Writer's Market 2009 50% Off

You can get the new Writer's Market 2009 for half off until November 30, 2008. Use coupon code WDTHANKS on your order.

That makes it $15 plus tax and shipping. I prefer the online version 'cause it gets updated thoroughout the year and has a place where I can keep track of query letters and such, but I know some of my peeps like those things called.... what are they? Oh yeah, books.

Plus the subscription ($29.99) is not on sale, so if you're economizing you might want to go for the print version by tomorrow.

Fictional Characters Are Imaginary Friends

NPR.org has a thought provoking audio clip from Pulitzer prize winning author Jhumpa Lahiri on how fictional characters are like imaginary friends for writers. Her new book is Unaccustomed Earth. 

It does make us writers sound a wee bit dysfunctional.

Made any good friends lately? :)

Blue Mountain Seeking Book Submissions for New Publishing Line

Blue Rich Mountain by Kecko Creative Commons

Blue Mountain Arts has a new book division that is seeking submissions for gift books, teens and tween books, inspirational, motivational and so on.

Check out the post on Freelance Writing Jobs.

Free Christmas Gifts for Writers

Golden Christmas by krisdekurtis Creative Commons

Feeling a little destitue as a struggling writer? Collect these freebies and you'll be feeling richer in no time.

1. A pen for those random bursts of genius.

2. Free Entry in Hallmark's "Your Parenthood Contest." Deadline December 7, 2008.

3. Free ebooks. To go with the ereader you're hoping to get for Christmas.

4. Free postage and digital scale at the post office for sending out all those query letters.

5. Free coffee for when you need something to throw at the wall.

6. Free tea for the calmer, more benevelant essays.

7. Free snack for the munchies.

Some annoying surveys may apply. Don't sign up if you don't want junk mail. I, however, have recently begun collecting all the coupons on planet earth, so it's all good for me.

Or if you're looking for stuff to actually buy, check out my Top Ten Christmas Gifts for Writers list from last year.

Woohoo for Pat Wahler and Her New Blog Critter Alley

Congrats to Coffee and Critiquer Pat Wahler whose six word memoir on Love and Heartbreak will be in the book of the same name in Feb 09. She found the submission info about Smith Magazine's fun six word tomes on this blog and was kind enough to tell me so.

She's also taken the brave foray into blogging, so go check out her blog Critter Alley where she blogs about cute critters (do not confuse these with critique group members, although we can be as fluffy as woodland creatures at times). And don't forget to congratulate her.

Essay Market: Skirt Magazine Themes for 2009

Vintage Skirt by tajai Creative Commons

Have a personal essay burning a hole in your pocket? Check out Skirt Magazines 2009 themes to see if it fits one.

Be sure to read their contributor's guidelines. The submission deadlines are the first of the month for the following month's issue. So submit by December 1st if you want in the January issue.

Amazon and Penguin Group: Second Annual Breakthrough Novel Competition

Pencils by The Trial Creative Commons

Amazon.com and the Penguin Group have announced their second annual Breakthrough Novel Competition searching for new voices in fiction. Polish your manuscript for the February 2, 2009 start date.

From the article:
"Between Feb. 2 and Feb. 8, 2009, writers with an unpublished English-language novel manuscript can submit their work at www.amazon.com/abna. Up to 10,000 initial entries will be accepted, from which Amazon editors will select 2,000 to advance to the next round. Expert reviewers from Amazon will then review excerpts of these 2,000 entries and narrow the pool to 500 quarter-finalists. Reviewers from Publishers Weekly will then read, rate and review the full manuscripts, and 100 semi-finalists will be selected. Penguin editors will evaluate the manuscripts from this group of 100 and choose three finalists. A panel of esteemed publishing professionals -- including mega-bestselling authors Sue Grafton and Sue Monk Kidd, literary agent Barney Karpfinger and Penguin Press Editor-in-Chief Eamon Dolan -- will read and post their critiques of the top three manuscripts on www.amazon.com. Amazon customers will then have seven days to vote for the Grand Prize Winner.The winner will be announced on May 22, 2009, and will receive a publishing contract with Penguin, which includes a $25,000 advance."

Many of the Top Ten Finalists also received writing contracts, so it's worth checking out.