PAW PRINTS
The
Professional and Amateur Writers' Society
Kelli McBride, Editor December
1998 Volume 4 Issue 12
GREETINGS!
Kelli McBride
My Dear Writing Friends,
This is the last issue of 1998. It seems like
only yesterday that I took on the position of editor. I can’t believe
the year has flown by so fast. I have enjoyed greatly being in charge
of Paw Prints and know that 1999 holds as many wonderful things in it as
1998 did.
In upcoming months, Paw Prints will look at query
letters, synopses, plotting novels, and strengthening conflict, to name
a few topics. If you have an idea or article, please contact
me or mail it to me. I love it when members contribute to the
newsletter.
This month we have a hodgepodge of articles.
We have “the dark moment,” settings, philosophy of writing, and setting
goals for the new year. There are also some great contest and
writing market entries.
You’ll notice that the layout is a bit different
this month. I’m using a different program than I usually do, and
it’s not as flexible as the other one. To save time, I gave up and
printed it straight out. January’s issue will revert to the traditional
format.
January articles are due January 10th. Please
e-mail them to kellimcb@chickasaw.com or send a hardcopy to the label address.
Presidential Reflections
Pat Millette
WOW! That's all I can think to say about our last
club contest. Every entry (in my humble opinion) was definitely a winner.
The entries ranged from an in depth article to poetry, from several delightful
short stories to the intriguing beginning of a novel. Since Dawn wasn't
able to
attend the meeting Kelli made sure we had a chilling horror tale.
GREAT GOING EVERYONE.
We have new officers that will take up their duties
in January and I'm sure they'll all do an outstanding job.
Those of you who are new in the club should be sure
to attend our December meeting (party). We'll have a brief business meeting
then the rest of the evening will be for enjoying ourselves. Everyone who
comes should bring a dish (preferably filled with your specialty) and your
family. We're having another club contest so be sure to bring your
ms. It should have
a Christmas theme. Hope to see you all then
PAWS’
1999 OFFICERS
President
Vice-President
and Program Chair
Secretary
Treasurer
Historian/Reporter
Paw
Prints Editor
OWFI
Representatives
Research
Historian (Honorary) |
Linda Goodnight
Pat Millette
Doris Novotny
Karen Anderson
Elaine Carmen Wells
Kelli McBride
Linda Goodnight and Kelli McBride
Lorraine Stone |
Member
News And Reminders
Congratulations to Karen Anderson,
winner of the PAWS’ Short Story
Contest in November.
Ramona Raffety had her story , “Modern
Warrior.” published in the Stoud
American on November 18th.
Linda Goodnight is preparing two manuscripts
to send to the Romance
Writers’ of America’s Golden Heart competition.
Good luck, Linda!
Congratulations to Delilah Moorehead!
She won the autographed copy of
Nora Roberts’ book, Homeport.
If you have something you want to
enter to the OWFI competition, you might
bring it to one of the critique nights at Doris Novotny’s
house, every 2nd and 4th Monday at 7:00 p.m. Those who have attended
have received some great input.
Program
Notes
This month is our Christmas Party.
Bring lots of good cheer and a story, poem, or essay to share. Past
parties have been loads of fun, with wonderful food and companionship.
A short executive board meeting for
old officers and new officers will be at
6:30, just before the party.
Setting
Lori Handeland
Setting. So what, you say. That's the least of my
worries as a writer. I'll pick a place and set my book there. No problem.
But have you ever considered a setting can influence
your entire novel and the readers' response to that novel? If you get it
right--if you describe the setting so brilliantly the reader can picture
it without ever having been there--poof! Magic occurs. The reader is in
the midst of your setting and therefore in the midst of your story. But
if you get it wrong--oh, oh--the reader's suspension of disbelief is lost.
How many times have you thrown aside a book in disgust because the writer
obviously had never been to the place described, and you had? You don't
want a reader to do that to your book.
To read the rest of this article,
click
here.
Markets
PEER
AMID
Peer
Amid is a non-paying quarterly market with a web presence. Peer Amid's
first short story contest is a no-fee contest with cash prizes and will
revolve around the theme "The Year 2000 and Beyond." NEEDS: creative, original
stories about what will happen on January 1, 2000, or what life in 2000
and beyond will be like, assuming we survive the millennium. 1st place:
$125, and a "Y2K Survival Kit" assembled by Peer Amid. 2nd: $75.
3rd: $50. Max 1K wds. Winning entry will be published in the first issue
of 1999, and the second and third place winners will be published at the
web site. DEADLINE: January 1, 1999. E-mail your original story in the
body of an email. Works too large to be contained in the body of an email
should be saved as a text file, and attached to an email. Within the body
of the email, please include your name and email address. Hard copy
entries should be typed and sent to: Y2K Story Contest, Liberty Rose, Inc.,
229 Liberty Street, California, PA, 15419. Winners will be announced
on January 15, 1999. (ST) URL: www.peer-amid.com GL: www.peer-amid.com/y2kcontest.html
E-mail: PeerAmid98@aol.com
ORATO
Got
a story? Orato pays for compelling first-person content. We're serving
the world a cold shot of truth and perspective straight from the people
involved in the news. Whether it's politics, sports, entertainment, love
or war, we're capturing news in its rawest form. Orato is a celebration
of every person's right to be heard in their own words - a soapbox for
the individual. We need first-person stories from people behind current
issues and events. Whether you've got a powerful story of your own or you're
a writer who can help others tell their stories, we want to hear from you.
Check out our contributors' site at http://www.orato.com to send us your
ideas or join our network of writers, photographers and videographers.
AMEN
MINISTRIES WEBZINE
Amen
Ministries WebZinehttp://www.jcxpress.com is seeking submissions. They
are looking for good, short, clearly written Christian articles, fiction,
personal testimonies and poetry. Writers should send full articles in the
body of an email, or attached as plain text. At this time, Amen Ministries
WebZine is unable to pay for material. Send Queries and Submissions to:
Pat
Veretto,
Editor, Amen Ministries WebZine, mailto:amw@jcxpress.com.
CHICKEN
SOUP FOR THE SOUL
Do you have a true story, article or anecdote about your own life or someone
else’s that would uplift, inspire, or entertain single and single again
people? If so, we invite you to be a part of our exciting new book, A Chicken
Soup for the Single Soul: 101 Stories to Open the Hearts and Rekindle the
Spirits of Single People. We'd love you to contribute to this edition!
The purpose of Chicken Soup for the Single Soul is to touch and inspire
single and single again people by sharing stories of other singles’ experiences
of love, growth, and lessons learned. Some of the topics we’re planning
are:
·
On Love · Overcoming Obstacles · Single Parenting ·
On Dating · On friendship
·
Single Again (divorced or widowed) · Finding Your Mate ·
Special Moments
·
Single and Happy · Letting Go · Completions
We are looking for true stories 1200 words or less based on events or incidents
that will make readers laugh, cry, or sigh. Stories should be written from
a positive viewpoint, and should be universal and non-controversial. The
point of the story should be evident without preaching. (See What a Chicken
Soup story is... and isn’t for more information.)
Please feel free to submit more than one story, whether original or one
of your personal favorites collected over the years from magazines, newspapers,
or other sourcs. We pay minimum $300 per original stories for one-time
rights, and $50 to the first contributor of a previously published item.
Please submit your stories by February 15, 1999. Chicken Soup for
the Single Soul PO Box 1959, Dept. WBS Fairfield, IA 52556 1-800-211-5948
Fax: 515-472-7288 E-mail address: chickensoup@lisco.com
What a Chicken Soup story is...
It is an inspirational, true story about ordinary people doing extraordinary
things - a story that opens the heart and rekindles the spirit. A
Chicken Soup story is a simple, inter-denominational, living art piece
that touches the soul of the readers and helps them discover basic principles
they can use in their own lives. Chicken Soup stories are personal and
often
filled with emotion and drama. They are filled with vivid images created
using the five senses. In some stories, the reader feels that he or she
is actually “there” in the scene with the people involved. Chicken Soup
stories have heart... but also something extra... that element that
makes
us feel more hopeful, more connected, more thankful, more passionate, and
better about life in general. Chicken Soup stories often and with a punch...
creating emotion rather than talking about it.
What a Chicken Soup story isn’t...
It isn’t a sermon, an essay or a eulogy, or a reminiscence. It isn’t “My
Grandma Just died, I Want to Tell You What a Wonderful Person She Was ”
(Those who knew your Grandma know that she was a wonderful person, but
we’re looking for universal principles... something everyone can relate
to.) The same applies to tributes and sweet reminiscences. A Chicken Soup
story is not a term paper, classroom assignment, thesis, letter or journal
entry. It isn’t about politics or ultra-controversial issues.
We appreciate your interest in our project, and we look forward to reading
your story.
NET CONTENT: GETTING DOWN
TO BUSINESS
By Joanne Reid (come.to/writing)
The end of the year approaches and that means that
the New Year will bring forward the usual resolutions. This year I will...write
more. Write better. Study the markets. Well, you know how it goes.
Finding more time for writing and all the other
things that we as writers want to do are part of a whole piece. If we want
to change some aspect of our lives, it usually means that we have to change
other aspects as well.
If you don't have time to write, chances are that
there are other things you don't have time for either. If you want to get
a jump start on your writing resolutions for this year, here are some sites
that will help.
To read the rest of this
article, click here.
Random
Thoughts
Kelli
McBride
I’ve just finished what I think is the thirtieth novel
I’ve read in the last two months. With only a few exceptions, these
novels, ranging from historicals to paranormals to serials, have been boring
to downright awful. In fact, I picked up one romance and couldn’t make
it beyond page ten because it was so confusing - and I never do that!
The thing that kept running through my mind as I
read these books was: “How did this book get published?” I can’t
believe that this is just my own problem - that perhaps I didn’t care for
the plot or a character. It seems when I read these days, a part
of my mind is always analyzing how the author did this or that. And
I honestly cannot figure some of these books out.
The plots are simplistic or derivative. The
hero/heroine mainly have one weak conflict that keeps them apart and this
is hashed and rehashed throughout the ten to twenty chapters. The
dialogue is flat, unmotivated, fake, and/or confusing. The characters
are one dimensional or
unsympathetic. The villains lack the tools to make us feel the
lead characters are in jeopardy. Etc.
Do these things sound familiar? I know with
my latest book, I had to replot because my conflict was weak. But
guess what? I figured that out after only 29,000 words. Now,
I’m working on strengthening the story, making it more gripping.
I’d say that these are previously published authors
who had the book accepted on a few chapters and synopsis or a query - but
Janis Reams Hudson still has to send in partials, and she’s published more
than twenty books! So what gives? I don’t know, but reading these
boring, bland novels inspires me to get my fanny in gear and produce interesting
fiction. Shoot, I’ve got
ideas for novels that would read more exciting than some of these books.
The only thing that ticks me off is that I spent
all that money on a worthless pile of paper. Not a keeper in the
lot of them. If you’ve been going through the same thing that I have,
use it as a tool for inspiration. Instead of saying, “How come this
person got published and I didn’t?” say, “If this person can get
published, I CAN!” Believe me, there’s a lot of that kind of inspiration
to be found lately.
Discovering the Story Within:
My Philosophy of Writing
Alicia Rasley
You know what I think? I think we write to connct.
To explore. To discover. And within the stories we write, no matter how
rudimentary the skill involved, there is The Story. The one that is innate
within whatever started us writing that story-- a premise or a situation
or a plot or a character or just a flash of a scene.
What I like to do, especially for other writers
(because then I don't have to apply it myself) is to go back to the roots,
to discover that story within, and coax it out where it can grow.
Organic writing, I guess.
To read the rest
of this article, click
here.
Provocative Writing
Lisa Mondello
The Merriam-Webster Dictionary gives the definition
of the word provoke as "to evoke, to bring on, the stir up on purpose."
This is exactly what we must do as fiction writers. What are we provoking?
An emotional reaction from the reader in the hope of hooking them into
the story. No one wants to read bland writing.
To read the rest of
this article, click
here.
Contests
Tools For Novelists Seeks Articles
Tools for Novelists is seeking
articles of 500-1,000 words on any aspect of writing, selling, or promoting
book-length fiction of any genre. Articles will be permanently available
to visitors to THE NOVELIST, and will feature the author's photograph,
a bio as the author would like it to read (and which may be updated as
new books are released), and a link to the author's own Web site (if s/he
has one). To submit an article, please e-mail it with your bio, and your
photo as an attached file, to Evan Marshall at mailto:evanmarshall@TheNovelist.com
INSCRIPTIONS LEGENDS CONTEST GUIDELINES: Write
a short short story (less than 100 words) about a legend. Give us a spin
on a classic legend or make up one of your own. It can be set in any genre
(romance, science fiction, fantasy, mystery, horror, etc.). There is no
entry fee. All entries must be in English, but the writer can live anywhere
in the world. Previously published works are acceptable. Paste your entries
directly into an e-mail and send to MaidenFate@aol.com with the subject
heading "Legends Contest." Include your real name, mailing address and
e-mail address with each entry. One short short story per e-mail, please.
Entries without complete author information will be disqualified. You may
enter as often as you like. PRIZES: 1st place -- $25 gift certificate to
Amazon.Com; 2nd place -- $15 gift certificate to Amazon.Com; 3rd place
-- $10 gift certificate to Amazon.Com Deadline for all entries is January
1, 1999. Winners will be announced in the January 9th issue of Inscriptions.
All winners will be published in the e-zine and on the website, http://come.to/Inscriptions
ByLine Magazine Contest Dates Till June 1999
January Deadlines
FREE VERSE - Deadline January 5, 1999. Any subject
or length, unrhymed. Entry fee $3. Prizes: $40, $25, $10. PERSONAL ESSAY
- Deadline January 15, 1999. Essay on any topic, written in first person
and drawing on personal experience. Limit 1,200 words. Entry fee $4. Prizes:
$50, $30, $20. CHILDREN'S STORY OR PICTURE BOOK - Deadline January 20,
1999. Short story or picture book for kids from 2-12. (Do not send art.)
State targeted age group on ms.: pre-school; 5 to 8; or 9 to 12. Entry
fee $4. Prizes: $50, $30, $15. HAIKU - Deadline January 30, 1999. Traditional
or derivative forms. Entry fee $3. Prizes: $40, $20, $10.
February Deadlines
SHORT STORY - Deadline February 5, 1999. General
fiction up to 5,000 words. Entry fee $5. Prizes: $70, $40, $25. VALENTINE
OR LOVE POEM - Deadline February 13, 1999. Any style or length. Entry fee
$3. Prizes: $40, $20, $10. SHORT ARTICLE - Deadline February 20, 1999.
Any topic, any style, 1,500 words maximum. Entry fee $4. Prizes: $40, $25,
$15. WINTER
OR SNOW POEM - Deadline February 25, 1999. Any
style or length. Entry fee $3. Prizes: $40, $25, $10.
March Deadlines
FILLER - Deadline March 5, 1999. Any topic--original
anecdotes, household hints, writing tips, etc. Maximum 500 words. Entry
fee $3. Prizes: $35, $20, $10. NEW-TALENT POETRY - Deadline March 10, 1999.
Any style, subject or length. Open to anyone who never has won a cash prize
in a ByLine poetry category. Entry fee $3. Prizes: $40, $30, $20, $10.
CHARACTER
SKETCH - Deadline March 25, 1999. Practice creating
believable characters, in 500 words or fewer. Show your character in a
scene, doing something typical of him. Entry fee $4. Prizes: $40, $25,
$15. REASON TO RHYME! - Deadline March 31, 1999. Rhymed poems of any length,
on any topic. Entry fee $3. Prizes: $35, $20, $15.
April Deadlines
LITERARY SHORT STORY - Deadline April 6, 1999.
Serious fiction aimed for a literary magazine or anthology; 5,000 words
maximum. Entry fee $5. Prizes: $50, $25, $15. SPRING POEM - Deadline
April 10, 1999. Any style or length, connected in some way with the season.
Entry fee $3. Prizes: $35, $20, $10. WHAT PARENTS NEED TO KNOW - Deadline
April 20, 1999. Article up to 1,200 words on
any aspect of parenting--discipline, schooling, TV violence, etc. Entry
fee $4. Prizes: $40, $25, $15. GENERAL POETRY - Deadline April 30, 1999.
Style, subject and length open. Entry fee $3. Prizes: $50, $25, $15.
May Deadlines
HOBBY or SPECIAL INTEREST ARTICLE - Deadline
May 5, 1999. Nonfiction up to 1,500 words on any activity such as genealogy,
scuba diving, growing roses, or collecting. May be a how-to, essay or personal
experience piece. Entry fee $4. Prizes: $40, $25, $15. "STORMY OR BLUE"
POEM - Deadline May 15, 1999. A poem in any style strongly tied to the
weather --storms, rain, blue skies, etc. Entry fee $3. Prizes: $30, $20,
$10. NEW-TALENT SHORT STORY - Deadline May 20, 1999. Open to any writer
who never has won a cash prize in any ByLine fiction category. Maximum
5,000 words. Entry fee $5. Prizes: $50, $30, $20, $10.
HUMOROUS POEM - Deadline May 31, 1999. Any length
or style, the funnier the better. Entry fee $3. Prizes: $40, $25, $15.
June Deadlines
SHORT-SHORT STORY - Deadline June 5, 1999. General
short story up to 2,000 words. Entry fee $5. Prizes: $70, $35, $15. INSPIRATIONAL
ARTICLE - Deadline June 15, 1999. Craft an uplifting (not preachy) nonfiction
piece aimed for the spiritual magazine market. Limit 1,800 words. Entry
fee $4. Prizes: $40, $25, $15. SENSE OF PLACE POEM - Deadline June 25,
1999. Lyric or narrative poem, any style or subject, with details that
evoke a strong sense of place. Entry fee $3. Prizes: $35, $20, $10. JUVENILE
SHORT STORY - Deadline June 30, 1999. Fiction of appropriate length for
ages 5 to 8; 9 to 12; or 13 to 16. State targeted age group on ms. Entry
fee $4. Prizes: $40, $30, $15.
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