Writing Tip

When you’re writing, spell out the word “okay.” “OK” is for notes and other informal writing.

The First Line

Thank you to Hope Clark for the heads up on this magazine! This is a great place for writes to submit their short works of fiction or non-fiction.


THE FIRST LINE
http://www.thefirstline.com/submission.htm
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Pays $20 for fiction and $10 for nonfiction, plus copies.
Fiction: All stories must be written with the first line
provided. The line cannot be altered in any way, unless
otherwise noted by the editors. The story should be between
300 and 3,000 words. The sentences can be found on the home
page of The First Line's Web site. Note: We are open to all
genres. We try to make TFL as eclectic as possible.

Non-Fiction: 500-800 word critical essays about your favorite
first line from a literary work. Writers should include a two-
to three-sentence biography of themselves that will appear in
the magazine should their story run. Upcoming first lines:

Summer:
Paul and Miriam Kaufman met the old-fashioned way.
Due date: May 1, 2010

Fall:
Three thousand habitable planets in the known universe,
and I'm stuck on the only one without ______________.
[Fill in the blank.] Due date: August 1, 2010

Winter:
Until I stumbled across an article about him in the paper,
I never realized how much Walter Dodge and I are alike.
Due date: November 1, 2010.

New Writing Prompt Up at the Main Site

This is so much fun. I've already done one for this, and it was extremely interesting to work on...and didn't take me that long to write!

You Have 5 Messages: Part 1 of 2

You walk in and you drop your coat in its usual spot - just like you've done a hundred times. And, just like you've done another hundred times, you check your answering machine. The number '5' flashes repeatedly.

You press 'play'.

Write those five messages.

Messages can be realistic, whimsical, literal, figurative, humorous, sexy, suggestive - anything at all. The important thing is to write them down!

This part of a two-part exercise is to look at brainstorming from a completely different point of view.

We'll post your messages on our website and blog so don't forget to send them to us! And anyone who's sent in a writing sample is eligible for drawings and prizes at the end of the year!

Lorian Hemingway Short Story Competition

LORIAN HEMINGWAY SHORT STORY COMPETITION
http://www.shortstorycompetition.com/guidelines.php
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$12 ENTRY FEE

The first-place winner will receive $1,000. The second and
third-place winners will receive $500 each. Honorable mentions
will also be awarded to entrants whose work demonstrates promise.
The Saturday Evening Post will publish the first-place winner in
its pages. And occasionally, the Post may also choose to publish
runners-up, either in its pages or on its website. Stories must
be original unpublished fiction, typed and double-spaced, and may
not exceed 3,000 words in length. No theme. The literary competition
is open to all U.S. and international writers whose fiction has
not appeared in a nationally distributed publication with a
circulation of 5,000 or more. Deadline April 1, 2010.

Thank you to Hope Clark and her excellent Total Funds for Writers for this information!

March Specials!

Happy March, everyone! I don't know about you, but here in the Ozarks, we're actually getting hints of Spring! Yay! I am so ready!

As most of you know, March is a very important month to many people. For the Irish, because of St. Patrick's Day. For Italians, because of St. Joseph's Day. For the Jewish, because of both Purim and Passover (which carries into April this year, I know, but does start in March), and for Wiccans because of the Vernal Equinox/ Ostara. Then there's Holi and Vesaki for Hindus, No Ruz for Zoroastrians, Mahavir Jayanti for Jains, Palm/Passion Sunday for Christians, and Magha Puja Day for Buddhists.

For some Christians, March is special to those named David, Patrick, Joseph, Agnes, Chad, Katharine/Catherine, Felix, Kieran, Olivia, Collette, Basil, Frances, Anthony,Victor, Benedict, Roderic, Matilda, Louise, Raymond, Hilary, Gertrude, Alexander, Edward, Adrian, Alexandra, Herbert, Martin, Paul, Julian, Mark, Timothy, Peter, Augusta, Benjamin, and Regulus.

That covers a lot of religious and ethnic groups!

So, here's a special offering for anyone who might see themselves in that long list. If you're someone for whom March is special...OR, your main character is covered by one of those categories above...you can get your first chapter (or next chapter, if you've already started with us) beta'd for free by the No Disclaimer Betas.

So, Italians, Irish, Jews, Hindus, Jains, Buddhists, Christians, Wiccans, someone whose name (or some variation of it) is on that list, or anyone who is grateful for the promise of Spring at last...whether it's you or a character in your story...you get a free chapter done in the month of March.

Comment on this post, or write us at nodisclaimerbetas@gmail.com and let us know how you qualify for this freebie.