Dear Members,
    Another year has gone by.  Have you done all the writing you wanted to do for 1997?  I know I haven’t, so my number one New Year’s resolution is to spend more time writing (I’ve pushed ‘lose weight’ to the second spot).
    With our growing list of members, critique group,  and programs, P.A.W.S. is just the shot in the arm writers need to keep working.  But we all need to remain steadfast - our club is only as strong as our members.  Invite friends and family to meetings.  Inform our OWFI representative of any stories you’ve sold or published so she can get that in the OWFI Newsletter.  Let’s start making a noise so all the state will hear us.
     I encourage anyone with an idea for a column or article to e-mail or snail mail me at:  kellimcb@juno.com  or Kelli McBride  NBU 8102  Prague, OK  74864.
     Deadline for articles is the fourth of every month.

Hi, Everyone,
     The new year is upon us, and I'm sure, like me, you've made your New Year's resolutions.  Whether it's to lose weight, write more, spend more time with your family, or any of a dozen other good intentions, that's all they are unless we really work at them.  So, I'd like to propose that we each sit down and write a list of the things we'd like to accomplish this year, then make a conscious effort to make them come to pass.
     I'd like to take a moment and congratulate the members who in the past year have persevered and actually completed AND SOLD some of their works.  Linda Goodnight has been an inspiration to us all by selling six true confessions.  Dawn Prater has found the right track and is also a published author of a confession.  Several other members are trying their hand at writing and hopefully selling a true confession story... Keep your fingers crossed--no don't cross them you won't be able to write that way, so instead--WRITE ON!!
     As your president once again, I look forward to another great year for our club with our membership entering and winning (again) at the OWFI contest.  Also, don't forget our annual contest--the competition gets better each year.  According to most published writers I've talked with, entering contests, attending workshops and taking classes are three of the four legs to becoming a published writer.  The fourth (or first depending on how you see it) is, of course, sitting down and writing.

    Dawn Prater sold a confession to Modern Romance for April called “I Traded Love For a Smaller Bustline”
     Dawn Prater and Linda Goodnight have been asked by Tulsa Nightwriters to give a lecture in June on "The Secret Short Story Market."

    The January meeting will be on tax deductions and what a writer can or can not take off Federal taxes.  Mr. Daryl Dyche, EA, from H&R Block here in Prague will be our guest speaker.  After Mr. Dyche presents his program he will answer questions from the group.

    “The writer who loses his self-doubt, who gives way as he grows old to a sudden euphoria, to prolixity, should stop writing immediately: the time has come for him to lay aside his pen.”  Colette (1873–1954)
     In the theatre, actors believe that having butterflies in their stomachs is good.  That edge of nerves keeps them sharp.  When actors lose those butterflies, they know that something is wrong.  They’ve gotten too complacent in a role.
     The same can be said for writing.  How many times have you bought the new best-seller by your favorite author and found it flat?  You’ve just shelled out $20 on a hardback and got a story by an author who doesn’t feel those butterflies.  Authors like Sharon Sala, Johanna Lindsey, Stephen King, and Mary Higgins Clark know that when they put out their next book, they’ve already got a pre-sold audience.  The book is going to make money.  Thankfully, some of these authors still work hard.  They put as much effort in their fifteenth book as they did their first.  They still feel those butterflies.
     Other authors ride on their laurels.  They don’t seem to even remember what it was like to be hungry, to wait anxiously for that letter in the mail or phone call saying the publisher wants to buy their manuscript.
     As writers we should always remember that we’re in this game to not only make a living but also to entertain.  The moment we lose that edge, when we stop trying to tell a good story and only think of the paycheck, that is the moment we need to step back and re-evaluate our position.
     Self-doubt, though unsettling, is the litmus test that keeps a writer on his/her toes.  It makes us strive to constantly improve our craft, to seek out new visions and ideas.  The writer with no self-doubt is generally either a pretentious egoist who wants to educate the ignorant masses or the private person who only writes for himself/herself.  For the former, he/she doesn’t see any chance of failure so self-doubt never crosses his/her mind.  For the latter, no one else sees his/her writing so there is no risk.  For the rest of us, writing is about taking risks and courting failure.  But the rewards are so very sweet.
     So embrace those butterflies.  Cherish your self-doubt.  But don’t let them keep you from writing or submitting.  That’s another thing all together.

    Romantic Suspense seems to be the genre to work in today.  Heroines and their Heroes are kidnapped, shot at, threatened, blackmailed, and chased all over the world.  Writing suspense, though, isn’t easy.  But here are some tips to keeping the reader actively involved and on the edge of his.her seat.

1. SECRETS: If a character has a secret(s) from other characters in the book, then the reader is drawn into the suspense of waiting for that secret to come out.  Will that secret cause trouble for the character?  Will it get them out of trouble?
2.  DANGER:  Don’t just throw in the villain all of the sudden.  Let the reader see the villain early on and show how potentially dangerous this person is to our protagonist.
3.  TIME:  Generally, good suspense novels set some time limit.  The protagonist has a certain amount of time to accomplish the task, to unmask the villain.  If the protagonist doesn’t feel the pressure of that deadline, then the reader won’t feel a sense of urgency either.
4.  MOTIVATION:  The protagonist has to have a reason for going through all this (and they should suffer before winning).  What will this character die for?  Put that in jeopardy so the reader believes that the character would jump through all these burning hoops.
5.  BUMPS IN THE NIGHT:  Keep the reader and the protagonist guessing.  Just because something is moving around outside the window doesn’t mean it has to be the villain.  Give us a few false scares so we won’t be able to tell when the villain will strike.
6.  RESEARCH:  Nothing can ruin suspense faster than sloppy or misinformed research.  If your character finds a dead body, read up about the various states of rigor mortis, find a good description of what a dead body smells like or looks like.  Try to use accurate, not stereotyped, policemen and villains.  If your bad guy is a socio-path, then read up about socio-pathic behavior.
7.  SYMPATHY:  The biggest way to increase suspense is creating a character that your reader cares about.  If we don’t like the heroine, then we won’t be afraid for her when the villain has her trapped in his cellar.

    POB 30246, Oakland, CA 94604. P(510) 482-0680.
    Alice Ansfield,  Publisher/Editor. Catherine Taylor, Senior Editor. 95% freelance.
    "Radiance magazine is an upbeat, positive, colorful, glossy, 56+ page magazine for women all sizes of large. Encourages and supports its readers in living proud, full, active lives now, with self-love and self-respect. Documents and celebrates womens' growing body acceptance in the '90s. Each edition profiles dynamic large women (and soon to include essays from and information for plus-sized, chubby, or fat girls and boys) from all walks of life, all sizes of large, and from all lifestyles and ethnicities. We've grown to become a leading source of support, information, and inspiration in the worldwide Size Acceptance Movement."
    Works with new writers. Circ 50K. Quarterly.
    Pays on publication. Publishes ms 6-24 months after acceptance. Buys one-time rights. Accepts reprints. Responds 2-3 months.
    Sample $3.50 (send name, address, and a request for a writer's copy). Subscription $20; $26 in Canada; $34 other.
    Guidelines at website, or by mail with SASE.
    NEEDS: "Always looking for profiles of dynamic large women from all walks of life. Pays $50-100 for 2,000-4,000 wds, $35+ for 1,000-2,000 wd "shorty" articles; $10+ for poetry; $35+ for book reviews over 800 wds. Submit query or complete ms with cover letter by mail with SASE.
    PHOTOS/ART: Would like to know if photos, art, etc. are available. Usually pays $15 per photo.
    HINTS: "Please read our magazine before writing for us (or take a look through the information and called-out pages at our website). We want you to know our focus and philosophy so you can add to our efforts and be aligned with our purpose!" (Source: The Write Markets Report)    Email: Radmag2@aol.com    URL: http://www.radiancemagazine.com

    Seeks horror stories/novels.  "Publishing 2 original horror novels and 1 short horror story anthology in trade pb form in 1st qtr. 1998.  Small press qty., but dist. to trade with normal terms/discounts/ad & direct mail/co-op support.
    Advances and competitive royalties paid. New writers and writers without previously published novel not only welcome, but preferred.
    *NOVEL*: Horror, (90,000-140,000 wds.) featuring "traditional horrors" (ghosts, demons, witches, vampires, werewolves, etc.), must have supernatural theme. No sci-fi, no sword & sorcery, no medical thrillers, no romance masquerading as horror, no media tie-ins or other writers' characters. Prefer strong narrative style with compelling characters over experimental or "literary" style/structure. Erotic content okay.  Violence level as appropriate for subject matter.  Gay/lesbian themes okay.
    Agented or unagented; terms are non-negotiable.
    Topline: $2,400 advance paid in 3 installments, 7.5% royalties on invoiced price of books sold, paid quarterly once advance is earned out.
    What to submit: Query letter, brief bio, 1-10 page synopsis, 1st three consecutive chapters (or first 50 pages).  Include envelope with sufficient postage if submission to be returned.

    P.O. Box 74, Riverbank, CA 95367. Steve Herbelin/editor.
    Forthcoming collection of original stories from the workplace. Laser printing will be utilized to enable continual addition of new stories. Ministories (fewer than 1,000 words) are also accepted, for which we pay $50 upon acceptance.
    Rights: "Herbelin Publishing will assume editing, publishing and copy rights to stories paid for. Authors will be credited."
    Seeking: "Original short stories, from  approx. 1000-6000 wds, can be fiction or non-fiction, or even sf/fantasy; must be amusing/humorous and relate to the workplace or a working environment."
    Tips: "We are looking for original, amusing stories that relate to the workplace. Anything goes, as long as the story is fun to read." (Info rec'd Aug.31/97)
   Email: herbelin@daisylink.com    URL: http://www.daisylink.com/stories.htm

    Snailmail:  PO Box 475 Blackwood, South Australia 5051, Australia. Submissions: Robert N Stephenson  or Jason Bleckly. Biannual international publication.
    "Mainly SF &F magazine but with leaning towards blended and literary works. Subscription
only purchase of the publication as each issue is crafted to be a collectors item and a welcome edition to anyone's book case." Buys first English world rights, rights return to author on publication with a three month/6month stay on re-sale. NO E-MAIL SUBMISSIONS.
    PAYMENT: 3c/wd, min. $25.
    SEEKING: "SF&F writing with a bent toward literary. Any speculative writing will be read as Altair is after quality writing as well as good story telling. We are partial to SF and Fantasy but do not let that stop you sending your speculative story. 2000-6500 words.
    TIPS: "We are not looking for just good ideas. The idea is better if it is contained within a well written story with well written characters and a believable or convincing plot. We don't what
erotica, blood bath violence or headcase madness." Longer with queries first." (Info rec'd Sep.5/97)
    Email: altair@senet.com.au (queries only)   www.ozemail.com.au/~robsteph/altair.htm
   GL: http://www.ozemail.com.au/~robsteph/guide.htm

    POB 564, Beloit, WI 53512. Roger Dutcher, editor.
    "Seeks best in speculative poetry, SF, fantasy, horror and science poetry. Prefer speculative/SF and science poetry. No epics, we are a small magazine, but otherwise open as to length, style and form."
    Pays 3c/wd with $3 minimum. Buys FNASR. "Only poetry, no prose, no art, no plays. Query on reviews/articles, have people "on staff" who do this, but will consider. No need for cover letters, but I like 'em. Be clear if your mss are disposable or if you want them returned." MSP V4#1 just out, $4. MSP V4#2 due Autumn 1997, about 1/3 full. (Source: Scavenger's Newsletter)

    The Dollar Stretcher, 949 E. Cypress Creek Rd., Suite 101, Ft. Lauderdale, FL 33334. Gary Foreman, Publisher. "We're looking for all kinds of material relating to the frugal lifestyle.  A variety of styles are employed including how-to articles, interviews, columns, Q/A, personal experiences and even cartoons.
    We pay $0.05 per word and accept articles ranging up to 2,000 words. For a copy of our writer's guidelines, send email to: gary@stretcher.com.  Please put the word Guidelines in the subject of the email so we can respond promptly."
    Pays on publication. Email submissions okay. Rights: First time rights including right to reprint articles for non-profit and promotional use. (Info rec'd Aug.20/97)
    Email: gary@stretcher.com.  URL: http://www.stretcher.com

    The Intuitive Heart: A Book Of Comfort And Courage, Editor: Tag Goulet, 3107 W. Colorado Avenue, Suite 125 Colorado Springs, CO, USA 80904.
    "A book filled with uplifting stories of people who followed their heart - and even when the path they chose in life was difficult, it ultimately proved to be the right one.  The book is also about life lessons learned by people who didn't follow their heart, including inspiring stories from some who were given second chances."
    Pays on publication ($25 honorarium plus a complimentary copy). Email submissions okay. Copyright info: "The author is asked to grant permission for publication in the book as well as for all promotional purposes associated with the book.  However, the author will retain the right to publish their story anywhere else they choose."
    LOOKING FOR: "Stories, memoirs, or anecdotes up to 1,000 words.  Stories must fit within the overall theme of the book as described at our website. Deadline: Sept. 22, 1997."  (Info rec'd Aug.29/97)   URL: http://www.heartpath.com
GL: http://www.heartpath.com/book.html   Email: tag@heartpath.com

    To sum it up, if you want to write, if you want to create, you must be the most sublime fool that God ever turned out and sent rambling.
     You must write every single day of your life.
     You must read dreadful dumb books and glorious books, and let them wrestle in beautiful fights inside your head, vulgar one moment, dreadful the next.
     You must lurk in libraries and climb the stacks like ladders to sniff books like perfumes and wear books like crazy hats upon your crazy heads.
     I wish for you a wrestling match with your Creative Muse that will last a lifetime.
     I wish craziness and foolishness and madness upon you.
     May you live with hysteria, and out of it make fine stories--science fiction or otherwise.
Which finally means, may you be in love every day for the next 20,000 days.
    And out of that love, remake a world.

    ByLine is a monthly magazine for writers. Since its founding in 1981, ByLine has published--and paid for--the first work of hundreds of poets and writers of fiction and nonfiction. We encourage and advise novice writers; we publish the work of beginners and veterans alike.
    The magazine presents articles on the craft or business of writing, including regular columns on writing poetry, fiction, nonfiction and children's literature. We also publish short stories and poetry, and a special feature for student writers.
     ByLine sponsors monthly contests designed to motivate writers by providing deadlines, competition and cash prizes. These contests are open to anyone. In addition, we sponsor the annual ByLine Literary Awards as a gesture of appreciation for our subscribers only. This contest carries a November 1st deadline and a cash prize of $250 in each of two categories, short story and poetry. Winners of the Literary Awards are published in the magazine along with brief stories about the authors.
    ByLine  P.O. Box 130596  Edmond, OK  73013-0001
    Contest Rules:  All dates listed are postmark deadlines. Enter your own work only. Type your name, address, phone number and the contest category on the first page of the manuscript (no cover sheet). Prepare in standard manuscript format. Entries will not be returned, so there's no need for SASE. You may send multiple entries to any contest, but each entry requires an entry fee. Entries should be unpublished when entered. A list of winners in each category will be printed in the issue of Byline dated three months after deadline. Winning manuscripts are not published so that authors retain all rights. Mail entries to:  Contests, ByLine Magazine PO Box 130596 Edmond, OK 73013

January Deadlines:
FREE VERSE - Deadline January 5, 1998. Any subject or length, unrhymed. Entry fee $3. Prizes: $40, $25, $10.
PERSONAL ESSAY - Deadline January 15, 1998. 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, 1998. 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, 1998. Traditional or derivative forms.  Entry fee $3. Prizes:$40, $20, $10.

February Deadlines:
SHORT STORY - Deadline February 5, 1998. General fiction up to 5,000 words. Entry fee $5. Prizes: $70, $40, $25.
VALENTINE OR LOVE POEM - Deadline February 14, 1998. Any style or length. Entry fee $3. Prizes: $40, $20, $10.
SHORT ARTICLE - Deadline February 20, 1998. Any topic, any style, 1,500 words maximum. Entry fee $4. Prizes: $40, $25, $15.
WINTER OR SNOW POEM - Deadline February 28, 1998. Any style or length. Entry fee $3. Prizes: $40, $25, $10.

March Deadlines:
FILLER - Deadline March 5, 1998. Any topic--original anecdotes, household hints, writing tips, etc. Maximum 500 words. Entry fee $3. Prizes: $35, $20, $10.
NEW-TALENT POETRY - Deadline March 13, 1998. 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, 1998. 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, 1998. Rhymed poems of any length on any topic. Entry fee $3. Prizes: $35, $20, $15.

April Deadlines:
LITERARY SHORT STORY - Deadline April 6, 1998. Serious fiction aimed fora literary mag or anthology; 5,000 words maximum. Entry fee $5. Prizes:$40, $25, $15.
SPRING POEM - Deadline April 10, 1998. Any style or length, connected in some way with the season. Entry fee $3. Prizes: $35, $20, $10.
EDITORIAL ESSAY - Deadline April 25, 1998. Opinion piece or call to action on any topic suitable for a newspaper editorial page. Limit 800 words. Entry fee $4. Prizes: $40, $25, $15.
GENERAL POETRY - Deadline April 30, 1998. Style, subject and length open. Entry fee $3. Prizes: $50, $25, $15.

May Deadlines:
LIST ARTICL - Deadline May 5, 1998. Ten tips for beginning writers; five ideas for kids' crafts, etc. Nonfiction based on a list of items with adequate introduction and closing. Limit 1,500 words. Entry fee $4. Prizes: $40, $25, $15.
"STORMY OR BLUE" POEM - Deadline May 15, 1998. 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, 1998. 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 30, 1998. Any length or style, the funnier the better. Entry fee $3. Prizes: $40, $25, $15.

June Deadlines:
SHORT-SHORT STORY - Deadline June 5, 1998. General short story up to2,000 words. Entry fee $5. Prizes: $70, $35, $15.
INSPIRATIONAL ARTICLE - Deadline June 13, 1998. 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 20, 1998. 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 25, 1998. 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.

July Deadlines:
SHORT STORY - Deadline July 3, 1998. Fiction on any topic, up to 5,000 words. Entry fee $5. Prizes: $70, $30, $15.
SUMMER POEM - Deadline July 15, 1998. Any style poem that captures the heat/essence of summertime. Entry fee $3. Prizes: $40, $20, $10.
SHORT HUMOR - Deadline July 20, 1998. Nonfiction or fiction; original material only. Funny prose, anecdotes, daffynitions, satire--anything goes. Maximum 800 words. Entry fee $4. Prizes: $40, $20, $15.
FREE VERSE - Deadline July 30, 1998. Any topic or length, unrhymed.  Entry fee $3. Prizes: $40, $20, $10.

August Deadlines
1st CHAPTER OF A NOVEL - Deadline August 5, 1998. Opening chapter of an unpublished novel. Mainstream or genre; adult or YA audience. Maximum 25 pages. Entry fee $5. Prizes: $60, $35, $15.
NEW-TALENT POETRY - Deadline August 15, 1998. Any style or length. Open to any writer who's never won a cash prize in a Byline poetry contest. Entry fee $3. Prizes: $40, $30, $20, $10.
CHILDREN'S ARTICLE - Deadline August 20, 1998. Nonfiction for a children's magazine, 1,000 words maximum. List the market or age range on ms. Entry fee $4. Prizes: $40, $25, $15.
HAIKU/ CINQUAIN/ TANKA - Deadline August 31, 1998. Single poem in any of these forms (no series). Entry fee $3. Prizes: $40, $20, $10

September Deadlines:
GENRE FICTION - Deadline September 5, 1998. Short story that fits a particular category: romance, sci-fi, fantasy, horror, mystery, western, etc. No children's stories. Maximum 5,000 words. Entry fee $5. Prizes: $50, $30, $15.
CHILDREN'S POEM - Deadline September 10, 1998. Poem for or about children. No line limit. Entry fee $3. Prizes: $35, $15, $10.
NOSTALGIA - Deadline September 15, 1998. A fond remembrance of the way things were. Maximum 1,200 words. Entry fee $4. Prizes: $40, $25, $15.
POEM IN FORMAL STRUCTURE - Deadline September 30, 1998. Try a sestina, sonnet, villanelle or any other form that requires a specific structure. List name of form on entry. Entry fee $3. Prizes: $40, $25, $15.

October Deadlines:
CHRISTMAS SHORT STORY - Deadline October 5, 1998. Short fiction that touches the magic of the season, 3,000 words maximum. Entry fee $5. Prizes: $50, $25, $15.
AUTUMN POEM - Deadline October 15, 1998. Any style or length. Entry fee $3. Prizes: $40, $20, $10.
FEATURE ARTICLE - Deadline October 20, 1998. Nonfiction up to 2,500 words. May be a profile, how-to, informational, travel, historical, etc. Entry fee $4. Prizes: $45, $25, $15.
FLASH FICTION - Deadline October 30, 1998. A sudden short story or vignette under 1,000 words, which nevertheless feels complete. These usually depend on atmosphere and technique more than plot. Entry fee $5. Prizes: $50, $25, $10.

November Deadlines
NEW-TALENT SHORT STORY - Deadline November 5, 1998. Open to any writer who's never won a cash prize in a Byline fiction contest. Maximum 5,000 words. Entry fee $5. Prizes: $40, $30, $20, $10.
OPEN THEME POETRY - Deadline November 10, 1998. Any subject, style or length. Entry fee $3. Prizes: $50, $25, $10.
PERSONAL EXPERIENCE ARTICLE - Deadline November 20, 1998. An article based on the personal experience of the author: advice piece, inspirational, travel, many other possibilities. Entry fee $4. Prizes: $40, $20, $15.
NARRATIVE POEM - Deadline November 30, 1998. A poem that tells a story. Any length or style. Entry fee $3. Prizes: $40, $20, $10.

December Deadlines
SHORT-SHORT STORY - Deadline December 5, 1998. Short story of any type or subject, up to 2,000 words. Entry fee $5. Prizes: $50, $25, $15.
POEMS OF LOSS - Deadline December 10, 1998. Losing a loved one, losing your way, losing faith. Any style or length. Entry fee $3. Prizes: $40, $20, $10.
WOMEN'S POEM - Deadline December 15, 1998. Any style or length, for or about women. Entry fee $3. Prizes: $40, $20, $10.
SPIRITUAL or DEVOTIONAL ARTICLE - Deadline December 30, 1998. Uplifting thoughts designed for a spiritual or denominational publication, 800 words maximum. Entry fee $4. Prizes: $35, $20, $15.