tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37193424352763640672024-02-06T18:36:51.873-08:00Our Writing GardenA place for writers to grow! We post monthly writing prompts, writing tips, and writing advice. Come join us!Carla Trueheart, MA, MFAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04101794184235282505noreply@blogger.comBlogger66125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3719342435276364067.post-61285562300641778482020-12-19T12:12:00.000-08:002020-12-19T12:12:53.491-08:00Holiday Writing Inspiration <p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIgHzgVOLw_whCKo_UvbBBP4iE-5uoVsKVXf3uoqx-BTVn9rdZ0fCa5nlM4vE_cEN99DkFefFT4hWdcVBtfXo9vu86a1uN5qgxeeQbuJysh2ltf-migpkubM8WTEtiWvg3oBRsKc-DEik/s701/santa-claus-5758553__480.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="701" height="308" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIgHzgVOLw_whCKo_UvbBBP4iE-5uoVsKVXf3uoqx-BTVn9rdZ0fCa5nlM4vE_cEN99DkFefFT4hWdcVBtfXo9vu86a1uN5qgxeeQbuJysh2ltf-migpkubM8WTEtiWvg3oBRsKc-DEik/w450-h308/santa-claus-5758553__480.jpg" width="450" /></a></div><p></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">The holidays are here at last! This is a wonderful time for writers to reflect on the past year and look ahead to the joys of new projects in the upcoming year. It can also be a time for gathering new supplies (hopefully we’ll find those much-needed pens and notebooks under the tree), reading our favorite holiday novels, and finding writing inspiration in the magic of the holidays. To that end, Our Writing Garden wanted to post a few ideas for holiday writing inspiration. We hope these prompts help with your current works-in-process and your future projects as well! Happy Holidays!</span></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></p><ul>
<li style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">What are your main character’s favorite holiday treats to eat or bake?</span></li></ul><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><ul>
<li style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">What are three holiday presents that your main character might receive?</span></li></ul><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><ul>
<li style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Describe the holiday decorations around your home</span></li></ul><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><ul>
<li style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Take a long walk in the snowfall and jot down your observations</span></li></ul><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><ul>
<li style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Journal about your holiday memories and emotions</span></li></ul><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><ul>
<li style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Analyze your favorite holiday books and stories — how is the plot structured?</span></li></ul><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><ul>
<li style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">What is your antagonist longing for this Christmas?</span></li></ul><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><ul>
<li style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Describe how you feel seeing the season’s first snowfall</span></li></ul><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><ul>
<li style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Is there a gift your protagonist knows they cannot receive?</span></li></ul><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><ul>
<li style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">What holiday traditions do your characters enjoy?</span></li></ul><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><ul>
<li style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Are there any holiday traditions your characters would change?</span></li>
</ul><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>As always, we’d love to see your answers in the comments!</b></span></p>Carla Trueheart, MA, MFAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04101794184235282505noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3719342435276364067.post-79215142320131364272020-11-03T12:47:00.001-08:002020-11-03T12:47:34.166-08:00Fall Harvest Writing Prompts <p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBRHLIciylxFtAQUb646AEXoCwUMOAE-VbroIPmonYA8LrCP4BrlHBJZuT97XnYOQzTdqGIOJyrzbPwEFxmgEzYX46WlaFFbziNKbOb4TPmm2NSGmXcF76YAq-oJyHGt-orAQVs6L1pdM/s720/autumn-3406753__480.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="720" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBRHLIciylxFtAQUb646AEXoCwUMOAE-VbroIPmonYA8LrCP4BrlHBJZuT97XnYOQzTdqGIOJyrzbPwEFxmgEzYX46WlaFFbziNKbOb4TPmm2NSGmXcF76YAq-oJyHGt-orAQVs6L1pdM/w400-h266/autumn-3406753__480.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #b45f06;">By: Our Writing Garden Team</span></div>Welcome, fall!<p></p><p>This time of year, we turn toward quiet reflection, which often leads to wonderful writing sessions. The air is cold and crisp, frost glitters on the grass, and the leaves are falling from their branches. With so much natural inspiration around us, Our Writing Garden wanted to help your pens and typing fingers along this month with Fall Harvest Writing Prompts. Below, please find a list of prompts for your autumn writing sessions, and as always, feel free to share your work in the comments. </p><p><br /></p><ul style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Calibri, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; text-size-adjust: auto;"><li>Write a short story about getting lost in a corn maze.</li></ul><div><span style="font-family: Calibri, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><ul style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Calibri, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; text-size-adjust: auto;"><li>Craft a story where the main character's Fall garden grows out of control.</li></ul><div><span style="font-family: Calibri, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><ul style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Calibri, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; text-size-adjust: auto;"><li>Write from the perspective of an animal eager to gather as much of the Autumn harvest as possible before the season changes.</li></ul><div><span style="font-family: Calibri, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><ul style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Calibri, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; text-size-adjust: auto;"><li>Write about a pumpkin-picking adventure that goes very wrong.</li></ul><div><span style="font-family: Calibri, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><ul style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Calibri, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; text-size-adjust: auto;"><li>Create a short story where apples, squash, and pumpkins compete to be the best in their farm.</li></ul><div><span style="font-family: Calibri, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><ul style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Calibri, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; text-size-adjust: auto;"><li>Tell a tale from the perspective of a scarecrow watching over the Fall harvest.</li></ul><div><span style="font-family: Calibri, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><ul style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Calibri, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; text-size-adjust: auto;"><li>Write a poem from the viewpoint of the last pumpkin left in the pumpkin patch.</li></ul><div><span style="font-family: Calibri, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><ul style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Calibri, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; text-size-adjust: auto;"><li>Write a short story about a tree that comes alive during apple picking.</li></ul><div><span style="font-family: Calibri, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><ul style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Calibri, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; text-size-adjust: auto;"><li>Construct a work of flash fiction about a child who is frightened of sunflowers.</li></ul><div><span style="font-family: Calibri, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><ul style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Calibri, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; text-size-adjust: auto;"><li>Write a poem about the scents of fall harvest. </li></ul><div><span style="font-family: Calibri, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><ul style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Calibri, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; text-size-adjust: auto;"><li>Write a short story about a unique way of cooking up apples from the orchard.</li></ul><div><span style="font-family: Calibri, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><ul style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Calibri, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; text-size-adjust: auto;"><li>Write a poem about a strange harvest world where apples grow on vines and pumpkins grow on trees.</li></ul><div><span style="font-family: Calibri, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>Carla Trueheart, MA, MFAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04101794184235282505noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3719342435276364067.post-44503065935092961972020-09-13T10:01:00.000-07:002020-09-13T10:01:14.064-07:00Summer's Last Blast Writing Prompts<div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwmWdazcf5-0NBhb4nk0oj-GV4jvkt-idfINC_LDXQcpLU-JwHIMS3LZ8vtXHewp1BB3kiOo_SiDf2DMUHkBaoDfx2KWJkuw4w1w2EFCf_nFyr2YYYhetwZ10J_CjidDNF-vfMNlxcRUk/s510/book-2550163__340.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="340" data-original-width="510" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwmWdazcf5-0NBhb4nk0oj-GV4jvkt-idfINC_LDXQcpLU-JwHIMS3LZ8vtXHewp1BB3kiOo_SiDf2DMUHkBaoDfx2KWJkuw4w1w2EFCf_nFyr2YYYhetwZ10J_CjidDNF-vfMNlxcRUk/s320/book-2550163__340.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Hello, readers!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The last days of summer are winding down, but rays of sun still hang on for many of us. Let's have one last fling with summer with a few summer garden writing prompts! Below, please find some fun prompts that will help jumpstart your writing. As always, we'd love to see your work! Please post your writing in the comments. </div><br /><span style="font-family: Calibri, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><ul style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Calibri, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: left; text-size-adjust: auto;"><li>Write a short story from the perspective of a flower that only blooms once a decade.</li><li><span style="font-family: Calibri, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span>Develop a short screenplay about children who become lost in a fantastical garden. </span></span></li><li>Create a poem that describes your fondest gardening memory.</li><li>In 100 words, write a story about the last summer harvest.</li><li>Write a short story about a magical garden that the main character finds in the most unlikely of places.</li><li>Create a poem about the sunflowers in a neighbor's yard.</li><li>Craft a story where the protagonist discovers a race of tiny creatures living in her family's garden.</li><li>In ten words or less, describe the world's most beautiful garden.</li><li>Create a flash fiction work where flowers deliver advice to your protagonist.</li><li>Write a short story where a flower, sent as a gift, causes quite a disturbance for an entire town.</li></ul>Carla Trueheart, MA, MFAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04101794184235282505noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3719342435276364067.post-17399500768421103262020-04-18T11:59:00.000-07:002020-04-18T11:59:29.248-07:00Spring and Summer Writing Competitions <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZHVQkuRZj4MSD-MRQ7u1OGKbl1gwkTn5hUAK4_21MkwT24C2DdDeqNVoaH2HjMkH7cghgQq6qGlcaHb4wG6c2CMaAUT0vVk97_8fN1Ya6gPRJ0pxdDXEv0QSlLgQQbQ3avLqcaCqOWco/s1600/flower-4780987__480.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="678" height="282" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZHVQkuRZj4MSD-MRQ7u1OGKbl1gwkTn5hUAK4_21MkwT24C2DdDeqNVoaH2HjMkH7cghgQq6qGlcaHb4wG6c2CMaAUT0vVk97_8fN1Ya6gPRJ0pxdDXEv0QSlLgQQbQ3avLqcaCqOWco/s400/flower-4780987__480.jpg" width="400" /></a><span style="text-align: right;">By: Emrald Sethna</span></div>
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Hello, dear writers!<br />
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Below, you will find a list of national and international writing competitions taking place over the next few months. Submissions are free and the prizes range from publishing deals to cash and institute fellowships!<br />
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Chance Encounters Travel Writing Competition<br />
Maximum word count: 1,500<br />
Prize: $100 & publication<br />
Deadline: April 15<br />
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The Bulwer Lytton Fiction Contest<br />
Maximum word count: 50-60<br />
Prize: $250<br />
Deadline: April 15<br />
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Soundwork Short Story Competition<br />
Maximum word count: 2,500<br />
Prize: Work is narrated by a professional actor and published on Soundcloud<br />
Deadline: April 20<br />
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Science-Me a Story<br />
Maximum word count: 4 pages<br />
Prize: 150 Pounds<br />
Deadline: April 20<br />
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Habinteg Prize: An Essay Competition<br />
Maximum word count: 2,000<br />
Prize: 2,500 Pounds<br />
Deadline: April 27<br />
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Words From the King: Book Publishing Contest<br />
Maximum word count: Full manuscript<br />
Prize: Publishing contract<br />
Deadline: April 30<br />
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The Writer's Games<br />
Maximum word count: None<br />
Prize: Publication<br />
Deadline: April 30<br />
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Mavis Batey Essay Prize<br />
Maximum word count: 6,000<br />
Prize: 250 Pounds & potential publication<br />
Deadline: May 3<br />
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The Nick Darke Award<br />
Maximum word count: Full manuscript<br />
Prize: 6,000 Pounds<br />
Deadline: May 4<br />
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Sick Cruising - Anthology Call<br />
Maximum word count: 10,000<br />
Prize: $20<br />
Deadline: May 20<br />
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Thanet Writers Short Story Competition<br />
Maximum word count: 5,000<br />
Prize: 1,000 Pounds<br />
Deadline: May 31<br />
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First Edition Kate O'Brien Award<br />
Maximum word count: Full manuscript<br />
Prize: 1,200 Euros<br />
Deadline: June 13<br />
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John Locke Institute Essay Competition<br />
Maximum word count: 2,000<br />
Prize: 100 Pounds & fellowship<br />
Deadline: July 15<br />
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Foyle Young Poets of the Year Award<br />
Maximum word count: None<br />
Prize: Publication<br />
Deadline: July 31<br />
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For more contests, with and without entry fees, visit this website: https://blog.reedsy.com/writing-contests/<br />
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We wish you all the best on your writing projects and hope you are all staying safe.<br />
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Happy Writing!Carla Trueheart, MA, MFAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04101794184235282505noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3719342435276364067.post-50699767154368500412020-03-21T10:38:00.000-07:002020-03-21T10:38:03.968-07:00Charting your Growth as a Writer <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW-F35KaQl4jXeleBYhfeVyIS4qcg7fyq5xco1FkVPN1gOvep6f0ytKsygKlfKltsbYm3M8AauI-6ivwxS31XwUKSmUMfDUHvL2RCyT1OyuW_zZpl06MjECfjnhAroW0MeWlBttAH7CYY/s1600/IMG_3311-1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="581" data-original-width="640" height="362" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW-F35KaQl4jXeleBYhfeVyIS4qcg7fyq5xco1FkVPN1gOvep6f0ytKsygKlfKltsbYm3M8AauI-6ivwxS31XwUKSmUMfDUHvL2RCyT1OyuW_zZpl06MjECfjnhAroW0MeWlBttAH7CYY/s400/IMG_3311-1.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #a64d79;">By: Carla Trueheart </span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Looking back on our early writing projects is difficult for many of us. We might tend to feel embarrassed of our first attempts at writing, or we might cringe at word choices and vocabulary. For me, I overused adverbs and had no idea about proper punctuation, especially when writing dialogue. But honestly, we should look back at these early attempts and be pleased with ourselves on how far we’ve come as writers. If your writing differs drastically from then to now, that means you’re doing something right. And in thinking about that—how good does our future writing look? I’d like for you to take a moment to consider growth and some questions you may ask yourself to gauge your success.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none; text-decoration: underline;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">How have you grown?</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">When you look back at your early writing, what do you notice? There might be certain habits you fell back on as a new writer, or scenes might have been overwritten or sparse. Is there something you’ve learned along the way? Was it a book or writing classes or just keeping at it that helped you grow as a writer? This is important to look at so you know how to keep growing in your craft!</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none; text-decoration: underline;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">What do you Know Now? </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Make a list, mentally or on the computer, of all the things you feel you’ve learned about the art of writing and storytelling. Do you feel like you know how to develop characters better now? Are you sketching out scenes and making settings jump into the minds of your readers? Did you learn about climaxes and ending a story? Was there a trial and error process with writing your first short story or novel? Taking note of what you know now as a writer will help you find your weaknesses and strengths. Figure out what’s left to learn, and fill in those holes as best you can!</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none; text-decoration: underline;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">What will the Future Bring?</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">In measuring your growth as a writer, what goals do you have right now that stemmed from your early writing years? Maybe you still haven’t published that novel and would like to do that, or maybe you’d like to incorporate poetry or literary fiction conventions into your work. Your goals could range from honing your craft to becoming a bestselling author in a year or two. It’s important to set realistic goals as you continue to chart your growth in the writing world. Keep aiming high, and never give up. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none; text-decoration: underline;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">What Resources did you use to Learn Writing?</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Think back on everything you pulled from when learning about writing. Surround yourself with those early notebooks, books on writing, workshop critiques, and even rejection letters with feedback included. Looking back on what you used to master your craft will help you as you continue on to your next publishing goal. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none; text-decoration: underline;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Do you Consider that the term “published” means you’re a Writer? Or is there a Different Definition?</span></span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">What do you think about your writing? Does it please you? Do you write for others or for yourself? Do you feel like the only way to gauge your success is to list your publishing credits? For each writer, the answer is something different. Some write for money, some write for fame, some want to see their name on a book cover as proof of their hard work, some want to spread a message or share their vision, and some just write to release the demons. It’s up to you how you feel about being a writer, but remember that charting your growth as a writer often means facing the true reason you write. </span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Let us know any comments you have as you chart your growth as a writer!</span></span></div>
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Carla Trueheart, MA, MFAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04101794184235282505noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3719342435276364067.post-16035027736617284812020-02-13T07:22:00.000-08:002020-02-13T07:27:28.625-08:00Valentine's Day Writing Prompts: Cozy Winter <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="color: #38761d; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">By: Our Writing Garden Team</span></div>
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Write a poem about a fireside Valentine's Day after a huge power outage </div>
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Write a poem about a walk in the park on a snowy Valentine's Day<br />
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<span style="font-family: "calibri" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">Create a poem that describes the comfort of snuggling up with one's significant other</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "calibri" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">Describe the perfect Valentine's Day gift</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "calibri" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">Write a story where a character embarks on a scavenger hunt through a snowy forest to discover a Valentine's Day surprise</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "calibri" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">Write a short story where the protagonist and their love interest get stuck inside during a snowstorm</span><br />
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Write a short story about a "Galentine's" Day ski trip where one member of the group falls in love with the ski instructor<br />
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<span style="font-family: "calibri" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">Create a short story where a character confesses their love to the protagonist using the snowy landscape around them</span><br />
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Write a humorous short story about a man bringing balloons to his Valentine on Valentine's Day, but the balloons accidentally fly away in a snowstorm<br />
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<span style="font-family: "calibri" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">Craft a piece of flash fiction where a character is taught to skate by their long-time crush</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">Craft a scene where a character contemplates the identity of the anonymous sender of a beautiful Winter bouquet</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "calibri" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">Write a short play about a magical winter retreat for couples </span></div>
Carla Trueheart, MA, MFAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04101794184235282505noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3719342435276364067.post-86418680440184195952020-02-10T07:44:00.000-08:002020-02-10T07:44:17.930-08:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-size: large;">Announcing . . .</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Our Name Change!</span></div>
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In moving forward in 2020, The Steps to Getting Published Team has decided to change our name to Our Writing Garden to better reflect the many areas of writing and publishing we cover with our monthly blog. We're excited for this change and hope to bring you even MORE writing prompts, articles, and publishing opportunities!</div>
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Thank you so much for reading our posts, commenting, and following us. We hope you will continue to grow as a writer!</div>
Carla Trueheart, MA, MFAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04101794184235282505noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3719342435276364067.post-65986943637432326062020-02-10T07:35:00.000-08:002020-02-10T07:35:09.775-08:00Writing Prompts for Writers Struggling with Writer's Block<br />
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By: Emrald Sethna</div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">Writing Prompt Ideas</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">If you're stuck on certain ideas or you don't yet understand elements of the story:</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">- Create a journal entry from the POV of your protagonist, detailing an average day in their life.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">- Alternatively, create a journal entry from the POV of your antagonist, discussing their motivations and plans for the future. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">- Set a timer for ten minutes, and in that time, write as much as you can about the protagonist, antagonist, setting, and or plot of your story. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">- Craft a short dialogue scene where your characters interact. This can help you test out their differing voices and decide which suits each character best.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">- Stuck on what kind of POV to use? Write a chapter or scene from a first person viewpoint, then rewrite it in third person. Which one are you more comfortable with and which suits the story you wish to tell?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">- Take the time to prepare a description for each of your potential characters, including their physical looks and personality traits or quirks.</span>Carla Trueheart, MA, MFAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04101794184235282505noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3719342435276364067.post-15686386398188637262019-12-20T07:35:00.001-08:002020-02-10T07:46:25.018-08:00Winter Holiday Writing Prompts: Inside the Snow Globe<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: "calibri" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; text-align: right;">By: Our Writing Garden Team</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Holiday Greetings, Writers!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">No matter what you celebrate this time of year, it's always fun to sit back from the chaos and do a little bit of winter writing. To that end, the team at Our Writing Garden has come up with a list of fun winter writing prompts, using the theme: Inside the Snow Globe. We hope these bring you inspiration this holiday season, and that you have a happy holiday with family and friends. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Happy Writing!</span></div>
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<span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Create a short story where the protagonist discovers that the animals within a precious snow globe are real.</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Construct a flash fiction piece where a protagonist is transported inside their least favorite snow globe.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Write a poem that describes a snow globe's enchanted forest scenery.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Create a short story about a family's lost possessions being found within an heirloom snow globe.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Write a screenplay where protagonists capture real snowflakes within a crystal ball.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">A character's best memories of the holidays are locked away in hidden snow globes, how do they get them back?</span></div>
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<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Write a short story from the perspective of a snowman trapped inside a fireplace mantel snow globe on a winter’s eve.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Construct a poem about a snow-covered log cabin inside a snow globe.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Write about a winter city scene inside a snow globe. </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(11, 83, 148);">Create a screenplay about two characters who fall in love inside a snow globe.</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(11, 83, 148);">Write about a real town inside a snow globe in which the rapidly falling snow threatens to bury the buildings.</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(11, 83, 148);">Pen a poem about the falling snowflakes changing colors inside a snow globe.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: medium;">Let us know if you think of any of your own snow globe writing prompts! And please feel free to share your stories with us in the comments!</span></div>
Carla Trueheart, MA, MFAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04101794184235282505noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3719342435276364067.post-67066215743613364112019-12-10T06:52:00.000-08:002020-02-10T07:38:39.788-08:00Methods of World Building in Fantasy and Science Fiction Writing<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><span style="color: #990000; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">By: Our Writing Garden Team</span></span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Fantasy and science fiction novels have the unique ability to send a reader to new, never-seen-before locations. They can transport the reader into space, send them over the rainbow, or situate them on a planet unlike the earth they are used to. There are a few considerations with world-building in fantasy and science fiction, including transportation systems, maps of the world, types of entertainment available, magical systems and creatures, and the setting or environment itself. Below, please find a list of some world-building elements that might help you as you write your fantasy or science fiction novel. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">"I wisely started with a map," said J. R. R. Tolkien. Maps can be a significant tool for your story. Whether your characters see a map of their world or not (and only you know of it), it can be very useful to plan out your town, city, and or world atlas as you work on your narrative. Not only can maps be a reference sheet when taking characters on their journeys--so writers know exactly where to take said characters--but can also be helpful for readers as they follow your protagonist through their realm. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">When working in the fantasy and sci-fi genres, the map you create does not need to mirror the types of landmarks, terrain, or names we find on atlases of our world. For example, a map of a town does not need places like town halls or town squares. You can have a Chasm of Glowing Souls running through the town's center, a Floating Inn beside the protagonist's hobbit hole--there are countless possibilities. Planning out the format of your world is up to you. You can either craft your narrative around the map you create or develop it with your story in mind. Just remember that nothing has to be written in stone, you can change things as you delve into your story. Though having a map can aid you greatly as you build your world and set characters off on their journeys. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">There are a few factors to consider when building a fictional world of magic. First, the rules. Who has the magic? Is it just a few specific citizens or does everyone have it? If everyone has it, what’s allowed? Are there laws surrounding the magic? For example, in the Harry Potter universe, certain spells are against the law. The second consideration is the type of magic in your world. Is it wand magic? Spoken spells? Does it come from a hand gesture or another type of physical movement? Or is it related to nature, herbs, potions, or environment? Is it sinister or is it performed mostly for the good of the people and the land? Finally, you’ll want to look at magic on the level of characterization. What conflict does magic cause within the world, and how does this impact your protagonist? What is the source of your main character’s magic? Do they love using magic, or does it backfire on them continually?</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">When delving into elements such as festivals, theatres, and eating establishments that provide characters with a means of amusement and enjoyment, it is important to keep theme and purpose in mind. Consider a small fictional town, let's call it Frostville, which participates in an annual festival. We, the writers, understand that we want our protagonist(s) to witness or be a part of this event. But what is the event dedicated to? Why is it celebrated? When does it take place? How is it themed? How long does it last, and do the townfolks even like it? Of course, there are endless possibilities to consider (how wonderful, right?) so we must take a moment to envision this festival as our characters would. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">For example, let's say that Frostville has this annual festival lasting a week to celebrate the winter solstice, a time when a creature from folk legends is said to visit the village in mortal form. If the creature is not pleased with the great magical displays from the fearful villagers, the village will not prosper the following year. Now we understand why this festival occurs, how long it lasts, that the villagers fear the visiting creature, and even that is has magical theming. We can then think of specific magical displays, and the town's visuals during the celebration. Though it is important to first come to terms with the purpose of the entertainment as well as its theming in order to "set the scene" as it were. This process can be undertaken for theatres and eating establishments as well. Ask yourselves the purpose and theme of these places in your world. Why are they there? Are they valued by characters? Do they have a specific theme to them? What form of entertainment do they provide? Are they dedicated to something or someone? After answering these questions, we can work on the details that your characters witness and or feel as they enter these events or places in your world. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">It’s always fun to create your own types of magical creatures. You can research mythical beings and design your own from there, or you can come up with completely new creatures never heard of before on earth or whatever world you’re building. As the author, you might dream up a flying creature or a sea creature, or maybe a hybrid of both. Or maybe you’ll set these creatures loose in your world and watch them fall in love with or terrorize the inhabitants. When you develop these creatures, keep in mind what you’d like them to look like (draw them out if you can), the history of their kind, and what traits they possess. For example, you might have a unicorn type creature who uses rare magic or a dragon-like being who speaks in a specific language. Imagine a day in the life of this creature and what emotions it goes through, what it eats, and how it appears to the society of your world. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">When considering the means of transportation in your world, you can either take inspiration from the real world (whether from the past or present), other fantasy or sci-fi tales, or get creative with your own transportation system. Ask yourself, "What kind of world am I building?" Are there high-tech societies (where spaceships and holograms are possible)? Is it set in the contemporary era (like our world right now)? Is it an ancient world (taking place during a less-civilised era)? Is it a magical realm (where magical teleportation exists)? </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Once you come to understand the type of world you will be creating, then you can delve into the details of how you wish your characters to move around the world. Perhaps you want to have a magical realm where characters visit various towns and cities through a pixie dust system, similar to J. K. Rowling's Floo Powder Network. Or maybe you want a high tech world, which could allow you to introduce an interstellar roadway that spaceships travel along or portable teleportation devices bring your protagonist from city to city in an instant. Another option is, of course, including the technology we have available today such as planes, ships, trains, cars, or simply walking. There are numerous modes of transportation you can use in your works, deciding which option to use is simply a matter of understanding the world you are creating. You can get creative or use familiar vehicles, just be sure to ask yourself "What form of transportation makes sense for my world?" and or "How do I see my characters travelling within this world?"</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Setting elements make up the backdrop of your story. The fantasy world, futuristic world, or outer space world you design can be bright and sunny, a perpetual winter, or even made up entirely of diamonds. There are quite a few considerations when it comes to setting, such as how it plays out in your story to enhance the character’s journey and how it hinders their quests. For instance, extreme weather might make for difficult travels, and a world of diamonds may seem beautiful at first, but be glaring and too slippery at certain times of the day. Other considerations with setting in fantasy and science fiction writing include landscapes, natural elements (trees, islands, sky color, amount of water available, wooded areas), and buildings. You might include certain eating establishments in space, futuristic schools, or fantasy hotels. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"> It might also help to draw out or imagine the history of the land. How did the land develop and evolve, for example? Knowing these points will help fill in all areas of the setting, even if you don’t ever use them in your manuscript. And you can zoom in on all of the setting locations, too, including your restaurants, schools, government buildings, castles, spaceports, and housing. What is the history of each location? You might even consider the history of wooded land (haunted? magical?) and other landmarks in your story. Every location has a history and even a legend or myth attached, so include that when you can in your writing, or even just in the drafting phase. </span></span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Thanks for reading about world building in fantasy and sci-fi writing. Do you have any tips or tricks for writing in this genre? Please share in the comments!</span></span></div>
Carla Trueheart, MA, MFAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04101794184235282505noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3719342435276364067.post-81498423413567471622019-10-29T07:17:00.003-07:002020-02-10T07:38:55.705-08:00Antagonists of the Horror Genre <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="color: #660000; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">By: Our Writing Garden Team </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Happy Halloween, dear writers! The horror genre is amazing. Their stories can exploit (or create) fears, send chills up our spines, make us view everyday objects or scenarios in a new light, and thoroughly thrill us. Of course, it's the antagonists of these works, in conjunction with great writing, that effects us so greatly. Here's a look at some of the most popular antagonists of the horror genre and what is generally expected of them:</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b>Zombies</b></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Ah, zom-zoms. Dear, lovely, rotting corpses determined to hunt the living and munch on their brains. Over the years, different types of zombies have emerged; ones that are slow and limping, others that are fast and feral, some that can talk, some that sense the living through sound, some that are civilized but still need to feed on brains—they have been well explored. Meaning that there are great foundations set for writers who wish to use them in their work. Most, if not all, versions of these antagonists are restricted by their need to feast on the living. That is their only expectation. The way they move, how they function, their intelligence, how they are created—or where they are created—are all up to writers. It's wonderful to have that freedom. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b>Unstable People</b></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Sometimes there's nothing scarier than an unhinged human being. You think they're nice and friendly, sweet and kind, then BAM! They show their true colors or are triggered into an unstable state that results in great peril and horror. Other times, normal people are tossed into a situation were a particularly frightening, damaged human hunts them down one at a time...in some stories, we don't even get to see their face. We just know that our protagonist(s) needs to get out of that situation before they're found! It can get quite suspenseful, right? When it comes to unhinged humans, there are no restrictions. You can create a unique character that creeps the heck out of readers as the protagonist strives to stay alive and or escape their clutches. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b>Creepypastas</b></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">The name may sound odd or amusing, though these creatures are terrifying...and have nothing to do with pasta. For those who are unfamiliar with creepypastas, they were gradually developed in response to a forum post that told a story of a faceless man in a black suit who lures children into his woodlands. That man became known as Slenderman, now the inspiration for several horror stories (and games). More creepy creatures were created and associated with this antagonist, such as Jeff the Killer who is a man that is fond of stabbing people as they sleep—oh, and he cut off his eyelids and is almost always smiling. Yeah, creepy. The list of creepypastas is quite long, the fans who love these stories have worked together to produce great, frightening, sometimes even funny, works that involve these antagonists. Honestly, there are no restrictions when it comes to these characters. Fiction pieces are written from their perspectives, their victim's POV, or a third-person view. So long as their favored method of murder is adhered to, a writer can do anything with these creatures. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b>Ghosts/Poltergeists</b></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">It's difficult not to think of the Harry Potter series when discussing ghosts and poltergeists. The novels act as a good example of how these antagonists are often depicted. Ghosts are commonly harmless. Most of the time they are white, transparent figures that roam around the world and sometimes communicate with humans—either verbally or with gestures. They can haunt a certain location or certain people (choosing to just watch them or try to scare them), yet moving objects in the physical world is more of a characteristic of poltergeists. Poltergeists, like Peeves in the HP series, can indeed prank humans and change the world around them. With telekinetic abilities or with the power to grasp items (or people), they are able to manipulate the world as a human would. Though the line of distinction between these antagonists is often blurred. Ghosts are declared as ghosts yet can move objects and people. What these characters have in common, however, are backstories that are completely up to their writer. Whatever tragedy befell them can be unique and discovered in any way a writer sees fit. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b>Demons/Possession</b></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Here come the nightmares. Demons are interesting antagonists as they either put on a human face and mingle in society looking for souls to feed on or take control of bodies and inanimate objects. Other stories depict them as horrid monsters as well, and their motivation varies with each interpretation. Perhaps they are hungry and simply need to make a contract with humans to have a nice soul lunch. Maybe they simply enjoy messing with humans and their minds. Or they might need to hurt humans to please their superiors and get promoted in the demon world. Like with the other antagonists discussed, there is a lot of leeway offered to writers. Overall, it is generally expected that they are up to no good and want to scare humans in whatever way they can—like taking control of an old doll and having it pop up in random places throughout the house. So creepy. </span><br />
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">The fear of witches dates back centuries, so it only makes sense that they are a consideration for an antagonist in a horror novel. While true modern witches normally practice good or earth magic, witches in movies, television, and literature can be a tad creepier. When envisioning witches, we normally think of a warty, evil woman in a cloak, sometimes wearing a pointed hat, bent over a bubbling cauldron of rat tails and poisonous flowers. This definitely works to scare readers, but looking at the demonic side of witches—like in the reboot of “Sabrina the Teenage Witch”—ups the creepy factor with a devilish edge. Witches are clever and difficult to combat or destroy, but usually a bucket of water or binding spell will do the job. </span></span></div>
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<b style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Vampires</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Vampires scare us because they essentially feed off humans, stealing our blood and making us just a little pale in the neck and face area. It’s rare to see a “good guy” vampire in movies and literature, because by nature, vampires are stalkers and killers. Further, it’s said that vampires are quite irresistible to their prey, sucking us in (pun intended) with their charm and good looks. As an antagonist, vampires present the protagonist with difficulties as they are wickedly strong and difficult to kill, except, maybe, with garlic, holy water, or a good neck-break. </span></span></div>
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<b style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Werewolves</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">In a modern era, when we think about werewolves, we inevitably think about poor Professor Lupin from the Harry Potter series. True, he did have to contend with some serious fear of full moons, as werewolves, historically, change at the full moon from human to beast. This transition is far from pleasant, with a sudden thirst for human flesh and a burst of excessive hair growth (not to mention the fangs). The legend of the werewolf perhaps started with an actual fear of wolves eating livestock and grew from there, with the threat being that if you were bitten by a werewolf, you would shape-shift into one under the full moon. Legend says that werewolves, incredible hunters who possess superhuman strength, are only susceptible to death through silver blades and specific herbs (mistletoe, wolfsbane, or mountain ash). </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><b><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Mermaids</span></b></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Beautiful, but not creepy . . . or are they? These mythological creatures are historically females with one single fish fin, alluring sailors with their beauty. For that reason, they would make the perfect antagonist in a fantasy horror novel. With an emphasis on the dangers of the sea, these gorgeous sea spirits are the perfect fit in any sea fantasy novel. They’ve been known to drown sailors, sink ships, and can even sprout legs on land to fool unsuspecting seamen. There is no known specific method for killing a mermaid, but if it’s indeed necessary, good luck finding them. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #660000; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Which antagonist would you use, or have you used, in your works? Let us know in the comments below!</span><br />
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<span style="color: #660000; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Happy Writing!</span>Carla Trueheart, MA, MFAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04101794184235282505noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3719342435276364067.post-37944192411347090592019-10-29T06:56:00.003-07:002019-10-29T07:59:34.356-07:00Halloween Writing Prompts<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVccHQbTBddou-6aKlOS8vCadZk-bbgriJv_7_Dx6KLXJITzZ71AWWWY8i9Z34_nSuN9FBNfO4Ys0Yf1uY9CaFC5LvHxja0TN8dcMxULtxC12EEaBpqbkXu-ZbJhV12iryOWhBO46HMIA/s1600/girl-3421489__480.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="481" data-original-width="719" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVccHQbTBddou-6aKlOS8vCadZk-bbgriJv_7_Dx6KLXJITzZ71AWWWY8i9Z34_nSuN9FBNfO4Ys0Yf1uY9CaFC5LvHxja0TN8dcMxULtxC12EEaBpqbkXu-ZbJhV12iryOWhBO46HMIA/s400/girl-3421489__480.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #b45f06;">By: Emrald Sethna</span></div>
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Hello, dear writers! Are you ready for Halloween? Such a spooky, fun time of the year. Here are some new writing prompts to help us all celebrate this holiday:<br />
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- Create a tale about a supernatural character that likes to dress up as a human on Halloween night.<br />
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- Write a short story from the perspective of an ancient mummy awakening for a Monster Halloween Bash.<br />
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- Construct the scariest story you can think of in thirteen words.<br />
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- Write a flash fiction piece that revolves around a scarecrow, a werewolf, a ghost, and a bowl of candy.<br />
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- Create a short story where your protagonist gets stuck in a monster realm for 24 hours.<br />
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- Think of your favorite supernatural character and describe them in a poem.<br />
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- Craft a narrative that takes place in a graveyard with a character poorly attempting necromancy.<br />
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- Write a story where a character discovers a ghost party in their bedroom.<br />
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Image Prompt ~<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg14XMO_bSZyKN8kJopHOaIbqEf-dYKyJilPCDj7I8ZC8c4CnGSXv-82Fzkt_dcG4YNT1bX84ZBt279PRNPG_c3C5CHczd2eFditvbE7xTjXX84e14FW_UVsZ2BIRpE3Hwfto_lfuzy6C8/s1600/haunted-castle-1802413_1280.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="850" data-original-width="1280" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg14XMO_bSZyKN8kJopHOaIbqEf-dYKyJilPCDj7I8ZC8c4CnGSXv-82Fzkt_dcG4YNT1bX84ZBt279PRNPG_c3C5CHczd2eFditvbE7xTjXX84e14FW_UVsZ2BIRpE3Hwfto_lfuzy6C8/s320/haunted-castle-1802413_1280.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Write a short story based on the photo above</div>
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<span style="color: #b45f06; font-size: large;">Happy Writing!</span><br />
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Carla Trueheart, MA, MFAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04101794184235282505noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3719342435276364067.post-57087940098189044902019-10-17T07:37:00.000-07:002020-02-10T07:39:15.054-08:00Publishing Opportunities: HORROR<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZOhFbNZ3sph7H9_UhyphenhypheneRem9hra408akfoLmUyQmLLm0XirfgnzJ8KrizfvQ1wuAJSNMgMZN2ne9YtgGEojrQ3cjSLd8z6tAeYOiDTy6n6BgB_aciQ1sRQkonNTZ7JYeNRaiNXxDiPExc/s1600/witching-hour-583070__480.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="725" height="263" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZOhFbNZ3sph7H9_UhyphenhypheneRem9hra408akfoLmUyQmLLm0XirfgnzJ8KrizfvQ1wuAJSNMgMZN2ne9YtgGEojrQ3cjSLd8z6tAeYOiDTy6n6BgB_aciQ1sRQkonNTZ7JYeNRaiNXxDiPExc/s400/witching-hour-583070__480.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #783f04;"><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(120, 63, 4);">Happy Autumn!</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #783f04;"><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(120, 63, 4);"><br /></span></span>
<span style="color: #783f04;"><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(120, 63, 4);">In keeping with the seasonal spirit, we'd like to present our followers with a list of publishing opportunities in the horror genre. It's the perfect time of year to shake the dust off those old horror stories and give them another chance at publication! Or perhaps you have a new story ready to go . . . whatever the case, we hope these listings will help with your quest.</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #783f04;"><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(120, 63, 4);">Please read all submission instructions on the websites and follow the publisher's specific requests for word counts and formatting. </span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #783f04;"><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(120, 63, 4);">Good Luck!</span></span><br />
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<i>Blood Moon Rising Magazine</i><br />
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<a href="http://www.bloodmoonrisingmagazine.com/newsubmissions.html">http://www.bloodmoonrisingmagazine.com/newsubmissions.html</a><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuubMXXbLHLlZENaJoAJd1iAEo8ApK9K82qhLrjFlhfoVZg1Ikc7HmAW1GbSWI2A3-UZ4ef1lc8P9yCfZvHLy5NcMbi_XwL3f6Ngi-UpNE2CDWaCbLUD6oXLBHvYg3GxHcKBFkP34pcnQ/s1600/bmrcover_3-147x207.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="207" data-original-width="147" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuubMXXbLHLlZENaJoAJd1iAEo8ApK9K82qhLrjFlhfoVZg1Ikc7HmAW1GbSWI2A3-UZ4ef1lc8P9yCfZvHLy5NcMbi_XwL3f6Ngi-UpNE2CDWaCbLUD6oXLBHvYg3GxHcKBFkP34pcnQ/s1600/bmrcover_3-147x207.jpg" /></a></div>
<i>Danse Macabre</i><br />
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<a href="https://dansemacabreonline.wixsite.com/neudm/subspage">https://dansemacabreonline.wixsite.com/neudm/subspage</a><br />
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<i>Dream of Shadows</i></div>
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<a href="https://www.dreamofshadows.co.uk/submission-guidelines">https://www.dreamofshadows.co.uk/submission-guidelines</a></div>
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<i>Ink and Sword</i></div>
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<a href="https://inkandsword.wixsite.com/inkandsword/short-story">https://inkandsword.wixsite.com/inkandsword/short-story</a></div>
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<i>The Wicked Library</i></div>
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<a href="https://thewickedlibrary.com/submissions/">https://thewickedlibrary.com/submissions/</a></div>
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Carla Trueheart, MA, MFAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04101794184235282505noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3719342435276364067.post-65699577026923126352019-09-26T06:30:00.000-07:002020-02-10T07:47:23.156-08:00Fall Fantasy Writing ~ Picture Prompts!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsaH7tQ4_F4q2-ZKCfA_s07rg4LdLfhFkJQ7ZgA2LFjExw5afkpNxm6G9HIs2-Hqw4wdaBUfiXx625q6S5hodyOHBilR1dPAkUMBAqKRlwWgoi5P7tcEoCgNz4NYqGQtXt5J3JwpCE2Rk/s1600/coffee-3025022__480.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="481" data-original-width="717" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsaH7tQ4_F4q2-ZKCfA_s07rg4LdLfhFkJQ7ZgA2LFjExw5afkpNxm6G9HIs2-Hqw4wdaBUfiXx625q6S5hodyOHBilR1dPAkUMBAqKRlwWgoi5P7tcEoCgNz4NYqGQtXt5J3JwpCE2Rk/s400/coffee-3025022__480.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #660000; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">By: Our Writing Garden </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Welcome, fall!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">We have some fun writing prompts and articles lined up for autumn, and to get you started, here's an enjoyable writing exercise featuring picture prompts!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">The (easy) Directions:</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Below, you'll find 6 fall-themed photographs. Using the photos, create a short story. You must use all the photos, although you are welcome to change the order. We look forward to reading your stories and hope you share them in the comments section!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>Carla Trueheart, MA, MFAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04101794184235282505noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3719342435276364067.post-66441458725292196672019-09-17T06:45:00.000-07:002019-09-17T06:45:38.921-07:00Fall Writing Competitions<br />
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<span style="background-color: #fff2cc;">By: Emrald Sethna</span></div>
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The Val Wood Prize: Love Letters<br />
Date: Sep 21<br />
Entry Fee: Free<br />
Word count: 1,500<br />
Prize: 100 Euros<br />
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In the Blink of an Eye! Competition<br />
Date: Sep 24<br />
Entry Fee: Free<br />
Word count: 3,000<br />
Prize: $345<br />
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Owl Canyon Press Hackathon Short Story Competition<br />
Date: Sep 30<br />
Entry Fee: Free<br />
Word count: No limit<br />
Prize: $3000<br />
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Gransnet and HQ Writing Competition<br />
Date: Sep 30<br />
Entry Fee: Free<br />
Word count: 20,000<br />
Prize: Publishing contract<br />
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The First Page Challenge<br />
Date: Sep 30<br />
Entry Fee: $5<br />
Word count: One page<br />
Prize: $200+<br />
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L. Ron Hubbard's Writers of the Future Contest<br />
Date: Sep 30<br />
Entry Fee: Free<br />
Word count: 17,000<br />
Prize: $1000 & publication<br />
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The Ghost Story Supernatural Fiction Award<br />
Date: Sep 30<br />
Entry Fee: $20<br />
Word count: 10,000<br />
Prize: $1,000 and publication<br />
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Stories Out of School Flash Fiction Contest<br />
Date: Oct 1<br />
Entry Fee: Free<br />
Word count: 749<br />
Prize: $1000<br />
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Beartooth Anthony's Halloween Campfire Story Contest<br />
Date: Oct 25<br />
Entry Fee: Free<br />
Word count: No limit<br />
Prize: Publication & hiking gear<br />
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Aftermath Short Story Contest<br />
Date: Oct 31<br />
Entry Fee: Free<br />
Word count: 5,000<br />
Prize: $1,000<br />
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Other competitions can be found on this website: https://www.dystopianstories.com/writing-competitions-contests/<br />
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Happy Writing!Carla Trueheart, MA, MFAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04101794184235282505noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3719342435276364067.post-61606799914077123542019-08-18T10:12:00.000-07:002020-02-10T07:47:35.710-08:00Late Summer Writing Prompts<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><span style="color: #b45f06;"><b>By: Our Writing Garden</b></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Greetings, Writers!</span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">As summer starts to draw to a close, we turn our creative voices inward as the colder months loom ahead. At The Steps to Getting Published, we thought you'd like one last fling with summer writing, however, with a focus on late summer and end-of-season festivities. Below, please find our list of writing prompts for fiction writers, screenwriters, and poets. We'd love for you to share your work with us in the comments section, and please enjoy the last few days of warm weather and fun in the sun!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b>craft a screenplay about the last day of a student's summer vacation</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b>write a short story from the perspective of a blooming Autumn plant</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b>create a poem about the daily visits of a hummingbird</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b>write a story involving the last day of summer camp</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b>craft a short story where a student recieves the worst class schedule for the upcoming school year</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b>write a poem about the changing of seasons</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b>write a poem about the first day of high school </b></span></span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b><br /></b></span></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b>write a short story about the last camping trip of the summer season</b></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b><br /></b></span></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b>compose a short play about a boardwalk amusement park in another era</b></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b><br /></b></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b>write a poem about the last sunflowers of August</b></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b><br /></b></span></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b>write flash fiction about an unusual garden crop/harvest</b></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b><br /></b></span></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b>write a poem about the last day out at the beach</b></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b><br /></b></span></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b>write 3 short prose poems about: 1) your new dorm room 2) your new college roommate 3) your first college class</b></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b><br /></b></span></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b>write a short story about the car breaking down on the way back from summer vacation </b></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b><br /></b></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b>compose a 100-word story, and make sure 5 of the words are: POOL, BUTTERFLY, GRILL, LANTERN, SEASHELL (words can be in any order in the story)</b></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b><br /></b></span></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b>write a short story about one kid’s quest for a special back-to-school item (unique pencil, notebook, book bag, etc.)</b></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b><br /></b></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b>write a poem about the days growing shorter</b></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b>write a play about an argument at a backyard family picnic</b></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b>write a poem about a basket of late summer tomatoes</b></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b>write a sci-fi story about the first day of school on another planet</b></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b>write a poem about the first hint of autumn colors in the trees</b></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b>write flash fiction about a parent’s first “home alone” day when the kids are back to school</b></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b>write about a mishap at a pick-your-own fruit or vegetable farm</b></span></span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b>write a poem about a favorite food at a summer or autumn festival</b></span></span></div>
Carla Trueheart, MA, MFAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04101794184235282505noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3719342435276364067.post-62496287566114132632019-07-28T09:45:00.000-07:002020-02-10T07:47:53.000-08:00SCI-FI JULY Publishing Opportunities<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV9D2hD8arbovO_fPCmiJ5vLwdIyez4Q9-0PTvBZJ_Hv9aw6pyD3v91erTdLZQGLZ1Sl3WV_D3tcMAInkPBEw6a39CgmpsjfwRmatAQRKxqEBdmqtCuSdzJDBdnj7Pl5pauyd3lfMuxRc/s1600/skyline-861955__480.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="673" height="285" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV9D2hD8arbovO_fPCmiJ5vLwdIyez4Q9-0PTvBZJ_Hv9aw6pyD3v91erTdLZQGLZ1Sl3WV_D3tcMAInkPBEw6a39CgmpsjfwRmatAQRKxqEBdmqtCuSdzJDBdnj7Pl5pauyd3lfMuxRc/s400/skyline-861955__480.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Greetings, Sci-Fi writers!<br />
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Welcome to SCI-FI JULY! We're happy to post publishing opportunities in the science fiction genre for you this month and wish you good luck with your hunt for publication! Using the comments, please let us know how you make out with your search, and ask any questions you might have. Stay tuned for August, when we bring you some fun writing prompts based on the end of summer and prepping for those early fall days!<br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">WHO:</span><i style="font-family: "trebuchet ms", sans-serif;"> Daily Science Fiction</i><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">WHAT: 100—1,500 words flash fiction and short stories</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">WHERE: https://dailysciencefiction.com/submit/story/guidelines</span><br />
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WHO: <i>Leading Edge</i></div>
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WHAT: Fiction, poetry, non-fiction, art in the science fiction genre<br />
WHERE: http://www.leadingedgemagazine.com/?page_id=31<br />
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WHO: <i>The Mystic Blue Review</i><br />
WHAT: Poetry, flash-fiction, non-fiction, micro-fiction, art and photography (sci-fi, but open to most genres)<br />
WHERE: https://themysticbluereview.wixsite.com/litmagazine/submit<br />
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WHO: <i>Write Ahead/The Future Looms</i><br />
WHAT: Sci-Fi Cyberpunk Short Stories<br />
WHERE: https://www.writeaheadthefuturelooms.com/submission-guidelines<br />
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Carla Trueheart, MA, MFAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04101794184235282505noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3719342435276364067.post-50189216174581357102019-07-24T09:52:00.001-07:002019-07-28T09:45:41.282-07:00SCI-FI JULY: Subgenres of Science Fiction<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><span style="color: #38761d; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b>By: The Steps to Getting Published Team</b></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Hello and welcome to science fiction month at The Steps to Getting Published! After a month off in June, we’re delighted to bring you a special month of science fiction themed articles and publishing opportunities in the science fiction genre. First, we have researched a few science fiction subgenres to give you a better idea of what conventions you’ll be working with in these subdivisions of sci-fi. Specifically, we’ll take a look at dystopian and utopian societies, definitions of hard science fiction, time travel, mythic fiction, space exploration, and space operas. As always, if you have any questions on these topics or would like to add your own science fiction knowledge to the comments, please don’t hesitate to jump in!</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none; text-decoration: underline;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Hard Science Fiction</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Hard Science Fiction is a sub-genre dedicated to realism. Specifically, realism in regards to the technology and science used or discussed in the novel. It is important to focus on the theories and real science that inspires your work rather than get too creative with unrealistic concepts. Oftentimes, the focus on technology and science results in a lack of character development--and sometimes a lack of plot. Though it is possible to create a strong narrative thread while delving into this sub-genre, as seen with Arthur C. Clark's "Fountains of Paradise," Jules Verne's "Twenty Thousand Leagues Under The Sea," and Isaac Asimov's "I, Robot." If you are interested in writing about realistic possibilities with tech and science, then this could be a sub-genre to pursue.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none; text-decoration: underline;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Dystopian/Utopian Societies</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">With the rise in popularity of books like <i>The Hunger Games</i>, it’s easy to forget that the idea of dystopian and utopian societies has been around for a long time. Early novels in the genres include <i>Utopia</i> from the year 1560, <i>Gulliver’s Travels </i>from 1756, and<i> Brave New World</i> from 1932. And who can forget books like Orwell’s <i>1984</i> and Wyndham’s <i>The Chrysalids </i>in the mid 20th century? While utopian societies are based on the ideal society, often depicted as a fairy-tale or heaven-like land with no famine or suffering, utopias are, for the most part, debatable. Can any land really be a utopia? Who makes the call on what’s considered ideal? On the flip side is dystopia, in which readers observe lands that are dysfunctional, corrupt, and oftentimes in ruins. Dystopians are usually futuristic, giving the reader insight into what may happen in the years ahead if humans continue down a certain path. When writing in this genre, consider unique apocalyptic events, satires of utopian settings, and government and religions of these lands. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">It is in Mythic Fiction that you will find references to real-world mythology and folklore. In this sub-genre, writers typically take inspiration from or incorporate aspects of ancient mythology into their works. Some examples, although not sci-fi-oriented, include Rick Riordan's Percy Jackson series, Neil Gaiman's <i>American Gods</i>, and <i>Daughter of the Forest </i>by Juliet Marillier. These works all revolve around well-known tales of heroes and monsters, though they offer interesting twists to the lore. If you are interested in writing Mythic Fiction within the Sci-Fi genre, it is expected that you allude to or take inspiration from known mythology and folklore while writing in a sci-fi setting. Imagine the tales of the Greek Gods and Blade Runner mingling together. It would certainly be an interesting novel to visit. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">A beloved subgenre, time travel has been gathering readers for decades. Most readers are enthralled by the idea of jumping into another time or place, living beyond their years, or changing something horrific in their past. And of course, the methods of traveling through time can be just as fun as entering a different time period! In “The Time Machine” by H.G. Wells, readers get to visualize such a contraption. The clunky time machine was not quite as fancy as the DeLorean from <i>Back to the Future</i>, but hey, it got the job done. In your writing, consider unique methods of time travel, with an emphasis on exactly how time travel is accomplished. Readers who know the genre well will be looking for explanations, having read different theories and seen many different time machines. Also consider the choices made in different time periods. If traveling to the past, how does this change the modern world? Why were these changes necessary? </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Opposing Hard Science Fiction, the Space Opera genre is neither strict in its conventions nor oriented towards science and technology. A prominent characteristic of this sub-genre, however, is long story arcs and character arcs spanning across several novels. Typical theming for these stories include heroism, rebellion, politics, imperialism, colonialism, war, and space exploration. If you would like to write tales where certain reoccurring characters deal with dramatic situations within a science fiction setting, then this is a sub-genre to explore. Examples of Space Operas are "A Fire Upon the Deep" by Vernor Vinge, "A Talent for War" by Jack McDevitt, and Cassastar by Alex J. Cavanaugh. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none; text-decoration: underline;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Space Exploration</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">One of the most popular subgenres of science fiction (especially during the heyday of space travel—the 1950s and 1960s), is space exploration. Here, a main character might leap to Mars to explore the landscape, or they might speed off to another galaxy altogether. And there are subgenres within this subgenre as well, including space defenders, danger and villains in space, problems with escape pods or space debris, hazards of light-speed, alien attacks, and blackholes or wormholes. The list is quite exhaustive, so the sky is the limit here (no pun intended). Consider research in this area, including galaxies, planets, space machines and space travel. Imagination is key to this subgenre, because the future of space travel is up in the air (pun intended). </span></span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Good luck with these and please look for publishing opportunities in sci-fi, coming in the next few days!</span></span></div>
Carla Trueheart, MA, MFAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04101794184235282505noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3719342435276364067.post-15285632313241637132019-06-03T06:26:00.000-07:002019-06-03T06:26:29.177-07:00Summer Writing Competitions<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="color: #274e13; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">By Emrald Sethna</span></div>
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Hello again, dear writers!<br />
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We're back with some more writing competitions for you to consider. Below you will find upcoming contests from reliable sources that strive to shed light on new voices and wonderful works. Make sure you understand and apply all requirements before submitting!<br />
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Slate Roof Glass Prize & Poetry Broadside Content<br />
Date: June 15<br />
Fee: $15<br />
Word count: 30 lines<br />
Prize: $250 & publication<br />
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Lucille Clifton Poetry Prize<br />
Date: June 15<br />
Fee: $15<br />
Word count: Unknown<br />
Prize: $500 & publication<br />
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Narrative Prize<br />
Date: June 15<br />
Fee: Free<br />
Word count: Full manuscript<br />
Prize: $4,000<br />
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The Wise Writer Award Short Story Contest<br />
Date: June 15<br />
Fee: $13<br />
Word count: 2,500<br />
Prize: $2,000<br />
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Eyelands 9th International Short Story Contest<br />
Date: June 20<br />
Fee: $20<br />
Word count: 2,500<br />
Prize: Publication & holiday in Crete<br />
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Mclaughlin-Esstman-Stearns First Novel Prize<br />
Date: June 28<br />
Fee: Free<br />
Word count: Full manuscript<br />
Prize: $1,000<br />
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Aftermath Short Story Content<br />
Date: June 30<br />
Fee: Free<br />
Word count: 5,000<br />
Prize: $1,000<br />
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Kingsley & Kate Tufts Poetry Awards<br />
Date: June 30<br />
Fee: Free<br />
Word count: Full manuscript<br />
Prize: $100,000<br />
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Future Visions Award<br />
Date: July 1<br />
Fee: $5<br />
Word count: 10,000<br />
Prize: $500 & publication<br />
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The Rattle Poetry Prize<br />
Date: July 15<br />
Fee: $25<br />
Word count: Any length<br />
Prize: $10,000<br />
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Lumberloft Press Short Fiction Prize<br />
Date: July 30<br />
Fee: Free<br />
Word count: 5,000<br />
Prize: $1,000<br />
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Contest Link: <a href="https://www.dystopianstories.com/writing-competitions-contests/">https://www.dystopianstories.com/writing-competitions-contests/</a><br />
<br />Carla Trueheart, MA, MFAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04101794184235282505noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3719342435276364067.post-56597359124935832642019-05-22T07:05:00.002-07:002019-05-22T07:05:40.771-07:00Writing Prompts: Getting Ready for Summer<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzxB8ylCUijm1Le-k-ERUZnNy0yaG0TWgYeygGLMyz1qIOQhAM1N4Z6hNb1APvaSyJi33VifDJ0x7mcJffaMDyQmSA0PmAC-sbd3P24xZpAVeLD8ykUtFy_i0vIx4H-kDZe_WHfvyqppU/s1600/people-2604832_1280.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="854" data-original-width="1280" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzxB8ylCUijm1Le-k-ERUZnNy0yaG0TWgYeygGLMyz1qIOQhAM1N4Z6hNb1APvaSyJi33VifDJ0x7mcJffaMDyQmSA0PmAC-sbd3P24xZpAVeLD8ykUtFy_i0vIx4H-kDZe_WHfvyqppU/s400/people-2604832_1280.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">By: The Steps to Getting Published Team</span></span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><i><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Dear writers,</span></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><i><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><i><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Summer is approaching at last! Here are some ideas inspired by the excitement for the upcoming season!</span></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;">Create a short story about a character's eagerness for summer break </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;">Create a story about an unusual game booth at the first carnival of the summer season</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;">Write a story about the disasters faced while planning the year's first beach party</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;">Write about a magic seashell</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;">Construct a poem describing the first wave of Summer air</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;">Write about a neighborhood cookout where someone forgets to send out an invitation</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;">Write a scene from the perspective of an animal awakening from hibernation</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;">Write a story about two towns who have a friendly battle over who has the best fireworks display</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;">Develop a short story based on your favorite memory of Summer</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;">Construct a poem about the first thunderstorm of the summer season</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;">Write a story about the trials of booking a family vacation</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;">Write a poem about early summer frogs in a pond</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;">Construct a humorous scene of an interview for a Summer job</span></span></div>
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<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;">Write about finding an old family recipe for summertime lemonade</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;">Create a short story explaining why a character does not look forward to the Summer season</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;">Write a poem about the scents of early summer</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;">Write a work where a child lists strange must-do Summer activities</span></span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><b><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Image prompt:</span></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Happy Writing!</span></h2>
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Carla Trueheart, MA, MFAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04101794184235282505noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3719342435276364067.post-90271172101858839992019-05-22T06:56:00.000-07:002019-05-22T07:20:28.537-07:00Publishing Opportunities: Nature Writers<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjasYpsDmduCYQ10wUSBU-alLjc0CmXl341oYxrBVJyc3UQjIssOEjUc1ZCpiHIZrOYZXlTzEpNN7J-flA484773jkt5MfTzuai_xgOsIe3wi8N9J9POfDvfOcCA40KKP06_eU2S3OiJ-s/s1600/owl-1240961_1280.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="960" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjasYpsDmduCYQ10wUSBU-alLjc0CmXl341oYxrBVJyc3UQjIssOEjUc1ZCpiHIZrOYZXlTzEpNN7J-flA484773jkt5MfTzuai_xgOsIe3wi8N9J9POfDvfOcCA40KKP06_eU2S3OiJ-s/s640/owl-1240961_1280.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #274e13;">By: The Steps to Getting Published Team</span></div>
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Happy May, writers!<br />
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With the sun shining and the earth turning green, it's certainly the perfect time to write about nature. Maybe you're a poet who is inspired by the spring/summer season, or maybe you've started a simple short story about nature that grew into a publishable piece. Whatever the case, we've got you covered! This month The Steps to Getting Published team is happy to present a theme of nature writing, with publishing opportunities for those who pen stories and poetry about the natural world.<br />
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Below, please find publishing opportunities for nature writers, and please let us know how you make out, using the comments section!<br />
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<b>1. </b><br />
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<b>Who: </b><i>Green Writers Press</i><br />
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<b>What:</b> fiction, nonfiction, poetry, and youth literature based on themes of environment</div>
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<b>Where:</b> <a href="http://greenwriterspress.com/contact/submissions/">http://greenwriterspress.com/contact/submissions/</a></div>
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<b>Who:</b> <i>Claw & Blossom Magazine</i></div>
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<b>What:</b> flash fiction, poetry (must contain elements of the natural world)</div>
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<b>Where:</b> <a href="https://clawandblossom.com/">https://clawandblossom.com</a></div>
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<b>3. </b></div>
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<b>Who:</b><i> Skipping Stones</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjglbNaFefsWQB5_WBspufRjaunIhb1Uz6ClgFnuun7FYfq1wCtBh5wNUT_AQ6l7fHvU_YL8sAQjVLaOnC9oZnV8-z-_uU4jz-HL5W58EZcuBt0NA1vEBaHdStcEAif1XC_YKx93zMb4ws/s1600/cropped-30.3.webcover-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="330" data-original-width="1600" height="41" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjglbNaFefsWQB5_WBspufRjaunIhb1Uz6ClgFnuun7FYfq1wCtBh5wNUT_AQ6l7fHvU_YL8sAQjVLaOnC9oZnV8-z-_uU4jz-HL5W58EZcuBt0NA1vEBaHdStcEAif1XC_YKx93zMb4ws/s200/cropped-30.3.webcover-1.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
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<b>What:</b> Compositions related to culture and nature: ecology, resource conservation, endangered species, fighting pollution</div>
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<b>Where:</b> <a href="http://www.skippingstones.org/wp/adult/">http://www.skippingstones.org/wp/adult/</a></div>
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<b>Who: </b><i>The Hopper</i></div>
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<b>What:</b> poetry, fiction, nonfiction, visual pieces about human experience in nature: natural world, wilderness, civilization</div>
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<b>Where:</b> <a href="http://www.hoppermag.org/submit">http://www.hoppermag.org/submit</a></div>
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<span style="color: #454545; font-family: "ubuntu"; font-size: 20px; text-transform: uppercase;">PUBLISHERS OF FULL-LENGTH WORKS OF ENVIRONMENTAL AND PLACE-BASED WRITING</span></div>
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Carla Trueheart, MA, MFAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04101794184235282505noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3719342435276364067.post-21362266559436994132019-05-22T06:55:00.000-07:002019-05-22T06:55:44.724-07:00Book Market Analysis: Where Does Your Manuscript Fit In?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">By Carla Trueheart </span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;">You’ve spent a lot of time writing your book, editing the manuscript, and polishing the final draft. The next logical step is to jump right onto the publishing roller coaster, with all of its ups and downs. But before sending out those queries, it might be a good idea to do a quick Book Market Analysis. This type of market analysis will allow you to gauge the market for your genre, find the best agent for your work, target specific readers, and even decide your author platform. It’s an important part of the process and will put you in a better position when dealing with agents, publishers, and the reading public. Basically, you want to plan ahead for the best possible outcome for your book.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;">Some questions you might ask yourself are: How is the market for my current genre? How popular will my novel be out there on the bookshelves? What agents may be interested in this genre? How successful are those agents when selling my genre to publishers? Gauging the market, particularly in the publishing world, is tricky as trends always move around. One day wizards are in, the next day vampires are in, and it goes round and round. Of course the best advice for an author is to write what you’re passionate about and not worry about publishing trends, but it still helps to get a feel for the market by genre in order to place and sell your novel. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;">The outline below should help get you started, but you’re welcome to add or subtract any of these head topics for your analysis, depending on your personal genre and research methods. I hope these help you, and please let us know in the comments section how you make out, or if you have any other suggestions for our followers!</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">1. Book Research</span></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;">A. Find 3-5 competitive titles (on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, etc.)</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;"> a. How many copies were sold?</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;"> b. How many weeks was the book on the bestseller list?</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;"> c. Who is the publisher and agent for each book?</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;">B. Research the history of the book’s genre</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;">C. Compare all of your research </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">2. Profile (You)</span></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;">A. How will you develop an author profile/platform using your specific genre?</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;">B. What forms of technology will you use to promote and sell your book? </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;"> a. Website themes</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;"> b. Social media types</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;"> c. E-readers</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">3. Profile (Similar Author)</span></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;">A. Revisit competitive titles and research the authors</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;">B. What are their innovative marketing techniques? (example: J.K. Rowling’s Pottermore)</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;">C. How did they break into publishing?</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;">D. How are you similar? How are you different?</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">4. Target Audience</span></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;">A. What demographic are you writing toward? (age, culture, reading level)</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;">B. Where do these readers frequent? (blogs? social media sites? magazines?)</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;">C. Describe your target audience</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;">D. Compare all of your research</span></span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;">Analyze all of your research to make connections, then post your thoughts and questions in the comments section. Thanks for reading and good luck!</span></span></div>
Carla Trueheart, MA, MFAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04101794184235282505noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3719342435276364067.post-66332169474457198352019-05-15T10:46:00.001-07:002019-05-15T10:46:43.661-07:00May Motivational Quote for Writers<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="color: #4c1130; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-large;">The thing you are most afraid to write. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #4c1130; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-large;">Write that. </span></div>
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Carla Trueheart, MA, MFAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04101794184235282505noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3719342435276364067.post-92106246942345238712019-04-28T11:56:00.000-07:002019-04-29T05:31:13.844-07:00April Fun in the Sun Month: Publishing Opportunities: Sports Articles<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8OwCxAeYYmCqCYPaBEYCY6iMMj8z7YGtgDj3H9DVgEhJU8RMuWIhBF127Rn4_munbsRB47tGxrlh0et8XXBjO-jiLbYW2hiVFNyn9YruGjwslx7-VubnMDXR4z_DaVWmMXCCc3SAh9OI/s1600/shoes-2465908_1280.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="853" data-original-width="1280" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8OwCxAeYYmCqCYPaBEYCY6iMMj8z7YGtgDj3H9DVgEhJU8RMuWIhBF127Rn4_munbsRB47tGxrlh0et8XXBjO-jiLbYW2hiVFNyn9YruGjwslx7-VubnMDXR4z_DaVWmMXCCc3SAh9OI/s400/shoes-2465908_1280.jpg" width="400" /></a><span style="font-kerning: none;"></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">By ~ The Steps to Getting Published Team</span></h4>
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><span style="color: #38761d; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">For April, with the weather getting warmer, The Steps to Getting Published team was happy to research publications that accept writing projects in the sports genre. If you like writing stories or poetry with a focus on baseball, soccer, fishing, basketball, swimming, hiking, cycling, or any other sport, these publications may be perfect fits for your work. Give it a try! And please let us know if you are able to place your work with any of these publications. We always love hearing about your publishing journeys and triumphs!</span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM78IOu5OjyfmzwipSg9R-EN6hdwzjxukKXsAteqPA1b_5-aUp2FDgJZjC58n3xCnHSqR8jrqiSB-c0gnvAhKW7DaJlYAiXVbs302unzJHC5bbxqGRJBu6SwIZpR1vfv1KZ52jMdWcR6w/s1600/sl-irish-header.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="106" data-original-width="178" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM78IOu5OjyfmzwipSg9R-EN6hdwzjxukKXsAteqPA1b_5-aUp2FDgJZjC58n3xCnHSqR8jrqiSB-c0gnvAhKW7DaJlYAiXVbs302unzJHC5bbxqGRJBu6SwIZpR1vfv1KZ52jMdWcR6w/s1600/sl-irish-header.gif" /></a></div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: "times new roman";">Publication: </span><i style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: "Times New Roman";">Sport Literate</i></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">Accepts: Sports: essays, poems, creative nonfiction</span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black;">Link: <a href="https://sportliterate.org/writers/submitable/"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(2, 30, 170);">https://sportliterate.org/writers/submitable/</span></a></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI7uTbYDK17rIO63RFnow59R52oElPoT4A8G81uR1JGdJjuoq8vlR4ogZjYuJQIODm4cJoRsFoTZVFbuifYjrdl2mzA9FWjkLDU4BX4k_6CXb4vrtUVnKriZB2UmKbbOUvQ6T7Ajz-huY/s1600/header22-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="327" data-original-width="1200" height="87" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI7uTbYDK17rIO63RFnow59R52oElPoT4A8G81uR1JGdJjuoq8vlR4ogZjYuJQIODm4cJoRsFoTZVFbuifYjrdl2mzA9FWjkLDU4BX4k_6CXb4vrtUVnKriZB2UmKbbOUvQ6T7Ajz-huY/s320/header22-2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;">Publication: <i>Across the Margin</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">Accepts: Sports: fiction, poetry, and nonfiction (unpublished, proofread)</span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black;">Link: <span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(2, 30, 170);"><a href="https://acrossthemargin.com/submit/">https://acrossthemargin.com/submit/</a></span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyyizYWrnkfCnhHQlFfUCxGeNIQz7i_nQfvfyLpYSrp3CC42cFDAEcvBTcbwotq_pxnaeWVua2_5WMA5M5IY3h8OJU3HSg7DJkAulCzGv3Q32Lt9U9rPJfjpg1zmMs3cmPOw_Zg98pQeQ/s1600/5c92ac533790c_TrailGrooveBackpackingandHikingMagazine-Issue41.jpg.5c055616fd3c0147726ecc5fa0858abb.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="600" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyyizYWrnkfCnhHQlFfUCxGeNIQz7i_nQfvfyLpYSrp3CC42cFDAEcvBTcbwotq_pxnaeWVua2_5WMA5M5IY3h8OJU3HSg7DJkAulCzGv3Q32Lt9U9rPJfjpg1zmMs3cmPOw_Zg98pQeQ/s320/5c92ac533790c_TrailGrooveBackpackingandHikingMagazine-Issue41.jpg.5c055616fd3c0147726ecc5fa0858abb.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">Publication: <i>TrailGroove Magazine</i><br />
Accepts: Hiking, backpacking and new ideas: short stories, essays, photography and art (unpublished)</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(2, 30, 170); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; color: #021eaa; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black;">Link: <span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(2, 30, 170);"><a href="https://www.trailgroove.com/contribute/">https://www.trailgroove.com/contribute/</a></span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxx_QisS1YyUqhzjKIwKqoGz0lIsWCyfLT_kF6UxVI4lp0uk-RteQQwWmS9WgwupZjmcqEBa0uhqyPDCbkfRHH0XIi1vDNCqyyxqWDl54VL_1POji8icXZ1XtYm565KlV5FbiHSXGKK_0/s1600/Grays-Web-BannerMarch2018.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="297" data-original-width="1600" height="59" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxx_QisS1YyUqhzjKIwKqoGz0lIsWCyfLT_kF6UxVI4lp0uk-RteQQwWmS9WgwupZjmcqEBa0uhqyPDCbkfRHH0XIi1vDNCqyyxqWDl54VL_1POji8icXZ1XtYm565KlV5FbiHSXGKK_0/s320/Grays-Web-BannerMarch2018.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;">Publication: Gray’s Sporting Journal</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">Accepts: Short stories and poetry: fishing, outdoors, sport adventures</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(2, 30, 170); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; color: #021eaa; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black;">Link: <span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(2, 30, 170);"><a href="https://www.grayssportingjournal.com/submissions/">https://www.grayssportingjournal.com/submissions/</a></span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvzpinMBoqYj9c0MjKUsvaj87DQeCM8pKXEfY4SKBpYKKqO-4Zyckabf_L5xbPVm8fcfu8pgdisd_LHSpyl7Iar2HAaLCkG5m1rXkBkAfhogSCVB9-j_nmhujFGzN6iKzcihu7W-L8maQ/s1600/spacerace.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="375" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvzpinMBoqYj9c0MjKUsvaj87DQeCM8pKXEfY4SKBpYKKqO-4Zyckabf_L5xbPVm8fcfu8pgdisd_LHSpyl7Iar2HAaLCkG5m1rXkBkAfhogSCVB9-j_nmhujFGzN6iKzcihu7W-L8maQ/s320/spacerace.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;">Publication: <i>Bikes in Space/Elly Blue Publishing</i></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;">Accepts: Bicycling stories: feminist, sci-fi, LGBTQ</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(2, 30, 170); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; color: #021eaa; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black;">Link: <span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(2, 30, 170);"><a href="http://takingthelane.com/2018/07/09/call-for-submissions-bikes-in-space-trans-nonbinary-edition/">http://takingthelane.com/2018/07/09/call-for-submissions-bikes-in-space-trans-nonbinary-edition/</a></span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhso8jUaCAPAE51i5u25iQPC2b_kA1xhAn72bbHPKG87z32p0tMk2vbVLQ25lSPM8mXIG9LaxpAojMH_Z_0LY9gmxHZNixtCJ_uY5vdpobloZbxtTMMmyDYCXiCi_cF-v-Kh5x4sSNOFI/s1600/aethlon.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="298" data-original-width="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhso8jUaCAPAE51i5u25iQPC2b_kA1xhAn72bbHPKG87z32p0tMk2vbVLQ25lSPM8mXIG9LaxpAojMH_Z_0LY9gmxHZNixtCJ_uY5vdpobloZbxtTMMmyDYCXiCi_cF-v-Kh5x4sSNOFI/s1600/aethlon.gif" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;">Publication: </span><i style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;">aethlon</i><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"></span></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-size: large;">Accepts: Sport-themed literature, poetry, essays, and book reviews (unpublished)</span></span></div>
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<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(2, 30, 170); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; color: #021eaa; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black;"><span style="font-size: large;">Link: <a href="http://www.uta.edu/english/sla/aethlon.html"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(2, 30, 170);">http://www.uta.edu/english/sla/aethlon.html</span></a></span></span></div>
Carla Trueheart, MA, MFAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04101794184235282505noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3719342435276364067.post-12034521769748803712019-04-28T11:39:00.000-07:002019-04-29T05:25:42.631-07:00Q&A: The Inciting Incident<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(227, 36, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; color: #e32400; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; text-align: right;">
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<span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;">By: Carla Trueheart </span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">Hello, writers! April's Q&A discusses the Inciting Incident in your story: What is it? Where should it be placed? We hope you'll find the questions and answers helpful, and please let us know any other questions you might have. Happy Writing!</span></span><br />
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<span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">Q: What is The Inciting Incident?</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">A: The Inciting Incident is the moment in a story when the protagonist is thrust into action by a turn of events. This event is usually a drastic and dramatic shake-up of the status quo, and is something they cannot ignore or turn away from. It serves as the lift-off point in the story, sending the plot into motion.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">Q: Where should the Inciting Incident be placed in a story?</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">A: As soon as possible, depending on genre. In YA fiction, for example, the Inciting Incident will usually take place in the first chapter, after an introduction to the protagonist showing him or her in their natural, ordinary world. In mystery writing, a dead body usually opens the story and serves as the Inciting Incident. Other genres differ slightly, but in general, writers should set the plot in motion early on, after the readers build sympathy for a character, or at least after they know what’s going on in their current life—what’s missing or what might shake them up. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">Q: Why is it important?</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">A: The Inciting Incident is important because it sets the plot in motion and launches the story. Characters should want something and have clear motives for a reader to really identify with them and root for them. If the Inciting Incident is missing, chances are the story will suffer from lack of spark and lack of character goal. Good or bad, the event that serves as the Inciting Incident should stir the pot and trigger character movement.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">Q: How can I spot the Inciting Incident in my favorite stories?</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">A: In most cases, the Inciting Incident will be at the beginning of a story, shortly after an introduction to the protagonist or main characters. You will know when you read it because the story will move from an ordinary, everyday setting to a new setting or new problem within the characters’ current setting. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">Q: What are some examples of an Inciting Incident?</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">A: In the Harry Potter series, the story opens with Harry in his ordinary (albeit unpleasant) daily life. The Inciting Incident occurs when Harry gets his letter to Hogwarts and learns he’s a wizard. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">In <i>The Hunger Games</i>, the story opens with Katniss Everdeen in her ordinary (and also unpleasant) world. Her sister’s name is chosen for The Hunger Games, and when Katniss volunteers to take her sister’s place, she is thrust into a new setting and a dangerous situation she cannot turn away from.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">In <i>The Wizard of Oz</i>, Dorothy is sent over the rainbow to the land of Oz after hitting her head during a tornado storm on the farm. Before this Inciting Incident, we learn that Dorothy feels like she wants to see new places, travel away from her farm.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">In <i>Star Wars</i>, Luke Skywalker follows Obi-Wan and learns the ways of the force after the Empire murders his aunt and uncle. Prior to this, we witness Luke in his ordinary world, gazing up at the sunset, seeking a change.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">Q: How can I add an Inciting Incident to my own story?</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">A: If you plot in advance, set up a story (weaving in backstory if need be) and set the characters, tone, and mood in the opening paragraphs. Then decide if you want the protagonist to act or be acted upon—basically do they volunteer for a dangerous game like Katniss or are they hit on the head and sent to another world like Dorothy? If you are a “pantser” type of writer, be aware of the opening of the story and your page count. Set the Inciting Incident as close as you can to the beginning, while remembering that readers will like to get to know your protagonist a bit first. Think about character motives, goals, age, emotional state, and their setting. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">Q: What are some other names for the Inciting Incident?</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">A: Other names might include The Catalyst, The Significant Event, The Opening Event, The Trigger, or The Point of No Return.</span></span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">As always, please let us know in the comments below if you have any other questions!</span></span></div>
Carla Trueheart, MA, MFAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04101794184235282505noreply@blogger.com0