New Literary Journals at Poets and Writers Magazine

Poets and Writers has added 16 new literary magazines to their listings.

You can check out their literary magazine database to find the right publication for your poem, essay, or short story.

The database lists the journals genres, submission periods, and how they accept submissions, so go find your baby a home today.

Two Writing Contests: Flash Fiction and Mark Twain

Donna over at Donnas Book Pub (forgive my apostrophe drought, my son hooked a gaming keyboard into my computer and it wont. type. apostrophes. Arrrrg) has two great contest announcements, one for WOWs Flash Fiction and another for a Mark Twain homage.

They both have May 31st deadlines.

Query On.

Summer Non-Fiction Class at UMSL

From Catherine Rankovic:

Dear Writers:
I will be teaching the graduate Creative Nonfiction Workshop at UMSL this summer. For Metro-area residents the cost is just under $900. You do not have to be in their MFA program to enroll, simply write well enough to take a graduate course (3 credits) and be a good critic. Provide me with a writing sample first; then you receive a consent number to register online at http://www.umsl.edu/.

 Mary Troy, UMSL's Creative Writing Program director, wrote me:

"In fact, if you know of people who may want to work with you but who are not students here, please encourage them to sign up this way, to get a consent number from me. I have some to give out still, though it is way too early to tell if the class will fill or not. It seems to be moving fine, with already 7 in it."

The course number is English 5140. It meets Tuesday and Thursday evenings, June 15-August 8, 6:00-8:30 p.m. It will have 2 textbooks. Thank you very much. Please pass the word and my email address, clrankov@juno.com, to anyone you think may be interested.

Catherine Rankovic

Redbook Silver Lining Writing Contest

Heard about this from Patsy Bell. Thanks for the heads up, Patsy.

Redbook is sponsoring a Silver Lining Writing Contest in conjunction with the Cup of Comfort Series. You could win $1000 and publication in Redbook for your best story about overcoming an obstacle or hardship. Essays should be between 1000-2000 words. Submit them to the Cup of Comfort website by May 15, 2009 for your chance to win. And, as always, be sure to read the fine print.

I Am Dead Yet

This blog has nothing on it today because I'm crabby and sick until further notice. And stop reading so loud. And no, there is no picture.

April Coffee and Critique Meeting Schedule

April

7th & 21st - 10 till noon

14th & 28th - 6:30 till 8:30

Health Insurance for Freelancers

If you're a freelancer looking for health insurance, check out "Health Insurance for Freelance Writers" by Rachel V. Olivier in the latest issue of WOW.

As the article mentions, Mediabistro (costs to join) and the Freelancers Union (free to join) have great links to health insurance for their members.

But be sure to check out Consumer Reports "7 Signs that a Health Plan Might Be Junk" before you buy. The May 2009 issue has lots of ratings and info for people who are looking for health insurance after being laid off. So get thee to the library to check it out if you can't afford to buy a copy.

And remember, if it's too cheap to be true, it's probably too cheap to pay when you need it.

Summer Writers Institute and Young Writers Workshop

The fourteenth annual Washington University Summer Writers Institute will be held June 15-26, 2009 in St. Louis.

The application guidelines and FAQ about the workshop are on their website. You can also check out their faculty there.

The workshops cover the following areas:
Poetry
Literary Fiction
Popular Fiction
Creative Nonfiction

A Young Writers Institute will also be conducted for high school students who are juniors and seniors in the following school year. You can attend for three hours of college credit or at a lower price for the noncredit option.

Free (Mostly) Writing Residency for Midwestern Writers

Sunrise by Tricia Grissom

I lust after this - going somewhere peaceful and bucolic to write essays. Does this work? Or would I start to feel the stress of making that week count. Then break out in hives. Then come home and recover from the writing vacation. I'm waaaay to neurotic for this.

But if you're not, WP Wordpress says this week-long writing residency could be yours for the low, low price of a $15 application fee if you're a writer from the midwest. Check out Writers in the Heartland to apply.

It's located in Gilman, Illinois and the deadline for applications is tax man day, April 15, 2009.