Family Circle Fiction Writing Contest 2009

Starting March 1, 2009, Family Circle will accept entries in their Family Circle 2009 Fiction Writing Contest.

From their website:
"Do you love to write? Enter our 2009 fiction writing contest.

One grand prize winner will receive $750, publication in Family Circle, a certificate for one online mediabistro.com course (valued at up to $610), and a one-year mediabistro.com AvantGuild membership ($49 value). Two runners-up will each receive $250 and a one-year mediabistro.com AvantGuild membership ($49 value), and will have his or her story published on familycircle.com. To enter, send an original fictional short story of no more than 2,500 words to:

Family Circle Fiction Writing Contest
c/o Family Circle Magazine
375 Lexington Avenue
9th Floor, New York, NY 10017

All entries must be typed, double-spaced, and page-numbered on 8-1/2-x-11-inch paper, and must include your name, address, daytime phone number, and e-mail address (optional). No purchase necessary to enter or win. Contest begins March 1, 2009, and ends August 31, 2009. All entries must be postmarked on or before August 31, 2009, and received by September 7, 2009. Entries must be original, unpublished, and may not have won any prize or award. Up to two entries per individual will be accepted, but each entry must be a unique short story. Open to amateur writers who are legal residents of the 50 United States, or the District of Columbia, age 21 or older. Void where prohibited. Operator: Meredith Corporation."

Be sure to read the rules before submitting and check out the winning essay from 2008 for pointers.

Frugal Writing Tip of The Day

Money! by Tracy O Creative Commons

Save your dryer lint to make paper! After about 10 loads of clothes, you should have enough for a sheet or two. And it will be pretty colors! Just wet it, smoosh it together in your paper loom (made out of spare old lumber and rusty nails), and then let dry.

Of course, you'll probably have to carve blocks of wood out of previously mentioned leftover lumber to make letter stamps. A pen or pencil might tear through your lint paper, after all.

I'm sure you can make some ink out of those spoiled blueberries in the fridge, you know, the ones with the christmas tree plastic wrap on them. And it only takes about two hours to make a sheet of paper. Fun!

Stay tuned for more money saving tips. Moohoohahahaha!

For Writers and Other Storytellers: Why You Should Hang In There by Ira Glass

Ira Glass is host of This American Life, and he has a genius video series on storytelling. One of my favorites  is about why we should hang in there when our vision doesn't quite match our narrative abilities - at least not yet. He's talking about producing radio stories, but it applies to all storytelling. Revel in the badness, people, and expect it. It gets you to the moist, gooey center later.

Updated Submission Guidelines for Christian Literary Agent Rachelle Gardner

Rachelle Gardner

Literary Agent Rachelle Gardner has updated her submission guidelines. She represents Christian fiction and non-fiction projects. Be sure to read her blog on what she's looking for before you submit.

Author Susan McBride Featured in St. Louis Woman

Mystery Author Susan McBride, who gave an awesome presentation for Saturday Writers last year, is featured in February's issue of St. Louis Woman Magazine. You can read the article here.

Love the wedding gown in the picture! Don't miss her advice for writers on the last page.

Self Care for Authors or How to Stop From Curling Up In a Quivering Mess

Close up of pen Creative Commons

Here's a great post from editor Alan Rinzler on retaining confidence in your writing while navigating this rejection-filled world. Link found care of Nathan Bransford's most excellent blog.

Six Word Memoir T-Shirts

Not one for having your heart on your sleeve? Maybe you'd want to wear your life on a shirt. Smith Magazine is now offering t-shirts featuring its six word memoirs. You can use one from their book, Not Quite What I Was Planning: Six-Word Memoirs by Writers Famous & Obscure, or design your own angst. As their tagline says, "Everyone has a story."