my list. I am always looking for ways to develop the magazine and have it progress. Pam, Quita and I have big plans for Black Fox. We're hoping some of those will be accomplished in 2012.

5. Add to my emergency fund.

Now that I actually have an emergency fund, I'd like to continue saving money.

6. Write at least 3 times a week.

I was supposed to write everyday in 2011. That didn't happen. I think writing a couple of times a week is a more realistic goal for me.

7. Make church and God a priority.

Another one that will always be on my list.

8. Publish at least 3 more "things"

I would like some more publishing credit so my goal is to get more of my work in front of readers. I want this to apply to fiction and non-fiction. I've written some articles in the past, so I wouldn't mind writing some more "non-fiction type" pieces for publication.

9. Exercise 2-3 times a week

Again, this one will always be on my list. My hope is that I will get better at staying consistent. I did make some progress this past year, so let's hope for more in 2012.

10. Start a PhD program?

I have a question mark next to this zone because things are so up in he air. I have to get accepted first. The school I really want to go to is low residency and across seas. At some point over the next few days I'm going to be sitting down and thinking about this step.

What about you? Have you thought about any goals for 2012? Care to share?

2011 Wrap-up...How Did I Do?

2011-12-28T08:15:00.000-08:00

Song of the Day: 2012 (It Ain't the End) by Jay Sean ft. Nicki Minaj
www.youtube.com/watch?v=4uFalk1y38I

Well folks, 2012 is right around the corner! It's a cliche to say this, but where did the year go? If I didn't learn anything else during 2011, I learned that time really is precious. I've also learned that I don't have enough of it. There are so many goals I have for the future. I wake up everyday excited to get started on them or continue working towards them. After looking at my goals for 2011 I have realized that I have A LOT of work to do. I'm listing the goals I had for this year and where I stand.

1. Read 75 books.

I'm not even at 20! I am trying to get to 20 by the end of the year. The bright side is that I read about 12 books in 2010. I'm already at 3 more than that. I guess that's progress. Right? Right?

2. Finish editing my NanoWriMo novel and begin querying agents.

Hmmm. Well I edited the first half. Does that count? The truth is that I edited the first half for my MFA thesis and I never stepped away from it. I needed some time away from the novel because I was getting frustrated with it. I won't be making that mistake again.

3. Blog at least 3 times a week.

Hmmm again. I didn't do that. But I did blog once a week most weeks. I had more posts than I did in 2010. In 2010 I had a huge gap. Months went by without blogging. At least that didn't happen this time.

4. Establish more of a following for Black Fox.

I think we did that! Submissions are up and we have 801 followers on Twitter! Now, if we could just get the print sales up...

5. Create an emergency fund.

I achieved this goal too. It's not as much as I had hoped it would be, but I have a little something for a rainy day. Hopefully, I can continue this.

6. Exercise at least 2-3 times a week.

I didn't quite do this, but this year has been my most consistent ever. Like blogging, I exercised at least once a week most weeks. I didn't let months go by without exercise like I've done in the past.

7. Write everyday even if it's ten words.

This definitely did not happen. I did pump out more short stories and flash fiction, though. And I won National Novel Writing Month. Still, I think I can do better.

8. Make church and God a priority.

I slipped here. All I can say is that I NEED to work on this one.

9. Work on my non-fiction idea.

Didn't happen at all. I think I thought about it once. I'm debating on whether or not I want to work on this next year. I still want to execute the idea but I may not have time next year.

10. Publish something, anything.

I fulfilled this one! I published my flash story "The Truth About Lipstick" in the August issue of The Scarlet Sound.

11. Graduate with my MFA

Completed this one!

12. Accepted to a PhD program

Okay, so I'm not really sure where I am on this one. I won't be applying until next year. So, we shall see.

The year has been filled with highs and lows. I think I will be adding and reforming a lot of these goals for my 2012 list. I'll post my 2012 goals tomorrow. How did you do on your 2011 goals? Did you fulfill any major goals?

Opportunities in the Great Big Literary World- December 27, 2011

2011-12-27T09:21:00.000-08:00

Song of the Day: Merry Christmas Darling by The Glee Cast
www.youtube.com/watch?v=tH7oQCEEWos

Hello all! How was everyone's Christmas? I had one of the best Christmases I've ever had. I got all that I wanted and I'm not talking about just the gifts. I also ate A LOT! I don't think I've ever eaten that much food...EVER! My family is Trinidadian and there was a lot of them that came from out of town so the house was well stocked. Not to mention my mother and aunt love to bake! I will be in serious gym mode this week.

Today is the last set of opportunities for 2011! I'm excited for 2012, are you? It would be a good idea to get some submissions in before the new year is here but I know how busy the holidays can be. Maybe you could find some time and plan your submissions for January? It's a new year and a wonderful opportunity to start getting your work out there. Submit, submit, submit!

Calls for Submissions:

1. Luna Station Quarterly

Currently open to submissions of speculative fiction stories written by women. Stories can be 500-5,000 words in length. Deadline for publication on March 1, 2012 is February 15, 2012.

http://lunastationquarterly.com/submissions

2. Spinetingler Magazine

Accepting crime, mystery, thriller, suspense and horror stories. Stories should be 1,500-5,000 words long. Contributors are paid $25 for each story published. Writers may submit stories under 1,500 words but there is no payment for stories that short.

http://www.spinetinglermag.com/submission-guidelines/

3. The Masters Review

A yearly journal looking for fiction and narrative non-fiction by students enrolled in a graduate-level creative writing program. Anything from mainstream to avant-garde is acceptable. The deadline for inclusion in this year's issue is December 31, 2011.

http://www.masters-review.com/submissions

4. Cobalt Review

Cobalt Review is seeking submissions of fiction, non-fiction and poetry.

http://www.cobaltreview.com/submit/

5. Rain Magazine

Now accepting prose, poetry, photography and artwork. Submissions should be no more than 5,000 words.

http://www.clatsopcc.edu/community/publications/rain-magazine

6. Washington Square Review

NYU's literary magazine is looking for your best fiction or poetry. Deadline for the current submission period is February 1, 2012.

http://washingtonsquarereview.com/submit/

7. Barrelhouse

Seeking fiction, non-fiction and poetry.

http://www.barrelhousemag.com/?page_id=8

8. Solid Objects

A literary magazine looking for fiction, non-fiction, drama and poetry.

http://solidobjects.org/contact.html

As always, Black Fox is accepting fiction, poetry, non-fiction and art. The last day to submit for the Winter Issue is December 31, 2011! We are also looking for a few good bloggers to become regular contributors. We are looking for bloggers to contribute as little as once a month or as much as once a week. Email racquel@blackfoxlitmag.com. Our fiction contest is also open until December 31, 2011. Happy Writing!

Opportunities in the Great Big Literary World- December 19, 2011

2011-12-19T04:16:00.000-08:00

Song of the Day: Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree by Hanson
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xXp2P-bQZdA

Hello all! Who's ready for Christmas? I'm in the holiday spirit, though I haven't finished my Christmas shopping. Yikes! How was the weekend? Mine was interesting. My office's holiday dinner was on Saturday so I got all dolled up and they took us to a really swanky restaurant. It was a lot of fun. I also got a lot of reading done. While I read a lot of Judy Blume books as a kid, I never read Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret. I finally got a chance to read it this weekend. It was so funny and a pleasure to read. Judy Blume has a gift for capturing the adolescent voice. It was so innocent, which is why I don't understand the reasoning for placing it on the banned books list. I was also able to get some Christmas shopping done, though I have a ways to go!

The year is wrapping up folks! Tell me, have you submitted any of your work recently? There's still time! You never know when you'll get an acceptance. Some markets respond within days, so you could get an acceptance for publication before the year is over. Then there's always January. Wouldn't it be nice if you got an acceptance and could start off the year with a bang? Take a look at what I've found this week.

Contests:

1. Escape into Life

Escape into Life is pleased to announce its first annual fiction contest judged by Pulitzer Prize-winning author, Robert Olen Butler. The first place winner will receive $250, the second place winner will receive $100 and the remaining finalists will receive $50 each. Entry fee is $5 and the contest closes on December 31, 2011.

http://www.escapeintolife.com/fiction/eil-announces-first-annual-fiction-contest/

Calls for Submissions:

1. Nanoism

A twitterzine accepting submissions of fiction that are written in 140 characters or less. They accept all genres, but they are partial to literary fiction.

http://nanoism.net/submit/

2. Horizon Review

Horizon is currently accepting submissions of poetry, stories, essays, articles, memoir, multimedia pieces, art reviews, photo essays and other items of cultural interest. The submission period runs from December 15 - February 15.

http://www.saltpublishing.com/horizon/submissions.htm

3. ILK Journal

Ilk is currently accepting submissions of poetry.

http://ilkjournal.tumblr.com/ilksubmissions

4. Granny Smith Magazine

Seeking submissions of fiction, poetry and art that embody the feminine spirit ( submissions do not have to be written by a woman, however.)

http://www.grannysmithmagazine.com/submissions.html

5. 971 Menu

An online magazine looking for fiction and non-fiction. They are partial to stories under 1000 words, but they do publish longer pieces.

http://www.971menu.com/submit.html

As always, Black Fox Literary Magazine is accepting submissions of fiction, poetry, non-fiction and art. We are also in need of a few good blog contributors. If you're interested in being a contributor for the Black Fox blog, email Racquel@blackfoxlitmag.com. Happy Writing!

Opportunities in the Great Big Literary World- December 12, 2011

2011-12-12T06:49:00.000-08:00

Song of the Day: Invincible by Pat Benatar
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y8lJYN3FfC0

Hello all! Opportunities are finally back today! It's almost the end of the year. Have you thought about submitting your work to a couple of places before the year is over? Now is the time to do it if you haven't done it at all this year. I must admit, I haven't submitted lately. With National Novel Writing Month being last month, I haven't had the time to even think about submitting work, let alone polishing up any short stories. I've decided to devote this week to looking over old short stories, editing them and deciding where I want to submit. It's part of one of my "wrap-up to 2011" writing goals. Here are some places you might consider submitting your work.

Contests:

1. The 34th Nimrod Literary Awards

Nimrod International Journal presents the The Katherine Anne Porter Prize for Fiction and The Pablo Neruda Prize for Poetry. First place wins $2,000 and publication and second place wins $1,000 and publication. Entry fee is $20 and includes a one-year subscription. Contest runs from January 1, 2012- April 30, 2012.

http://www.utulsa.edu/nimrod/awards.html

Calls for Submissions:

1. NAP

NAP magazine is currently accepting submissions of poetry and fiction.

http://nap.submishmash.com/submit

2. Helix Magazine

Helix, the literary magazine of the University of Connecticut is seeking art, poetry, fiction, non-fiction, and plays for the Spring 2012 edition.

http://helixmagazine.org/?page_id=181

3. Heavy Feather Review

Open to submissions of fiction, poetry, and creative non-fiction for the inaugural issue. Submit by December 15, 2011 for consideration in the first issue.

http://www.heavyfeatherreview.com/submit/

4. Flash Fiction Online

Accepting flash fiction between 500 and 1,000 words, any genre.

http://www.flashfictiononline.com/submit.html

5. Vestal Review

Vestal Review is looking for stories of 25 words or less about pets for a new anthology called, What I Learned from My Pet.

http://vestalreview.submishmash.com/submit

As always, Black Fox Literary Magazine is accepting submissions of fiction, non-fiction, poetry and art. The deadline for issue #3 is December 31, 2011. We are in great need of non-fiction folks! We are also looking for a few good blog contributors. We need regular contributors who can commit to writing one blog post a week, every other week or once a month. Email racquel@blackfoxlitmag.com if interested. Happy Writing!

The Trouble with National Novel Writing Month

2011-12-05T06:19:00.000-08:00

Song of the Day: I Feel Good by James Brown
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SzlpTRNIAvc

Hello all! I'm ditching the opportunities today to talk about my November experience. I know I've been a complete ghost around the blogosphere, but I'm back. To be honest, something had to give. For those of you who don't know, I participated in National Novel Writing Month (NanoWriMo). In order to keep up and make my word count, I had to give up a few things. November is a very busy month for me. There's Thanksgiving, my birthday, my mother's birthday, the anniversary of how long I've been in my sorority, Black Friday, the list goes on! Plus, there is a lot of drama at my office so I found myself working more to help out. I didn't think it was possible, but I found myself (yet again) learning from NanoWriMo. Here's what I learned this time.

1. Choose Your Novel Topic/Story Carefully

I had the idea that I would write a story about human trafficking. It was the most depressing thing I have ever had to write. I fell behind in my word count because I was avoiding it. To have to look at it everyday, was putting me in sad moods. And then there was the research. I read voraciously and watched videos and movies, which would often result in me crying (and trust me, I'm not a crier.) I've always liked writing darker fiction, but I think a book of this magnitude needs to be written with enough time so that breaks can be taken.

2. If You Must Research...

Do ALL of it BEFORE November! I guess I didn't really think about how much research was going to have to go into a book like this. I found myself trying to balance my time between researching and writing. It would have probably been easier if I had gathered all my information before, and then I would have been free to just write.

3. Whatever you do, DON'T Fall Behind on Your Word Count

It's really just too hard to catch up! On the last Sunday I had to write 7,000 words in one day. The Sunday before that I did over 5,000. While it is possible to do this, it's more stressful, at least for me. It's much easier to have to crank out 1,667 words than 7,000 in a day. TRUST me when I say this. Drag yourself to your computer everyday and get that word count in.

This was only my second time doing NanoWriMo and it was a very different experience from last year. It was tougher this time around for me. I thought last year was bad when I fell behind (somewhere around 3,000 words I think) but this year with all the circumstances, I fell behind a little over 13,000 words! It is insane trying to come back after that. I've seen writers write over 100,000 words for the month but that's just not something that's for me. Still, despite my rough patches, I made it through and it makes the victory that much sweeter. I learn something about myself as a writer and writing in general every time I do NanoWriMo. It's safe to say I can't wait for next year!

Did you participate in NanoWriMo? Did you have any rough patches?

Opportunities in the Great Big Literary World- November 7, 2011

2011-11-07T06:34:00.000-08:00

Song of the Day: The Glow by Willie Hutch
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PmHgpBsTtBA

Hello all! How was the weekend? I had a pretty productive one. I spent most of the weekend helping my sister with her wedding invitation company. On Saturday we helped to assemble centerpieces for a wedding and Sunday she created elaborate signs for all the vendors at the Disney Bridal Stroll. I managed to squeeze in some writing time. Yesterday, I wrote 2500 words, but I'm still 3,000 behind on my NanoWriMo novel. Yikes! I don't work on Mondays so I'll be spending the day trying to play catch up. I know that this month will be harder for writers participating in National Novel Writing Month to submit their work, but I urge you to try and squeeze it in if you can. Why not try submitting something shorter like a Haiku or a short short story? Those don't take too much time to compose and you'll be keeping up with submissions. Maybe you have a story ready to go that's been sitting around and collecting dust? Submit it!

Calls for Submissions:

1. Crack the Spine Literary Magazine

A new literary magazine seeking flash fiction, micro-fiction, poetry, short stories, personal essays, book reviews, art and photography for their first issue.

http://crackspine.blogspot.com/p/submissions_03.html

2. Dark River Magazine

Dark River is looking for horror related writing. "Intelligent, thought-provoking horror is favored over shock." They accept short stories, novellas, poetry, art, photography, non-fiction articles, academic novels, serial novels, graphic short stories/serials, short films/serials.

http://www.darkriverpress.com/submissions.html

3. Inkspill Magazine

Inkspill is acceptnig submissions of fiction, poetry and art until November 30, 2011.

http://www.inkspillmagazine.com/submissions/

4. The Applicant

The Applicant is currently reading for their fourth issue. The theme is death. Submit your best fiction or poetry.

http://www.theapplicant.org/site/submissions/

5. Dead Ink

Dead Ink publishes full length manuscripts, proposals, 3 – 6 poems, journalism between 500 & 1000 words and stories up to 3000 words.

http://deadinkbooks.com/submissions

As always, Black Fox Literary Magazine is accepting fiction, poetry, non-fiction and art. We're reading for issue #3! We're also looking for guest bloggers and regular blog contributors. If interested, send an email to racquel@blackfoxlitmag.com. Happy Writing!

Black Fox Literary Magazine- Issue #2- Fall 2011

2011-11-04T07:42:00.000-07:00

Song of the Day: Dancing Machine by The Jackson 5
www.youtube.com/watch?v=lD2OsUcgb00

Hello all! I was supposed to blog on Monday about Black Fox and well, I ended up running out of time. You wouldn't believe how complicated it is to get the files to upload correctly. That ended up taking me the whole day. Was I frustrated? YES! Was it worth it? YES! Issue #2 is finally here! Pam, Quita and I are extremely proud if this issue! The selection process was more complicated than it was for issue one. We didn't mind however, because we love reading the work of other writers. We're thankful and honored that so many writers would like to be a part of our magazine. You can read the free version on our site here. Or you can buy a print copy here. Fair warning, we had to increase the price because Lulu increased the cost of production. We don't actually make much per issue, but any support would be greatly appreciated!

Issue #2 Features work by: Barbara Neu (Cover Artist), Valentina Cano, Adam Cogbill, Tess Dewhurst, Marit Ericson, Patrick Gabbard, William Garland, Roberta Guthrie Kowald, Pamela Jessen, Vineet Kaul, Ash Krafton, Michael Lee Johnson, Misti Rainwater-Lites, Caryl Sills and Jennifer Yu. Special Interviews with Contributors Roberta Guthrie Kowald and William Garland. Author Interview with KM Walton.

Check it out and let us know what you think! We love feedback. Happy Reading!

Why I Write

2011-10-28T08:02:00.000-07:00

Song of the Day: Mr. Writer by Stereophonics
www.youtube.com/watch?v=nryFY4X5v7s

Hello all! Who is excited about the weekend? *Raises hand* I'm hoping for another productive one. I have to work on issue #2 for Black Fox, do some more research for my NanoWriMo novel and I really want to get some reading in. I'm crossing my fingers that I get all of that done. Do you have any plans?

I know I'm really late, but last week everyone was participating in the "Why I write" campaign. I was really busy and didn't get a chance to say why I write, so I thought I'd do a post on that. It's just that important to me.

Why I write...

I have been writing since I could hold a pen and form words on a page. When I was in the first grade, I often stayed at my uncle's house when my parents were working. I would sit at his dining room table and write stories on construction paper, complete with illustrations. When I finished the story, I would tie the pieces of construction paper together with yarn. At this point in my life I didn't really know that I wanted to be a writer.

When I got to the fifth grade, I was still writing stories. Writing had become second nature for me. English became my favorite subject and I enjoyed our weekly vocabulary words. My teacher told my mother that I "had a way with words." After hearing that, I told myself that I should be a writer. When the scholastic book fair came to our school, I got my mother to buy me the book, How I Came to be a Writer by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor. I still have the copy as you can see in my picture above. I read it, and I knew right away that I wanted to be a writer.

Throughout the remainder of my academic career I continued to do well in English and my teachers continued to praise my work, until I got to the eleventh grade. I began taking AP classes and my teacher was one of the toughest teachers at my school. She would return my papers with red ink bleeding over every single page. She pretty much broke me. By the end of that class, I believed that I couldn't make it as a writer after all.

Then I got to college. I wore glasses and my mother had a friend who was studying pre-optometry and she suggested that I do the same. She said it was a really straightforward major. I thought that studying the human eye was something that might be interesting and I would be able to help people. When I had my first meeting with an advisor, I declared pre-optometry as my major. The problem was that it wasn't so straightforward. I had to take all theses prerequisite classes including chemistry, pre-calculus and algebra. I was struggling in those classes but excelling in my English classes.

Then in English class one day my professor began to hand back the essays that were assigned. She didn't give me mine back and asked that I stay after class. I was terrified. I thought she was going to tell me that I needed to start off in a lower level of college English. What she said instead, was that she thought my paper was the best in the class. She told me that she was really impressed and that she had never seen such a well written college paper from a freshman. She then asked me what my major was and I told her pre-optometry. She asked "why?" with a look of disgust on her face. I explained to her why I chose the major, but as I was talking, suddenly none of my explanation made sense. It all sounded absurd. She told me that she didn't want to confuse me, but she thought that I should consider changing my major. She said that I have a gift and I belonged in the writing field. I changed my major the next semester.

What was interesting was that in order to write that essay, I used a formula from that same tough teacher in the eleventh grade. This whole time Ms. Nichols was only being hard on me because she wanted me to be the best. After that "aha!" moment as Oprah would call it, I never looked back. I was tired of fighting with myself. I was a writer and that was it. I still am. And it's still the ONLY thing that I really want to do. It is the one thing that makes me happy. It's the one thing that I can see myself doing for the rest of my life. And it's the one thing that if I couldn't do, I may as well fall off the face of the earth. It takes work, but a lot of the time it's not really work for me. I love it and if I never make a dime off of it, I'd still do it.

This is a long post, but if you took the time to read it, please know that I appreciate you. Why do you write?

Preparing for NanoWriMo- Advice for the Newbies

2011-10-27T08:13:00.000-07:00

Song of the Day: Dare You to Move by Switchfoot
www.youtube.com/watch?v=iOTcr9wKC-o

Hello all! We're almost done with the week, which means we're that much closer to the weekend! You know what else it means? We're that much closer to National Novel Writing Month a.k.a NanoWriMo. I couldn't be happier. There is just something about the Nano campaign that makes me get my butt in the chair. I'm also really excited about my novel.

I did NanoWriMo for the first time last year and it taught me a lot about myself as a writer. It also gave me the courage to FINALLY stop making excuses and write my first novel. I did a post on what I learned, which you can find here. I also learned a lot about what I should be doing to prepare. I wrote a post about that too. It's called Gearing Up for National Novel Writing Month. Having actually gone through the experience, I also learned a couple of things along the way that I should have done, but didn't. I thought I'd give some advice on that today and also recap a little on how to prepare.

With that being said, here is what I know to be true about NanoWriMo:

1. You'll need Coffee

I wasn't a coffee drinker before NanoWriMo but last November, I became one. Trust me, you will need that cup in the morning to either perk your eyes up, or you'll need it at night to keep your eyes open while you're trying to meet your word count for the day.

2. You'll need a Dropbox Account

Picture this: you're pounding away at the keyboard. You're somewhere at the 20,000 word mark and your laptop falls out of your lap and hits the floor--with your jump drive. Gasp! That happened to me. Luckily, I had emailed the majority of my novel to myself, so I only lost about 2,000 words. Still, if you know the word count requirement for the day, (1667) then you know that a loss of 2,000 words sets you back a couple days. I pouted and I didn't write for three days. Had I had a Dropbox account, I would have had my novel backed up. My suggestion is to back your novel up in as many places as possible, DAILY. I mean email it, put it in Dropbox, put it on a flash drive, put it on an external hard drive, save it to your computer, get my point?

3. Outline...or Don't Outline

Last year I outlined the first eight chapters of my novel. By about chapter two, I was going in another direction. That is how I discovered that I'm indeed a panster. I like to let the story form on its own. My characters do the talking for me. They often have very different ideas than I do. This is what works for me. If you're more of a plotter, then you definitely want to take some time to sit down and outline before NanoWriMo starts. If you're like me and you're a panster, I would still suggest having a loose outline. Just a few ideas jotted down about where you intend for the story to go. That way, if you get writer's block, (and there's a 90% chance you will) you can refer to your list of ideas.

4. Resist the Urge to Edit

The whole point of NanoWriMo is to just write. I had a lot of trouble even writing my novel because I was always so critical. I would stop and edit, then get frustrated and stop writing altogether. Relax. When you get the urge to edit, remember that you're just getting the words on the page. I like to repeat to myself: "You can go back and fix that later."

5. Map Out Your Day

It is crucial that you plan to write everyday. If you fall behind, it is VERY possible to catch up, but it's also a lot harder. I like to think of everything I have to do for the day and decide when I can sneak in writing time. Last year, I wrote in the car before work, I wrote on my lunch hour and even got a few words in between work hours. Figure out the little gaps of time you have and use them to your advantage. I get to work early and usually have about thirty minutes to spare. That would allow me to write anywhere from 400-700 words. That's a good chunk of your daily goal. If you notice that there will be a day where you'll be too busy to write, try and write extra words on other days. Just make sure you plan.

6. Get a Support System

If you don't know any writers, it's really easy to make writer friends from NanoWriMo. I made a ton on twitter alone using the hashtag #NanoWriMo. Having NanoWriMo friends is important because these are the people who will cheer you on, they'll understand if you're behind on your word count or if you're struggling with your characters, they'll also encourage you to keep going. I couldn't have done it without my NanoWriMo buddies.

If you want to look me up on the Nano site, my name is Clasica106. I'm really excited about National Novel Writing Month this year. I can't wait to get started on my novel. I'll see you folks in the trenches! Good luck writers!

Opportunities in the Great Big Literary World- October 24, 2011

2011-10-24T10:03:00.000-07:00

Song of the Day: Never Surrender by Cory Hart
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ocnrPLKbkD0

Hello all! How was the weekend? I had a great time celebrating my father's birthday! We got him an Android phone and he loved it! The look on his face was priceless. Nothing made me happier than seeing his reaction. I also had a chance to work on Black Fox, edit for my sorority newsletter, and start researching for my National Novel Writing Month Novel. It was a really productive weekend, which I haven't had in a long time. How has everyone been doing with submissions? Remember, it's better to submit at least one thing to one place, instead of nothing at all. October is almost over, so if you haven't submitted anything this month, consider choosing from my list today!

Calls for Submissions:

1. Noir Nation

Noir Nation is currently reading for issue #2. They're looking for Crime stories in the noir tradition as well as essays and graphic novels. Deadline to be considered for issue #2 is December 22, 2011.

http://noirnation.com/?page_id=35

2. Literary Laundry

Literary Laundry accepts fiction, poetry and one-act dramas. They also publish novellas and chapbooks.

http://www.literarylaundry.com/submissions

3. The Tavern's Vault

The Tavern's Vault is an online fantasy magazine seeking 1000-6000 word fantasy/medieval fiction. They're also seeking non-fiction, reviews, and art related to the fantasy/medieval genre.

http://tavernsvault.com/Submissions.html

4. Nontrue

Nontrue is looking for stories that come in a variety of shapes and sizes. They publish one story a week. Submit your poetry, fiction or non-fiction.

http://nontrue.submishmash.com/submit

5. Two Thirds North

Two Thirds North seeks poetry, fiction, memoirs, essays, and photography. Reading period ends November 15, 2011.

http://www.twothirdsnorth.com/submissions/

As always Black Fox Literary Magazine is accepting fiction, non-fiction, poetry and art. We're also looking for guest blog posts and guest bloggers. Email racquel@blackfoxlitmag.com if interested. Our second issue will be out a week from today! There won't be any opportunities next Monday, as I'll be posting about Black Fox. Happy Writing!

End of the Week Check-In and Black Fox Literary Magazine

2011-10-21T06:20:00.000-07:00

Song of the Day: Weekend by The Black Eyed Peas feat Esthero
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cnYiQ2FVG8I

Hello all! Well, we've made it through another week! Before you know it, October will be over. By that time we'll be in full National Novel Writing Month mode (at least I will.) This post will be very short today because I'll soon be on my way to my hometown to celebrate my dad's birthday! He's such an inspiration and he's a really big part of my life, which is why he deserves my undivided attention today.

I wanted to let you all know about a post my sisters Pam and Quita wrote about Black Fox. We are on the verge of releasing issue #2 and we couldn't be more excited. If you read issue #1, then you're really going to LOVE issue #2. We're going to be including some very talented writers. I hope you all will check it out! Also, read the post Pam and Quita wrote. We're looking for a couple of things and we'd love it if you gave feedback or expressed interest.

Have a great weekend everyone! Write a lot.

Opportunities in the Great Big Literary World- October 17, 2011

2011-10-17T06:44:00.000-07:00

Song of the Day: I Believe I can Fly by R. Kelly
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=16FdJrrAWSo

Hello all! How was the weekend? I am happy to report that I'm finally feeling better. Still have a few very faint symptoms, but the aches, pain, and the urge to stay on the couch is gone! Now I have to play catch up. Just wanted to let everyone know that Black Fox has a new website! Check it out and let me know what you think. We're still tweaking it, but Pam, Quita and I are very excited. Hope everyone is finding a little time to submit their work. Hopefully, you can find something on my list.

Contests:

1. Narrative Magazine's 30 and Below Story Contest

Narrative is calling on writers, visual artists, photographers, performers, and filmmakers, between eighteen and thirty years old, to tell them a story. First Prize is $1,500, Second Prize is $750, Third Prize is $300, and ten finalists will receive $100 each. Submissions are accepted in the following media: Written (fiction, non-fiction, including short stories, novel excerpts, essays, memoirs, and excerpts from book-length nonfiction), Drawn (graphic novels and comics), Photographed, Spoken, Filmed. The entry fee is $20 and the contest ends on October 29, 2011.

http://www.narrativemagazine.com/node/148406

2. Quarter After Eight- Robert J. Demott Short Prose Contest

Submit your prose poem, short short fiction, or essay in brief. Submissions should be 500 words or less. Reading fee is $15 for every three pieces submitted. A complimentary one-year subscription to the journal is included with the submission fee. One winner will receive a prize of $1,000 and publication. Deadline is December 1, 2011.

http://www.quarteraftereight.org/submissions.htm

Calls for Submissions:

1. Weave Magazine

Weave is currently seeking fiction (including flash fiction), non-fiction, poetry, drama, reviews, and artwork.

http://weavemagazine.submishmash.com/submit

2. Split

Split is seeking stories, photos, art, poetry for their winter issue. The theme is: Spare. Deadline is December 1, 2011.

http://splitquarterly.com/submissions/

3. Marathon Literary Review

Submit your fiction, poetry, art, photography and multimedia pieces. The reading period for the winter issue ends November 30, 2011.

http://www.arcadia.edu/Marathon-Literary-Review/

As Always, Black Fox Literary Magazine is always accepting fiction, non-fiction, poetry and art. We're also looking for contributing bloggers, and guest posts. If interested email racquel@blackfoxlitmag.com. Be on the watch for Issue #2, out October 31, 2011! Happy Writing!

Friday Fives- Favorite Childhood Books + Winners of my Giveaway!

2011-10-14T08:54:00.000-07:00

Song of the Day: Tik Tok by Kesha
www.youtube.com/watch?v=iP6XpLQM2Cs

Hello all! How did everyone brave the week? I have been miserable for most of it due to this cold that turned into the flu. I'm getting better, but I'm still not 100%. I'm really hoping it goes away within the next few days as I need to start preparing for National Novel Writing Month, not to mention the release of Black Fox's issue #2! I'll try the "getting my life together thing" again this weekend. But that's only if I can get rid of this bug.

It's Friday so it's time for Friday Fives! The blog Paper Hangover asks:

What are your FIVE favorite childhood books?

1. Miss Nelson is Missing

2. Corduroy

3. Amelia Bedelia- All of Them!

4. Berenstein Bears- All of Them!

5. Where the Wild Things Are

Also, I'm announcing the winners of my Banned Books Giveaway! Yes, it's time to party! I'll be contacting you by email soon. I did this the old school way. I selected names out of a hat! And the WINNERS are:

1. Sophia Chang

2. Jennifer Hillier

3. Sarah Allen

Congrats! Have a great weekend everyone!

Opportunities in the Great Big Literary World- October 10, 2011

2011-10-10T07:06:00.000-07:00

Song of the Day: Reach by Gloria Estefan
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RMs83vY2d34

Hello all! How was the weekend? Shamefully, I have to admit that I didn't get all the things on my to-do list done. After I came home from community service, the cold that I have had for over two weeks, caught up with me. I stayed in bed for the rest of the weekend. I hate when things happen that are beyond my control. I had so much to do, I still have so much to do. I'm trying to play catch up today before I head into work tomorrow.

Don't forget about my Banned Books Giveaway. Last day to enter is this Wednesday October 13, 2011!

We started a new month, have any of you taken the time to sit down and plan out where you'll submit your work? I hope you're still keeping up! Here are a few options to choose from.

Contests:

1. Glimmer Train Family Matters Contest

Glimmer Train Stories is looking for stories about family. Stories are usually 1,500-6,000 words but can go up to 12,000 words. First place wins $1,200, publication in Glimmer Train Stories and 20 copies of the issue. Second place wins $500 and third place wins $300. Reading fee is $15 and the contest closes on October 31, 2011.

http://www.glimmertrain.com/familymatters.html

2. Gemini Magazine Poetry Contest

The contest is open to all forms of poetry. First prize wins $1,000. Second place wins $100 and third place wins $50. Three honorable mentions will also be announced. All six finalists will be published in the March 2012 issue of Gemini Magazine. Entry fee is $5 and the contest closes on January 3, 2012.

http://www.gemini-magazine.com/poetryopen.html

3. The Danahy Fiction Prize- Tampa Review

One previously unpublished work of short fiction will be given an award of $1,000 and publication in Tampa Review. All entrants will receive a one-year subscription to Tampa Review. Manuscripts should be between 500 and 5,000 words. Entry fee is $15 and the contest deadline is November 1, 2011.

http://www.ut.edu/TampaReview/TRDetail.aspx?id=12481

4. Straylight Fiction Contest

Straylight Literary Magazine is hosting their first short-fiction contest. Submissions should be between 1,000 and 5,000 words. First place wins $125, print publication, 1-year subscription, 3 copies; Second place wins $50, print publication, 1-year subscription, 3 copies; Third place wins $25, print publication, 1-year subscription, 3 copies. There is a $10 reading fee and the contest closes on October 21, 2011. For more information visit the link below.

http://straylightmag.com/?page_id=1368

Calls for Submissions:

1. Steampunk Anthology

Entangled Publishing is seeking submissions for a summer 2012 steampunk anthology. Submissions should be 20,000 to 30,000 words in length, contain strong romantic elements and heavily feature steampunk technology and the alternate world it exists in. From what I can see, there is no reading fee. Submissions will remain open until December 1, 2011.

http://www.entangledinromance.com/2011/10/03/call-for-submissions-steampunk-anthology/

2. The Coffin Factory

The Coffin Factory publishes phenomenal fiction, essays and art three times a year. Send your original fiction or essays under 6,000 words.

http://thecoffinfactory.com/?page_id=8

As always, Black Fox Literary Magazine is accepting submissions of fiction, poetry and non-fiction. We are also looking for guest bloggers and regular contributors. If you're interested in blogging for us, send an email to blackfoxlit@yahoo.com. Be on the lookout for our second issue, set to be released October 31, 2011! Happy Writing!

Friday Fives- The Five Ways I Find Inspiration

2011-10-07T06:47:00.000-07:00

Song of the Day: Somewhere Over the Rainbow by Ella Fitzgerald
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I-7VprPX8kg

Hello all! I know, it's been a while. As I tweeted last night, "October is kicking my a**!" It's been a rough start to the month and I've been insanely busy. I'm thinking it may be one of those things again where I have too much on my plate. I'm hoping to take the weekend to "organize my life." My parents will be out of town, which means I won't be leaving town and I'll be at my own apartment. I'm looking forward to some quiet time so that I can get a couple things done. I'm usually much more productive by myself. What are your plans this weekend?

It's time for Friday Fives! The blog Paper Hangover asks:

What are Five ways you find writing inspiration?

1. Reading

Often, I'm inspired by reading a book. For me, an idea can spark from a single word in the dialogue or a phrase the character might use.

2. Television

Like reading, I get a lot of ideas and inspiration from TV. Seriously. A scene will trigger something in my head and then I'll usually make a note of it and come back to it later.

3. Music

Same concept as #1 and #2. Song are like short versions of a stories and they can make us feel emotions. It's no surprise that we can be inspired to write simply by listening to music. And most of my editing time is spent with my iTunes running on shuffle in the background.

4. Other Writers

Other writers, whether they are famous or not, inspire me. When I hear about writers going through the same things as me (writer's block, editing, re-writes, trouble with scenes) I'm always inspired to keep going because they keep going. When I hear about writers getting agents or getting book deals, I'm inspired. I keep going. I keep thinking that one day that will be me.

5. Life

Life inspires me. I'm truly thankful for being alive in this "advanced age." We have so much technology and information at our fingertips. Living life and all the ups and downs inspires me everyday.

The picture I used above also inspires me! I found it after I finished this blog post. Obviously, I need to stop complaining about having too much on my plate, and just eat what's there already! What inspires you to write? Have a great weekend everyone!

Friday Fives- Favorite Banned Books!

2011-09-30T06:47:00.000-07:00

Song of the Day: Parents Just Don't Understand by Will Smith
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jW3PFC86UNI

Hello all! Well, we've made it to another weekend! Amen! Any big plans? I intend to get some writing and reading done. Just a reminder, don't forget about my Banned Books Giveaway! I'm giving everyone until October 12, 2011 to enter. What are you waiting for?

It's that time again--Friday Fives! The blog Paper Hangover asks the question:

What Are Your FIVE favorite Banned Books?

1. Roll of Thunder Hear My Cry by Mildred D. Taylor

2. The Bluest Eye by Toni Morrisson

3. Crank by Ellen Hopkins

4. Push by Sapphire

5. Lord of the Flies by William Golding

Banned books shed light on real issues. These books are good because they invoke emotional response in the reader. I don't like reading books and not being "affected." Banned books tend to have an affect on me. I think that's why we love them so much. People shouldn't try to cover the truth, nor should they try to control what other people read. I've always said, if you think a book is too "racy," then it's simple: DON'T READ it. What are some of your favorite banned books?

Banned Books Week- Reflection and Giveaway

2011-09-26T06:55:00.000-07:00

Song of the Day: Can't Hold Us Down by Christina Aguilera
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dg8QgUIKXHw

Hello all! How was the weekend? I am proud to report that the writing slump is over. I actually sat down to write this weekend. I'm quite happy to say that I'm back into the swing of things. Instead of the opportunities today, I'm going to talk about Banned Books Week.

I am completely against censorship, particularly regarding books and music. I believe that people have the right to say what they want to say and everyone also has the right to not listen or to not read. Why go through such lengths to ban a book? I learned about banned books week last year, towards the end when it was pretty much over. This year I spent a little time looking over the list of banned books and I couldn't believe how many books on the list I was familiar with and even read. I'm disgusted quite frankly.

My mother was strict with what I read, but she never went to the extent that some of these parents are going. I recognized a great deal of books that I was actually required to read for school. Good books. I just recently used Push in my thesis for my MFA. I read that Roll of Thunder Hear my Cry was on the list because a woman in Seminole County Florida "objected to its depiction of Southern racism, which she considered inappropriate for kids." This one really hit close to home because I was required to read this book in the seventh grade, a year after a classmate called me the N word in the sixth grade. What that woman doesn't understand is that there are some kids enduring the things that are written in that book.

I've been trying to think of a giveaway for reaching 200 followers, so in honor of that and Banned Books Week, I'm going to giveaway three banned books from the following list:

1. Crank by Ellen Hopkins
2. Forever by Judy Blume
3. Lolita by Vladimir Nabokov
4. Lord of the Flies by William Golding
5. Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson
6. Roll of Thunder Hear My Cry by Mildred D. Taylor
7. The Awakening by Kate Chopin
8. To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee
9. The Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison
10. Push by Sapphire

There's also more of an official list and I'm willing to give away a banned book from that list as well. You can find that list here. The three winners will each receive one banned book of their choice.

All you have to do is comment on this post (include your email) and you have until Wednesday October 12, 2011. (If you're not comfortable with leaving your email, then leave a link to your blog. If you don't have a blog, email me at writer106@yahoo.com.) I'll announce the winners on Friday October 14, 2011. Also, You MUST be a follower of my blog but it doesn't matter if you're new or old. No need to tweet or blog about the contest but they are both greatly appreciated. Good Luck!

Opportunities in the Great Big Literary World- September 19, 2011

2011-09-19T09:51:00.000-07:00

Song of the Day: Money by Pink Floyd
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xl6NfQyNLto

Hello all! What was your weekend like? Mine was extremely unproductive. My sister was saying that hers was also (we were both back home) and also that sometimes, you just need weekends like that. I guess she's right because I got a chance to catch up on some much needed sleep. I didn't realize how much I needed that.

On the upside of things I had a chance to visit the old bookstore I used to work for. It's called Book Warehouse. I did a post on how to save money and I mentioned this bookstore. They don't always have the hottest titles, but you know how there's that one book you've been "meaning to buy?" There's a good chance Book Warehouse will have it. They buy the surplus books from the major chains and sell them at a MUCH lower cost. The Average price of a paperback is $3-$4 and the average price of a hardcover is $7-$8. I got eight books this weekend and most of them were popular titles that were once "hot" but the hype has now died down. The stores are always having sales and this weekend the hardcovers were 50% off. So yes, they averaged $3.50-$4! You can visit their website to find a store near you. They also recently introduced online shopping, which is not a good idea for me. Let's just say I already have a tab open with a couple books in my cart as I'm writing this blog post. Don't tell my family though!

Here are the opportunities for today. I hope you are all still submitting.

Contests:

1. NPR's 3-Minute Fiction Round 7- Arriving and Leaving

They're looking for original, short fiction that can be read in less than three minutes — so the story can't be longer than 600 words. Each round, they have a judge, usually a writer, who throws out a challenge. This time the Judge is Danielle Evans and her challenge is that your story must have someone arriving in town and someone leaving town. The deadline is September 25, 2011, 11:59 ET. Click the link below for details.

http://www.npr.org/2011/09/10/140353661/three-minute-fiction-round-7-arriving-and-leaving

2. Submissions are now open for the Pen/Faulkner Awards

To submit, send any work of fiction published in 2011 for consideration. According to the website:

The PEN/Faulkner Award, which is peer-juried and one of the nation’s foremost awards for literary fiction, honors excellence by selecting five writers whose work represents the best of American fiction published within the calendar year. The winner receives $15,000, and the other four finalists receive $5,000 each.

I didn't see a deadline but I'm assuming it would be sometime in December of 2011. For more information visit the link below.

http://www.penfaulkner.org/Submissions_Open_for_the_2012_PENFaulkner_Awards

3. Five Stop Story- September Short Story Competition

The theme of the contest is Autumn/Fall. Stories can be set in autumn/fall or else take a creative approach to the theme.Winners, runners up and honorable mentions will be published to the site and the iPhone and iPad applications. Stories should be 1500 to 2500 words and the contest is open Internationally. Deadline is September 30, 2011 and there is no entry fee. Please see the link below for official details.

http://www.fivestopstory.com/write/

Calls for Submissions:

1. JMWW

JMWW is an online quarterly magazine accepting fiction, non-fiction, poetry, art, and essays.

http://jmww.150m.com/Guidelines.html

2. Gulf Stream Magazine

Gulf Stream is a literary magazine published and supported by Florida International University. They are seeking submissions of fiction, creative non-fiction, and poetry. Submissions for fall 2011 are now open and will close on November 15, 2011.

http://w3.fiu.edu/gulfstream/news.asp

3. Cloudbank

A literary journal currently open to prose and poetry.

http://www.cloudbankbooks.com/Submissions.html

As always, you're welcome to submit to Black Fox Literary Magazine. We accept fiction, poetry, non-fiction and writing or book related articles for our blog. Also, we are in the process of redesigning our website. Soon we'll have a new design, domain name and new emails for the editors. Right now the old site is still up, but it won't be for long. To be safe, please send email inquiries to blackfoxlit@yahoo.com. Submissions are still accepted via Submishmash. Happy writing!

Opportunities in the Great Big Literary World- September 12, 2011

2011-09-12T07:09:00.000-07:00

Song of the Day: Perfect Strangers Theme- Nothin's Gonna Stop Me Now
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RNm_yzHun4A

Hello all! How was the weekend? I spent much of the weekend reading The Help by Kathryn Stockett. I made a nice dent in it and I'm hoping to finish it today! The book has been an emotional journey. I'm sure my twitter and blogger pals are tired of hearing me rave about it, but it really is a good book. There's a lot of controversy around it (which is one of the reasons I picked it up) and there will be a blog post soon.

So, how has everyone been doing with submissions? I must admit I haven't been submitting as much. I got about five rejections in the space of a month. Sigh. I'm kind of in a writing slump. I'm at that point where I'm doubting my work and I missed two deadlines for contests because of it. As I was reading The Help this weekend, I remembered how many times it was rejected before publication. Sounds cliched but it made me realize that I need to keep going. We all need to keep going. To make up for the opportunities being absent the past couple of weeks, I've listed TONS. Surely you can find somewhere to submit to. Let's go!

Contests:

1. Boston Review's Aura Estrada Short Story Contest

The winning author will receive a prize of $1500 and have their work published in the Boston Review in the summer of 2012. Stories should be 5,000 words or less. Then entry fee is $20 and the deadline is October 1, 2011. For more details visit the link below.

http://bostonreview.net/about/contest/index.php#Estrada

2. Writer's Digest 12th Annual Short Short Story Competition

Writer's Digest hosts its annual short short story contest. The prizes are as follows: First Place: $3,000 and a trip to the Writer’s Digest Conference; Second Place: $1,500; Third Place: $500 Fourth Through Tenth Place: $100; Eleventh Through Twenty-Fifth Place: $50 gift certificate for Writer’s Digest Books. Stories should be 1500 words or less. Entry fee is $20 and the contest closes on November 15, 2011. For official guidelines please visit the website below.

http://www.writersdigest.com/competitions/short-story

Calls for Submissions:

1. Matchbook Literary Magazine

An online literary magazine seeking short fiction of 1,000 words or less.

http://www.matchbooklitmag.com/guidelines.html

2. Cobalt Review

An online literary magazine seeking fiction, non-fiction and poetry.

http://www.cobaltreview.com/submit/

3. Big Wonderful Press

A small press looking for short fiction collections, full length poetry collections, poetry chapbooks, poetry/art collaborative chapbooks, literary novels, and book length creative non-fiction. They are also looking for serious literary stories written by women from the point-of-view of a male for the Voice Project. Those stories should be 5,000 words or less.

http://www.bigwonderfulpress.com/submissions/

4. Big Lucks

A literary magazine open to submissions of fiction, poetry and art.

http://biglucks.com/submit/

5. The Rag Literary Magazine

The Rag accepts submissions of short fiction, poetry, manuscripts (first three chapters initially), and art.

http://raglitmag.com/

6. Specter

An online literary magazine currently accepting works of fiction, creative non-fiction, poetry and flash. All genres, styles and forms accepted.

http://www.spectermagazine.com/submit

7. Memorious

Memorious is an online literary magazine looking for submissions of fiction and poetry.

http://www.memorious.org/?submit

8. SteamPunk Magazine

SteamPunk Magazine is "a publication that is dedicated to promoting steampunk as a culture, as more than a sub-category of fiction." They are currently accepting submissions of fiction for issue #8. Deadline is October 15, 2011.

http://www.steampunkmagazine.com/deadlines-submissions/

9. Crazyhorse

Crazyhorse is a literary magazine accepting fiction, poetry, and non-fiction/essay between September 1 and May 31. Payment for accepted work is $20-35 per page of layout.

http://www.crazyhorsejournal.org/page.php?id=113

10. Independent Ink Magazine

A quarterly digital publication seeking fiction and adventuresome non-fiction.

http://indinkmag.submishmash.com/submit

As always, Black Fox Literary Magazine accepts fiction, poetry and creative non-fiction. We're also looking for blog posts and consistent blog contributors. Visit our website for more details. Happy Writing!

Friday Fives- Best Summer Reads

2011-09-09T08:56:00.000-07:00

Song of the Day: Summer Love by Justin Timberlake
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=40uv_hsoksA

Hello all! I know what you're going to say. "Where have you been all week?" And "what happened to the Monday opportunities?" The truth is that I've been busy. Excuses, excuses right? It's the truth! If you can believe it I'm still getting back into the swing of things after taking two weeks off from work. Then there are issues at the office and I've really had to step up to the plate and also work a little more while things stabilize. Then there's Black Fox. My pride and joy...and the pain in my butt! Really, I love working on the magazine with Pam and Quita but it does take a lot of time and TLC. Anyway, I PROMISE I'll get back into the mix of the blog world.

It's Friday, so you know the deal. Friday Fives! Paper Hangover asks the question:

What are the FIVE best books you read this summer?

1. Hint Fiction edited by Robert Swartwood- Everyone knows about my obsession with flash fiction. This book contained hint fiction--stories in thirty words or less. Plus it featured a story by Joyce Carol Oates. Need I say more?

2. Walks With Men by Ann Beattie- I could relate to this story and now I've discovered another literary fiction author that I love. Ann Beattie's prose is beautiful.

3. Bicycles by Nikki Giovanni- I've read several of Nikki Giovanni's poetry books. She's one of my favorite poets and as usual, this collection did not disappoint.

4. Beautiful by Amy Reed- Read this one based on the recommendation of my sis Pam. I'm glad I listened to her. This book left me affected and I was really impressed with the writing.

5. The Help by Kathryn Stockett- Okay, I'm still reading this one because I've only had time to read it in small sections, but gosh is it GOOD. If I'm not reading it, I'm thinking about reading it...Like now! I haven't felt that way about a book since I read Zombie by Joyce Carol Oates, which was at the beginning of this year.

What are some of the best books you read this summer?

Friday Fives- Eye Catching Book Titles (via Paper Hangover)

2011-09-02T08:32:00.000-07:00

Song of the Day: Remix to Ignition by R. Kelly
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y6y_4_b6RS8

Hello all! Who's ready for the long weekend? Okay, I don't know what was up with blogger this week, but I haven't been able to get into my account all week! There was some funny message about being hacked and malware. Thank goodness I was able to get in today. I don't know what I would have done, considering blogger doesn't have a toll free number. Anyway, I'm just glad to be back. Hope everyone has big plans for the weekend and enjoys every bit of it!

It's time for Friday Fives! Paper Hangover asks:

What are FIVE book titles that caught your attention?

1. The Help by Kathryn Stockett- I'm reading this one now by the way, and it is PHENOMENAL!

2. A Visit from the Goon Squad by Jennifer Egan- What's a Goon Squad?

3. Liar by Justine Larbalestier- Who wouldn't want to read about a liar. What is the character lying about?

4. Some Girls Are by Courtney Summers- Heard about this one from my awesome sis Pam. When I first heard the title I thought, Some Girls are what?

5. The Unnamed by Joshua Ferris- This title just had a ton of mystery to me. It made me pick up the book and flip it over to find out what the book was about.

What book titles have caught your eye?

Friday Fives- Favorite Back to School Books via Paper Hangover

2011-08-26T06:33:00.000-07:00

Song of the Day: School Days by Chuck Berry
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DHG5-GxI_Es

Hello all! It's Friday! Woo! I'm looking forward to this weekend because I'm actually staying in my city and I won't be visiting my parents. I'll finally have some time to get things organized around the house. Spring cleaning at my apartment is long over due. I'm also looking forward to getting some reading done. I haven't been been able to sit down with a good book in a while.

I haven't done Friday Fives in a while, but today the fantastic bloggers over at Paper Hangover asks,

"What are your FIVE favorite "back to school" books?

I must confess, I'm not sure what this topic means, but I made a list of the books I that I read during my "back to school" days after summer vacation.

1. Sweet Valley Twins by Francine Pascal

2. The Baby-sitters Club by Ann M. Martin

3. Nancy Drew by Mildred Wirt Benson

4. Amelia Bedilia by Peggy Parish

5. Where the Red Fern Grows by Wilson Rawls

Have a great weekend everyone!

Updates!

2011-08-22T08:52:00.000-07:00

Song of the Day: Graduation (Friends Forever) by Vitamin C
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0HDM3eYp4KQ

Hello all! It has been a while, hasn't it? As some of you may know, the week before last, I presented my thesis and GRADUATED! I had to go to New Jersey for the presentation and graduation and didn't return until last week. I'm still getting back into the swing of things if you can believe it. Today, I'm just checking in and next week I'll return to the regularly scheduled Opportunities Monday.

My thesis presentation went well from what others told me. From my perspective...Eh. I was so nervous! I had intentions of not reading off of my paper, but when I got up there I couldn't remember anything and I froze! So I ended up reading. The good new is that I looked up a lot and kept a conversational tone. The presentation went by very fast. I was supposed to read from my novel for ten minutes, but that didn't happen because the craft and form section took up forty five minutes! I'm glad it did though. I had the best support system there to put me at ease. My family was there. Then my amazing sisters Pam and Quita, skyped the presentation so it felt like they were really there cheering me on. Plus our little brother Matt was there.

After the presentation I was asked a couple of tough questions. I think I answered them well. Lucky for me, I was able to reference other books that I read to help me answer the questions. See why it's important for writers to read?

The presentation was on Tuesday and the graduation was on Saturday, so after it was over, I was able to enjoy my trip. I went to New York and got to see most of my family and friends. It was a really nice time. I feel rested and I'm ready to get back into things. I missed my blogging buddies too. Hopefully, I didn't miss out on too much in the blog world. Below are some pictures from my trip.

Me at Graduation

The front of the FDU Mansion

Me at Bryant Park

Times Square

Opportunities in the Great Big Literary World- August 1, 2011

2011-08-01T08:50:00.000-07:00

Song of the Day: Winning by Santana
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HNeXJg0Sh1Q

Hello all! How was the weekend? I had a fantastic one. For those of you who don't know, Issue #1 of Black Fox Literary Magazine was released on Friday! We had a really good response and I'm so thankful for those of you that have visited the site and read the magazine. The issue is available for free online on the Black Fox website and we also have a print version that is $10. In other news, my short story, The Truth About Lipstick is available today in The Scarlet Sound. Read it here. It's my first published piece, so I'm very excited! As my thesis presentation is nearing, I'll be a little MIA around my blog. I'm going to try and have at least one or two posts, but until next week is over with, I won't be thinking about blogging (though you KNOW I still love you all don't you?) Here are this week's opportunities.

Contests:

1. Writer's Digest Science Fiction/Fantasy Contest

Writer's Digest is now accepting submissions for its Science Fiction/Fantasy Contest. Entries should be 4,000 words or less. Here are the prizes:

First Prize: The First Place-Winner receives $1,000 cash, promotion in Writer’s Digest, $100 worth of Writer’s Digest Books and the 2012 Novel & Short Story Writer’s Market.
Second Prize: The Second Place-Winner receives $500 cash, promotion in Writer’s Digest, $100 worth of Writer’s Digest Books and the 2012 Novel & Short Story Writer’s Market.
Honorable Mention: Honorable Mentions will receive promotion in Writer’s Digest and the 2012 Novel & Short Story Writer’s Market.

Entry fee is $20 and the contest closes on September 15, 2011.

http://www.writersdigest.com/competitions/wd-science-fictionfantasy-competition

Calls for Submissions:

1. The Baltimore Review

The Baltimore Review is re-launching as an online literary magazine. They are looking for short stories, poems, and creative non-fiction.

http://www.baltimorereview.org/

2. Litro

Litro accepts short stories, flash fiction, and creative non-fiction. Issues are themed so be sure to check the submission guidelines.

http://www.litro.co.uk/index.php/about-litro/submissions/

3. Diverse Voices Quarterly

Seeks submissions of fiction, poetry, personal essays/creative non-fiction and art work.

http://www.diversevoicesquarterly.com/submission-guidelines/

4. Inkwell

Inkwell is now accepting unsolicited submissions in poetry, prose, and artwork. The Spring 2012 and Fall 2012 reading period runs from August 1, 2011 to November 15, 2011. Inkwell pays $10 per printed page and two complimentary copies.

http://www.inkwelljournal.org/submit.html

A few announcements about Black Fox Literary Magazine. This week we'll be adding a non-fiction section to our submission manager. We will also have ad space available for authors who would like to promote their books. The cost is $10 for a full page ad and $5 for a half page ad. Due to printing costs we can only offer this in black and white. We're also launching a Black Fox blog and we're looking for contributors to blog about topics related to writing, reading or publishing. In the very near future we'll be offering manuscript consulting, so be on the look out for that as well. As always, we're looking for fiction, poetry and creative non-fiction submissions. Information on everything mentioned will be available on the site this coming week. Happy Writing!

Release Day!- Black Fox Literary Magazine Issue #1

2011-07-29T14:32:00.000-07:00

Song of the Day: Celebration by Kylie Minogue
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pl-OX9GGD9k

Hello all! Today I'm writing this post with a HUGE smile on my face. After many trials, after many hours of pouring over manuscripts and formatting documents, the first issue of Black Fox Literary Magazine is being released today. FINALLY. I can't tell you what this means to Pam, Quita and myself. Starting this magazine was only a dream, and now it has manifested into reality. This release makes it all seem so official. If you have a moment, stop by our website and view the digital version of the issue at no cost. If you'd prefer a physical copy, or would simply like to support us, you can order a print copy of the issue. Either way, we just want you to read the magazine and enjoy the words of our fine contributors. Join us!

Featuring Work by: Dwayne John (Cover Artist), Caroline Bailey Lewis, Angela Brown, Pamela Jessen, Jen Knox, Joanna S. Lee, Mike Maher, Alex Mullarky, and Diana Raab. Interviews with Contributor Jen Knox and Authors Lisa and Laura Roecker.

You can read it online, buy the print copy for $10 or download the file for $1.99.

Opportunities in the Great Big Literary World- July 25, 2011

2011-07-25T08:17:00.000-07:00

Song of the Day: I Won't Back Down by Tom Petty
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LKqO0FeaCFQ

Hello all! How was the weekend? Mine was too short. I usually have Fridays and Mondays off, but I'm working a different schedule this week and last. I ended up having to work Friday and today, so the weekend was shorter than what I'm used to. This is the BIG week. On Friday July 29, 2011 Black Fox Literary Magazine will release Issue #1! (Insert Dancing and streamers here.) I started the magazine with the lovely ladies Pam and Quita back in September. The summer seemed so far away back then, but the time literally flew. I can't believe it's almost here! And I couldn't be more excited! I hope that you'll stop by and check it out on Friday once it's released. We will have a digital and print version. The digital version is free, but the print version is $10 plus shipping and handling. If you can, please buy a copy, it helps us with administrative costs. Someday, we hope it will be enough to help us pay our contributors. If you want all of our latest news, you can follow us on Twitter: @blackfoxlit. Finally, don't hesitate to send your submit your work for consideration. Now, on to this week's opportunities. Have a look and keep sending your work out there.

Contests:

1. Weave Magazine's First Annual Flash Fiction and Poetry Contests

Weave, a literary magazine, will host its first annual contest with a cash prize of $100 for one first place flash fiction winner and a cash prize of $100 and publication for one first place poetry winner. Up to three honorable mentions will receive publication in Weave. Entry fee is $6.00 and contest deadline is July 31, 2011.

http://www.weavemagazine.net/p/contests.html

Calls for Submissions:

1. Cobalt Review

A literary Magazine seeking fiction, non-fiction and poetry of the highest caliber.

http://www.cobaltreview.com/

2. Hunger Mountain

Hunger Mountain is looking for stories, poems, creative non-fiction, craft essays, and writing for children/young adults.

http://www.hungermtn.org/submit/

3. Flycatcher: A Journal of Narrative Imagination

Flycatcher seeks submissions of any genre that explore place or a sense of belonging for its inaugural issue. They are also seeking proposals for columns.

http://www.flycatcherjournal.org/submission-guidelines.php

4. Spittoon

Spittoon, on online literary magazine, seeks contemporary and experimental fiction, creative non-fiction and poetry.

http://www.spittoonmag.com/submit.php

Residencies:

The Millay Colony

The Millay Colony offers one-month residencies to six visual artists, writers and composers each between the months of April and November. They accept residents based on artistic merit. Application fee is $35 and the deadline is September 15, 2011. For more information visit the link below.

http://www.millaycolony.org/apply

As always, Black Fox Literary Magazine seeks fiction, creative non-fiction, poetry, and art. Happy Writing!

Opportunities in the Great Big Literary World- July 18, 2011

2011-07-18T06:28:00.001-07:00

Song of the Day: We are the Champions by Queen
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xdCrZfTkG1c

Hello all! How was the weekend? As you all may or may not know, I'm on vacation! Sadly, this is my second to last day off. I was supposed to be blogging more, but then I realized that I had better try and spend my time really zoning in on what important things need to be done. I made a list of what I planned to do on my vacation, and I'll tell you all about how much of it actually got done in a separate post.

I want to share some exciting news with you all. Over my little break I got an acceptance letter for a short story I wrote. It will be published in a literary magazine called The Scarlet Sound this August! Those of you who read my blog know about the endless rejections I've had. It feels so good to finally get a yes. Which brings me to my next point. I was relentless with my submitting. People, you have got to get your work out there. That's all I can say. Take Advantage of the free contests and the calls for submissions. It pays off in the end. I hope you all will make the effort to submit your work somewhere at least once a month. You can find lots of opportunities here every Monday. It's really that easy.

Calls for Submissions:

1. Dragnet Magazine

Dragnet, a new online/e-book literary magazine is accepting fiction for Issue #3. Deadline is August 1, 2011.

http://dragnetmag.net/?q=node/1

2. Prime Number Magazine

Literary Magazine seeking fiction, non-fiction, poetry, book reviews, interviews, and essays on craft.

http://www.primenumbermagazine.com/Submit.html

3. Dogwood

Fairfield University's literary journal accepts fiction, creative non-fiction and poetry. Reading period ends October 15, 2011.

http://dogwoodliterary.tumblr.com/tosubmit

4. Sixth Finch

An online poetry journal currently accepting submissions until September 15, 2011.

http://sixthfinch.com/submit.html

5. TAYO Literary Magazine

Tayo is looking for submissions of fiction, creative, non-fiction, poetry, and art for their 3rd annual print magazine. Deadline is August 26, 2011.

http://tayoliterarymag.com/about/submissions/

Well folks, the first issue of my literary magazine, Black Fox Literary Magazine is set to be released July 29, 2011! Get Ready! As always, we're looking for quality fiction and poetry for the fall issue. Visit our website for details. Happy Writing!

Opportunities in the Great Big Literary World- July 11, 2011

2011-07-11T09:50:00.000-07:00

Song of the Day: I Just Wanna Live by Good Charlotte
www.youtube.com/watch?v=xdgrIWXlvDM

Hello all! How was the weekend? Anyone do anything productive? I wasn't very productive this weekend. It was my sister's birthday and between spending all day at Disney on Friday and a party with family on Sunday, I didn't get get much done. I did manage to have a great editors meeting on Skype with Pam and Quita about Black Fox. That was only my second time using Skype, but it was SO COOL. I should definitely use it more often. Starting Wednesday, I'll be off from my day job for a week. Until then, I'm trying to tie up some loose ends, which is the reason the opportunities are so short today. Still some good stuff, however.

Contests:

1. The Story Prize

A prize of $20,000 is given annually to honor a story collection written in English and first published in the U.S. Two runners-up will also receive $5,000 each. Entry Fee is $75 and the deadline is July 15, 2011. For more information and official guidelines, visit the link below.

http://www.thestoryprize.org/

2. A Room of Her Own Foundationn

The foundation awards four prizes of $1,000 each and publication in the Los Angeles Review twice yearly to one poem, short story, short short story, and essay by women writers. Entry fee is $15 and the contest closes on July 31, 2011.

http://www.aroho.org/

Calls for Submissions:

1. eFiction Magazine

eFiction seeks short fiction, poetry, book reviews and art work. They publish writers who are published and unpublished, but prefer new writers who are underrepresented and do not have publishing deals with big publishers.

http://efictionmag.submishmash.com/Submit

2. The Literarian

The Literarian is the literary magazine of The Center for Fiction. They are currently accepting submissions for fiction.

http://www.centerforfiction.org/magazine/submissions/

As always, Black Fox Literary Magazine is accepting Submissions of Fiction and Poetry for Issue #2! Happy Writing!

Friday Fives- Favorite Research Tools

2011-07-08T04:38:00.000-07:00

Song of the Day: I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For by U2
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3vMUvCYTtmM

Hello all! It's Friday so it's time for Paper Hangover's weekly Friday Fives! If you feel like participating hop over and post a link to your Friday Fives post. We writers are always having to do research on the subjects we write about, and in the spirit of that we're talking research tools today! This Week's Question:

What are your FIVE favorite research tools?

1. Google- I heart it and it's my favorite research tool. I pretty much google everything and it's the first source I go to if I need to do research.

2. Wikepedia- Probably not the most reliable, but hey, it usually gets the job done. Plus it's pretty fast.

3. Twitter- I talk about twitter all the time because its power is righteous. If you have a question you can tweet it, and almost instantly, answers come pouring in. Other writers are also tweeting and re-tweeting about resources and articles. I can't tell you how much I've learned about writing on twitter alone.

4. Merriam-Webster and Thesaurus.com - I'm always looking words up or using the thesaurus to find other words. Sometimes I have to look up terms too. I also like their word of the day tweets.

5. Blogger- Duh! I learn so much from my writer friends on blogger. Their posts are always helpful and then there are links galore on almost everyone's blogs. If you're trying to research anything writer related, or looking for writing resources, you can find it on blogger.

What about you? What are your favorite research tools?

My Vacation...Sort Of

2011-07-07T11:05:00.000-07:00

Song of the Day: The Lazy Song by Bruno Mars
www.youtube.com/watch?v=fLexgOxsZu0

Hello all! I know I've been promising a post on that blogging workshop I went to, but I've been so swamped lately that I haven't had a chance to organize and type up the notes. I promise I'll get to it next week. Guess why? Yup, I'm taking a one week vacation from the day job! I'm SO excited. I will finally get a chance to catch up on my various writing projects. Since I didn't really know what I should blog about today, I decided I'd post my Agenda for my week off.

I plan to...

1. WORK ON THESIS- This is at the top of my list. I need to finish preparing my presentation for my craft and form thesis (this one focuses more on the craft of writing) and I need to make sure everything is perfect with my creative thesis.

2. Work on Black Fox Issue #1- Can you believe it? Our first issue will be out later this month! I'm so nervous! I'll be spending the next week (along with Pam and Quita) making sure the issue is ready for production.

3. WRITE- Sadly, my writing time has pretty much gone down hill. I've been so busy. I can only get in a few words here and there. I want to seriously finish at least two stories over my break.

4. READ- My reading habits have been worse than my writing habits. Lately, I've only been able to squeeze in a short story or a flash piece. I am definitely going to read at least one book over my break.

5. Blog- I have a couple posts I've been meaning to write, so I'm definitely spending some time cranking those out.

6. Be lazy- I would love to take one day to just do absolutely nothing but watch TV and movies (and sleep.) No emails, no phone calls, no anything. Will that happen? Probably not, but we shall see.

I'm thinking I'm going to do all of this from my parents' house because they have a pool, and it's in another city, so it will feel more like I'm getting away. Anyone else taking a vacation or a break from work this summer? What are your plans? Those of you who aren't taking one this summer, what do you normally do when you do take one?

Opportunities in the Great Big Literary World- July 5, 2011

2011-07-05T06:51:00.000-07:00

Song of the Day: Party Up by Hilary Duff

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jHJLzeXTqBA

Hello all! How do you like the new blog design? I am in love with it! If you ever need any custom blog work done, Zoe is your girl! She blogs over at Chic and Sassy Designs. She's the best! How was your fourth of July? I got a chance to relax with family and get some work done. I also got a chance to submit work to a couple places and plan out my submissions for July. Have you planned any submissions for this month? Have you submitted your work to any interesting magazines or contests? Feel free to share in the comments section. The winners of my contest are posted at the end of this post. Here are the opportunities for this week. Lots to take advantage of.

Blog Contests:

1. Kody Keplinger's ARC Giveaway

Kody is giving away two ARC's of her novel Shut Out plus a Duff prize pack. Go visit her blog NOW for details on how to enter!

http://kodymekellkeplinger.blogspot.com/2011/07/20-in-20-week-11-winner.html

Contests:

1. The Galaxy project by Rosetta Books

Rosetta Books hosts the Galaxy Project for science fiction novellas and novelettes. Here is what the release says:

“The winning writer will be guaranteed e-book publication as part of The Galaxy Project collection, a set of the top novellas that appeared originally in Galaxy, and will also receive a $1,000 advance against royalties of 50% of net receipts to 2,500 copies and 60% of net receipts thereafter for world English digital rights. The contest is open now and the submission deadline is Friday, September 2, 2011.”

Novellas and novelettes should be between 15,000 and 20,000 words.

http://www.thegalaxyproject.com/

2. Literal Latte Poetry Awards

Literal Latte Literary Magazine seeks unpublished poems of up to 2,000 words for its annual poetry contest. All styles are welcomed. First place will win $1,000, second wins $300 and third wins $200. The cost is $10 for up to six poems or $15 for a set of 10 poems. Contest ends o July 15, 2011.

http://www.literal-latte.com/contests/

3. Writers' Journal Romance Contest

Writers' Journal is looking for romance stories of 2,000 words or less for its annual romance contest. First place will win a prize of $250, second place wins $100.00 and third place wins $50.00. Honorable mentions will also be acknowledged. Winning stories and selected honorable mentions will be published in future issues of Writers' Journal. Entry fee is $7 and the contest closes on July 30, 2011.

http://www.writersjournal.com/RomanceContest.htm

4. Glimmer Train Very Short Fiction Award

Glimmer Train hosts this contest twice a year. They are looking for short fiction that does not exceed 3,000 words. First place wins $1,200, publication in Glimmer Train, and twenty copies of the the issue. Second place wins $500 and third place wins $300. Entry fee is $15 and the contest ends on July 31, 2011.

http://glimmertrain.com/test.html

Calls for Submissions:

1. Thematic Literary Magazine

Thematic Literary Magazine is looking for stories about love, relationships and attraction. Deadline is July 15, 2011.

http://www.thematicliterarymagazine.com/submissions2

2. Orange Quarterly Review

A new literary magazine accepting submissions of stories, essays, poems, photographs and art for their first issue.

http://orangequarterly.com/submit/

And now for the two WINNERS of my blog contest! To be fair, I chose the people with the highest points, wrote their names down on paper, put it in a hat and randomly selected two names. Congrats to:

Lori M. Lee winner of the $30 Gift Card to a Bookstore of her Choice. Visit Lori at You Are the Unicorn of My Dreams

AND

Ashley Simmons winner of a book of her choice. Visit Ashley at: A Sassy Woman

Ladies, please email me at writer106@yahoo.com so we can discuss your prizes! :)

As always, Black Fox Literary Magazine is always accepting fiction and poetry. Happy Writing!

Friday Fives or Four- Cream of the Crop Cliches (via Paper Hangover)

2011-07-01T08:11:00.000-07:00

Song of the Day: The Cliché Song by Christopher Mast
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r4YRw6ArIUU

Hello all! Time for Friday Fives! Before we get there, I have a few announcements. First, the opportunities I post on Monday, will be posted on Tuesday. Therefore, the two winners of my contest will be announced Tuesday instead on Monday. I'm taking this weekend to get my writing life together and hopefully do a little relaxing with my family. Also, this week I had my blog custom designed! I can't wait to reveal the new layout and design to you. Check back on Tuesday July 5, 2011!

I'd just like to say that this was the hardest Friday Fives for me, so I only have four, which would make it Friday Four. The blog Paper Hangover asks:

What are your FIVE favorite cliches?

1. The Heroine

This is the most appropriate writing cliche for me because the heroine is the topic of my thesis (yes, I'm in thesis mode.) We've seen them in the past with Jane Eyre from Jane Eyre and Elizabeth Bennett from Pride and Prejudice, and we see them in more modern books with characters such as Precious in Push and Janie in Their Eyes Were Watching God. Many argue that the heroine is a cliche, but I don't think she's ever going away. I for one love reading about her.

2. The Ex vs. The New Guy (or Bad Boy vs. Good Guy)

Often times a female character will break up with a guy (who is usually the bad boy) and find a new guy (the good guy.) The female will then go back to the ex once he shows interest again (usually due to seeing her with a new guy.) But in the end she realizes that the good guy is who she should be with. I love when the good guy wins.

3. The Sarcastic Main Character or Sidekick

I love sarcasm. The end.

4. The Enemy

The adversary always makes a more interesting read. They tend to shake up the equilibrium of the main character plus get the reader to be sympathetic to the MC.

What about you? What are your favorite writing cliches? Also, seriously check out the song of the day. It's a song composed entirely of cliches. So cool!

Opportunities in the Great Big Literary World- June 27, 2011

2011-06-27T08:51:00.000-07:00

Song of the Day: Thank You by Dido
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1TO48Cnl66w

Hello all! How was the weekend? Mine was not so good. Have you ever felt like you were stretching yourself too thin? What about when you do a bunch of work for someone and they don't even say thank you? This past weekend was consumed by a particular project I'm working on. The head of the project is nowhere to be found. I am now doing work that I never signed up to do, ALONE. When I told the "overseeing person" that this had consumed my entire weekend and that I still hadn't completed it, she seemed upset. Not even a thank you for sacrificing my ENTIRE weekend. I've even explained countless times that I am graduating from my MFA program in less than two months. What would you do in this situation? Jump ship? Or see the project through?

Here are the opportunities for this week. There is some good stuff!

***Last day to enter my 150 Follower Giveaway is Thursday! Win $30 to a bookstore of your choice or a book of your choice.***

Contests:

1. Theresa Frohock's Blog Contest

Theresa over at the blog Theresa Frohock is hosting a contest with AMAZING prizes. To enter, write a 250 to 300 word self contained fantastical short story. The prizes:

PACKAGE #1 -- autographed copy of MISERERE: AN AUTUMN TALE + 25-page critique from my agent, Weronika Janczuk + autographed MISERERE postcard*
PACKAGE #2 -- 50-page critique from my agent, Weronika Janczuk + autographed MISERERE postcard
PACKAGE #3 -- 25-page critique from my agent, Weronika Janczuk + synopsis critique from my agent + autographed MISERERE postcard
PACKAGE #4 -- 25-page critique from my agent, Weronika Janczuk + synopsis critique from my agent
PACKAGE #5 -- synopsis critique from my agent, Weronika Janczuk + query critique

http://www.teresafrohock.com/blog/2011/6/24/blog-tour-kick-off-contest-and-more.html

2. Tahreh Mafi's Giveaway

Tahreh Mafi is giving away an ARC of her novel, Shatter Me. Visit her blog for details.

http://stiryourtea.blogspot.com/2011/06/shatter-me-arc-contest-20.html

3. The Third Annual Bartleby Snopes Writing Contest

The challenge of this contest is to write a story that's composed of only dialogue. Entries must be under 2,000 words and cannot include narration (this includes tag lines such as "he said" or "she said," etc.) Prize is $250 to first place and $10 to four honorable mentions (amount of the prize increases if more money is generated from the contest entries) Entry Fee is $10 and the contest closes September 12, 2011.

http://www.bartlebysnopes.com/contests.htm

4. Oregon Writers Colony Short Story Contest

Submit a story of up to 2500 words, fiction or non-fiction. First place will receive $200, second place will receive $100, and third place will receive $50. Additional honorable mentions will be mentioned on the OWC website. The fee to enter is $10 for OWC members and $15 for non-members. You may also submit an additional $10 for a critique of your story. Contest deadline is August 15, 2011.

http://oregonwriterscolony.org/short-story-contest/

Calls for Submissions:

1. Storyville Short Stories

Storyville accepts original work of high literary quality that has not been published as a stand alone story in a print or online literary journal. They do publish stories that have been previously, or are currently, published as part of a printed or ebook collection or anthology. There is payment for accepted stories.

http://www.storyvilleapp.com/faqs.php

2. About Place

About Place is a literary Journal published by The Black Earth Institute. They are currently looking for poems or non-fiction of up to 2000 words. The submissions are themed and the current theme is "A River Runs Through Us." Deadline is November 1, 2011.

http://www.aboutplacejournal.org/

As always, Black Fox Literary Magazine is currently accepting fiction of all genres and poetry for possible publication. We'd love to see your work! Happy Writing!

Friday Fives- What Gets the Creativity Flowing (via Paper Hangover)

2011-06-24T06:21:00.000-07:00

Song of the Day: Let it Flow by Toni Braxton
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-0xc1Rws7F0

Hello all! Time for Friday Fives again! Can you tell I'm excited? The blog Paper Hangover hosts it's weekly segment titled, Friday Fives. Feel free to hop over there and join in on the fun. This week's question:

What are five things that get your creativity flowing?

1. Music

I have been a lover of music for my entire life. A couple of years ago, I had been in a writing slump and a writing buddy of mine suggested I listen to music. Really listen to it. She told me that songs tell a story. Just like you might pick up something to read and get inspired, the same is true with a song.

2. Reading

Reading almost always gets me in the mood to write. Sometimes when I'm reading, my characters will nag at me. They often say, "You should be writing about me and not reading. I have a story to tell too, you know."

3. Watching TV

You're probably thinking, that's just an excuse for me to watch TV, and you're right. Well, you're half right anyway. I do LOVE watching TV, but seriously, I get A TON of story ideas when I'm watching it. It's also a way for me to study people in general. Though some of these people on TV may be fictional characters, people like them because they're realistic. This is the same goal we have in our writing, the "believable factor."

4. Free Writing or a Writing Exercise

Sometimes I just start writing whatever comes to mind and if I'm lucky it can develop to become a story. I learned how to free write early on and it's something that has always stayed with me. The same is true for writing exercises. Some of the stories that I'm most proud of started out as writing exercises.

5. Running

I enjoy running not only because I always feel amazing after, but also because I get story ideas while running. I also feel like it clears my mind. After a good run, it's as though my mind is a clean slate and ready for whatever writing project I'm working on.

What about you? What gets your creativity flowing?

***Don't forget about my 150 Follower Giveaway*** Click the link or check it out in the side bar.

An Inspirational Encounter at My Writers Meeting

2011-06-22T07:24:00.000-07:00

Song of the Day: Don't Stop Believing by Journey
www.youtube.com/watch?v=rfUYuIVbFg0

Hello all! As I've mentioned before, I'm a member of a writers group called FWA (Florida Writer's Association.) A few weekends ago, they held the monthly meeting which usually involves a guest speaker. The guest speaker this time was the grandson of the author of The Happy Hollisters series. The Happy Hollisters was a children's series from the 1950's written by Andrew Svenson underneath the pen name, Jerry West. The series is now being re-released by Andrew Svenson's grandson, Andy Svenson. Andy also brought along his sixteen-year-old daughter, Libby. Out of the entire presentation, I found Libby to be the most inspiring.

Libby wrote a novel called Andromeda's Turn (click the link to find it on Amazon.) Get this, she wrote it when she was thirteen! I almost fell out of my chair when she announced this. I was writing stories at the age of thirteen, but can you imagine writing something worth publishing? I was immediately transfixed. I listened attentively to virtually everything Libby said. She wrote the novel on a car ride from Florida to Maine during the summer of 2007. She was bored and said to herself, "I should write a book." And just like that, she did.

What was interesting to note was the editing phase. Libby went through rounds of edits before her book was ready for publication (she even brought samples of the different rounds.) As much as I hate editing, we all have to do it, and it pays off. I was very impressed with Libby, her novel is 414 pages long. I read the first page, and I was immediately intrigued. I will be adding this one to my list of books to be read.

Libby's story has inspired me to keep pushing to edit my novel and get it published. At only sixteen years of age, Libby is a published author. This post was actually prepared a while ago, but the day that I was going to post it, I got a rejection letter in my inbox from a contest I really wanted to win. I didn't even care about the money. All I wanted was the publishing credentials, and just to know that my work was good enough to be published in that particular literary magazine. When I got the letter, I was depressed, and was in no mood to blog about inspiration.

Of course, being that I'm so passionate about writing, those moments of self doubt are short lived. I simply, "try again." I revisited the draft version of this post and remembered why I write. Every time I seem to doubt myself, something comes along to remind me and inspire me to write again. That's how I know my writing career is destiny.

Have you had any of those moments when you were doubting yourself as a writer and something comes along to inspire you?

***I had pictures of the books, but for some reason blogger is not uploading my pictures (surprise, surprise.) I will try to post them again later.***

Opportunities in the Great Big Literary World- June 20, 2011

2011-06-20T09:07:00.000-07:00

Song of the Day: It's Not My Place (In the 9 to 5 World) by The Ramones
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7s2HY1PRSFA

Hello all! How was Father's Day weekend? We shouldn't celebrate our fathers only one day out of the year (and trust me, I don't) but I can't help but love Father's Day. I have the most AMAZING father ever. Like my picture? Growing up, he did everything for me and made sure that our family had all that we needed. I watched him go from sweeping floors at Walmart to owning his own construction and investment company. It is his heart and his spirit that inspires me everyday to work hard to get where I want to be in my career. That's why I continue to submit my work, (despite the rejections) continue to attend conferences, continue to write, and continue to edit. Which leads me to my next question. Have you been keeping up with your submissions? Even submitting once a month is better than nothing. If you're having trouble keeping up, I wrote a post on how you can balance submitting your writing and life.

***Reminder: Enter my 150 Follower Giveaway for a chance at a $30 gift card to a bookstore of your choice!***

Here are this week's opportunities. Have at it.

Contests:

1. NYC Midnight Flash Fiction Challenge

This is an interesting contest with four writing challenges and every entrant is guaranteed to participate in at least two challenges. In each challenge writers have two days to complete a 1,000 word story based on an assigned genre, location and object. Writers will be able to get feedback on their writing. For more details on how the contest is structured visit the website. First place wins $1500, second wins $500, third wins $250, and fourth wins $100. Early entry deadline is July 14, 2011 (fee is $39) but writers may enter up until August 17, 2011 (fee is $49.)

http://www.nycmidnight.com/Competitions/FFC/Challenge.htm

2. Dream Horse Press Poetry Chapbook Prize

Submit up to 20-28 pages of paginated poetry in readable font, table of contents, acknowledgments, bio, and email for results. The prize is $500 and 25 copies of the printed chapbook. The entry fee is $15 and the deadline is June 30, 2011.

http://home.comcast.net/~jpdancingbear/dhpcontests.html

3. 2011 Wilda Hearne Flash Fiction Contest

Big Muddy: A Journal of the Mississippi River Valley is searching for the best short short story of any theme. Stories should not exceed 500 words. The winner will receive $300 and publication in Big Muddy. Entry fee is $10 and the deadline is October 1, 2011.

http://www6.semo.edu/universitypress/hearne.htm

Calls for Submissions:

1. Prick of the Spindle

A quarterly literary magazine currently accepting fiction (flash to novella length), poetry, creative and academic non-fiction, drama, and literary reviews.

http://www.prickofthespindle.com/pages/submit.htm

2. Women of Color Anthology

The Women of Color Writer's Community is seeking quality submissions of flash fiction, poetry, short stories, Essays, One Act Plays, non-fiction, and original freestanding art work for the anthology, Boundaries and Borders. Deadline is September 1, 2011.

http://www.wocwriters.com/www.WOCWRITERS.COM/Anthology_Guide.html

As always Black Fox Literary Magazine is open for submissions of fiction and poetry. We love getting submissions from under-represented genres. Also, look out for our first issue, set to be released next month! Happy Writing!

Opportunities in the Great Big Literary World- June 13, 2011

2011-06-13T06:19:00.000-07:00

Song of the Day: We are the Champions by Queen
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sogKUx_q7ig

Hello all! How was the weekend? I must admit, this weekend wasn't as productive as it should have been. I think I needed a little bit of a break. Friday I submitted my final (official) submission of edits to my thesis mentor. I've been stressed about it for months, so it felt good to relax a little. I still have work to do on my presentation, so I'll be back in the trenches this week. One good thing that did happen was that The Miami Heat lost in the playoffs and the Dallas Mavericks won the championship! I DON'T like Lebron James (think the V.S.Naipaul of basketball) because of his cocky attitude and it's good to know that the good guy/underdog can have the last laugh. I hope that the submissions are going well for everyone. Here's a list of the opportunities for this week. (Lots of blog contests.)

Also, Don't forget I'm giving away a $30 gift card to a bookstore of choice and a book of choice to two lucky followers! Enter my 150 Follower Giveaway!

Contests:

1. Pam and Quita's Blogoversary Contest

My two adopted sisters over at Y(A)? Cuz We Write are having celebrating their blogoversary by giving away two amazing books. The first is Notes from the Blender by Brendan Halpin and Trish Cook (signed by Brendan Halpin.) The second is Fill in the Blank Plotting by Linda George. Get over there NOW!

http://seepamwrite.blogspot.com/2011/06/friday-fives-light-readingand-contest.html

2. Alicia Gregoire's Giveaway

Alicia Gregoire over at Slice of Blog Pie is giving away the coolest notebook known to all writers. It's a Circa notebook from Levenger. Check out her blog for details. Deadline is June 19, 2011.

http://aliciagregoire.blogspot.com/2011/06/five-summer-reads-one-contest.html

3. Jamie Manning's Giveaway

Jamie Manning over at Writers Write, Right? is giving away three gift cards! A $20, $15, and $10 gift card to the chosen bookstore will be given to one lucky follower of his blog. For rules on how to enter, visit his blog! Deadline is June 15, 2011.

http://jmanni32.blogspot.com/2011/06/its-giveaway-time-baby.html

4. Figment's Fable Contest

One winner will be given a prize of $1,000. The challenge is to write a fable story in 1200 words or less, set in a fictional country on the day before the final battle in a devastating war. Paulo Coelho author of The Alchemist will determine the winner. Voting will take place to determine the top ten stories. Contest Deadline is June 19, 2011.

http://blog.figment.com/2011/06/01/fable-contest-with-paulo-coelho/

Calls for Submissions:

1. Nano Fiction

Nano publishes flash fiction, prose poems, and micro essays of 300 words or fewer and is accepting submissions all summer.

http://nanofiction.org/?page_id=28

2. The Fascinating Females Book Project

Len Lambert who blogs over at Conversations with Self, is looking for articles about fascination women for a new book. For more information visit her blog. Deadline is June 30, 2011.

http://carpediem202.blogspot.com/2011/06/fascinating-female-book-project.html

As always, Black Fox Literary Magazine is open for fiction and poetry submissions! Happy Writing!

Friday Five- Summer Reads! (via Paper Hangover)

2011-06-10T06:43:00.000-07:00

Song of the Day: Summertime by Will Smith
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jtDseXwpJ0U

Hello all! Friday Again! You know what that means...Friday Fives! (And well, the weekend!)

The blog Paper Hangover hosts its weekly Friday Fives. This week's question:

What are your FIVE favorite summer reads?

I usually like darker fiction, so in the summer I do like to slip in a light read or two. Four out of five on my list are light reads. The last one...you'll see.

1. The Undomestic Goddess by Sophie Kinsella

Sophie Kinsella is one of my favorite authors (as she is mentioned twice on my list!) Her reads are well-written and light. You will find yourself literally laughing out loud with this book.

2. Confessions of a Shopaholic by Sophie Kinsella

This one is just as funny as The Undomestic Goddess. Her books also go by really fast. You won't be able to put it down. Trust me.

3. Bridget Jones' Diary by Helen Fielding

Can you tell I have a thing for British Authors? Seriously, I LOVE Bridget Jones. If you've seen the movies you probably know her character is a little off. Don't we all feel like that sometimes? I think that's one of the reasons she's so universal.

4. The Notebook by Nicholas Sparks

I'm a sucker for a good love story. This love story is probably my favorite one ever, besides Pride and Prejudice of course!

5. Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte

Okay, Jane Eyre isn't exactly a light read, but it's a classic! We tend to have more time in the summer and why not tackle a classic? The book is also a little long, so summer is a great time to read it. Jane Eyre is perfect because it has a little of everything. There's drama, romance, suspense, mystery. It's all the genres rolled into one.

I know this is Friday Fives, but I went over to my bookshelf and there is one more book that I think would make a great summer read. It's called Love, Rosie by Cecilia Ahern. It's a fun and light love story. The whole thing is written in a letter format. GREAT read.

What are some of your favorite summer reads? Any suggestions for me this summer?

Response to V.S. Naipaul's Comments at his Interview with the Royal Geographic Society

2011-06-09T12:36:00.000-07:00

Song of the Day: Where is the Love by The Black Eyed Peas
www.youtube.com/watch?v=WpYeekQkAdc

Hello all! As I stated on Monday, I have a response to V.S. Naipaul's comments about women in his interview with the Royal Geographic Society. I couldn't find the actual interview. All I could find were reports with quotes on what was said. I ended up just reading the Guardian's report on it.

   I've known about V.S. Naipaul for quite some time now. I had always heard his name during my undergraduate days in college, but never thought much of him. What I didn't realize was that he was Trinidadian. I discovered that fact only after a professor in my MFA program suggested that I read some of his work for research. The professor had asked me if I did any writing based on my culture and when I told him no, he said that I should read some Trinidadian writers to explore my heritage. Naturally, he suggested Naipaul. I had been so excited to learn that he was Trinidadian, but that excitement was short lived. Just days later when my Uncle picked me up from residency and I was telling him about Naipaul, he told me that he was a great writer, but he was ashamed of his Trinidadian heritage. He had heard rumors of Naipaul claiming to be British. As someone who is VERY proud of her Trinidadian heritage, I found this to be repulsive. I vowed to never read a single word of Naipaul's work.

   The Guardian reports that in an interview with the Royal Geographic Society, Naipaul was asked if he considered any woman his literary match. Naipaul responded with, "I don't think so." When he was asked about Jane Austen, he said he "couldn't possibly share her sentimental ambitions, her sentimental sense of the world." Are we talking about the same Jane Austen here?

Here are some quotes from Naipaul taken from the Guardian report of the interview:

"I read a piece of writing and within a paragraph or two I know whether it is a woman or not. I think [it is] unequal to me."

This was because of a woman's

"sentimentality, the narrow view of the world". "And inevitably for a woman, she is not a complete master of a house, so that comes over in her writing too."

"My publisher, who was so good as a taster and editor, when she became a writer, low and behold, it was all this feminine tosh. I don't mean this in any unkind way."

   Excuse me, but who made him the Godfather of literature? He claims that women writers are unequal to him, but there a women who have won the Nobel Prize for Literature the same prize he also won. The prize has been given to literary greats such as Toni Morrison and Doris Lessing, and those are only two. Naipaul has a lot of nerve saying that not a single woman on this earth can match up to him.

   And what does he mean by calling women sentimental and have a "narrow view of the world?" I don't understand it. I know that Joyce Carol Oates is one of the greatest writers ever, and she is neither sentimental nor does she have a narrow view of the world. And what exactly is his definition of a narrow view of the world? Isn't his view of women writers narrow-minded, thus making his view of the modern world, narrow?

   I guess I take this so personally because I'm used to more of a support system in the writing community. We're not here to look down on anyone or bash each other. If he really felt that way, then maybe he should keep comments like that to himself. This is not the suffrage movement. We're in 2011. Women shouldn't have to continue to prove themselves this far in the game.

   One thing that's interesting to note is Naipaul's personal life. I decided to do a little background check of Mr. Naipaul, and well, I wasn't shocked by what I discovered. I came across an article in the Telegraph. The article's headline: "Sir Vidia Naipaul Admits His Cruelty May Have Killed Wife" by Nigel Reynolds. Apparently, Naipaul was very cruel to his wife of 41 years, Patricia Naipaul. Naipaul had a mistress for twenty four of those years and his wife knew about it. What she didn't know was that Naipaul had regularly visited prostitutes in London. She only discovered this after he boasted about it in a magazine interview in 1994. His wife had just had a mastectomy and was in remission from cancer when she learned the news. Naipaul had refused to buy his wife a wedding ring and even when his wife was diagnosed with cancer, "he showed little compassion." When Patricia died, and he had a chance to marry his mistress (the woman he spent most of his time with) he ended the affair.

   It's clear Naipaul never had any respect for women. After reading this article in the Telegraph, I can no longer be surprised by Naipaul's comments about women. I really hope he's done his research and read a variety of books by women authors to support his claim. Quite frankly, I feel sorry for the man. Most Trinidadians don't like Naipaul because of his contempt for his own country. I am no exception.

The Guardian also posted the "Naipaul Test: Can you tell an author's sex?" Take it and see if you can tell which authors are male and which are female from the passages.

What are views on this whole V.S. Naipaul debacle?

Time to Party- 150 Follower Contest!

2011-06-08T09:21:00.000-07:00

Song of the Day: The Party Song by Blink 182
www.youtube.com/watch?v=OI-56hf6O80

Hello all! Yesterday I blogged about the Wall Street Journal article on YA being too dark and tomorrow I'll be blogging about the V.S. Naipaul's comments about women. I thought I'd lighten up the mood today by announcing my contest!

   First, I'd like to thank all the loyal followers who have supported my blog from the start. In case you don't know, I started this blog in 2009 and then posted one post but then had no idea what to do with a blog. I had what I like to call a "dead" blog. I did nothing with it for about a year. Then I met my two adopted sisters Pam and Quita! They encouraged me to start blogging again at our residency in England. I remember when I had only one follower, which was myself! Now here I am 154 followers later!

    I'd also like to thank the new followers. I hope you can get something out of my posts, and I hope you'll keep coming back.

   This contest is smaller than the last (obviously the last contest was a bigger milestone.) This time I'll be giving away two prizes to two followers:

$30 gift card to Amazon, Borders, Barnes and Noble, or a bookstore of your choice (as long as I can purchase it online.)
A book of your choice

The Rules:

You MUST be a follower of this blog (If you're not a follower feel free to follow my blog to be eligible) +1
You MUST Comment on this Post with a response to the following question: Why do you write? +1-5

***Bonus Points (not required):

Tweet about the Contest +1
Blog About the Contest +1
Add the contest to your sidebar +1

The most weight will be given to how you answer the question. If you have questions, feel free to ask.

Contest Deadline is June 30, 2011 and the winners will be announced Monday July 4, 2011.

*Please note, if you win and you don't check the post then contact me within two weeks, I'll have to choose another winner. I'm really sorry, but it's just too much to track people down.*

Let's Party.

Wall Street Journal Article on YA- My Views

2011-06-07T14:58:00.000-07:00

Song of the Day: Wake up Everybody by John Legend and The Roots feat. Melanie Fiona and Common
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iJgxJ6JrPkc

Hello all! Hope everyone is having a great week so far. As I stated in my post yesterday, I have a few things I want to say in response to the Wall Street Journal Article on YA. In case you haven't read the article or you want reference it, it's called "Darkness to Visible?" by Meghan Cox Gurden. The quotations I use in this post were also taken from the same article.

   First, let me state for those of you that may not know me or those who don't regularly read my blog, I'm not a YA writer. However, I LOVE the genre. I enjoy reading YA novels and I enjoy connecting with writers who write and read it. Second, let me say that I don't believe in censorship.

   Now, the article in the Wall Street Journal stated that young adult literature is too "dark." Here's a quote from the opening of the article:

"If books show us the world, teen fiction can be like a hall of fun-house mirrors, constantly reflecting back hideously distorted portrayals of what life is. There are of course exceptions, but a careless young reader—or one who seeks out depravity—will find himself surrounded by images not of joy or beauty but of damage, brutality and losses of the most horrendous kinds."

   According to Ms. Gurden, YA books reflect "hideously distorted portrayals of what life is." There are children and teens in the world facing and enduring some of these dark YA themes. To call it a "distorted portrayal of life" is not accurate. Her claim is instantly negated by the simple fact that it is happening. For her (or anyone else) to deny that truth is ridiculous.

   My mother monitored what I read until about the age of fifteen. I'm sure most of you are familiar with Sweet Valley High by Francine Pascal. While I was in middle school, my cousin was reading the Sweet Valley High Series. I was not allowed to read the High School Series because I was still in middle school. My mother told me that I was only allowed to read the Sweet Valley Twins Series (the twins were in sixth grade) and Sweet Valley Junior High Series (here they're in seventh grade) until I got to high school. Same thing in elementary school, I was only allowed to read Sweet Valley Kids. Essentially, I advanced in the series as I advanced in age.

   Somewhere around fifteen years of age my mother stopped telling me what to read. There were a couple reasons for this. One I think, was because she trusted me by that point. I had made the honor roll every grading period, and I never got into any trouble. Two, I was one year younger than everyone in my class (I started kindergarten at four) and I began taking AP classes. In these classes we often read books that definitely had adult themes. Some of them were classics and some of them were not. In high school I read the novella A Clockwork Orange by Anthony Burgess and the novel, The Orchid Thief by Susan Orlean. If you've never heard of either, look them up. (You might better recognize The Orchid Thief by its film counterpart, Adaptation.) The novels were filled with very adult content and there I was reading them at sixteen. Did that make me into a reckless teen once I started reading whatever I wanted? Absolutely not.

   It seems that parents are concerned that kids are going to start behaving like the characters in the novel. If parents do their jobs, then why would you need to worry about something like that? If you raised decent children, then shouldn't they have the ability to differentiate between what's right and what's wrong? AND NEWS FLASH: they aren't going to get any ideas from reading YA novels. Chances are they've already heard about or have already come into contact with the "dark" issues in YA novels. Gurden calls the material in YA novels, "ugliness." Well, like it or not, it's an ugly world.

   Also, how many YA books has Ms. Gurden read? People who don't read YA would probably be surprised at how much these books resonate emotionally with readers. They are just as good as adult fiction. I'm tired of people cutting down the genre and the talented authors who write it.

   I fully believe that parents should have the right to restrict what their children read. If you don't want your child reading "dark" material, then by all means, monitor their reading. My boss asks me for suggestions of YA books that are "clean" for her daughters. She monitors their reading habits, and she should. They're still pretty young. Still, parents shouldn't bash authors who write YA and definitely shouldn't embark on any book banning campaigns. Some people need these books. These books save people, including teens, as the Twitter hash tag "YAsaves" revealed. Is it really such a bad thing to have them on the shelves? If you don't like it, then it's simple, Don't read it. No one is forcing you. I think it's very sad that people are not acknowledging what's really going on in the world. Wake Up.

What about you? How do you feel about YA? Is it too dark? And do you think it's such a bad thing that dark literature for teens exists?

Opportunities in the Great Big Literary World- June 6, 2011

2011-06-06T09:33:00.000-07:00

Song of the Day: Heart of a Champion by Nelly
www.youtube.com/watch?v=9jwZBqGPgVE

Hello all! What was the weekend like this time? I had another productive one. I revised 60 pages of my novel, and also got a lot of other things done that I've been "meaning to get to." I also attended a Workshop on blogging sponsored by the Florida Writers Association. It was one of the best workshops I've attended and I can't wait to share with you all what I learned.

I want to briefly touch on two major things that happened over the weekend. The first was the article published the the Wall Street Journal. It was about the YA genre. Being that the vast majority of my readers are YA writers, I'm sure you all heard about it. I finally read the article this weekend, and I must say that I was not happy with what was said. I felt like the article was an attack on the genre. I will be writing a blog post with more details on how I feel about this. Also, in literary news the author V.S. Naipaul bashed women writers. He basically said that women were "sentimental and unequal" to him. I was especially outraged by this particular piece of literary news because V.S. Naipaul is a Trinidadian writer and I'm also Trinidadian. I've known about him for some time but never supported him because he is truly a disgrace to our culture. My views on him, needs its own blog post, so I will be posting about that as well. It's a shame that this kind of negative news is forcing us to have to address them in a new week, but there are things I do believe need to be said, and I intend to say them. On a more positive note, here are this week's opportunities.

Contests:

1. Narrative Magazine 3rd Annual Poetry Contest

Narrative Magazine hosts its third annual poetry contest. The First Prize is $1500, Second Prize is $750, Third Prize is $300 and ten finalists will receive $75 each. All entries will be considered for publication. The entry fee is $20 and the contest closes on July 15, 2011.

http://www.narrativemagazine.com/node/129338

2. 2011 MDEW Maryland Prize

Maryland Editors and Writers is seeking manuscript submissions for prizes in the following categories poetry, fiction, non-fiction, script, collection by a single author, and/or MA/MFA thesis. The prize is a large print, paperback book publication with royalties and twenty free, author copies. Author portrait will appear on the front cover. Royalties will be $1 per book or 6%, whichever is greater (with that calculation based on the gross, brick and mortar bookstore list price established with their distributors). The entry fee is $10 and the contest deadline is July 1, 2011.http://www.newmillenniumwritings.com/awards.php

http://www.mdew.org/

3. New Millenium Writings

New Millennium Writings is now accepting submissions for its thirty-second consecutive awards for Fiction, Poetry, and Nonfiction. Writing competition winners will be published in NMW and on this website. There will be a cash prize of $1,000. The last day to submit is June 17, 2011 and the entry fee is $17.

Calls for Submissions:

1. Tinge Magazine

Tinge Magazine is Temple University's new online literary journal. They are currently accepting submissions of fiction, poetry and non-fiction.

http://www.tingemagazine.org/submission-guidelines/

2. Palabra Literary Magazine

Palabra invites Chicano/Latino writers to submit work that pushes the boundaries of Chicano/Latino lliterary art.

http://www.palabralitmag.com/id2.html

* I will be announcing a 150 follower contest, but I'm going to do it as a separate post.

Also, Black Fox is closed to submissions for consideration in our summer issue. However, our submission gates are still open for consideration in our fall issue. Feel free to submit your fiction or poetry. Happy Writing!

Friday Fives- "But I don't Wanna..." Excuses Writers Should Nix (via Paper Hanover)

2011-06-03T07:18:00.000-07:00

Song of the Day: Excuses by Alanis Morisette
www.youtube.com/watch?v=n4Dy9YmMPUw

The blog Paper Hangover hosts its weekly Friday Fives! This week's question is:

What are FIVE excuses you have to be ready to give up in order to be a better writer?

1. I don't have the time to write.

That excuse is complete and total bologna. You do have the time. I have the time. We all have the time. I too, used this excuse. I know I ALWAYS talk about NanoWriMo, but I can't help it. It changed my life. Nano taught me that I do have the time. It proved that I simply, "can."

2. My writing isn't good enough to submit.

If you put in the hard work, then someone will like your writing. Sure, it's the most demoralizing thing in the world when you get a rejection in your inbox, but you have got to pick yourself up and move forward. How will you be published if you don't get your work out there? Keep trying, your work is as good as you want it to be.

3. I don't have time to read.

If you don't have time to read, then forget about becoming a better writer. You MUST read. Most writers actually like to read, but reading in a way is like work. Some books you read for pleasure, some for research. When you read in your genre, you are researching and learning your industry. It just so happens that doing that is actually fun at the same time.

4. I'm waiting for...

Waiting for what? I also used this excuse before. I didn't write my novel because I was waiting to become a better writer. What? Looking back, it sounds do ridiculous. I had to learn that by sitting down and writing that novel, I was becoming a better writer. I wasn't becoming a better writer by waiting to write a novel. I wish I had realized this sooner.

5. If I write about a certain topic, what will they think of me?

I'm still struggling with this, but really, who cares what they think? The best writers push the envelope. Just look at Joyce Carol Oates. She writes what is most controversial, something I love about her. It's called fiction for a reason. If other people don't get that, why do we care so much? One of my favorite quotes (and one I remind myself of frequently) is: "What other people think about you is none of your business."

Bottom line, we writers are full of excuses. The trick is to remember the part of you that wants to be a writer. The part that can't stop coming up with story ideas, the part that feels disconnected when you don't write, the part that's stronger than the excuses.

Can you think of any excuses that we writers should stop making in order to become better at our craft?

Opportunities in the Great Big Literary World- June 1, 2011

2011-06-01T09:14:00.000-07:00

Song of the Day: Dreams by Van Halen
www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Snf9oQ_ErM

    Hello all! This post is ridiculously late, but I got swamped yesterday and I didn't get a free moment. I hope everyone had a great holiday weekend. I usually discuss something writing related before the opportunities, but today I'm going to talk about my Memorial Day.

Disclaimer: If you don't like Basketball, then feel free to skip over this.

    Guess where I was on Monday? At Dwight Howard's Barbecue! If you know me at all, then you know that I have a tiny crush on him. *Insert dreamy eyes here* Anyway, I had a fantastic time, and I still can't believe how close to him I was. What impresses me the most is the way he cares about his fans. He held a dance contest for the kids that attended and gave out cash prizes to the winners. There was also plenty of food for everyone, though my parents are the ones that told me this. I definitely did not notice the food!

    If you're a basketball fan, then no doubt you've heard the rumors circulating about him leaving the Orlando Magic. There's even been talk about him leaving for the LA Lakers (one of my least favorite NBA teams-I'm just saying.) At the end of the event he told fans that he's staying in Orlando, but the team needs the support of the fans (definitely didn't have to tell me that, as I am a die-hard Magic Fan.) I have tried to tell my friends who follow basketball, and they continue to be delusional about him leaving. Call me crazy, but I believe what he says. What NBA player do you know throws a free barbecue for their fans anyway? My two adopted sisters Pam and Quita are always talking about their celebrity crushes, just thought I'd share a little insight on why I like mine. I think it's safe to say I had the best Memorial Day ever! (And for the record, I still managed to squeeze in some writing and reading time!)

    Okay, I don't often blog about anything outside of the writing world, so give me a break! Also, occasionally my parents read my blog, so if you're reading guys, Happy 32nd Anniversary!

I've gone on enough, here are the opportunities this week. I hope you are all at least finding a little time to submit?

Contests:

1. Literal Latte Short Shorts Contest

The literary magazine hosts its annual short short story contest. One First place winner will receive a prize of $500. All entries will be considered for publication. Stories should not exceed 2,000 words. The contest has a reading fee of $10 for up to three stories or $15 per set of six shorts. Contest deadline is June 30, 2011.

http://www.literal-latte.com/contests/

2. 2011 Spilling Ink Short Story Prize

Spilling Ink, a literary magazine, seeks short stories of up to 1500 words for an annual contest. This is a UK contest, but it's open Internationally. First place receives a prize of £250, second place receives £125, and third place receives £50. All three winners will receive publication and a free copy of the annual print anthology. In addition to the three winners, there will be entries that are shortlisted. Those authors will receive publication and a free copy of the annual print anthology. Entry fee is £5 and the contest closes on July 1, 2011.

http://spillinginkreview.com/

3. Marguerite McGlinn Prize for Fiction

An annual national short fiction contest. One short story will win a prize of $2,000 and will be invited to an awards dinner at Rosemont College. The winning story will also appear in the winter print and online issues of Philadelphia Stories. Stories should be previously unpublished works of fiction of no more than 8,000 words. The entry fee is $10 and the contest deadline is June 15, 2011.

http://www.philadelphiastories.org/marguerite-mcglinn-prize-fiction-0

Calls for Submissions:

1. Fiction Fix

The University of North Florida's Literary Magazine Fiction Fix, is currently accepting short fiction, short short fiction, and novel excerpts until August 1, 2011.

http://www.fictionfix.net/submit.html

2. Brevity Magazine

Brevity seeks unconventional non-fiction for their "Pushing the Boundaries" section. Deadline is June 13, 2011.

http://brevity.wordpress.com/2011/05/12/unconventional-nonfiction-wanted/

REMINDER:
This Friday June 3, 2011 will be the last day to submit to Black Fox Literary Magazine's Fiction Contest. It will also be the end of the submission period for consideration in the Summer Issue (Can you believe it?) We'd love to see your work, so send it in now! Happy writing!

P.S. I've also noticed that I hit 150 followers! Yay! I think this is grounds for another contest! I'll be thinking this week of what to give away in my upcoming contest!

Friday Fives- Top Internet Distractions (via Paper Hangover)

2011-05-27T08:01:00.000-07:00

Song of the Day: Distractions by Paul McCartney
www.youtube.com/watch?v=HcSR3u_uQLQ

The blog Paper Hangover hosts its weekly Friday Fives! This week's question is: What are FIVE of your most distracting (procrastination-worthy) things (habits, websites, etc.) on the Internet?

1. Twitter

This site is the NUMBER ONE distraction for me. My two adopted sisters Pam and Quita got me hooked on Twitter. Now, I can't stop! I used to be addicted to Facebook, but I've been cheating on Facebook with Twitter, and well, now we're involved! LOVE, LOVE, LOVE Twitter.

2. Facebook

Okay, though I'm in love with Twitter, Facebook and I are still friends. The thing about Facebook is that most of my friends from college and high school are on there. I use Twitter more to connect with writers. On Facebook I often get distracted by pictures, events, and catching up with friends.

3. Any Literary Magazine Website

As you all know, I have a literary magazine with Pam and Quita called Black Fox Literary Magazine. I am constantly searching for other literary magazines for various purposes. One, to see how they run their magazines so that I can improve upon mine. Two, to connect in the magazine world. Three, I'm always looking to submit or even post about them in my Monday Opportunities blog posts. Four, I often read the content if it's available for free. So many good writers in those magazines!

4. Blogger

I follow A LOT of blogs. All the writers on blogspot are so friendly and so talented. The blog topics are always interesting too. I crave connection with writers, and blogspot is another way of doing just that. I also enjoy reading about what writers are up to. If I'm not careful, I could spend all day reading blog posts and commenting.

5. Good Reads

I love Good Reads because I love reading the reviews, seeing what everyone else is reading and discovering new books. I get lost in time so easily when I'm on good reads and it's because of my unhealthy obsession with books. But hey, what book lover wouldn't love Good Reads?

What about you? What are some Internet distractions that make you procrastinate?

Opportunities in the Great Big Literary World- May 23, 2011

2011-05-23T14:51:00.000-07:00

Song of the Day: Success by Duran Duran
www.youtube.com/watch?v=lHmT3Pq6xaI

Hello all! Hope the weekend was phenomenal! It's safe for me to say that I had a rather literary kind of weekend. On Saturday I went to a spoken word event, and it was fantastic! It's amazing how many talented poets and writers there are in your backyard and you wouldn't even know it! Last year I joined a Writers association called the Florida Writer's Association (FWA) and I finally went to my first meeting! It was inspirational (I'll be blogging more about that later this week.) After the meeting I just wanted to get home and write! Sunday I spent the day reading, editing and writing a flash piece. It has been one of the most productive weekends I've had in a long time, as far as my work goes anyway. I've gone on enough. I hope you all are finding the time to write. Here are the opportunities for this week.

Contests:

1. 19th Annual Writer's Digest International Self-Published Book Awards

The grand prize winner will be awarded $3,000 cash and a trip to the Writer's Digest Conference in New York City. The editors of Writer's Digest will endorse and submit 10 copies of the Grand Prize-Winning book to major review houses. Brian Jud & Book Marketing Works, LLC will provide a one-year membership in Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA), guaranteed acceptance in a special-sales catalog giving you national representation through 1800 salespeople selling to non-bookstore markets, guaranteed acceptance by Atlas Books, a top distributor to wholesalers, chains, independents, and online retailers, six hours of book shepherding from Poynter Book Shepherd Ellen Reid and a guaranteed review in Midwest Book Review. There will also be ten additional first place winners, and honorable mentions announced. I haven't even listed the full extent of the prizes for the grand prize winner and the first place winners. Writer's Digest will give away over $17,000 in prizes. Entry fee is $100 and the deadline is June 3, 2011.

http://www.writersdigest.com/selfpublished

2. Rosebud Magazine's Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley Award for Imaginative Fiction

Rosebud Magazine hosts the fourth annual Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley Award. The contest is for short stories in the genres of science fiction, fantasy, mystery, or horror. The judges are also interested in stories that reach beyond the the boundaries of those genres, take a variety of literary and creative risks, and tell a good story. Ideally, stories should be between 1000 and 3500 words (though they will consider stories of up to 4500 words.) First place will win $1,000 and Publication in Rosebud. Four runners up will receive $100 and publication in Rosebud. Entry fee is $10 and the contest closes September 1, 2011. (Mark your calendars because you've got plenty of time!)

http://www.rsbd.net/NEW/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=76:shelley&catid=35:contests&Itemid=54

Calls for Submissions:

1. Prime Number Magazine

Currently accepting works of fiction, non-fiction, poerty, book reviews, interviews, and essays on craft.

http://www.primenumbermagazine.com/Submit.html

2. Cooper Dillon Books

Currently accepting submissions for chapbooks and full-length poetry manuscripts.

http://www.cooperdillon.com/submissions.html

Conferences/Workshops:

1. Denton County Writer's Workshop

If you live in Denton County Texas, then here's a free all day workshop for you. It will be held at the North Branch Library. According to the site:

"Laurie Williamson, freelance writer and owner of RareType, LLC, will provide insights on time management, how to get freelance work, and how to make the most of your creative output. Bruce Bond, University of North Texas Regents Professor of Poetry, will offer a lecture on the craft of poetry writing. Roni Loren, author, will talk on Hooks and High Concepts. Kristen Lamb social media guru and bestselling author of We Are Not Alone, will speak on the importance of using social media to build writer’s platform, gain exposure and get published."

The workshop is free, but registration is required. For more information visit the website below.

http://northbranchwriters.webs.com/workshopevents.htm

A brief announcement. Last week I said that Black Fox Literary Magazine would close submissions for consideration in the summer on June 1, 2011. I had the wrong date. We actually will close submissions for that issue on June 3, 2011. We would love to see your short stories or poetry. Our 100 Twitter follower contest is also still going on. Since there seems to be some confusion we will make it a little easier to enter. You will be able to find the details on how to enter on Thursday over at Pam and Marquita's blog, Y(A)? Cuz We Write! Be on the look out! Happy Writing! :)

Friday Fives- What I Can't Live Without When I Write (via Paper Hangover)

2011-05-20T06:39:00.000-07:00

Song of the Day: Can't Live Without You by Charlie Wilson
www.youtube.com/watch?v=th7QEjbB1qM

Hello all! It's time for Friday Fives again. This week the blog, Paper Hangover poses the question: What are five things you can't live without when you're writing or revising?

When I'm writing I can't live without...

1. Music or sometimes TV.

There are some writers that need complete silence, but I'm definitely not one of them. I need some kind of background noise like music or the TV.

2. The Internet.

Yes the Internet can be a distraction, but I actually use it to research something I'm writing, or to look up a word (I use on online dictionary or thesaurus.)

3. My Flash Drive.

I ALWAYS back my work up on a flash drive...or two. During NanoWriMo I was traumatized and I lost a huge chunk of my work because my computer fell and landed on the flash drive (while the flash dive was still plugged in.) I'll never forget the feeling of seeing so much hard work go down the drain. These days I back up my work on two flash drives and I email myself. (Yes, I'm paranoid.)

4. A snack of some sort.

After I've been sitting and writing for hours, I like to take mini breaks which involve eating. The snack is almost always never good for me. My favorite things are chocolate, ice cream, cake, or cashews.

5. A pen and paper.

I usually get other ideas when I write, so I keep this notebook (that I also take EVERYWHERE) with me and I jot down ideas. Sometimes I see something in the story that I want to fix later, so I'll take a note of that kind of thing as well.

Those are the things I can't live without! What are some things you can't live without when you write or revise?

Opportunities in the Great Big Literary World- May 16, 2011

2011-05-16T10:33:00.000-07:00

Song of the Day: More by Usher
www.youtube.com/watch?v=1tUH_MHgSeU

Hello all! It's a busy day today! How was the weekend? Mine was great. I was able to get a good amount of editing done on my novel. Though editing this novel is my most important task at hand, I have all these story ideas in my head plus two ideas for novels. It's SO hard to concentrate! I'm hoping after this week I'll get some time to sit down and start fleshing them out. Today, one of the items on my very long to-do list is to mark off on my calendar the deadlines of a couple contests. Have you done this for the month? Have you at least submitted your work at least once this month? The month is not over, don't let May get away without submitting something! Here are the opportunities for this week.

Contests:

1. Wow (Women on Writing) Spring Flash Fiction Contest

A quarterly contest open to writers globally. The first place winner will receive a cash prize of $300, $25 Amazon gift card, an e-book pack, an interview with WOW and publication on the WOW website. Second place will receive a prize of $200, a $25 Amazon gift card, an e-book pack, an interview with WOW and publication on the WOW website. Third place receives $100, a $25 Amazon gift card, an e-book pack, an interview with WOW and publication on the WOW website. Seven runners up will also each win $25 Amazon gift card, an e-book pack, entry published on WOW website, and an interview with WOW. Ten honorable mentions will win a $20 Amazon gift card, an e-book pack, and their name, state and the title of their story published to the WOW website. (Tons of prizes!) I had to mention this contest because my big sis Pam Harris' agent Sarah Lapolla of Curtis Brown, LTD is guest judging! The entry fee is $10 and the contest deadline is May 31, 2011.

http://www.wow-womenonwriting.com/contest.php

2. Lori M. Lee's 100 Followers Contest

There is an awesome contest happening over at Lori M. Lee's blog. The first place winner will be able to choose one of three prizes: a bust sketch, ten page critique or $30 Borders gift card. The Second place winner will be able choose one of two prizes: a five page critique and a $15 Borders gift card. For details visit her blog.

http://lorimlee.blogspot.com/2011/05/followers-contest.html

3. Twin Feather Publishing- Soaring Above Essay Contest

According to the contest site:

"Have you dreamed of being a published writer? Do you have an inspiring story of recovery or overcoming obstacles to share? We want to hear your story! The first prize winner will receive a hot air balloon ride for two, as well as publication in Twin Feather’s upcoming book. All entries will be considered for publication."

Entries should be between 1,000 and 5,000 words. There is no entry fee and the contest closes on May 31, 2011.

http://thebrainpan.wordpress.com/2011/04/11/twin-feather-publishing-soaring-above-essay-contest/

Call for Submissions:

1. Heavy Feather Review

A new literary magazine seeks short fiction, poetry, original photography/art, short comics, creative non-fiction, and hybrid for their first issue. They are also looking for people willing to write reviews and conduct interviews.

http://www.heavyfeatherreview.com/guidelines/

2. NthWord Magazine

Nth Word is an online magazine currently accepting original interviews, articles on culture, social media and entertainment, flash fiction, short stories and visual art.

http://www.nthword.com/about_contact.php

As always don't forget about Black Fox Literary Magazine's Fiction Contest! We are also accepting submissions for our inaugural issue. Submit by June 1, 2011. Happy Writing! :)

Finding the Time: Ways You can Squeeze in Writing Time (Part 2)

2011-05-11T08:06:00.000-07:00

Song of the Day: Clocks by Coldplay
www.youtube.com/watch?v=XbI1FpLd4Vk

Hello all! A week ago I wrote part one to this post. It was called, "Finding the Time: How to Balance WIP + Submissions + Life." I thought it would be beneficial if I also posted a part two about actually finding the time to write. With all of life's distractions, I'm sometimes left without a chance to sit down and write. I'm a huge believer of the saying, "You make time for what you want to make time for." If you want to be a serious writer, then you must make time. A few quick suggestions. I'm sure you've heard this before, but ALWAYS keep a notebook with you. It doesn't matter the kind. Some people like moleskins, others prefer spiral. The point is to always have paper if an idea or inspiration strikes. Second, invest in a netbook. My parents bought me a netbook for Christmas a little over a year ago, and it's very convenient. It's much lighter, can be tossed in your bag, and has a longer battery life than a laptop (my battery lasted the entire way of a four hour drive to Miami, and still had power left over.) Now, here are ways you can get some writing in.

1. While you're waiting at the doctor's office, the mechanic shop, the nail shop, etc.

You know how sometimes (despite making an appointment) you have to wait in the waiting room to see the doctor? Instead of grabbing that magazine, grab a pen and your notebook. Or, if you carry it around, your laptop/netbook. Do you know how much writing I've done waiting at the hair salon? (Both in the waiting room and under the dryer!) Even if you are only waiting for five minutes, you can get a lot in. Something is better than nothing.

2. If you use public transportation, write on the bus or train.

Unfortunately, I don't live in a place where transportation is at its best. In Florida, you pretty much NEED to have a car. But those of you who are lucky enough to be able to ride a train or bus somewhere, should take advantage of that time. You really have no excuse!

3. Have you ever been a couple minutes early for work? Use that as writing time.

I'm a little crazy when it comes to this one. I'm paranoid about time whenever I have to be somewhere important, so I'm always 30 minutes early for work. I sometimes use the time to read, but during National Novel Writing Month, I wrote large chunks of my novel in the car before work. Many times I would end up writing at least half of my daily word count goal.

4. Write on your lunch break.

I get an hour for lunch so it's actually very beneficial for me to write on my break. On average people get at least thirty minutes for lunch. Lots of words can be written in thirty minutes. If you don't want to get too involved in your story, why not use the time to make outlines of novels or short stories?

5. At your kid's soccer match.

My boss attends every one of her children's soccer games. She once joked about the other moms making fun of her because she was always working on her cases. Some of you might say, that you don't want to miss a big moment, but there are always breaks in sports. You can at least write on the breaks. And I'm not just talking soccer. You can write during basketball, football, lacrosse, track. You get the picture.

Writing should never be about quantity and it's not a race. You can progress your WIP in small amounts of time. What about you? When do you find the time to write?

Opportunities in the Great Big Literary World- May 9, 2011

2011-05-09T05:56:00.000-07:00

Song of the Day: Move Along by The All American Rejects
www.youtube.com/watch?v=FSbGur1dz9k

Hello all! How was the weekend? I hope all the mothers out there had an awesome Mother's Day! I know my mother did. My sister and I bought her jewelry and a specialty cake, (raspberry with white chocolate--her favorite) both of which she loved! I did get a chance to sneak in some editing for my thesis and do a little planning for submissions. I haven't really asked in a couple weeks, but are you submitting your work? It's important to hang in there. I wrote a post last week on how you can find the time to submit your work. You can find that here. Even if you only submit something once a month, it's better than nothing. I already do the hard work for you, all you have to do is pick one and submit. Easy as Pie.

Contests:

1. Query Tracker Blog May Contest: Young Adult Novels

Agent Roseanne Wells from Maryanne Strong Literary Agency will judge the next contest. The contest will open today (May 9th) at 9 am and will run for 24 hours (closing at 9 am on Tuesday.) Agent Roseanne Wells would like to see the first page of COMPLETED Young Adult Novels. You can submit your manuscript via their submission form. Online entries only. For more information visit the Query Tracker Blog. Act Fast!

http://querytracker.blogspot.com/p/latest-contest.html

2. Flannery O'Connor Award for Short Fiction

An Award for short story collections by emerging writers. Manuscripts submitted must be between 40,000 to 75,000 words. Authors of winning manuscripts will receive a prize of $1,000 and their collections will be subsequently published by University of Georgia Press under a standard book contract. The contest closes May 31, 2011. Entry fee is $25.

http://www.ugapress.org/index.php/series/FOC

3. Boston Review Poetry Contest

An annual prize of $1,500 and publication in Boston Review is given to one poem or group of poems. All entries will be considered for publication. Poets should submit up to five poems totaling no more than ten pages. Entry fee is $10 and contest deadline is June 1, 2011.

http://bostonreview.net/about/contest/index.php#Fourteenth

4. Jamie Manning's Blogoversary Contest

Jamie Manning is celebrating the one year anniversary of his blog! All you have to do is leave a comment on the post found here. It would also be nice if you could tweet about the contest too. For more information visit Jamie's blog.

http://jmanni32.blogspot.com/

Call for Submissions:

1. Flywheel Magazine

Flywheel is currently accepting submissions. They are looking for fiction, flash fiction, creative non-fiction, and poetry.

http://www.flywheelmag.com/submissions/

***Black Fox Literary Magazine's 100 Twitter Follower Contest***

Details can be found on our Facebook page found here.

As always don't forget about the Black Fox Fiction Contest. Deadline has been extended to June 1, 2011. We are also accepting general submissions of fiction and poetry. Happy Writing!

Friday Fives- 5 Pieces of Useful Advice I've Received (via Paper Hangover)

2011-05-06T17:28:00.000-07:00

Song of the Day: Express Yourself by Charles Wright
www.youtube.com/watch?v=JYi8lA9y_BY

Hello all! It's time for Friday Fives again. This week the blog, Paper Hangover poses the question: What are five pieces of useful advice you have received as an aspiring writer? (in quotes, blog posts, websites, etc.)

1. Write everyday

This is something I still struggle with, but it's the best piece of advice I've ever been given. I'll never forget the first time it actually resonated with me. It was in Carolyn See's book, Making a Literary Life. She said that in order to become a serious writer, you must write at least 1,000 words a day. I understand now what that means. You have to practice your craft.

2. It's okay if the first draft to sucks.

I learned this during National Novel Writing Month. I kept trying to get everything right the first time around. It only held me back. I would get so frustrated that I'd stop working on something. I've learned to let it all hang out and then go back and fix things later. Which leads me to my next point.

3. You must edit.

Editing is absolutely essential. It's one of the hardest things about being a writer. I think this is where the the work really comes in. It's when you test your dedication to being a writer. You sharpen your skills when you edit, but you must put in the time.

4. Read everything you can get your hands on.

Reading was something I've always done anyway, (since the age of 3) but it's still one of the best pieces of advice I've ever received. I'm a huge advocate of reading, and there's no doubt that it has made an impact on my writing. Reading not only makes you smarter, but if you read like a writer, you subconsciously develop the skills you need to be successful.

5. Just write.

Don't try to be like anyone else. Don't try to write anything that's not true to yourself. Be original and just write what you want to write.

What about you? What's the best writing advice you've ever received?

Finding the Time: How to Balance Your WIP + Submissions + Life (Part 1)

2011-05-04T06:42:00.000-07:00

Song of the Day: Busy by Lyfe Jennings
www.youtube.com/watch?v=IO7Fc_6ftes

Hello all! I've been noticing that a lot of writers seem to be having trouble with finding the time to submit their work to contests and literary magazines. As writers our schedules may be tight, but submitting our work is absolutely essential. Being published in a magazine or even winning a contest or award can not only make us more credible in the eyes of non-writers, but it's also a way to get our names out there. Suppose you finally get that book deal and your novel is published. The more people recognize your name, the more they may be willing to buy your book. Your writing has the potential to make a lasting impression. It can even build your self esteem. After all the beatings we writers take with critiques and rejections, a small victory can give us the boost we need to keep up with our long term writing goals. Today, I'm sharing a few tips that have helped me juggle life, submissions, and my WIP. I've been promising this post for a while now, and here it is, finally.

Plan, plan, plan! Did I mention plan?

You know the saying, "those who fail to plan, plan to fail?" Well, it's true. My first suggestion is to sit down with a calendar. You can use an actual calendar, planner, or your smart phone if you prefer. Set aside time once a month to plan which contests you want to enter or where you want to submit your work. It's up to you to determine how many you can handle applying to or how many you can afford (they're not always cheap or free.)

A calendar will be your best friend.

I'm finding that a lot of bloggers plan their posts and write them ahead of time. This is something I'm going to start doing because I always seem to have trouble keeping up. The same goes for submitting your work. You should use a calendar to remind you of all the deadlines, then plan to follow that schedule. Treat those dates you mark off as actual deadlines.

Don't bite off more than you can chew.

It's a total cliche, but a fact it is indeed. I think part of the reason writers find it hard to submit their work and balance it with working on a WIP, plus daily life is because they think submitting requires so much effort. If you plan, then it's much easier to balance both. Wouldn't it be better to submit one thing a month as opposed to nothing? Why not zero in on one contest or one magazine in which you'd like your work to appear? You can start small. There really are no rules.

Make Time to Work on things to submit.

Here's where it gets hard. You're working on your WIP, you've got the day job, you have to make dinner, clean the house, and your "to be read" pile is out of control. With all that life throws at us, we barely have time to write at all. But you know those moments when you get stuck on your WIP? The moments when you just need a break or need to step away from your manuscript? Why not work on something else, like a piece you can submit. Another good idea might be to pick one day of the week when you work on pieces you can eventually submit. Or, you can dedicate your lunch hour to working on a submission.

Save time by submitting the same story.

One other suggestion is that you write one really good story and submit it multiple places. This will also save a little time. You can try submitting the story until it is accepted. If it's just not accepted then maybe during your monthly planning, you could re-evaluate it, and fix any problems and submit it again. Don't let this particular piece of advice limit you, though. This is just a way for the very busy to focus on one thing at a time. My suggestion is to submit as many stories as you can.

Setting aside a little time each month can go a long way. With just a little planning, you can find the time to work on your WIP, do the laundry, wash the dishes, take care of the kids AND submit your work.

Can you think of any other suggestions for balancing life with your WIP and submissions? Was this post helpful?

Opportunities in the Great Big Literary World- May 2, 2011

2011-05-02T08:37:00.000-07:00

Song of the Day: Shine by Laura Izibor
www.youtube.com/watch?v=zfosF1hrOvw

Hello all! Hope the weekend was fantastic for you all. I ended up having another busy weekend, though it didn't start off that way. I had never intended my weekend to be so jammed packed. In fact, I re-arranged my schedule at work so that I could have Thursday through Monday (today) off. I was going to use that huge block of time to work on my thesis. Slowly, thing after thing kept coming up. I even tweeted that sometimes I feel like people demand too much of my time. It's true. I can't say no to people. If someone asks for my help, or asks me to be somewhere, I can't help but oblige. It's a strength and a weakness. I've been thinking about using some of the money in my savings to go on a writers retreat. I'd like to get away from the stresses of my life and just write. No Distractions. During my writing retreat, if someone asks me to show up somewhere, I'll have no choice but to tell them, "Sorry, I'm out of town." Do you ever feel like your being pulled in a billion directions? How does that affect your time to write? Take a look at the opportunities for this week.

Contests:

1. Spring Blog Carnival- Books, Books, and MORE Books!

This contest involves a huge book giveaway! Over 170 blogs are giving away free books! Instead of listing all the blogs, I'll just give a link to Julie A. Lindsay's blog and you can find the list there. Each blogger may require something different, but I did visit a few where all you have to do is leave your name and contact info and you're entered. What could be easier?

http://blog.juliealindsey.com/julie-lindsey/spring-blog-carnival-hop-giveaway-may-1st-may-8th/

2. Cheerios New Author Contest

Cheerios is hosting a contest open to new writers only. The grand prize winner will receive $5,000 and a possible publishing deal with Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing, in addition to having their book featured in Cheerios cereal boxes nationwide. Entrants must write an original story in English or Spanish, suitable for children ages 3-8 years old. Contest Deadline is July 15, 2011. I didn't see an entry fee so I'm assuming it's free to enter.

http://www.spoonfulsofstoriescontest.com/

3. Lost Horse Press- Idaho Prize for Poetry

A prize of $1,000 and publication by Lost Horse Press is given annually for a poetry collection by a U.S. poet. Manuscripts should be at least 48 pages. Entry fee is $25 and the contest deadline is May 15, 2011.

http://losthorsepress.org/the-idaho-prize/

Calls for Submissions:

1. 34th Parallel is accepting submissions of stories (fiction and documentary), poems, photographs, and art.

http://www.34thparallel.net/submit.html

2. 5x5 is accepting submissions for their "Visitors" issue until August 1, 2011. The magazine accepts fiction, poetry, non-fiction, visual arts, and comics.

http://www.5x5litmag.org/Submit.html

***The Black Fox 100 Follower Twitter Contest!***

My literary magazine has reached over 100 followers on Twitter! In order to celebrate Pam, Quita and I will be hosting a contest. To enter you must do two things:

Tweet about the contest and "@" Black Fox in your tweet (Our twitter: @blackfoxlit)
Go to our Facebook Page and tell us your favorite book, short story, or poem (brownie points if you like us too!)

This contest is only open to Black Fox Twitter Followers. If you're not a follower, you can follow at any time in order to enter. ;)

We will give away 3 prize packs which will include:

A Black Fox T-shirt, pen, notebook, and a print copy of the First Issue of Black Fox!

Our Facebook page can be found here: http://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Black-Fox-Literary-Magazine/103883499675744

Open the whole month of May!

Our fiction contest has also been extended until June 1, 2011! Enter your best fiction now! Happy Writing!

Friday Fives- Book Covers to Lust Over (via Paper Hangover)

2011-04-29T11:12:00.000-07:00

Song of the Day: Cover of the Rolling Stone by Dr. Hook
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Ux3-a9RE1Q

Hello all! For Friday Fives today Paper Hangover asks, what five book covers are you currently lusting over?

1. Freaky Green Eyes by Joyce Carol Oates

The green eyes on the cover are freaky. They make me wonder to whom do they belong?

2. A Visit from the Goon Squad by Jennifer Egan

Okay, not the most interesting of covers, but I like this one for superficial reasons. I like the color- Tiffany Blue!

3. Self-Help by Lorrie Moore

A cover with a bunch of medication? Makes me think the people in the stories may be crazy enough to need meds, which makes them interesting, which makes me want to read about them.

4. The Other Boleyn Girl by Philippa Gregory

A man in the middle of two women. There's tension on the cover alone!

5. The Falls by Joyce Carol Oates

I like this cover because it's so mysterious. If I saw it in a bookstore I would probably be drawn it it immediately.

Are there any book covers you're currently lusting after?

Opportunities in the Great Big Literary World- April 25, 2011

2011-04-25T05:51:00.000-07:00

Song of the Day: Never Say Never by Justin Bieber
www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Z5-P9v3F8w

Today's introduction will be short, as this is a busy day for me. Heck, it's a busy week. I'm sure it is for the rest of the world as well. Hopefully everyone had a great holiday weekend. I hope that you all are keeping up with your submissions. As hard as it is, you must be resilient. Take a look at the opportunities below and challenge yourself to submit something somewhere, anywhere.

Contests:

1. Writer's Digest Your Story Contest #34

If you read Writer's Digest frequently, you know that they host their "Your Story" contest on a regular basis and each time they choose a new prompt. The winner will receive publication in Writer's Digest. Writers should submit a story of 750 words or less and must begin the story with the line of dialogue: "You wouldn't believe what came in the mail today." Deadline is May 10, 2011 and it's free to enter (so you have no excuse!)

http://blog.writersdigest.com/promptly/

2. Crab Creek Review's 2011 Poetry Contest

Submit up to five previously unpublished poems by May 31, 2011. The entry fee is $10. The winning poet will receive $200 and publication in Crab Creek Review. All entries will be considered for publication. For official contest rules click the link below.

http://www.crabcreekreview.org/contest.htm

3. Monkey Puzzle Press 3rd Annual Flash Fiction Contest

Monkey Puzzle Press is looking for stories of 1,000 words or less. The first place winner will receive a prize of $300; The second place winner will receive a prize of $150.00; The the third place winner will receive a prize of $50.00. All winners will also receive publication in Monkey Puzzle Magazine. Entry fee is $10 and contest deadline is August 15, 2011.

http://monkeypuzzlepress.com/magazine-submissions/

Call for Submissions

1. Literary Laundry

Literary Laundry is currently accepting Submissions for its third journal issue. Each submission period is accompanied by a writing competition. Each submission received will be entered into consideration for their Award distinction. They will pay $500 for the best poem, $500 for the best short story, and $250 for the best one-act drama.

http://www.literarylaundry.com/submissions

2. Sleet Magazine

Sleet Magazine will accept submissions starting in May. They are looking for Fiction, flash fiction and irregulars. Visit their website for more information.

http://www.sleetmagazine.com/pages/submissions.html

3. Third Wednesday: A Quarterly Journal of Poetry, Prose and Art

Third Wednesday seeks unpublished poems up to two pages, fiction under 1500 words and b&w artwork or photography by experienced writers and artists. Send up to five poems and up to two stories.

http://thirdwednesday.org/

As always, don't forget about the Black Fox Fiction Contest! We've increased the prize money! We are also looking for poetry and flash fiction for weekly web features. Visit our site for all the details. Happy Writing!

Hint Fiction Contest- Guest Judge, Joyce Carol Oates!

2011-04-21T08:10:00.000-07:00

Song of the Day: The Math by Hilary Duff
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hyxr20hoC9E

Okay, I'm supposed to be blogging today about how to find time to submit your work while trying to write your WIP amongst other things...BUT...I have to talk about this new contest! So, I recently went to Barnes and Noble and stumbled on this book, more specifically this anthology. It's called Hint Fiction. What's Hint Fiction? I wondered. I flipped over to the back and here's what it said:

"The stories in this collection run the gamut from playful to tragic, candid to enigmatic, but they all have one thing in common: they are no more than 25 words long. Editor Robert Swartwood termed them "hint fiction" because the few chosen words suggest a larger, more complex chain of events. The 125 gemlike stories in this collection come from such notable contributors as Joyce Carol Oates, Ha Jin, Peter Straub, and James Frey, as well as emerging writers."

REWIND. Did they just say Joyce Carol Oates? As you all know she is my writer idol, and one of my favorite past times is stalking her, though it's difficult since she doesn't have a twitter. (JCO if you're reading this, get on twitter!) After reading that her work was included in the anthology, I marched straight up to the register and purchased the book. Also on the back cover was the website for the editor, Robert Swartwood. I decided to check it out because I had to know more about hint fiction. Something about very short fiction just fascinates me.

Here's Stwartwood's definition:

"Hint Fiction (n): a story of 25 words of fewer that suggests a larger, more complex story."

Once I'd read the definition I noticed something on the sidebar. It said:

"New Hint Fiction Contest judged by Joyce Carol Oates, announced."

I almost fell out of my chair. I couldn't wait to get home and start writing hint fiction. I'd already tried out six word stories how hard could it be to write one in 25 words? Well, EXTREMELY HARD. It sounds a lot easier than it looks. I'm in the process now of preparing my entry and I'm SO nervous because the writer that I look up to the most may actually read over my work! Talk about pressure! Anyway, I think I've gone on long enough. I've listed some details of the contest in case you want to check it out or enter!

First Place: $100
Second Place: $50
Third Place:$25

*The first place winner will also receive journals and anthologies donated by publishers*

Writers may submit up to two entries of no more than 25 words each. For more information and official rules visit the link below!

http://www.robertswartwood.com/hint-fiction/hint-fiction-contest-the-third/

Opportunities in the Great Big Literary World- April 18, 2011

2011-04-18T08:05:00.000-07:00

Song of the Day: Push it to the Limit by Paul Engemann
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BhsTmiK7Q2M

Hello all! Hope your weekend was phenomenal. Mine was very busy. Today, I ask you again, have you been submitting your work? What steps have you been taking to get your work out there? A blogger friend of mine (Alicia Gregoire over at Slice of Blog Pie) suggested that I write a post on how writers can find the time to submit their work while working on WIPs and trying to balance life. I thought it would be a great idea to create a post with tips on how to balance life with trying to get your foot in the door. Look out for that upcoming post this week. Thank you for the suggestion Alicia!

Contests:

1. Writers' Journal Short Story Contest

Writers' Journal hosts its annual short story contest. First place will win a prize of $350.00; Second place will win a prize of $125.00; Third place will win a prize of $75. First, Second, Third, and selected honorable mentions will also be published in a future issue of Writers' Journal. The entry fee is $10 and the contest ends on May 30, 2011.

http://www.writersjournal.com/ShortStoryContest.htm

2. Narrative Magazine Spring 2011 Short Story Contest

Narrative Magazine's short story contest is open to all fiction and non-fiction writers. They're looking for short stories, short shorts, essays, memoirs, photo essays, graphic stories, one-act plays, all forms of literary nonfiction, and excerpts from longer works of both fiction and non-fiction. Entries should be no longer than 15,000 words and previously unpublished. First prize is $3,250; Second prize is $1,500; Third prize is $750; and ten finalists will receive $100 each. All entries will be considered for publication. Submission fee is $20 and the contest closes July 31, 2011.

http://www.narrativemagazine.com/node/129337

3. The Ledge Poetry Award

A prize of $1,000 and publication in Ledge is given annually for one poem. All entries will be considered for publication. Submit up to three poems of any length with a $12 reading fee. The contest ends on April 30, 2011.

http://www.theledgemagazine.com/Annual%20Contests.html

Workshops:

1. DC Library presents: Author Eugenia Kim- 2 Day Workshop

For those of you in the DC area, the DC Library will host a 2 day workshop with Eugenia Kim. Eugenia Kim is the author of the novel, The Calligrapher's Daughter. Writers who attend the workshop will have the chance to examine how culture shapes a story, learn key elements of craft and exercises, and discuss the influence of culture on their own writing. The workshop is free but you must submit a writing sample by May 1, 2011.

http://twitpic.com/4kp50b

I thought I had a link for a cool new YA lit magazine for all my YA followers, but I went to the link and it didn't work. I'm going to double check on it and if it's just a glitch, I'll post the link next Monday.

For those of you who won cupcakes I finally figured out that Bangerang Bakery went out of business! I'm SO disappointed. So, since the cupcakes were going to cost me about $7, I will give each of you a gift card to Amazon or a bookstore of your choice for $8. It will be a virtual gift card, so leave your email in the comments, or email me directly. Thanks for your patience and I apologize for the inconvenience (I know some of you really wanted those cupcakes!)

As always, Black Fox Literary Magazine is accepting general submissions and also fiction contest submissions. We are also looking for poetry and flash fiction for our weekly web features. We're very close to launching our new site, so be on the look out for that as well! Happy Writing!

Friday Fives- Trading Places with Characters (via Paper Hangover)

2011-04-15T20:29:00.000-07:00

Song of the Day: Best of Both Worlds by Hannah Montana
www.youtube.com/watch?v=YlmYqQ-sthA

Hello all! I'm really late, but better late than never, right? For Friday Fives today Paper Hangover asks, What five characters would you switch places with for a day? As I was examining all the books I've read, I realized that there were very few characters I would trade places with. I read a lot of dark fiction (I had never realized how much.) I did manage to come up with a few though.

1. Elizabeth Bennett from Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen

I love the time period and who wouldn't want to fall in love with Mr. Darcy?

2. Bridget Jones from Bridget Jones' Diary by Helen Fielding

Bridget is hilarious! Although she's a little awkward at times, she's a strong and independent woman discovers her true self.

3. Cassie Moore from The Buenos Aires Broken Hearts Club by Jessica Morrison

At some point most people will end up with their heart broken at least one. When Cassie gets her heart broken she does something drastic. She books a plane ticket to Buenos Aires, Argentina. She has this whole new exciting life all because she took a risk. The best part is that she gets to visit another country.

4. Allie from The Notebook by Nicholas Sparks

The Notebook is one of my favorite love stories. Ally gets Noah...enough said.

5. Becky from Confessions of a Shopaholic by Sophie Kinsella

Becky does a lot of shopping in Confessions of a Shopaholic. What fun! Though she does get herself into a heap of debt, she gets it under control in the end. I know the whole debt thing is not the best thing, but she sure does have a lot of fun shopping!

My Interview with Lynette Benton

2011-04-13T16:18:00.001-07:00

Hi all! I'm being interviewed by Lynette Benton for her special series, "When You Hate the Book You're Writing." You can check it out on her blog, here: http://lynettebentonwriting.com/2011/04/when-you-hate-the-book-youre-writing-part-3/. Stop by and say hi if you can!

Published with Blogger-droid v1.6.8

Opportunities in the Great Big Literary World- April 12, 2011

2011-04-12T10:11:00.000-07:00

Song of the Day: Climbing to the Top by Lionel Richie
www.youtube.com/watch?v=IRknZqLDhWs

Hello all! Confession time. I haven't submitted any of my work lately. I know this is bad, but I've been a little busy with other things (hence the reason the opportunities are late this week) such as re-designing the Black Fox website, working on a project for The Florida Writer's Association, and the most important of them all: MY THESIS. I'm trying hard to balance them all, but my thesis comes first. I've already submitted my entire creative thesis (27,000 words) and my professor responded with comments within two days! If he's going to be that quick, then I'll have to step it up. I'm still going to make time to submit something this week, though. I was thinking of the Our Stories contest. LOVE the flash fiction! What about you? Are you balancing life and writing? Will you be submitting your work this week?

Contests:

1. Seven Hills Literary Contest

Seven Hills Review is a literary publication produced by The Tallahassee Writer's Association. Seven Hills is looking for manuscripts for their annual contest. The categories are Short, Story, Creative non-fiction, children's picture books, and flash fiction. First place will receive a prize of $100; Second place receives $75 and third place will receive $50. Winners will also be published in Seven Hills Review. The contest entry fee is $17 for non TWA members and $12 for members of TWA. The deadline is August 31, 2011.

http://twaonline.org/pgs/contst/svn_hlls/12svn_hlls.html

2. Our Stories- The Gordon Award for Flash Fiction

Our Stories is pleased to announce The Gordon Award for Flash fiction Contest. One first place winner will receive $200 plus publication and 3-5 runners up will have their submission fee waived. Submissions should be 1,000 words or less. They review all stories, so with your submission fee of $10 you will receive feedback on your work. Deadline is April 15, 2011.

http://www.ourstories.us/FlashFictionContest.html

3. Glimmer Train Press Family Matters Short Story Contest

Glimmer Train announces its annual Family Matters Short Story Contest. They are seeking original, unpublished short stories about family ranging from 3,000-12,000 words. First place wins $1,200, publication in Glimmer Train Stories and 20 copies of of the issue in which their work appears. Second place will win $500 and third place will win $300. Entry fee is $15 and the contest closes on April 30, 2011.

http://www.glimmertrain.com/familymatters.html

As always, the Black Fox Fiction Contest is going on now. Enter for a chance to win a prize of $100. We are also looking for flash fiction and poetry for our weekly web features. Look out for our new website where we'll start featuring author interviews and help for writers! Happy Writing!

Friday Fives- What I wish I'd Known Before I Became a Writer (via Paper Hangover)

2011-04-08T07:58:00.000-07:00

Song of the Day: If I Knew Then by Lyfe Jennings
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zLm45q9ilME

As you all know my incredible adopted sis (Pam) is a contributor of the blog Paper Hangover. Their Friday posts are awesome and will definitely get you either blogging or writing. Today they ask the question: What are five things you wish you'd known before you became a writer? Here's my list.

1. I wish I'd known that you had to have thick skin.

When I had my first writing workshop, I got so emotional after all the comments. I took it VERY personally. I had to learn that comments (most of the time) are actually beneficial and only make the work that much stronger. Even if you don't take all the suggestions people give to you, at least it gets you thinking about what works and what doesn't.

2. Being a writer is no cake walk

Between the rejections, the editing and re-writing, the critiques, the blank stares, I've discovered that being a writer is hard work. I decided to be a writer in the fifth grade (I was nine) after my teacher told me "you have a way with words, you should be a writer." I had already been reading since I was three and had already written several stories, complete with illustrations (all on construction paper, of course.) Writing had always come naturally to me. I whizzed through writing assignments, while my friends struggled to write a single paragraph. I never thought that would only be acceptable for the time being. I had to learn (fast) that the first draft wasn't going to be the final draft.

3. Getting your hands on every piece of information possible is essential

I wasted so much time! I went through phases when I didn't want to be a writer. My AP English teacher would literally rip my papers to shreds. After high school I figured that writing was probably not for me. I decided to be a pre-optometry major (I don't know what the heck I was thinking either) when I became a freshman in college. That wasn't working out because I was struggling in Chemistry and Calculus but excelling in English. A professor pulled me aside and told me that I should consider a major in writing because my work was good. That's when I decided to stop fighting my love for words. But I still didn't take it as seriously as I do now. I should have done internships, started attending conferences, reading more and making genuine connections with other writing students. I did none of that. I wish I'd spoken up more in class and formed relationships with those around me. Maybe then I would have had other writers to relate to that live close by.

4. You won't get it right on the first draft

I touched a little on this in #2. I still struggle with this. When you're a writer, you are destined to feel self-doubt at some point. This is my constant battle. I have to always remember that it's okay to get the words down on the page and then go back and fix it. National Novel Writing Month actually helped me with this. I finally stopped making excuses and realized that I can in fact write a novel.

5. You need writer friends

Whether you have friends that live near or you rely on twitter, you NEED people around you who are also writers. Who else is going to understand your pain? Having a writing buddy encourages you and keeps you sane. Rejections may suck, but at least you're not the only one getting rejected. When you see success stories, it motivates you to press on with your own writing goals. Thank God for technology. It makes this one a little easier.

If I'd known all of these things before I became a writer, I would have still chosen to be one. The only thing that would have changed is that maybe I'd be a better writer now. I love being a writer, heartache and all.

Opportunities in the Great Big Literary World- April 4, 2011

2011-04-04T06:28:00.000-07:00

Song of the Day: Career Opportunities by the Clash
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lIuS2LCWNh8

Hello all! Hope you had a fantastic weekend! Do you hear that sound? That's the sound of opportunity knocking! Okay, maybe that was a little cliche, but really, are you taking advantage of every opportunity offered to you? I've missed the deadline for a few writing contests, some of them unintentionally, and I can't help but wonder, what if I'd entered that contest? Would they have liked my piece? Would I have won? I'll never know the answer to any of those questions, because I didn't enter. At least with a rejection, you know that you tried. It's important that us writers take advantage of all the opportunities offered to us, especially the free ones. No excuses. Hope everyone has been submitting their work and making the most of all the opportunities. Here's what I found this week.

Contests:

1. Mason's Road Creative Writing Contest

Mason's Road, a literary and arts journal sponsored by Fairfield University, is looking for short stories. One first place winner will win a prize of $1,000 and publication. The theme is: ARC- the rise and fall of dramatic tension within a piece. The entry fee is $15 and I couldn't find the contest closing date, but I'm assuming it's May 1, 2011, since that's when their submission period ends.

http://www.masonsroad.com/features/creative-writing-contest/

2. BOMB Magazine's 2011 Fiction Contest

BOMB Magazine announces it's fifth annual fiction contest. Stories should not exceed 20 pages and must not be previously unpublished. One first place winner will receive a prize of $500. Entry fee is $20 and the contest ends on April 16, 2011. With entry fee comes a one year subscription to the magazine.

http://bombsite.com/issues/0/articles/4770

3. Fugue's Tenth Annual Prose & Poetry Contest

First place winners in fiction, non-fiction, and poetry will receive a prize of $750, publication, and a year's subscription to Fugue. Second and third place winners will receive publication and a one year subscription. Story and essay submissions shouldn't be more than 10,000 words and poets can submit up to 3 poems or 5 pages. The entry fee is $15, which includes a one year subscription. Contest closes May 1, 2011.

http://www.uiweb.uidaho.edu/fugue/contest.html

4. 7th Annual Gival Press Novel Awards

The contest is open to submissions of previously unpublished and original novels of 30,000 to 100,000 words that are of high literary quality. The grand prize if 3,000 and publication by Gival Press. Author will also receive 20 copies and a standard contract. Entry fee is $50 and the contest closes on May 30, 2011.

http://www.givalpress.com/

5. New Rivers Press' American Fiction Prize

The contest is open to short story submissions of 7,500 words or less. First place will receive a prize of $1,000; Second place will receive a prize of $500; and Third place will receive a prize of $250. Winners and finalists will be published in the Fall of 2012 in the anthology, American Fiction: The Best Unpublished Short Stories by Emerging Writers. Entry fee is $12 and the deadline is May 1, 2011.

http://www.newriverspress.com/

As always, Black Fox Literary Magazine is hosting a fiction contest. We are also accepting flash fiction of any genre and poetry for weekly web features. Happy Writing!

***Also: To my winners that should have received cupcakes, something went wrong with the Bangerang Cupcake order. I got an email that was a return receipt. I tried emailing them and asking what happened and haven't received a response. SO, I'll have to think of something else for you all. Sorry for the inconvenience.***

Opportunities in the Great Big Literary World- March 28, 2011

2011-03-28T08:43:00.000-07:00

Song of the Day: She Works Hard for Her Money by Donna Summer
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1TKQcWEXSKU

Hello all! How was the weekend? I hope you had a productive one! I didn't blog a lot last week because I've been practicing everyday with my sorority for a stroll competition (it's pretty much dancing in a line.) It's over now and I'm back to my normal schedule. I'll take this moment to check in with you all. Have you been submitting your work? Last week I got another rejection on one of my flash pieces. Sigh. It sure is one hard, long road to becoming a writer. Though it's EXTREMELY discouraging, I remain hopeful and I won't give up. I'll submit it again to yet another literary magazine. That rejection also made it that much harder to reject manuscripts that came into Black Fox. I was reading submissions last night and as I was sending out letters regarding the unaccepted manuscripts, it made my heart hurt a little. I know what it's like to get a rejection and here I am sending them out. I felt horrible. But I have to remember that rejection is part of the writing process, and I hope that those letters I sent out will only make those writers stronger. If you're reading this and you did get one of those letters, I hope that you'll press on, edit, and re-submit. Don't give up! Take a look at the opportunities today.

Contests:

1. Shelley Watters' Epic Follower Blogfest/Contest

I came across Shelley's blog via twitter. She's over at Is It Hot In Here Or Is It This Book? She's reached 100 followers and in order to celebrate she's hosting a contest. The grand prize is a FULL MANUSCRIPT REQUEST from Suzie Townsend of Fine Print Literary Management. WOW! For more information on how to enter Shelley's contest visit her blog.

http://shelleywatters.blogspot.com/2011/03/epic-follower-blogfestcontest.html

2. Reading Vacation's Kindle Giveaway

There's an awesome giveaway over at Reading Vacation! I also found this blog via twitter. To celebrate one year, Reading Vacation will give away a Kindle e-reader! For more information on how to enter, please stop by the blog and follow! Deadline is March 31, 2011.

http://readingvacation.blogspot.com/2011/03/kindle-giveaway.html

3. Glimmer Train Fiction Contest

Glimmer Train Stories is open for submissions of fiction. Stories can be 2,000-20,000 words. First place will win $2,000 and publication in Glimmer Train Stories. Second place will win $1,000 and possible publication. Third place will win $600 and possible publication. Entry fee is $18 and the contest deadline is March 31, 2011.

http://www.glimmertrain.com/reminder.html

Call for submissions:

1. Eclectica Magazine

Eclectica Magazine is now accepting submissions for the July/August 2011 issue. Any submission received between now and June 1, 2011 will be considered for that issue. The magazine accepts fiction, poetry, essays, creative non-fiction, drama, book and movie reviews, travel writing, interviews and humor/satire. For more information on how to submit, click the link below.

http://www.eclectica.org/info/guidelines.html

As always, you still have time to enter The Black Fox Fiction Contest for a chance at $100! We are also accepting flash fiction and poetry for weekly web features. Happy Writing!