1 Contest, 1 Job, 1 Residency

Press 53 Open Awards Writing Contest Deadline Extended to March 3. We realize now that we made a strategic mistake in moving the deadline up this year for the Press 53 Open Awards, so we are returning to the March 31 deadline we used for our first two years. Six categories, six industry-professional judges, six beautiful etched-glass awards, and 16 opportunities for publication. Visit www.press53.com/OpenAwards_2010.html for entry details.

Visiting Assistant Professor of Creative Writing Full-time. Application Review Begins: January 25, 2010. The English Department seeks to foster the writing culture of Whitworth University by stressing writing in all courses, cultivating a sensitivity to language, its power and complexity, and a commitment to training good writers through working cooperatively with the Whitworth Writing Center. We are seeking evidence of exceptional teaching and significant publication in Creative Nonfiction. Preference will be given to candidates who have expertise in a second genre in creative writing, and in composition. Teaching load: three courses in Fall, one course in compressed January Term, three courses in Spring; courses taught will include Creative Nonfiction, Intro to Creative Writing, Composition, and possibly a topic of the candidate's choosing. More information at www.whitworth.edu/Administration/HumanResources/Pdf/EnglishFacultyCreativeWriting.pdf.

Writers’ Residency Writers in The Heartland is now taking applications for its 2010 season. Writers in the Heartland is a writing colony for creative writers in all genres. The colony is located in Gilman, Illinois, approximately
90 miles south of Chicago. It is located on a beautiful 32-acre wooded site with lakes and walking paths. A limited number of one-week residencies are available for September 3-10 and October 1-8. All lodging and food is included. Writers must reside in the Midwest region or have some Midwest connection. Applications must be postmarked no later than March 31, 2010, to be considered. Decisions will be announced on or around July 1st. All submissions are peer reviewed by three person panel. For further information about applying to Writers in the Heartland, see our Web site or contact us at writersintheheartland@gmail.com.

Creative Nonfiction Opportunties

A grab bag of calls for submission (2), contests (2--very long-winded postings from the people in charge), and positions. Good luck!

CALLS FOR SUBMISSIONS

Naugatuck River Review, a journal of narrative poetry, welcomes submissions for the Summer 2010 issue. Submission guidelines: The winter submission period is an open (no fee) submission and is from January 1 – March 1st at midnight. We accept electronic submissions only through our ONLINE SUBMISSION MANAGER at http://naugatuckriverreviewsubmissions.com/. Contributors will be rewarded with a copy of the journal. We are not in a position to pay you otherwise, but hope the journal is worth much more than the cost of its paper. During the submission period ONLY please submit no more than 3 unpublished NARRATIVE poems of no more than 50 lines through the online submission manager. Please remove your name from your file, as the poetry is read blind by our editorial staff. Questions? Feel free to email us at naugatuckriver@aol.com. Multiple submissions are discouraged, but simultaneous submissions are fine, as long as you inform us right away if your poem is accepted elsewhere. Publishing rights revert to the author after the initial publication period. We prefer work that has not been previously published.

Diverse Voices Quarterly http://www.diversevoicesquarterly.com is a new online literary journal looking for submissions from all walks of life. Our second issue is available for download here: http://www.diversevoicesquarterly.com/2009/second-issue-available-now. Deadline for submissions is 02/15/10.Personal essays/creative nonfiction: 3,000 words MAX. Send only one essay at a time. –Simultaneous submissions are accepted but multiple submissions are not, unless you wish to send in artwork at the same time. Please query first. –We will not read any material previously published online; this includes works published in other online journals or from any message board or blogs. –While we will read submissions from everyone, the work MUST BE in English. –Be sure to include your last name and type of submission in the subject line (Example: Kaling – Short Story Submission). –Include a cover letter, a short bio, and your complete contact information in the body of the e-mail. –Only attachments are accepted, either as MS Word (.doc or .rtf) or WordPerfect (.wpd) files. Pasted-in submissions WILL BE deleted. –Send your submissions to: submit@diversevoicesquarterly.com.

CONTESTS

EVENT 2010 Non-Fiction Contest http://www.douglas.bc.ca/visitors/event-magazine/contestdetails.html -- $1,500 -- Three winners will each receive $500 plus payment for publication in EVENT 39/3. Other manuscripts may be published. Preliminary judging by the editors of EVENT. Final Judge: Lynn Coady is the author of the novels Strange Heaven (1998), Saints of Big Harbour (2003), and, most recently, Mean Boy (2006). She has also published a short story collection, Play the Monster Blind (2000). Her non-fiction has appeared in magazines and newspapers across Canada. She has been nominated for the Governor General’s Award for Fiction, as well as the Rogers Writers’ Trust Award, and is a recipient of the Dartmouth Book Award, The Canadian Authors Association Jubilee Award and the CAA Award for Authors under Thirty. In 2005 she received the Canada Council’s Victor Martyn Lynch-Staunton Award for an artist in mid-career, and in 2007 she received the Writers Guild of Alberta George Bugnet fiction prize for Mean Boy. She lives in Edmonton.
Writers are invited to submit manuscripts exploring the creative non-fiction form. Check your library for back issues of EVENT with previous winning entries and judges' comments. Contest back issues are available for $9 (CAN$13 for overseas residents). Postage and GST included. To purchase a print copy now, visit http://www.douglas.bc.ca/visitors/event-magazine/online-sales.html. Note: Previously published material, or material accepted elsewhere for publication, cannot be considered. Maximum entry length is 5,000 words, typed, double-spaced. The writer should not be identified on the entry. Include a separate cover sheet with the writer's name, address, phone number / email, and the title(s) of the story (stories) enclosed. Include a SASE (Canadian postage / IRCs / US$1). Douglas College employees are not eligible to enter.
Entry fee: Multiple entries are allowed, however, each entry must be accompanied by a $29.95 entry fee (includes GST and a one-year subscription; make cheque or international money order payable to EVENT). Those already subscribing will receive a one-year extension. American and overseas entrants please pay in US dollars. Deadline for entries: Postmarked by April 15, 2010. Send entries to: EVENT, Non-Fiction Contest, PO Box 2503, New Westminster, BC, V3L 5B2 Canada; Phone: 604-527-5293 Fax: 604-527-5095. Email: event@douglas.bc.ca.

Tiny Lights Essay Contest Guidelines 15th Annual Contest Deadline: February 19, 2010. http://www.tiny-lights.com/contest.php. Tiny Lights invites entries that feature a distinctive voice, discernible conflict and an eventual shift in the narrator's perspective. We are looking for writers who weave the struggle to understand into the fabric of their essays. This year, we offer 5 prizes in the "Standard" category and 3 "Flashpoint" prizes.
We can only consider unpublished work, or previously published material for which the author holds rights. Rights revert to author after publication in the hard copy edition of Tiny Lights. Each essay must be accompanied by an entry fee: $15 for first essay, $10 each additional essay. Make checks payable to: Tiny Lights Publications. Mail to: P.O. Box 928, Petaluma, CA 94953. SASE (self-addressed, stamped envelope) recommended for feedback/contest notification. One envelope for multiple submissions OK. Essays may be submitted in one of two categories: STANDARD (no longer than 2,000 words) or FLASHPOINT (no more than 1,000 words). Please indicate preferred category on ms. Entries should be typed and double-spaced. Cover letters are optional, but ideally the title page of the manuscript should include author's name, complete address, e-mail, phone number, and essay word count. Essay title and page number in header or footer OK. Author name should not appear there. Personal essay requires writers to communicate the truth of their experiences to the best of their abilities. While no theme restrictions apply to this contest, we will not consider essays that celebrate brutality or gratuitous violence. Tiny Lights does not accept poetry, short stories, or material written for children. Entry fees for inappropriate submissions may not be returned. Entries must be postmarked by Feburary 19, 2010. Prizes will be awarded as follows: First Place: $350; Second Place: $250; Third Place: $150; Two Honorable Mention Prizes: $100 each. Three FLASHPOINT prizes of $100 are also offered. Awards will be determined by a panel of judges. Final authority rests with the Editor-in-Chief, Susan Bono. Winners will be posted at www.tiny-lights.com by April 10, 2010. Winning essays are subject to editing before publication. Final copy must be approved by writer. No essays will be published in hard copy or online publications without author's permission. All contestants will receive a hard copy of Tiny Lights' contest publication featuring the winning entries.
A few words about hard copy submissions: I know it's old-fashioned, cumbersome and expensive for you to send us your entries via snail mail. Someday, I'm going to have to invest in the software that allows us to manage electronic submissions. But until we learn to enjoy scrolling through hundreds of essays on computer screens, you'll just have to put up with us sprawling on couches and beds, sitting at the kitchen table or in a sunny window or a rocking chair or a dentist's waiting room, reading every single word you send us. We're old-fashioned enough to believe that's important. § One way to save $$ on postage is to submit your entries in a 6" x 9" envelope, which allows it to be sent at letter rates. A 2,000 word essay folded in half with entry fee and SASE should not exceed the U.S. Postal Service's ¼" thickness limit, and costs about half of what the same material sent in a larger envelope does. (Do NOT expect a 6 ½" x 9 ½" envelope to get the same treatment!) Tiny Lights can live with the fold down the middle at those rates! While we're on the subject, please avoid business letter-sized envelopes for entries. Thrice-folded manuscripts are bad news. (Just imagine more than 4 of them open in a pile and you'll start to see what I mean.) § Here's why we recommend a SASE with a single "Forever" stamp (or letter stamp of your choice): By the time the winners are decided, the judges have formed some impressions of your work, even if it didn't place. It only takes a moment to jot these thoughts down, and if we have a SASE, we will send them to you, along with a nice rejection letter. Oftentimes, we will use the first page or two of your essay for this feedback, which can actually help remind you months later where your essay has been. (Of course, you keep meticulous records of where you submit, don't you?) There's no need to include postage for the entire manuscript's return, since you have other copies in your computer. § Speaking of returns, I have a weird confession. Crazy as it sounds, if you have entered our contests before and haven't gotten your SASE back, I probably liked your essay too much. At the end of every contest there are losing entries that are so good, I want to write the authors personally. But whenever I think about doing it, I feel guilty, because I have no real explanation for not choosing them, except someone has to lose, and then I get busy, and 8 months or a year later, I'm ashamed to see these manuscripts still in my office, so I hide them until they are so old I figure everyone's moved on and I can throw them away. Don't think for a minute I'm proud of this behavior. I'm telling you because it's just more proof that you never know what an editor really thinks about your work. So don't be unduly influenced by anything they do. § Any more questions? Additional inquiries may be addressed to editor@tiny-lights.com.

POSITIONS

Norwich University. Visiting Instructor/Assistant Professor of English—Creative Nonfiction/Advanced Writing. The School of Humanities at Norwich University invites applications for a one-year English faculty position to begin fall 2010. Preference will be given to candidates holding the PhD (ABD considered). This position will teach courses in freshman composition, world literature surveys, & English program electives. Documented expertise in creative non-fiction & advanced writing is welcomed. To apply: please submit a cover letter, curriculum vitae, names, addresses, & telephone numbers of three references, & a Norwich application, to: English Faculty Search, via e-mail: jobs@norwich.edu. Candidates must have U.S. Citizenship or Permanent Resident status. This is a one-year appointment with the possibility of extending this position to a second year. Applications must be received no later than February 5.

Gilman School, an independent boys’ school in Baltimore, announces its search to award the fifteenth Tickner Writing Fellowship to a writer in fiction, poetry, playwriting, or creative non-fiction. Responsibilities include teaching one senior elective in creative writing each semester, organizing a series of readings, advising the literary magazine, & working one-to-one with students in the Tickner Writing Center. Salary: $30,000, plus full benefits package. To apply: Send CV, cover letter, three confidential letters of recommendation, & a writing sample consisting of either 10 published poems or up to 30 pages of published prose to: Mr. Patrick Hastings, Director of the Tickner Writing Center, Gilman School, 5407 Roland Avenue, Baltimore, MD 21210. Firm deadline for receipt of all materials is January 8, 2010.

Contests for Creative Nonfiction Pieces

Contests for Creative Nonfiction Pieces culled from free e-mail list. I've slapped these in here with little regard for formatting, grammar, etc. These all have 2010 deadlines. Good luck!

Symposium on Place

Deadline: January 15

Center: A Journal for the Literary Arts invites submissions for a symposium on the importance of place in creative nonfiction, to appear in its next issue. We encourage you to consider place from a variety of perspectives. What is its role in the essay? in memoir? in literary journalism? How do concerns about conveying a sense of place affect your own work? In what ways do you see issues of place animating the work of others? How is place specific or general? Must place be physical or is it temporal as well? Submissions should be between 750 and 1000 words. Email your submission, in a .doc format with "symposium" in the header line, to cla@missouri.edu. Please include a short bio in the body of the e-mail. Inquiries to barberse@missouri.edu. The deadline for submissions is January 15, 2010.

MFA Program-Off

postmark deadline: January 28

http://www.creativenonfiction.org/thejournal/submittocnf.htm#programoff

Win a reading at the 2010 AWP Conference in Denver, publication in the summer 2010 issue of CNF, and bragging rights for your program! Judge: Barbara Lounsberry, co-author (with Gay Talese) of Writing Creative Nonfiction: The Literature of Reality. Guidelines:Contest is open to any student currently enrolled in an MFA creative writing program. Submissions should be typed, double-spaced, no more than 3,000 words, and unpublished. This is a blind read; your name should appear only in the cover letter, and each page of the manuscript should include the title of the piece. No excerpts will be considered; your submission should be a single and complete piece. Only one submission per author will be considered. Please send submission and a cover letter with your name, university, complete contact information and title of the work to: Creative Nonfiction Foundation, Attn: AWP Program-Off, 5501 Walnut Street, Suite 202, Pittsburgh, PA 15232.

Dorothy Churchill Cappon Essay Contest

deadline: May 18

New Letters: A Magazine of Writing and Art http://www.newletters.org/PDFs/2010%20Contest%20Guidelines%20.pdf or enter online at www.newletters.org.

$1,500 prize. All entrants will be considered for publication and will receive a one-year subscription to New Letters.* 1. Simultaneous submissions are welcome. Please notify us if work is accepted elsewhere. Submit unpublished work only. No refunds will be issued. 2. Enclose with each entry: a. $15 for first entry; $10 for each entry after. $15 entry includes cost of a one-year (four issues) New Letters subscription, an extension of a current subscription, or a gift subscription. Make checks payable to New Letters Literary Awards. *Entries from outside the United States receive all contest privileges except the subscription. b. Two cover sheets-the first with complete name, address, e-mail/phone number, category, and title(s); and the second with category and title(s) only. Personal information should not appear anywhere else on the entry. c. A stamped, self-addressed postcard (optional) for notification of receipt and entry number. d. A stamped, self-addressed envelope (optional) for a list of the winners. 3. Manuscripts will not be returned. No refunds will be issued. No substitutions or revisions. 4. Entries essay are not to exceed 8,000 words. 5. Multiple entries are welcome with appropriate fees. 6. Current students and employees at the University of Missouri-Kansas City, and current volunteer members of the New Letters and BkMk Press staffs, are not eligible. • All entries are considered for publication • First runners-up will receive a copy of a recent book of poetry or fiction from our affiliate BkMk Press • One winner and one runner-up will be selected in the three categories (poetry and fiction contests as well) • Winners will be announced mid-September 2010 • $1,500 prize money paid upon publication in our awards issue. Submit electronically at www.newletters.org, or mail entries to: NEW LETTERS LITERARY AWARDS, University House, 5101 Rockhill Road, University of Missouri-Kansas City, Kansas City, MO 64110.

The First Annual Normal Prize in Fiction And Nonfiction

Normal School

Nonfiction Prize: $1,000 & Publication

Final nonfiction judge: David Shields

GUIDELINES: 1. All submissions must be 10,087 words or less, double-spaced, numbered, 12 pt. font, with NO IDENTIFYING INFORMATION ON MANUSCRIPT. 2. Entry fee: $20 per submission. Please make checks out to "The Normal School." 3. MANUSCRIPTS should be accompanied by a cover sheet with the following information: title, genre, word count, author's name, address, phone number, and e-mail address. Of this information, ONLY THE TITLE should appear on the manuscript itself. 4. All submissions must be previously unpublished (print or electronic media). 5. Simultaneous submissions ARE allowed as long as you notify editors should your piece be accepted elsewhere. Multiple submissions ARE allowed, but each submission must be accompanied by the entry fee. 6. Manuscripts will not be returned. Please do not send your only copy. If you want verification that we have received your manuscript, please send a self-addressed, stamped postcard. 7. Postmark submissions by FEBRUARY 12 and send to: The Normal School, Normal Prize Contest - "Genre," 5245 N. Backer Ave., M/S PB 98, California State University, Fresno, Fresno, CA 93740. All entrants will receive a complimentary issue of The Normal School. Winners will be announced before the Fall 2010 issue via email. All entries will be considered for publication. For questions, please visit www.thenormalschool.com, or e-mail us at normalprize@thenormalschool.com.

Literary Anthology/Contest

deadline: February 27

Sponsored by Outrider Press in affiliation with TallGrass Writers Guild

E-mail: outriderpress@sbcglobal.net or tallgrassguild@sbcglobal.net.

Planned publication date: late summer/early fall 2010. Working title: Seasons of Change. We interpret broadly, and welcome work on seasonal changes in the natural world, but also socio-economic change; change of scene; and deep personal change as well. Previously published material and simultaneous submissions OK. Award of $500 each for poetry and prose. Also: 2nd and 3rd places and honorable mention. All winners receive Featured Reader status at the Kick-Off Reading at Chicago Tribune Printers Row Literary Festival, the nation's third-largest book fair of its kind (depending on CTPRLF scheduling). Each published contributor receives a free copy of the anthology. Entry fees for each category are $16 ($12 each for TWG members). Current annual U.S. TWG membership fee of $45 ($25 for students w/xerox of valid photo ID) includes six 12-page newsletters each year. An entry form for the 2010 Anthology/Contest (available w/SASE, if not attached to these guidelines) must be completed and accompany each entry category. To obtain, e-mail: outriderpress@sbcglobal.net or tallgrassguild@sbcglobal.net. Prose: 2,500-word limit per entry; sections from longer works accepted. Each entry must have a separate reading fee. NO LIMIT ON NUMBER OF SUBMISSIONS. Submission Guide: (for complete guidelines, e-mail outriderpress@sbcglobal.net. Send two copies of each manuscript (ms.) Plus disk as follows: HARD COPY - Double-spaced manuscript on one side, on 8.5"x11" unlined white paper. Single-spacing okay for poetry. Only laserjet, inkjet or letter-quality dot matrix acceptable; plus: Four-sentence bio; plus: ELECTRONIC - Provide ms. and bio (separate files, please) on small capacity flash drive or CD, using Windows Rich-Text-Format (RTF) or Microsoft Word (not Works). Package your CDs safely to prevent damage. Specify word processing program on label + author's name and e-mail address. No MAC. Include name, address, phone/FAX numbers (w/area code) and e-mail addresses on first sheet of fiction; each sheet of poetry. Your phone number and e-mail address are required on every item. Include a stamped, self-addressed #10 (business size) envelope (SASE) for response. Mss. shredded/recycled, not returned. Include a stamped, self-addressed postcard to have receipt of ms. confirmed. FOR COMPLETE GUIDELINES WITH REQUIRED ENTRY FORM: outriderpress@sbcglobal.net or tallgrassguild@sbcglobal.net. Telephone: 219-322-7270 or toll-free 866-510-6735.

Seventh Glass Woman Prize

deadline: March 21, 2010 (receipt date)

http://www.sigriddaughter.com/GlassWomanPrize.htm

The Seventh Glass Woman Prize will be awarded for a work of short fiction or creative nonfiction (prose) written by a woman. Length: between 50 and 5,000 words. The top prize for the seventh Glass Woman Prize award is $600 and possible (but not obligatory) online publication; I will also award one runner-up prize of $100 and one runner-up prize of $50, together with possible (but not obligatory) online publication. Subject is open, but must be of significance to women. My criteria are passion, excellence, and authenticity in the woman's writing voice. Previously published work and simultaneous submissions are OK. Previous Glass Woman Prize winners are welcome to submit again. Copyright is retained by the author. There is no reading fee. Previous winners are welcome to submit again for any subsequent prize. Submission deadline: March 21, 2010 (receipt date; anything received after that date will be considered for a future prize). Notification date: June 21, 2010. The winners will be announced on Web site. Submissions will not be returned or otherwise acknowledged except for the winner announcement. I promise that every submission will be read with respect and with my commitment to the voices of women in this world. One submission per person per prize submission period, by e-mail, with "Glass Woman Prize Submission" in the subject line and the text pasted in the body of the e-mail (no attachments!) to: glasswomanprize@comcast.net, or in hard copy and via regular mail, to: Beate Sigriddaughter, 333 East 16th Avenue, #517, Denver, CO 80203. IMPORTANT: If submitting by e-mail: - "Glass Woman Prize Submission" in subject line; text in body of e-mail; please put your e-mail address in the body of the e-mail as well. I will regretfully ignore and delete submissions of anything other than specified above, for example: submissions with any kind of attachment*, more than one piece of writing in a given prize reading period, more than 5,000 words, poetry, or submissions without "Glass Woman Prize Submission" in the subject line of the e-mail. *Please note that some fancy e-mail stationery comes across as attachment; try to avoid using that, as you run the risk of having your entry deleted.

POSITIONS

Emerson College - Nonfiction Writer

The Department of Writing, Literature, and Publishing seeks a full-time, tenure-track Assistant Professor in the area of Creative Nonfiction writing. An M.F.A. or other terminal degree, or equivalent professional experience, with a significant national publication record including at least one published book, are required. Essential to the position will be the teaching of undergraduate workshops, graduate level workshops in a thriving M.F.A. Program, as well as courses in column writing, feature writing, and the literature of narrative nonfiction. Ability to teach literature courses that focus on minority and diverse cultures is also essential. Additional faculty responsibilities will include maintaining professional development and scholarship activities, academic advising and participation on faculty and College committees. Emerson College values campus multiculturalism as demonstrated by the diversity of its faculty, staff, student body, and constantly evolving curriculum. The successful candidate must have the ability to work effectively with faculty, students, and staff from diverse backgrounds. Members of historically under-represented groups are encouraged to apply. See Web site for a full listing of academic positions: www.emerson.edu/academic_affairs/faculty/Faculty-Employment.cfm. Send a letter of application, a curriculum vita, and writing sample to Search Chair, Nonfiction Writer, The Department of Writing, Literature and Publishing, Emerson College, 120 Boylston Street, Boston, MA 02116. Have your dossier sent to the same address. Review of applications began December 15 and continue until the position is filled.Postal Address: Search Chair, Nonfiction Writer, The Department of Writing, Literature and Publishing, Emerson College, 120 Boylston Street, Boston, MA 02116. Online App. Form: http://www.emerson.edu/academic_affairs/faculty/Faculty-Employment.cfm.

Louisiana State University - Postdoctoral Researcher/Resident Scholar, The Southern Review

This is a two-year non-renewable 12-month appointment and carries a salary of $32,000 & benefits (Pending final administrative approval). Preferred start date is August 1, 2010. The Scholar will commit 20 hours per week to editorial duties at The Southern Review & teach one class per regular semester in the English Department (courses assigned by departmental need and/or Fellow's expertise). Required Qualifications: Terminal degree (MFA, PhD or equivalent); one year editorial experience on the staff of an established literary journal. Additional Qualifications Desired:Ability to demonstrate the following: editorial expertise with fiction, nonfiction, & poetry; a broad knowledge of literature, especially contemporary; basic computer skills; a solid understanding of publishing, especially small presses & literary magazines. Special Requirements: All candidates must be eligible to work in the United States; ability & willingness to work some holidays. Flexible scheduling of hours may be available. Responsibilities: handles manuscript review & selection, proofreading, circulation development, fundraising support & conference participation; teaches one class per regular semester for the English Department; produces new works of prose or poetry culminating in a public presentation the final semester of the residency. An offer of employment is contingent on a satisfactory pre-employment background check. Application deadline is January 4, 2010 or until a candidate is selected. Apply online at: www.lsusystemcareers.lsu.edu Position #034688.

Bookshelves for Our Writing

We write. We read. We never seem to let go of our books, so of course we have bookshelves. Check out this cool blog full of pictures of, er, off-the-wall ways to store books, called Bookshelf. I love it!

Essays for Marie Claire

Info garnered and condensed from a profile of Marie Claire on MediaBistro:

A good section for freelancers to pitch is "Bulletin," which the magazine describes as "a news section with attitude."

If you're willing to share your personal details, the "Love/Sex" section is supposed to "enlighten and amuse readers" with narratives about women's emotional lives. Two examples: a piece about a two-year online love affair, where the writer never met the guy face-to-face; how a woman came to grips with her boyfriend's huge, lurid tattoo.

For long-form features, concentrate on having a news angle.

Contact info: Marie Claire, 300 West 57th Street, New York, NY 10019

As with all magazines, you should read the magazine to get a feel for what they publish and the tone they take. Call the magazine to find out which editor to pitch your idea to.

Highly Amusing Words to Query By

The Behler Publications blog recently contained this sarcastic entry regarding the query letters that would-be authors send.

The publisher deals mostly in nonfiction. Mission statement: "We publish personal journeys with socially relevant themes: stories dealing with how people are influenced and changed by their experiences, and how they deal with those repercussions. Not only do we want strong, honest characters, but also strong attention to voice and development. We look for books where readers say, "I'm a better/more thoughtful/smarter person for having read this book."

Booking It

Here's a practical tip sheet for handling book signings. The notion of such an event is daunting--and I've certainly heard horror stories (no people showing up; no books showing up)--and here's a handy-dandy list of how to make the event go well, before, during and after. The advice was put together by publicist and author Randy Ray (www.randyray.ca) and author and publishing consultant Barbara Florio Graham, www.SimonTeakettle.com.

Narrative: The Tweet

As opposed to "Narrative: The Movie." Anyway. Here's a note from the Creative Nonfiction December newsletter. (And, it seems as if the revamped publication is going to be more like a magazine than a literary journal. And it'll be quarterly. Wait . . . I thought it was quarterly.)

The Great Twitter Experiment

By now, the CNF Daily Twitter contest is nothing new. After six months, it has officially become a bona fide online community of micro-essayists. But here's a reminder: A handful of CNF Tweets will appear in the "new" CNF.

That's right, the CNF Daily contest is another way to get your work in print. Micro-essays, after all, are still essays.

Still not sure what we're looking for? Here are a few recent winners, to serve as examples and inspiration:

November 27
JHammons My grandmother's Thanksgiving recipe: tumbler of vodka. No ice. #cnftweet

November 30
spitballarmy The $10.90 debt hung on for months, the rain turned their dusty Oklahoma town to mud, but the train always came at the right time. #cnftweet

December 3
inthemilk Errors often produce the finest results. Think: Post-it Notes. Think: Chocolate chip cookies. Think: My youngest son. #cnftweet

December 5
sarahgilbert went to feed chickens on winter's coldest day, feathers were everywhere, 2 girls shivering after what must have been battle royale. #cnftweet

All of the winners are available on our profile page under the "Favorites"tab, and the finer details of the contest are below:

Can you tell a true story in 130 characters or less? Think you could write twenty CNF-worthy tweets a day? Go for it. We dare you. There's no limit and submitting is easy. Simply tag your creative nonfiction tweet with the trending topic #cnftweet, and then hit "Update." That's it.

Our editors pick a daily winner and re-tweet the best of the day.

CNF Mag Calling for Submissions

Creative Nonfiction is currently seeking four types of submissions:

1) End of Life Stories

2) Essays by current MFA students

3) Animal essays

4) General Submissions

The official calls are available here: http://www.creativenonfiction.org/thejournal/submittocnf.htm.

E Is for Evergreen

"Evergreen" in the term publications employ to describe articles that can be used at any time. Such articles aren't limited to only one season, for example ("How to Build a Christmas Tree from Twist-Ties" in April? I think not). They don't rely on current events to make them worth reading (Who would want to read "President Gives Patriotic Speech at Old Folks Home" 10 days after it happened?). Evergreen articles are the kind of articles editors like to have on hand--they can be dropped in whenever there's space to fill.

Creative nonfiction articles are often evergreen because the focus is not on "just the facts, ma'am." Sometimes the article has a "news hook"--some bit of information that connects it to current events. (Practical aside: Having a news hook can increase your chances of getting the article published. Once I sent a piece to the New York Times' back-page-essay editor; she loved it, but chose not to run it because it didn't link to anything making headlines at the time.) But even when there is a hook, it's enjoyable to read the story years later.

Case in point: At a Nieman conference on narrative nonfiction years ago, I went to a session on narrative in spot news. One of the examples was a story about a building contest (tallest tower made of Oreos). The story mentioned the winner--some white-bread boy who got a $20,000 scholarship--but focused on the runner-up who, because of the contest, got what she really wanted, a room of her own at home. You can read the entire story at Bob Baker's Newsthinking; it's item No. 8 (it's worth your time to read the Baker's whole article).

As in this instance, many narratives spring from news items. It's just that, even if you know how the story ends, the unfolding of the story is what captures the reader.

Conferences, Job Openings

Culled from the crwropps free e-mail list (with minimal editing on my part).

Call for Submissions for scholarly and creative submissions for a National Interdisciplinary Graduate Student Conference entitled “The End?” to be held at Indiana University in Bloomington from March 25th-27th, 2010. We are especially interested in creative submissions! We are looking for graduate student writers to give readings of their work that engage with the conference theme either thematically or formally (or both). Readings that challenge notions of endings, structure, or traditional formal boundaries, are all welcome, along with work that engages with the conference theme within the piece itself, through narrative or language. This conference hopes to examine how endings and limits are depicted, along with how we surpass (or are constrained by) them as writers. Other topics might include, but are not limited to: Endings as beginnings / beginnings as endings; The end of genre, crossing genre; Translation; The apocalypse and apocalyptic literature; The end of the human; Violence, death, grief, trauma; Moments of crisis; War; The ends of the earth; Fringe, margins, outlines; The future of poetry, fiction, nonfiction, etc. We encourage proposals for individual projects as well as panel proposals organized by topic/theme/form. Again, we are committed to involving as much creative work as possible in the conference and representing a wide variety of writers. Please submit an abstract of no more than 250 words describing your work and its relation to the conference theme, as well as five representative pages of creative work and as a short description of yourself, by January 15th, 2010 to iugradconference@gmail.com. Graduate Student Advisory Committee, Department of English, Indiana University.

Nonfiction Symposium Call for Entries. Center: A Journal of the Literary Arts invites submissions for a symposium on the importance of place in creative nonfiction, to appear in its next issue (spring 2010). We encourage you to consider place from a variety of perspectives. What is its role in the essay? in memoir? in literary journalism? How do concerns about conveying a sense of place affect your own work? in what ways do you see issues of place animating the work of others? How is place specific or general? Must place be physical or is it temporal as well? What role does craft play in the development of place? Submissions should be between 750 and 1000 words. Email your submission, in a .doc format with "symposium" in the header line, to cla@missouri.edu. Please include a short bio. Inquiries to barberse(at)missouri.edu. The deadline for submissions is January 15, 2010.

Call for applications: Emerging Writer-Lecturer, Department of English. One-year appointment, beginning August 2010, for a creative writer who plans a career that involves college-level teaching, to teach three courses per semester, including Introduction to Creative Writing and an advanced course in the writer's genre, as well as to assist with departmental writing activities. Mentorship for teaching and assistance in professional development provided. M.A., with a concentration in creative writing, M.F.A., or Ph.D. with creative dissertation, required. Teaching experience and literary magazine publications are essential. Competitive salary. To apply, send letter of application, curriculum vitae, names of three references, and a 5-10 page writing sample to: Emerging Writer Lectureship, Department of English, Campus Box 397, Gettysburg College, 300 N. Washington St., Gettysburg, PA 17325, postmarked by January 29, 2010. Electronic applications will not be accepted. Do not send entire monographs, books, etc. Gettysburg College is a highly selective liberal arts college located within 90 minutes of the Washington/Baltimore metropolitan area. Established in 1832, the College has a rich history and is situated on a 220-acre campus with an enrollment of over 2,600 students. Gettysburg College celebrates diversity and welcomes applications from members of any group that has been historically underrepresented in the American academy. The College assures equal employment opportunity and prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, national origin, gender, religion, sexual orientation, age, and disability. Postal Address: Emerging Writer Lectureship, Department of English, Gettysburg College, 300 North Washington Street, Box 397, Gettysburg, PA 17325. Phone: (717) 337-6750; Fax: (717) 337-8551; TDD: (717) 337-6833.

Assistant Professor of English - Creative Nonfiction Writing.
Bemidji State University, Bemidji, MN. Posted: 11/17/2009, full-time. Responsibilities: Teach creative nonfiction writing at junior through graduate levels. Teach first-year composition and related academic writing. Contribute to a program of scholarship within the discipline,student advising, service to the University and community, and other associated faculty duties. Contribute to interdisciplinary teaching and distance learning delivery. Involvement in activities that support Bemidji State University's signature themes: Environmental stewardship, Civic engagement, Global/multicultural understanding. Minimum Qualifications: MFA in writing and/or PhD in English with specialization in writing creative nonfiction. Significant and appropriate publications. Teaching experience in university level courses.
Ability to teach upper division and graduate level courses. Ability to teach first-year composition. Teaching excellence, student-centered. Knowledge of and interest in diverse cultures and populations. Also desirable: Experience in literary publishing, professional writing, teaching first-year composition and/or second-year academic writing. Ability to teach literature at all levels. Ability to teach introduction to creative writing. Application Procedure: Apply online at http://agency.governmentjobs.com/bemidji /default.cfm. Send materials to: http://agency.governmentjobs.com/bemidji/default.cfm. Bemidji State University, 1500 Birchmont Drive NE, Bemidji, MN 56601. Contact: Susan Hauser, Chair, Department of English, E-mail: shauser@bemidjistate.edu, Phone: (218) 755-3355.

The Reginald S. Tickner Writing Fellowship is an annual writer-in-residence position named in honor of Reginald Tickner, whose 41-year career at Gilman impacted thousands of Gilman students. http://www.gilman.edu/program/arts_mcreativew_ticknerwritingfell.asp. Each year, the Tickner Fellow: Directs the Writers at Work Series, a yearly program of bringing writers to campus to give a reading and work with classes for a day. Advises Paragon, the school’s award-winning literary magazine, published at least twice each year. Teaches one section of Creative Writing to seniors every other day in addition to leading occasional creative writing projects in other English classes. Consults one-to-one with students on their writing as part of the Tickner Writing Center and inindependent study. Uses his/her non-teaching day for activity related to personal writing projects and shares the process with students and faculty. The Reginald S. Tickner Writing Fellowship is a one-year, 32-hour per week position. The salary is approximately $30,000; full benefits package available. Interested applicants should send resume, cover letter, threeconfidential letters of recommendation, and samples ofpublished writing to: Patrick Hastings, Director of the Tickner Writing Center, Gilman School, 5407 Roland Avenue, Baltimore, MD 21210. Materials must be RECEIVED by NO LATER THAN January 8.

New College of Florida. The Humanities Division announces an opening for a Writer in Residence, spring semester 2010 (February-May). The successful candidate will have two published books or the equivalent, two years’ experience teaching creative writing, which can include instruction as a graduate student, & be strongly committed to playing an active role in the community of our residential honors college. MFA, MA, or equivalent degree preferred, but experience considered. Writers whose work engages multiethnic experience and/or issues of identity especially encouraged. The Writer in Residence will be responsible for teaching two semester-length writing courses (preferably one multigenre introductory course & one course in the applicant’s specialty), & will give at least three public readings. We have particular interest this year in candidates with experience in prose. Salary: $22,725 for .75 FTE, with no benefits. Send curriculum vitae, letter of application, writing sample, dossier with three letters of reference & official transcript, & two course proposals (one for an introductory level course & one more specialized course) to: Dr. Robert Zamsky, Chair, Search Committee, Division of Humanities, New College of Florida, 5800 Bay Shore Road, Sarasota, FL 34243-2109. Review of applications will begin December 1 & continue until position is filled. For disability accommodations, contact Chair a minimum of five (5) days in advance at (941) 487-4360. AA/EOE.

Gilman School, an independent boys’ school in Baltimore, announces its search to award the fifteenth Tickner Writing Fellowship to a writer in fiction, poetry, playwriting, or creative nonfiction. Responsibilities include teaching one senior elective in creative writing each semester, organizing a series of readings, advising the literary magazine, & working one-to-one with students in the Tickner Writing Center. Salary: $30,000, plus full benefits package. To apply: Send CV, cover letter, three confidential letters of recommendation, & a writing sample consisting of either 10 published poems or up to 30 pages of published prose to: Mr. Patrick Hastings, Director of the Tickner Writing Center, Gilman School, 5407 Roland Avenue, Baltimore, MD 21210. Firm deadline for receipt of all materials is January 8, 2010.

The Department of English, Creative Nonfiction Assistant Professor. Review Date: Review of applications will begin January 4, 2010, and will continue until the position is filled. Salary: Commensurate with rank and experience. Date of Appointment: August 2010. Description of Responsibilities: Teach Creative Nonfiction to a diverse population of undergraduate students as part of a vibrant, multi-genre creative writing program. Maintain a significant publication record. Required Qualifications: MFA in creative writing, with significant publication history and an interest in working with students from a variety of cultures. Preferred Qualifications: Teaching experience that promotes global perspectives and awareness at the undergraduate level. To Apply: Submit a letter of application, curriculum vitae, a copy of transcripts, three current letters of reference, and 10 - 15 pages of published creative nonfiction electronically to: http://oswego.interviewexchange.com/candapply.jsp?JOBID=15980. For additional information, contact Robert O'Connor at robert.oconnor@oswego.edu. Official transcripts are required prior to hiring.

The Department of English at Ohio University invites applications for a tenure-track Assistant Professor in Creative Writing: Non-Fiction. POSITION NUMBER: PN109914. SALARY: Commensurate with experience and education. We seek candidates of established achievement who have published at least one book. The successful candidate is expected to teach; publish and direct creative work; and participate in departmental/university governance. Expected to teach at both graduate and undergraduate levels. We are seeking a candidate with a commitment in working effectively with students, faculty and staff from diverse backgrounds. Position available September 2010. Further information about Ohio University can be found at the University's web site:http://www.ohio.edu. MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS: Ph.D or MFA by September 1, 2010. A published book preferred. TO APPLY: Applicants are asked to complete the online application and supply all supporting documentation by mail. (Curriculum Vita "may" be attached electronically but is required with US Mail Application packet.). Please submit via U.S. Mail: Cover Letter, Curriculum Vitae, a 20 pp. writing sample, and three current letters of recommendation to Department of English, Ellis 360, ATTN: Creative Writing Search, Ohio University, Athens, Ohio 45701. Review of applications will begin Friday, November 6, and will continue until the position is filled. Interviewing at MLA.

Phillips Academy. An independent, coeducational, secondary boarding/day school in Andover, Massachusetts with a diverse community of students & faculty is seeking a Writer in Residence to fill the Roger F. Murray Chair in Creative Writing beginning in the academic year 2010-2011. The term of appointment is two years with a possible renewal. The writer-in-residence is expected to teach two seminar classes (maximum 15 students per class) in creative writing per term. Minimum requirements include at least one published book & experience in the teaching of creative writing at the university or secondary level. A number of prominent writers have held this fellowship since it was established in 1978. The salary is competitive with similar university appointments. The committee will continue to accept applications until the position is filled & will begin reviewing applications on November 15. The academy welcomes applications from diverse racial & ethnic backgrounds. Please send resume & letter to: Creative Writing Search Committee, Dean of Faculty, Phillips Academy, Andover, MA 01810. For more information, please visit www.andover.edu. Background check required. EOE.

Time for Lists of Best Books

It's time already for may lists regarding 2009's best this-and-that. Here's a nine of 10 books on the 'best books' list from a New York Times blogger, Dwight Garner. The 10th book was fiction.

A Paradise Built in Hell: The Extraordinary Communities That Arise in Disaster, By Rebecca Solnit

Tears in the Darkness: The Story of the Bataan Death March and Its Aftermath, By Michael Norman and Elizabeth Norman, “stirring and humane military history . . .”

Farm City: The Education of an Urban Farmer, By Novella Carpenter, “Fresh, funny and jagged around the edges . . . about the author’s attempts to start a busy farm on a deserted lot in an Oakland ghetto.”

When Skateboards Will Be Free: A Memoir of a Political Childhood, By Saïd Sayrafiezadeh, “delicate, discerning memoir . . . reads like a peculiar bedtime story.”

The First Tycoon: The Epic Life of Cornelius Vanderbilt, By T.J. Stiles, “A mighty — and mighty confident — biography"

Family Properties: Race, Real Estate and the Exploitation of Black Urban America, By Beryl Satter, "A panoramic and often personal retelling of Chicago’s race-driven real-estate wars . . ."

Catching Fire: How Cooking Made Us Human, By Richard Wrangham, “A new theory of human evolution . . . in plain-spoken, gripping language.”

Tall Man: The Death of Doomadgee, By Chloe Hooper, "A haunting, morally complicated examination of the death of an aboriginal man in a small-town Australian prison."

Cold: Adventures in the World’s Frozen Places, By Bill Streever, "flinty and tough-minded look at a vanishing world . . ."

Calls for Submissions

Awaken Consciousness Magazine is actively seeking submissions of articles, personal essays, poetry and (very) short fiction. All submissions should be 750 words or less. We accept thoughtful, well-written work on topics relating to personal development, health & wellness, natural medicine, spirituality, psychology or consciousness. Please see guidelines here: http://readacm.com/submit/.

Fifth Wednesday Journal is accepting submissions for the Spring 2010 issue. Submissions for this issue will close on December 31, 2009. We publish poetry, short fiction, creative nonfiction, and black and white photography. All work must be submitted with our online submissions manager. Please visit the website for complete guidelines and instructions. www.fifthwednesdayjournal.org.

The Survivor's Review, a not-for-profit online journal encouraging the creative expression of cancer survivors, is seeking stories, essays and poems by those who are intimately familiar with the cancer journey. If you have written a piece that explores the heart of what it means to be a cancer survivor or caregiver, please consider submitting your work to us. Submissions accepted at: www.survivorsreview.org. Our word count is flexible, but most of our features range from 100 to 1,000 words. Please visit our site and contact us with any questions. Question: Who is a cancer survivor? Answer: Anyone living with a history of cancer from the moment of diagnosis through the remainder of life.

Tattoo Highway, an online journal of prose, poetry and art, is now reading for TH/20: "Detours." Deadline, Jan. 10, 2010. Submissions to: http://www.tattoohighway.org. GENERAL GUIDELINES: Our tastes are eclectic. We like fresh, vivid language, and we like stories and poems that are actually about something -- that acknowledge a world beyond the writer's own psyche. If they have an edge, if they provoke us to think or make us laugh, so much the better. We strongly suggest reading a previous issue or two before submitting. While we particularly welcome poetry and short "screen-reader-friendly" prose or cross-genre pieces (less than 1000 words), we do on occasion publish longer work. We encourage hypertext and new media (Flash .swf) submissions, also photographs and original graphics. All readings are "blind" (authors' names and other identifiers are removed). Writers may submit up to 2 prose pieces. While we prefer to see work that has not been previously published, we do consider work that has appeared in small-circulation print journals. Simultaneous submissions are fine, but please let us know promptly if you place a piece elsewhere. HOW TO SUBMIT: Email submissions to submissions@tattoohighway.org, as Rich Text Format (RTF) attachments or as plain text in the body of your message, and with TH20 in the subject line. For hypertext and Flash submissions, provide us with an URL where we may view the work online.

Porter Gulch Review invites submissions of poems, short stories, screenplays, paintings, drawings, photographs or anything else that can be transferred to paper. Written works must be less than 5,000 words each. Up to four poems or two short stories. Typed, single-spaced, one copy only and no staples. Include a cover letter with your address, phone, email, titles of submissions and a 2-3 sentence playful bio. Include a disk with files of literary or art works and mark on the disk your name and names of pieces included. Any originals of artworks should have your contact information on the back. Mail in 9X12 envelope to Porter Gulch Review, Cabrillo College, 6500 Soquel Drove, Aptos CA 95003. E-mail all files including bio to PGR@cabrillo.edu as well. Website: http://www.cabrillo.edu/publications/portergulch/.

OK. I've tried three times to deal with the copy below, listing calls for submissions. Something gets screwed up every time. In this case, some e-mail addresses disappeared. Just go to the website and get the details. If I don't post this today, I'm afraid I'll never get it out!

Versal

Deadline: Jan. 15

Versal wants your poetry, prose, and art for its eighth issue due out in May 2010. Internationally acclaimed literary annual published in Amsterdam, bringing together the world's urgent, involved & unexpected. See Web site for guidelines and to submit: http://versal.wordsinhere.com. Inquiries (only) can be directed to: . Deadline: January 15, 2010.

Crash

Deadline for first issue: Dec. 15

http://www.cra.sh/

Crash is an online literary journal celebrating the spontaneous, amorphous, and surreal. Embracing spontaneity, we consider a variety of genres from across the literary spectrum. Honoring amorphism, we support liberation of literature from boundaries imposed by traditional forms. Finally, Crash brings a diversity of enjoyable styles together, creating a surrealistic effect unique to each issue.

Each submission may include 1-10 works, but the total word count of the works included must not exceed 3,000 words. For example, you could send one short story that is within 3,000 words, or three flash fiction stories that are within 1,000 words each. You could also send up to ten poems or prose pieces if their combined total falls within the 3,000 word range.

Gulf Stream

Deadline: Dec. 15 for No. 2

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

Gulf Stream is now accepting submissions for Issue No. 2 of Gulf Stream Online. This is a special issue for us--it's our twentieth anniversary! Come be a part of South Florida's premier literary journal. We are currently reading submissions until December 15. Submit online only at http://fs8.formsite.com/gulfstream/form385843734/index.html.

We publish poetry, fiction, and creative nonfiction. Past contributors include Sherman Alexie, David Kirby, Richard Blanco, Dennis Lehane, Ha Jin, Ann Hood, Susan Neville, Naomi Shihab Nye, Virgil Suarez, Catherine Bowman, Maureen Seaton, Jim Daniels, Stuart Dybek, Len Roberts, Peter Meinke and Jill Bialosky. For further information and submission guidelines, please visit our Web site at http://w3.fiu.edu/gulfstream/guidelines.asp.

damselfly press

Deadline: Dec. 15 for No. 10

damselfly press, an online literary journal for women selected as Best of the Web 2009 by Dzanc Books, is pleased to announce the publication of our ninth issue and call for submissions for the tenth issue. We are seeking electronic submissions of original fiction, poetry, and nonfiction by female writers slated for online publication in January 2010. As always, we welcome a myriad of women's voices from new and experienced writers.The deadline to submit for the tenth issue is December 15th, 2009.

Nonfiction editor: nonfiction@damselflypress.net. Visit the damselfly press Web site: http://damselflypress.net to read the latest issue and learn more about the journal.

Connotation Press (food writing)

http://connotationpress.com/index.php/from-plate-to-palate

The online arts and literary magazine Connotation Press is seeking food writing from the creative writer's perspective. If you're a creative writer in any genre who is also interested in food writing or who is currently involved in food writing, please submit your tasty morsels to Amanda McGuire, the Food and Wine feature editor at Connotation Press . Bon Appetit!

Permanent Vacation: Living And Working In Our National Parks - Anthology

Deadline: Jan. 5

http://www.bonafidebooks.com/permanent-vacation/

Bona Fide Books seeks literary essays for a collection about life and work in our national parks. Diverse park experiences desired. Although we enjoy tree-hugging epiphanies, we also want to read about day-to-day life, and the societal, environmental, and existential implications of living in the park. What happened there, and how did it influence your life? Writers will receive $100 for their essay and one copy of the collection. Deadline: January 5, 2010. See www.bonafidebooks.com for guidelines.

Fifth Wednesday Journal

Deadline: Dec. 31

www.fifthwednesdayjournal.org

Fifth Wednesday Journal is accepting submissions for the Spring 2010 issue. Submissions for this issue will close on December 31, 2009. We publish poetry, short fiction, creative nonfiction, and black and white photography. All work must be submitted with our online submissions manager. Please visit the Web site for complete guidelines and instructions.

The Breakwater Review

http://www.breakwaterreview.com/ (submit online at Web site)

The Breakwater Review, the online literary journal run by students in the creative writing MFA program at the University of Massachusetts Boston, is seeking high-quality submissions of fiction, nonfiction, and poetry. Submissions are accepted on a rolling basis (currently reading for the June issue). We are considering fiction under 5,000 words, nonfiction under 3,000 words, or 3 to 5 poems. We look forward to reading your best work. The Breakwater Review is particularly interested in discovering new and interesting voices and welcomes submissions from previously unpublished writers. For more information, visit the Web site www.breakwaterreview.com.

PARENTHOOD?! - Anthology

Deadline: Jan. 4

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

City Works Press seeks poetry, fiction, prose and art on motherhood and/or fatherhood for our upcoming anthology. Give us your moments of sublime joy as well your dark nights of the soul. Talk about birth, nursing, relationships, adoption, same-sex parenting, high tech conception, loss, etc. Tell us what it means NOT to have children. Limit 2,500 words for fiction/prose or 4 poems. Attach short bio. Send e-mail or hard copy submissions by JANUARY 4, 2010, to: City Works Press, ATTN: Mamas and Papas, San Diego City College, 1313 Park Blvd., San Diego, CA 92101. ; www.cityworkspress.org.

Daughter/Father Stories - Anthology

Deadline: Dec. 15

Seeking Female Writers to to share how your father's character, personality, and/or actions (in-actions) influenced your development, for the opportunity to be included in an anthology to be published in June 2010. Details for submission can be found at www.daughterstory.blogspot.com. Deadline is December 15, 2009. No longer than 1,200 words, your narrative should be emotionally moving and tangible with descriptive imagery readers can relate to via sight, sound, smell, touch and taste.

E-mail your full name, address, daytime phone number, and e-mail address. Your story MUST be submitted as a .doc attachment, or in the body of the e-mail, double-spaced in 12pt. font, Times New Roman. Any other format will not be read. In the subject line include your year of birth and a one-word theme for your narrative. Also include a bio-a short paragraph (of about 50 words or less) about you, promoting your latest book, project, etc.

What Doesn't Kill You... - Anthology

Deadline: Dec. 31

http://www.press53.com/whatdoesntkillyou.html

What Doesn't Kill You... a new anthology coming from Press 53 in Spring 2010 is looking for stories of struggle-real or imagined, physical or mental. We're looking for eight stories to run alongside the seven we have already requested from some of today's top award-winning writers. Stories can be fiction or nonfiction, from 100-10,000 words.

Contributors will receive a complimentary copy of the anthology plus the opportunity to buy unlimited copies at a discount. Contributors will also have one page in the back of the anthology for his or her bio, photo, and story comments. There is NO reading fee. Please limit your submission to one story. Previously published works are acceptable, so long as the author holds all rights and no previous publication agreement is violated. DEADLINE: Submissions will be accepted until the New Year rings in at midnight December 31, 2009. Send your submission via e-mail attachment to co-editor Murray Dunlap--see Web site.

Hot Metal Bridge

The University of Pittsburgh's creative writing journal, Hot Metal Bridge, is seeking submissions in all genres, but particularly poetry! See our submission guidelines here: http://hotmetalbridge.org/?page_id=915.

Stone's Throw Magazine

Stone's Throw Magazine (www.stonesthrowmagazine.com) welcomes submissions in fiction, poetry, nonfiction, reviews and art. Prose should be submitted one story or essay at a time, limited to 5,000 words. Reviews of current fiction, nonfiction and poetry (1500 words or less) will be considered. We're also interested in receiving brief accounts of daily life from around the world. Working on issue 5.

Please paste your submission into the body of your e-mail rather than sending an attachment and include a bio of no more than 100 words. The subject line of your e-mail should read: Poetry, Fiction, Non-fiction, Art, or Review and it should include the title of the piece and your last name.

Authors retain copyright and there is no compensation for publication. However issues will be archived and available online.

Kartika Review

Kartika Review is accepting submissions for upcoming issues of our online Asian American literary magazine.

We accept: fiction, flash fiction, creative nonfiction (memoir, reportage, essays, letters), poetry and visual art by Asian American artists. We are a quarterly journal We read submissions all year. Simultaneous submission are okay, but please notify us immediately if your work has been accepted elsewhere. Full submission guidelines, including the e-mail addresses for submitting work, are available at our Web site: http://www.kartikareview.com/submit.html.

Kartika Review serves the Asian American community and those involved with Diasporic Asian-inspired literature. We scout for compelling Asian American creative writing and artwork to present to the public at large. Our editors actively solicit contributions from established virtuosos in our community in hopes their works here will inspire the next generation of virtuosos. We also want to promote emerging writers and artists we foresee to be the future powerhouses of their craft. Ultimately, Kartika strives to create a literary forum that caters to and celebrates the wordsmiths of the Asian Diaspora.

shady side review

Call for Submissions: shady side review is seeking prose under 1,000 words and poetry of any length for Volume 2. shady side review seeks work that exhibits the gritty side of life: cigarette butts that litter sidewalks, a half-drunken bottle of whiskey left on the porch, the empty corridors of a dead mall - work that encompasses the underbelly of society, whether it be rural or urban. shady side review publishes both upcoming and previously published writers. Please visit the Web site for more details: http://www.shadysidereview.com.

The New Anonymous

Deadline: Feb. 1 for issue No. 2

www.thenewanonymous.com

The New Anonymous is now accepting submissions for its second issue. The New Anonymous is a print journal whose contributors and editors will remain forever nameless. Not only is all work published anonymously, but The New Anonymous blindly screens and edits its submissions, i.e., the submission, editorial, and publishing process is anonymous from beginning to end. Our goal is to serve as a safehouse where writers-both up-and-coming and well established-can not only question the creative process but also, in the words of Freud, "play." We are now reading submissions in all genres for our upcoming second issue and hope you'll join us in continuing this unique endeavor. For submission guidelines, orders, and more information, visit our Web site at: www.thenewanonymous.com. Deadline for this issue: February 1, 2010. Questions? E-mail us: thenewanon@gmail.com.

What Makes You Stronger: Real Talk About Breast Cancer

http://whatmakesyoustronger.atwc1.com/calls-for-submissions

We want your true stories about your journey, the journey of a loved one or your secondhand experience as caregiver or medical professional. We want the anger, the despair, the "Why me, Lord?" and the moment you realized, that despite the ravages to your body, the body of the loved one or the person in your professional care... you gained strength from the experience. Tell us about it, keep it real, nothing is taboo. The aim is to strengthen those who've just begun the journey, form a support community by mentorship, for those desiring it, prayer and daily inspirational thoughts, coping strategies for the pain, recipes that tempt the appetite and anything else that you wish to share.

Guidelines: All essays/stories should be nonfiction narratives, written in the first-person. Focus on one or a few selected moments; do not send rants or political speeches. Essays/Stories should be titled. Essays/Stories should be between 100 - 650 words and poems restricted to 40 lines. No funky fonts, please. Please include a brief bio (1-3 sentences) at the end of your submission and forward a headshot (neck and shoulders) to or .

Submissions are accepted on a rolling basis. Feel free to repost and forward!

Puerto del Sol Issue 45.1 (Summer 2010) and 45.2 (Winter 2010)

Deadline: March 31

Puerto del Sol, now in its 45th year of publication, is a nationally distributed journal dedicated to providing a forum for innovative poetry, prose, drama, critical and theoretical work as well as artwork from emerging and established writers and artists. Puerto del Sol is reading submissions through March 31, 2010.

In our latest issue, you'll find work by Helen DeWitt, Jenny Boully, Blake Butler, and many others.

Puerto del Sol is especially interested in reading submissions of reviews and short plays or excerpts from longer plays for our upcoming Summer 2010 issue.

The Winter 2010 issue will be film and popular culture themed-if you wish to submit work that fits this theme, please mark your submission clearly in the notes field.

Writers can submit their work exclusively through our online submission manager. Submit one story, book review, play, essay, set of (or link to) artwork, set of 3-5 poems, or set of 2-4 short short stories at a time, all in a single document, and please wait for our response before submitting again.

For more information about Puerto del Sol, visit: www.puertodelsol.org. To submit work, visit: www.puertodelsol.org/submissions.

DRT Press - Anthology

Deadline: March 1

Is your child easy to love, but hard to parent? DRT Press is seeking personal essays written by parents of children with ADD, ADHD and/or other mental, emotional, and behavioral disorders for a book about the experience of parenting children with such conditions, for publication (expected) in January 2011. Compensation includes 10 copies of the completed book and unlimited discounted copies. Payment may be offered. The book will be co-edited by author/editor/publisher Adrienne Ehlert Bashista, Publisher, DRT Press and Kay Marner, a freelance writer who contributes regularly to ADDitude magazine, and blogs for ADDitudeMag..com. Soft deadline for submissions is March 1, 2010. For more information visit http://www.drtpress.com/anthology.html. Questions may be directed to .

Emerging Edge Publishing

http://www.emergingedgepublishing.com/home

Stories, poems, and articles about relationships with individuals who have made an impact on your life. Must be non-fiction. Based on honest and introspective stories of life-lessons learned and sometimes humorous reflections on life and relationships. Stories about an unique individual whose relationship with that person has changed your life forever. Examples: personal relationships with everyday people like mother, father, sibling, teacher, mentor, etc. * We especially like humorous and introspective stories.

No payment. Author will get one copy of the book. Please write: "TRUE RELATIONSHIPS STORIES" in the title of the e-mail. Submit your story, poem or article to . Stories must be between 500 to 2,000 words or more. Poems should reflect on the topic of relationships and be more than 10 lines long. Articles can be a personal reflection or opinion on relationships from a male perspective. Must be between 500 to 1,500 words or more. Please address questions to .

Conte

http://www.conteonline.net/

The editors of Conte, an online journal of narrative writing founded in 2005, announce an open submissions call for poetry, fiction, and creative nonfiction. Recent contributors include Jim Daniels, William Hathaway, E. Ethelbert Miller, and Kenneth Womack. Visit for specific submission guidelines and past issues.

The New Plains Review

Deadline: Jan. 15 for Spring issue

The New Plains Review, the recent literary home of such authors as Stephen Dunn, Billy Collins, Galway Kinnell, and Julianna Baggott, seeks quality fiction, poetry, and creative nonfiction.

http://www.libarts.uco.edu/english/newplains/

We are interested in poetry, fiction, and creative nonfiction that is thoughtful and compelling, but otherwise we do not have any specific guidelines for style or subject matter. We no longer arrange issues with thematic topics. On occasion, we do publish issues with special sections; always look at our Special Section announcements on our Web site before submitting. We do accept simultaneous submissions. We do not accept previously published work. Your submission gives us permission to publish your work online. At this time, we do not pay upon publication. Each submission is, however, automatically eligible for the editors' prize.* Submit your poetry, fiction, or creative nonfiction by January 15 for our Spring Issue to >. Allow 6-8 weeks for response. Attach submissions in either Word (.doc or .docx) or Rich Text Format (.rtf). Please include type of submission (poetry, fiction, creative nonfiction) in the subject line.

Back issues of New Plains Review are $10, when available. E-mail

newplainsreview@yahoo.com or call our office at 405-974-5613 to place an order.

*On occasion, an editors' prize is awarded. Student writing prizes are also awarded periodically. These prizes will be announced on our homepage.

Mom Egg

Deadline: Dec. 31 for Spring issue

The Mom Egg, an annual journal, seeks flash fiction, prose, poetry and art for its Spring 2010 issue, which will be a print issue on the theme of "Lessons". The Mom Egg publishes work by mothers about everything, and by everyone about mothers and motherhood. Details on the site ("Submit"); you can also download a special online issue free ("Current Issue") and see samples from back issues. Deadline Dec. 31, 2009.http://themomegg.com.

SPIRITS ART/LITERARY MAGAZINE

Deadline: Dec. 20

Now Accepting:

• Short Stories of 1,500 Words or Less
• One Act, One Scene Plays
• Photography
• Sketches
• Paintings
• Essays
• Poetry

Submit all work to: . Include your full name, e-mail address and a bio of 100 words or less.

Silk Road Review

Silk Road Review, a Literary Crossroads, invites submissions of poetry, fiction and nonfiction for upcoming issues. The magazine will celebrate its fifth year of production and expand to two print issues per year in 2010. This is a great time to submit your work to the magazine.

We are interested in publishing compelling and finely crafted writing from locations around the world. We are also producing a special issue on "secret places" and welcome writing that would fit the topic.

Silk Road takes submissions through our online submissions system.

Visit Silk Road's Web site for more information on the magazine and how to submit.

http://silkroad.pacificu.edu.

Bayonet

Deadline: Jan. 1

bayonet, a print DIY art and literature magazine, is looking for submissions for its first issue. poetry, flash fiction, and short non-fiction attached in .doc format will be considered, as well as any type of visual art in a jpg or pdf format. Please e-mail the co-editor, Charlotte at

2 anthologies

I have several publishers interested in the two projects listed below. It's enormously difficult and time-consuming to process e-mail submissions, so unless you live outside the U.S, please send all submissions via USPS along with an SASE to June Cotner, PO Box 2765, Poulsbo, WA 98370

WISDOM OF WOMEN: THOUGHTS AND POEMS FOR EVERY STAGE OF YOUR LIFE (Previously titled Girls Night Out and A Woman's Book of Poetry for the Soul) Over the past decade I've received wonderful submissions from female writers that never quite fit the particular theme of my general "inspirational books." These are poems and prose about womanhood, stages of life, memories, and everything in between. I would love to add a few more high-quality selections--poetry or prose. Unlike most of my other anthologies, there are no prayers in the book, but there is a chapter on Spirituality. The content of WISDOM OF WOMEN is much "edgier" than my other books. Chapters include: 1) The Strength of Us; 2) Relationships; 3) Motherhood; 4) Ordinary Life; 5) Self-Image and Beauty; 6) Aging Gracefully; 7) Heartache and Healing; 8) Joy and Gratitude; 9) Friendships; 10) Shared Experiences; 11) Spirituality; 12) Reflections; and 13) Inspiration. I particularly need submissions for chapters printed in bold. The submissions should not have an "I am woman, hear me roar" tone, but more "this is my experience as a woman." The collection will be for women to turn to when they need encouragement, understanding, inspiration, and to reflect upon the great blessings of being a woman. This book easily spans two generations and is geared to women in their late 20s to early 60s and possibly beyond. Submission date closes March 31, 2010.

GOOD DOG! BAD DOG! FUNNY DOG! A compilation of "funny dog" stories. Two publishers have expressed interest in this project. The word limit ranges from 180 to 600 words. My goal is to create a book as humorous as Marley and Me by John Grogan. Please put "FUNNY DOG STORY" on the lower left-hand corner of your envelope. Submission date is open.

I have several publishers interested in the three projects. It's enormously difficult and time-consuming to process e-mail submissions, so unless you live outside the U.S, please send all submissions via USPS along with an SASE to June Cotner, PO Box 2765, Poulsbo, WA 98370

Please feel free to forward this call to other writer friends and groups. Also, please visit www.junecotner.com for additional calls for submissions.

Silver Boomer Books - Anthology

http://silverboomerbooks.com/submissions.html

A Pinch and a Dash -- recipes from home and long ago

Silver Boomer Books seeks submissions for an anthology tentatively identified as A Pinch and a Dash - recipes from home and long ago. Submissions of prose and poetry should be submitted pursuant to these guidelines by January 15, 2010. The focus of the anthology is family or friendship memories associated with a particular meal or food. We're asking for the recipe as well as the poem or prose about it.

You will be asserting you have the right to publish the recipe in your name. If it is copied from a cookbook, it doesn't work. If you use the same ingredients and describe the process differently, you have written an original work. The combination of ingredients cannot be copyrighted; the text somebody else wrote is. Send poetry or prose and recipe, and consider our earlier anthologies, Silver Boomers, Freckles to Wrinkles, and This Path for examples of style. Follow the guidelines set out later on this page.

Flashlight Memories

Silver Boomer Books seeks submissions for an anthology tentatively identified as Flashlight Memories. Submissions of prose and poetry should be submitted pursuant to these guidelines by March 15, 2010. The focus of the anthology is childhood reading. What events in your childhood led you to become a reader for life? Did you crawl between the sheets with a book and a flashlight? Did a friend or family member influence you? What books drew you into the world of literature? Send poetry or prose, and consider our earlier anthologies, Silver Boomers, Freckles to Wrinkles, and This Path for examples of style. Follow the guidelines set out later on this page.

How We Want It:

Electronic submission is preferred, with the manuscript or poem pasted into the body of the e-mail. We are giving first preference to poetry of less than 50 lines, and prose not exceeding 1500 words. Poetry shorter than 12 lines tickles the editor in charge of formatting and stands a good chance of being used if the quality's there. We ask for one-time rights. If the submission has been previously published, cite each prior publication. If prior publication history is not included (including "This piece has not been published") the piece will not be considered. We require that a 50-100 word biographical sketch, written in third person, be included with the submission. See the SilverBoomers.com authors page for sample bios. Entries not meeting this requirement will not be considered.

Silver Boomer Books reserves the right to edit text for grammar, spelling, punctuation and minor syntax errors -- that's what editors do. We consult with the author before making major changes.

Please don't submit material you sent previously for a Silver Boomer Book as we have that and will be contacting authors if we feel the work would fit in future anthologies.

Electronic submissions: E-mail us at .

Identify the anthology, either as "A Pinch" or "Flashlight" in the subject line.

Still on the subject line type "Submission -- Prose: Name of Entry" Substitute your title for "name of entry" and for poetry substitute "poetry" for "prose."

Do not put more than one poem or piece in one e-mail.

In the body of the e-mail type this information:

Your name

Your pen name if you desire to use a different name

Your mailing address

Your e-mail address

Your telephone number

Previous publication history of your submission

Word count for prose, line count for poetry. In counting lines for poetry, start with the first line and count each line to the last including blank lines.

A 50- to 100-word biographical sketch of yourself written in 3rd person. See the Silver Boomers authors' page for style.

Cut and paste your entry into the body of the e-mail.

Multiple submissions are welcome but must be in separate e-mails with all information listed above in the e-mail with each entry.

In submitting your entry, you represent:

The work you are submitting is your work.

You have the rights to the work and have not previously conveyed exclusive rights to any other publisher.

You agree to the terms and conditions set out on this page.

Postal Mail Submissions:

Postal Mail Submissions require prior permission from Silver Boomer Books, 3301 S 14th Suite 16 - PMB 134, Abilene, TX 79605.

What You Get:

Payment is $5 for poetry and $10 for prose plus a contributor's copy. If you label it prose but we think it's poetry, we'll pay the poetry rate. In addition, contributors will be allowed to purchase copies of the work at an author's price for two years following the initial release. All payments are upon publication. Your name and story/poem title will be listed on the Web site for two years. You will be allowed to post to the authors' blog on the Silver Boomers Web site so you can publicize signings and speaking engagements as well as comment on the experience.

With all the ways to self-publish these days, it's becoming a viable option. (And it's not using a vanity press.) Here's an item that was in John Kremer's free e-newsletter about someone who did well self-publishing. Credits are after the item. I have no qualms plugging John's material. He is very generous with time and information to authors.

self-publishing success story
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
In 2002, Rosemary Thornton wrote and self-published a book about Sears homes, The Houses That Sears Built. Here is what she had to say about that experience:

What a crazy bold move that was. At first, I feared I might end up giving those 1,000 copies away to friends and family for Christmas presents for the next 40 years. But then the New York Times called and they wanted to do a story on Sears homes, and they quoted my book.

Next came PBS History Detectives, A&E's Biography, CBS Sunday Morning News and more.

In Summer 2004, my book was a featured category on Jeopardy!

In 2006, I made it to the front page of the Wall Street Journal (above the fold).

Perhaps most importantly, this self-published book provided me with a thoroughly delightful career and income for five years and continues to sell well at Amazon.com.

Copyright 2009 by John Kremer
-----
John Kremer, editor, Book Marketing Update newsletter
author, 1001 Ways to Market Your Books, Sixth Edition
Open Horizons, P.O. Box 2887, Taos NM 87571
575-751-3398; Email: JohnKremer@bookmarket.com
Web: http://www.bookmarket.com

Note from John: For more inspiring stories about successful self-published authors, order John Kremer's Self-Publishing Hall of Fame ebook via http://www.bookmarket.com/orderform.htm. 254 pages of incredible stories and great tips from those who have sold millions of copies of their books. Only $20 for a quick downloadable Word ebook.