The James White Award Short Story Competition

The James White Award is a competition for original short stories of not more than 6,000 words by non-professional writers. The closing date for entries to this year’s competition is midnight (GMT) 31 January 2014 The winner will be announced at Satellite 4, Eastercon 2014 (18-21 April, 2014) during the BSFA Awards ceremony (details to be confirmed).
This year’s prize is £200 plus publication in Interzone. The judging panel will be announced shortly..
The rules in brief:
The James White Award is open to previously unpublished stories of 6000 words or less by non-professional authors from anywhere in the world, but the stories must be written in English. Stories are judged anonymously so names should be removed from manuscripts. You may enter online (strongly preferred) or by post but all entries must be accompanied by a completed entry form. Manuscripts will not be returned. The organisers strongly recommend you read, in full, the rules below before entering.

The Sophie King Prize

Free to Enter

Deadline: 10th January 2014

One entry per writer is allowed.
The story must be a minimum of 1,500 and a maximum of 2,500 words in length.

Open to both published and unpublished writers worldwide. 

The winning story will be recorded by a professional actor, and broadcast from a dedicated online audio player at www.sophieking.info, www.thesophiekingprize.com and www.greatstorieswithheart.com.

The winner will also receive a pair of Silver-Plated Life Long Champagne Chalices + a £50 voucher (= to approx. $79) from The Handpicked Collection.

One runner up will receive a £25 voucher (= to approx. $39) from The Handpicked Collection. Please note the vouchers will be issued in £ sterling but can be redeemed worldwide

3 Literary Agents Seeking New Clients

3 Literary Agents Seeking New Clients

These three literary agents have opened their doors to new clients. As always, visit the website of their agencies, check their list of clients, check the publishers they work with, and read all submission requirements carefully before contacting. (Click on the name of the agent, or their agency, for more information.) To check an agent's history (for possible complaints) go to Editors and Preditors.

Katie Reed - Andrea Hurst & Associates

About Katie Reed: Katie obtained her Bachelor’s in English from California State University, Sacramento, but the most enlightening part of her college career was her internship with Andrea Hurst & Associates. There she discovered her passion for being part of the process that connects compelling stories with book-hungry readers. Katie is looking for stories that demand to be read, having characters that transcend the page and remain in her thoughts long after the book has been closed. She represents all areas of young adult and adult fiction and nonfiction, with a special interest in YA and fantasy. Katie resides in the small town of Durham, California with her incredible husband, her joyful son, and Snoodles, her loyal cat. Besides her addiction to reading, she is also a diehard Miami Heat fan and obsessed with all things Disney.

What she is seeking:

All areas of YA fiction, particularly:
Commercial, with a compelling hook and a protagonist who battles real life teen issues
Science fiction (soft)
Fantasy

Commercial and Literary Adult Fiction in the following genres:
Book Club Women’s Fiction
Science Fiction (soft)
Fantasy
Suspense/Thriller
Contemporary Romance

Nonfiction in the following genres:
Memoir/Biography with a strong platform
Self-help
Crafts/How-to
Inspirational
True Crime (I would prefer to avoid this unless it is high profile and current)
Parenting

How to contact her: katie [at] andreahurst.com. Put “Query” in the subject line of your query. “Please include your query in the body of the email–no attachments. Do not send proposals, sample chapters or manuscripts unless specifically requested by an agent. They will not be opened or returned. Please indicate if you are simultaneously submitting to other agents. Give us some time to respond—in busy periods [or the holiday season] this may take several weeks.”

*****

Jordy Albert - Booker Albert Literary Agency

About Jordy Albert: Jordy Albert is a Literary Agent and co-founder of The Booker Albert Literary Agency. She holds a B.A. in English from Pennsylvania State University, and a M.A. from Millersville University of Pennsylvania. She has worked with Marisa Corvisiero during her time at the L. Perkins Agency and the Corvisiero Literary Agency. Jordy also works as a freelance editor/PR Director. She enjoys studying languages (French/Japanese), spends time teaching herself how to knit, is a HUGE fan of Doctor Who, and loves dogs.

What she is seeking: Middle Grade - contemporary, fantasy, action/adventure, or historical. Young adult - open to pretty much any genre; however, she's looking especially for YA that has a very strong romantic element-or which romance plays an integral part in the plot). New Adult romance and adult romance (again, open to pretty much any genre).

Please do not send poetry or short stories.

How to contact her: E-mail Jordy at jordy@thebookeralbertagency.com

*****

John Weber - Serendipity Literary Agency

About John Weber: John Weber grew up in the Midwest where Illinois, Iowa and Wisconsin meet on the

Mississippi. His undergraduate degree is Resource Conservation from the School of Forestry at the University of Montana and a Master’s degree in Computer Science at Northwest Missouri State University. He has spent most of his professional life in education, the last 22 years in higher education administration in information technology. His last position was Assistant Vice-President of Information Technology at Southeast Missouri State University.He currently lives in Copan Ruians Honduras where he is Director of Secondary and College Preparatory Programs at Escuela Mayatan, a private bilingual school in the mountains near the border of Guatemala.

What he is seeking: John Weber is looking for middle grade and young adult stories with universal themes told in unique settings, which show developing and changing relationships between characters. Because of his science/math/computer science background, he is interested in realistic historical fiction using current technology and projecting technology into the future. He is also wants well-researched science fiction, with no fantasy elements where science forms the foundation of progressive societies in the future.

John is no longer accepting children's picture books, fantasy, science fiction, poetry, and submissions from authors who are currently incarcerated. He is especially eager for non-fiction, African-American fiction, Latino fiction and non-fiction, young adult fiction, women’s fiction and non-fiction, and prescriptive non-fiction.

How to contact him: Serendipity Literary Agency uses an online contact form. Please read their submission instructions before contacting.

Short story and poetry submissions

GeminiMAGAZINE

Hello! Still time to enter the fourth annual Gemini Magazine Poetry Open featuring a Grand Prize of $1,000. Email/postmark deadline: January 2. No rules! Any style, any subject. Entry fee: $5 for up to three poems. Second place wins $100 and four honorable mentions each receive $25. All six finalists will be published online in the March 2014 issue of Gemini. Read previous winners at the above link. Our fifth annual Short Story Contest just opened. It runs through March 31 and also offers a $1,000 prize. Rules: none. Entry fee: $5. General submissions are open year round. No fee. We now pay $10 for each general submission we publish.

GeminiMAGAZINE

Hello! Still time to enter the fourth annual Gemini Magazine Poetry Open featuring a Grand Prize of $1,000. Email/postmark deadline: January 2. No rules! Any style, any subject. Entry fee: $5 for up to three poems. Second place wins $100 and four honorable mentions each receive $25. All six finalists will be published online in the March 2014 issue of Gemini. Read previous winners at the above link. Our fifth annual Short Story Contest just opened. It runs through March 31 and also offers a $1,000 prize. Rules: none. Entry fee: $5. General submissions are open year round. No fee. We now pay $10 for each general submission we publish.

The south Circular seeking submissions

SUBMIT TO ISSUE 9  Issue 9 will be published next March and we are now taking story submissions until Monday, 13 January. Remember, we've upped our word limit to 2,500 words. Read our submission guidelines before sending us your work. We are waiting!

Patrick Kavanagh's poem 'A Christmas Childhood' in Ireland

Patrick Kavanagh's poem 'A Christmas Childhood' in Ireland

My father played the melodion

Outside at our gate;

There were stars in the morning east;

And they danced to his music.

Across the wild bogs his melodion called

To Lennons and Callans.

As I pulled on my trousers in a hurry

I knew some strange thing had happened.

Outside in the cow-house my mother

Made the music of milking;

The light of her stable-lamp was a star

And the frost of Bethlehem made it twinkle.

A water-hen screeched in the bog,

Mass-going feet

Crunched the wafer-ice on the pot-holes,

Somebody wistfully twisted the bellows wheel.

My child poet picked out the letters

On the grey stone,

In silver the wonder of a Christmas townland,

The winking glitter of a frosty dawn.

Cassiopeia was over

Cassidy's hanging hill,

I looked and three whin bushes rode across

The horizon - the Three Wise Kings.

An old man passing said:

"Can't he make it talk" -

The melodion, I hid in the doorway

And tightened the belt of my box-pleated coat.

I nicked six nicks on the door-post

With my penknife's big blade -

There was a little one for cutting tobacco.

And I was six Christmases of age.

My father played the melodion,

My mother milked the cows,

And I had a prayer like a white rose pinned

On the Virgin Mary's blouse.

Petals and Pages short fiction

Petals and Pages

Deadline: 31st December 2013 

Petals and Pages is dedicated to all things literary. It comprises reviews, thoughts and comments on new writing and more classic works alike. It is currently seeking submissions for the launch of its new 'Short Fiction' page. Submit 2,500 words or less. "There is no theme, just be as interesting, ambitious and engaging as you can."

More at http://autonomousthought.wordpress.com/about/

Competitions and submissions short fiction

(d) ROPES 2014

Deadline: 1st January 104

ROPES is an annual literary journal published by the students of the MA in Literature and Publishing at NUIG.

The theme is "Home." 

Home means different things to different people. What does home mean for you?

They are accepting submissions of writing (up to 2000 words) including, but not limited to, prose, poetry, and drama. 

All proceeds of the literary journal will go to COPE, Galway, Ireland. More on their Facebook page.

 

(e) The Caterpillar

This quarterly magazine is the younger sibling of The Moth. It's for kids between the ages of 7-11 (ish). It includes some great writing by the likes of Michael Morpurgo (of War Horse fame), poet Julie O'Callaghan, Frank Cottrell Boyce (author of the Chitty Chitty Bang Bang sequels) and Janet Wong (she's read her poems at the White House and on the Oprah Winfrey Show). 

They are delighted to receive submissions from (grown-up) writers and artists in Ireland and abroad. 

If you are submitting poetry, then please send no more than six poems. Short stories should preferably be no longer than 1,000 words. Full submission details at www.thecaterpillarmagazine.com

 

(f) The Scum Gentry

The Scum Gentry is an Irish arts, news and media website. 

While submissions in all styles and genres are generally welcomed and accepted, those that fit with the darkly-comic humour of the website itself are most likely to be received favourably.  

Submissions should be directed to Editor@thescumgentry.com

For full details visit their website.

Poetry Chapbook Competition

We are reviving our Fool for Poetry Chapbook Competition. Two winners will each have their manuscript published, receive €500 in cash and fifty complimentary copies of their chapbook.

   The competition is open to new, emerging and established poets from any country BUT at least one of the winners will be a debutante (with no chapbook or book published previously). 25-50 other entrants will be publicly listed as "highly commended". Manuscripts must be sixteen to twenty pages in length, in the English language and the sole work of the entrant with no pastiches, translations or 'versions'. The poems can be in verse or prose. Each chapbook is guaranteed a review in Southword Online.
   The winning chapbooks will be published in August 2014 with striking cover designs, ISBNs, barcodes and will be offered for sale internationally through our own website, Amazon and selected independent book sellers. The winning poets will be considered for the 2015 Cork Spring Poetry Festival programme and have their chapbooks entered for the UK Forward Prize for best poem and anthology. An entrance fee of €25 will be charged for each manuscript. Entrants may enter more than one manuscript of 16-20 pages. For full details consult www.munsterlit.ie in January. The winners will be selected by a panel chosen by the management board of Southword Editions. Deadline: March 31st 2014.  

 

  

  

totally4for women competition

otally4women competition

Deadline: 19th December 2013 

Free to Enter

They are looking for stories (200 words max) entitled 'A Christmas Story' which should begin with the words: "If there had been room at the Inn..."

Your 200 word count can be additional to these words and your story may take the form of poetry or prose.

Winning entry: first choice of one of their three special prizes. 

a night away for two at Dewsall Court in Herefordshire

a day of pampering at a Champneys resort

a special treatment at the Inter X clinic in Cheltenham

First runner-up: second choice of one of the 3 special prizes

Second runner-up: the remaining prize

The winning entries will also published on their website. 

You must be a member of totally4women at the time of entry. (if you are not then you can sign up over on the website and it's free)

More over on their website.

International Poetry Competition

Gregory O'Donoghue International Poetry Competition

This one closes soon (on the 15th of December). 

The winner will receive a cash prize of €1,000, a one-week residency at Tyrone Guthrie centre, publication in Southword and a trip to Cork:)

2nd prize: Cash price of €500 & publication in Southword

3rd prize: €250 and publication in Southword

10 runners-up will also be published in the magazine and will receive a €30 publication fee.

Entry Fees: €5.

Any theme, poems up to 40 lines are accepted. Must be in English.

Judge: Patrick Cotter

More over on the Munster Literature website.

Novel of the Year Competition

Kerry Group Irish Novel of the year 2014 details announced:The coveted €15,000 Kerry Group Award is the largest monetary prize for fiction available solely for Irish authors. Established in 1995 and sponsored by Kerry Group, the prize is awarded annually to the best Irish Novel of the year.  This year’s Adjudicators are; literary critic with the Irish Times, Eileen Battersby and Award Winning Novelist David Park. Speaking about the Award, David Park stated “The Kerry Group Irish Novel Award continues to be one of our most prestigious prizes with a formidable roll of honour of previous winners, and it is both a pleasure and a responsibility to be involved with the judging.  In a time of financial austerity Ireland continues to have a wealth of literary talent and I'm sure it will prove a significant challenge to arrive finally at a single winner.”  Eileen Battersby said, “I am delighted to again be judging this prize, having previously adjudicated in 2002 and 2003. This is a very important award; not only because it supports Irish fiction, but because it is itself supported and sustained by Irish fiction."

Frank Hayes, Director of Corporate Affairs at Kerry Group said, "Kerry Group is delighted to sponsor the 2014 Kerry Group Irish Novel of the Year.  Now, in its 19th year, the award attracts books of exceptional merit from both accomplished and aspiring Irish writers. We are very proud to be associated with this literary prize and we look forward to the 2014 festival which really showcases the wealth of talent that exists amongst Irish writers"

Entries are now being accepted from authors who must be from the Republic of Ireland, Northern Ireland or hold an Irish Passport and have published a novel between the 1^st February 2013 and 1^st February 2014.  Full details of the criteria are available on www.writersweek.ie

The 2013 winning novel was This is the Way by Gavin Corbett who said “Winning the Kerry Group Novel Award has been the best thing that has ever happened to me as a writer. Next year the judges will select a new winner, but it is an honour conferred on you for life and something that I will proudly brandish for the rest of my days." Previous winners included Christine Dwyer Hickey, Neil Jordan (twice), John Banville (twice), Joseph O’Neill, Roddy Doyle, Sebastian Barry and John McGahern.

Cúirt New Writing Prize 2014

Cúirt New Writing Prize 2014

The Cúirt New Writing Prize, in memory of Lena Maguire, is open for submissions from Thursday 28 November 2013. Entries should be sent via email to: tara@cuirt.ie

Submissions are welcome in poetry and fiction. There is a €500 cash prize for the winner in each category, an opportunity to read at the Cúirt/Over the Edge Showcase event at Cúirt 2014, and the inclusion of the winning piece in a Cúirt publication that will be launched at Cúirt 2014. The judges for this year are Martin Dyar for poetry and Mary Costello for fiction. 

In 2014, Cúirt is introducing Young Cúirt for ages 12-17. Entries are welcome in poetry and fiction. The winner will receive €100 cash prize, they will be published in the Cúirt publication, and they will have the opportunity to read at the 2014 Cúirt labs event in April.

The guidelines for both adult and youth submissions are as follows: Poetry entries must consist of 3 poems under 50 lines each, and fiction pieces may be up to 2000 words. Entries in both English and Irish are welcome.

A €10 entry fee applies which can be paid via paypal or sent using a postal order or bank draft to:

Cúirt International Festival of Literature, Galway Arts Centre, 47 Dominick Street, Galway.

When emailing submissions, please specify how you have paid the fee. In the case of paypal payments, please include a copy of your paypal receipt in the email.

The closing date for submissions is 30th January 2014 at 5pm, winners will be announced on Monday 24 February.

**Writers submitting work should not have had a collection published in the category in which they enter. This does not include the publication of single poems or chapbooks.

Vintage Script is looking for short stories

Vintage Script is looking for short stories and articles that are original and well-written, and must be on an historical theme. Short stories and longer articles should be no longer than 2,000 words. Also interested in shorter articles of 500-1,000 words. Contributions should not have been published elsewhere. Look at the Submissions page on the website if you have a historical story or article to share. Website: http://www.vintagescript.co.uk/

A quote of note

"A writer is someone who, embarking upon a task, does not know what to do… The not-knowing is crucial to art, it is what permits art to be made. Without the scanning process engendered by not-knowing, without the possibility of having the mind move in unanticipated directions, there would be no invention."—Donald Barthelme

Short Story Competition Glimmer Train

Upcoming deadline:

It's not too late to give a meaningful gift to the readers and writers in your life.

• Fiction Open. 1st place wins $2,500, and publication. Deadline: January 2.
• NOTE: We are reorganizing our submission calendar for 2014. This will be the last Fiction Open until June. (Details to follow in the January bulletin.)
• The 1st-place winner will be published in Issue 93 and will receive 20 copies of that issue. Second- and 3rd-places win, respectively, $1,000 and $600 (or, if published, $700).

Monthly Writers' Forum Short Story Competition

Monthly Writers' Forum Short Story Competition Any genre, but stories must be original and previously unpublished. Aim for a word count between 1,500 to 3,000. Stories may embrace crime, mystery, romance, sport, humour, fantasy, erotica or science-fiction. The competitions are held monthly and there is also £1,000 for the best short story of the year. Monthly prizes of £250 for the best story published and two prizes of £150 for runners up. All stories not selected for publication are returned to authors with a grid assessment. Text should be type-written or word-processed, printed in double spacing. Entries should be accompanied with a short biography and colour photograph of the writer. Please submit a saved copy of the ms on disk as a Rich Text File (RTF) or Microsoft Word 5.1a (for Apple Macintosh). Send complete ms and contact details to: Writers International Ltd, PO Box 3229, Bournemouth BH1 1ZS Tel: 01202 589828 Fax: 01202 587758 Website www.writers-forum.com

wise words

What is the best lesson life has taught you? That we haven't a clue who we are, where we are, where we came from or where we're going. Shay Healy -In the four minute Interview Sunday Independent

Flash 500 short stories-hints from the judges

Hints from the Judges 

 

No.2 – The Opening Paragraphs or Stanzas

Having attracted the interest of the judge/reader with a really good title (see Hints No.1) it is important to build on this interest in the opening of any submitted work.

 

Before committing anything to writing, it is essential to establish the structure of the piece: know what you want to say and how you will achieve it.

 

The opening, whilst it should always be thought provoking, leaving the reader wanting to discover more, should not reveal too much. As with the title, you don’t want the opening to be so explicit that the reader knows exactly what is coming. Also, avoid introducing too many ideas and/or characters, which can give a judge mental indigestion!

 

Except in the case of certain types of humour verse, it is also better to steer clear of over the top ideas or situations.

 

The opening needs to be well thought through and subtle in its appeal. Every word must count; this is particularly important for poetry and flash fiction where line/word counts are tight.

 

Above all, do not try to cram too much in.

 

Ballymaloe International Poetry Prize 2014

Monday, 2 December 2013

THE BALLYMALOE INTERNATIONAL POETRY PRIZE 2013

 

THE BALLYMALOE INTERNATIONAL POETRY PRIZE 2013 IS NOW ACCEPTING ENTRIES!

 

There are three cash prizes for a single unpublished poem, and this year they have increased to €10,000, €2,000 and €1,000, making it one of the most lucrative prizes in the poetry world.

 

The Prize is open to everyone, as long as the work is original and previously unpublished. The entry fee is €9 per poem, and you can enter as many poems as you like.

ENTER ONLINE HERE

Or simply send your poem(s) along with a cheque or postal order made payable to The Moth Magazine Ltd. and an entry form (downloadable here) or a cover letter with your name and contact details and the title of poem(s) attached to:

 

The Moth

81 Church Street

Cavan

Co. Cavan

Ireland

This year’s competition will be judged by the poet Marie Howe, who teaches creative writing at New York University and Sarah Lawrence College, Columbia, and is the Poet Laureate of New York State.

Please make sure you read the rules before entering the competition.

CLOSING DATE 31 DECEMBER 2013 

The Moth Short Story Competition

THE BALLYMALOE INTERNATIONAL POETRY PRIZE 2013 IS NOW ACCEPTING ENTRIES!   There are three cash prizes for a single unpublished poem, and this year they have increased to €10,000, €2,000 and €1,000, making it one of the most lucrative prizes in the poetry world.   The Prize is open to everyone, as long as the work is original and previously unpublished. The entry fee is €9 per poem, and you can enter as many poems as you like. ENTER ONLINE HERE Or simply send your poem(s) along with a cheque or postal order made payable to The Moth Magazine Ltd. and an entry form (downloadable here) or a cover letter with your name and contact details and the title of poem(s) attached to:   The Moth 81 Church Street Cavan Co. Cavan Ireland This year’s competition will be judged by the poet Marie Howe, who teaches creative writing at New York University and Sarah Lawrence College, Columbia, and is the Poet Laureate of New York State. Please make sure you read the rules before entering the competition. CLOSING DATE 31 DECEMBER 2013

THE BALLYMALOE INTERNATIONAL POETRY PRIZE 2013 IS NOW ACCEPTING ENTRIES!   There are three cash prizes for a single unpublished poem, and this year they have increased to €10,000, €2,000 and €1,000, making it one of the most lucrative prizes in the poetry world.   The Prize is open to everyone, as long as the work is original and previously unpublished. The entry fee is €9 per poem, and you can enter as many poems as you like. ENTER ONLINE HERE Or simply send your poem(s) along with a cheque or postal order made payable to The Moth Magazine Ltd. and an entry form (downloadable here) or a cover letter with your name and contact details and the title of poem(s) attached to:   The Moth 81 Church Street Cavan Co. Cavan Ireland This year’s competition will be judged by the poet Marie Howe, who teaches creative writing at New York University and Sarah Lawrence College, Columbia, and is the Poet Laureate of New York State. Please make sure you read the rules before entering the competition. CLOSING DATE 31 DECEMBER 2013

THE BALLYMALOE INTERNATIONAL POETRY PRIZE 2013 IS NOW ACCEPTING ENTRIES!   There are three cash prizes for a single unpublished poem, and this year they have increased to €10,000, €2,000 and €1,000, making it one of the most lucrative prizes in the poetry world.   The Prize is open to everyone, as long as the work is original and previously unpublished. The entry fee is €9 per poem, and you can enter as many poems as you like. ENTER ONLINE HERE Or simply send your poem(s) along with a cheque or postal order made payable to The Moth Magazine Ltd. and an entry form (downloadable here) or a cover letter with your name and contact details and the title of poem(s) attached to:   The Moth 81 Church Street Cavan Co. Cavan Ireland This year’s competition will be judged by the poet Marie Howe, who teaches creative writing at New York University and Sarah Lawrence College, Columbia, and is the Poet Laureate of New York State. Please make sure you read the rules before entering the competition. CLOSING DATE 31 DECEMBER 2013

The Prize is open to everyone, as long as the work is original and previously unpublished.  There is a 6,000 word limit. The entry fee is €9 per story and you can enter as many stories as you like. You can enter online or simply send your story or stories along with a cheque or postal order made payable to The Moth Magazine Ltd. and an entry form (downloadable here) or a cover letter with your name and contact details and the title of story attached to: The Moth, 81 Church Street, Cavan, Co. Cavan, Ireland. This year’s competition will be judged by Mike McCormack, a recipient of the Rooney Prize for Irish Literature whose debut short story collection was a New York Times Notable Book of the Year. His novel Notes from a Coma was shortlisted for the Irish Book of the Year Award and was described in the Irish Times as ‘the greatest Irish novel of the decade just ended’.  CLOSING DATE 30 JUNE 2014

The Prize is open to everyone, as long as the work is original and previously unpublished.  There is a 6,000 word limit. The entry fee is €9 per story and you can enter as many stories as you like.

You can enter online or simply send your story or stories along with a cheque or postal order made payable to The Moth Magazine Ltd. and an entry form (downloadable here) or a cover letter with your name and contact details and the title of story attached to: The Moth, 81 Church Street, Cavan, Co. Cavan, Ireland.

This year’s competition will be judged by Mike McCormack, a recipient of the Rooney Prize for Irish Literature whose debut short story collection was a New York Times Notable Book of the Year. His novel Notes from a Coma was shortlisted for the Irish Book of the Year Award and was described in the Irish Times as ‘the greatest Irish novel of the decade just ended’. 

CLOSING DATE 30 JUNE 2014

  

Ani DiFranco

Ani Difranco

"Cause to me, it's, there's nothing that's personal and private, it's all universal. There's no experience that I have ever had that's unique. And the fact that there is just certain stuff that we share but don't admit to and don't talk about. You know, what is that about?"

"We barely have time to react in this world, let alone rehearse, and I don't think that I'm better than you but I don't think that I'm worse. Women learn to be women, and men learn to be men, and I don't blame it all on you, but I don't want to be you”

"you can doubt anything if you think about it long enough cuz what happened always adjusts to fit what happened after that"

"Some people wear their smile like a disguise. Those people who smile a lot, watch their eyes. I know 'cause I'm like that a lot. You think everything's ok, and it is . . . 'till it's not."

"What kind of scale compares the weight of two beauties, the gravity of duties, or the ground speed of joy? Tell me, what kind of gage can quantify elation? What kind of equation could I possibly employ?"

"I've been a long time coming, and I'll be a long time gone. You've got your whole life to do something, and that's not very long."

"It seems that different people have an idea of what I am, and what I should be. And then there's me."

"I know there is strength in the differences between us. I know there is comfort where we overlap."

"People need something or someone to fasten themselves to in order to reassure themselves that they are real."

Literary Agents Seeking Clients

Literary Agents Seeking Clients

Here are three new literary agents looking for clients. As new agents, they are building their lists, which means they are eager not just for new writers, but for their success. Read the websites of their respective literary agencies to see if the agency offers services you may be interested in further along in your career.

Rachael Dillon Fried

About Rachael Dillon Fried: Rachael is a new agent at Sanford Greenburger Associates, located in New York. After a stint with International Creative Management’s [now ICM Partners] live appearances division in Los Angeles, associate agent Rachael Dillon Fried embraced her love of books and relocated to New York City to pursue a career in literary representation. She landed at Sanford Greenburger, where she assisted agent Heide Lange before becoming an associate agent. Rachael is a Rhode Island native and graduate of Brown University. She lives in Manhattan with her husband, a television writer. Find Rachael on Twitter.

What she is looking for: Rachael is enthusiastic about increasing her client list with both fiction and nonfiction authors. She has a keen interest in unique literary voices: women’s fiction, narrative nonfiction, memoir and humor and pop culture. She hopes to build long-term relationships with clients who are passionate about developing their craft and career.

Recent Sales: Rules Of Becoming A Legend By Time Lane (Viking/Penguin), My Boyfriend Barfed In My Handbag...And Other Things You Can't Ask Martha By Jolie Kerr (Plume/Penguin), We Were Here By Mary Kubica  (Mira/Harlequin)

 
How to contact her: rfried [at] sjga.com. Please submit a query letter and your first three chapters to RFried@sjga.com. If she is interested in pursuing you as a client, She will contact you within six to eight weeks.

***********

Shannon Hassan

About Shannon Hassan: Shannon Hassan is a new agent at Marsal Lyon Agency, located in Solana Beach, CA. Shannon has worked in publishing and law for more than a decade. She represents authors of literary and commercial fiction, young adult fiction, and select nonfiction. With respect to fiction: she is drawn to fresh voices, compelling characters, and crisp prose. For nonfiction: she is interested in memoirists with exceptional stories to tell, as well as authors with a strong platform in current affairs, history, education, or law. Based in Boulder, Colorado, she is also eager to hear from authors with a unique perspective on the New West.

Previously Shannon was an agent at the Warner Literary Group where she represented a range of literary and film projects, including the soon to be published Future Flash by Kita Murdock (Sky Pony Press). Prior to that she was the Acquisitions Editor at Fulcrum Publishing, where she worked with best-selling and award-winning authors such as Anita Thompson, Laurie David, Adam Schrager, Larry Schweiger, Marilou Awiakta, Matt Dembicki, Sally Kneidel, and Mitch Tobin.

Before entering the publishing world, Shannon was a corporate attorney at Arnold & Porter in New York, and she received her JD from Harvard and her BA from George Washington University. She has served on the board of the Publishers Association of the West and was a founding board member of the Boulder Writing Studio. Find her on Twitter.

What she is looking for: Shannon represents authors of literary and commercial fiction, young adult fiction, and select nonfiction. With respect to fiction: she is drawn to fresh voices, compelling characters, and crisp prose. For nonfiction: she is interested in memoirists with exceptional stories to tell, as well as authors with a strong platform in current affairs, history, education, or law.

How to contact her: Query Shannon [at] MarsalLyonLiteraryAgency.com and write “QUERY” in the subject line of the email. “In all submissions, please include a contact phone number as well as your email address. If we are interested in your work, we will call or email you. If not, we will respond via email. Our response time is generally 1-4 weeks for queries and 4-8 weeks for sample pages and manuscripts.”

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Maria Vicente

About Maria Vicente: Maria Vicente is an Associate Agent at P.S. Literary Agency, located in Ontario, Canada. She has a B.A. in English Literature from Carleton University and a B.Ed. from The University of Western Ontario. Her reading preferences vary across categories and she is interested in writers with unique and creative concepts. Maria has a literary blog and can be found on Twitter at @MsMariaVicente.

What she is looking for: Maria is looking for literary and commercial fiction, new adult, young adult, middle grade, high-concept picture books, and nonfiction proposals in the pop culture, pop psychology, design, and lifestyle categories. She has a particular interest in magical realism, fiction with visual components, and nonfiction inspired by online culture.

How to contact her: Note: Please read the submission requirements on P.S. Literary's website carefully before sending a query. P.S. Literary only accepts queries via e-mail: query [at] psliterary.com. Please limit your query to one page and include the following: an introduction (the title and category of your work and an estimated word count), a brief overview (similar to back-cover copy), and a writer’s bio (a little bit about yourself and your background). Do not send attachments or submit a full-length manuscript/proposal unless requested. In your email subject line, have it read “Query for Maria: [Book Title].”

Short Story Competition Harper's Bazaar

Enter our short-story competition and win a first-edition book from Asprey's Fine and Rare Books Department, plus a week-long retreat on the private island in Scotland where JM Barrie wrote his screenplay of Peter Pan. The winning story will also be published in the May 2014 issue of Harper's Bazaar
The literary ambitions of Harper's Bazaar reach back to its inaugural issue in 1867, when the magazine announced its intention to combine fashions from Europe with 'first-class' writing. Both were considered indispensable to the cultivated reader. Bazaar has since published original fiction by Thomas Hardy, Virginia Woolf, Truman Capote, Evelyn Waugh, Zelda and F Scott Fitzgerald, Nancy Mitford, Anita Loos and Dorothy Parker, among others. The Harper's Bazaar Short Story Prize, which honours that heritage and perpetuates its legacy, is open to published and novice writers alike. Entrants should submit an original short story (up to 3,000 words) on the subject of 'spring' by 13 December 2013 to: shortstory@harpersbazaar.co.uk. The winning entry will appear in the May 2014 issue. Its author will be able to choose a first-edition book from Asprey's Fine and Rare Books Department to the value of £3,000 and enjoy a week-long retreat at Eilean Shona House, on the 2,000-acre private island off the west coast of Scotland where JM Barrie wrote his screenplay for Peter Pan.

Avon Books,HarperCollins seeking novel submissions

Avon’s Digital-First Imprint Encourages Graduate and Undergraduate Writing Students to Submit Romance Manuscripts for Chance to Win One-on-One Editorial Consultation. All Submissions will be Considered for Publication by Avon Impulse!

September marks the end of summer and a return to academia—and for many university students, it’s also a return the equally grueling and rewarding routine of creative writing classes. Avon Books and Avon Impulse, imprints of HarperCollins Publishers, recognizes the raw talent and passion for the craft that many students bring to their work, and it is for this reason that they have chosen to work with HarperCollins’ Academic Marketing division to launch an initiative seeking emerging young stars of Romance.

Graduate and undergraduate students are invited to submit up to three chapters (or 50 pages), a detailed synopsis (no more than five pages) of the romance novel. Entrants should also include a brief paragraph on what their follow-up book would be to the Avon Impulse Editors.

What are Avon’s editors looking for? Amanda Bergeron,the lead editor for the Avon Impulse digital-first publishing imprint, says, “First and foremost, we always want a fresh voice and an ability to create real-to-life characters. Beyond that, we are looking for writers who have an understanding of what’s working in the current market. And if you can make us laugh, cry, or go absolutely weak-kneed, that certainly doesn’t hurt. Know your strengths when you write—and trust in a great editor to make your manuscript even stronger”

Avon is actively acquiring the following types of novels:

• New Adult romance
• Romantic suspense
• Super sexy contemporaries
• Trilogies—and beyond
• Serialized erotic romance

What types of submissions will get students noticed? Bergeron notes, “Fabulously sexy heroes who let nothing get in the way of getting what they want—the heroine of course—and giving her everything she needs,” are top-of-bell curve for Avon editorial. Emphasis is also on heroines who are unafraid to take chances in life … and in love. “World-building” is key—writers are asked to choose the setting, just make sure it’s utterly romantic! Readers should be able to immerse themselves in the wonderful world that an author creates. "Series Wanted!" Bergeron asserts that readers always cry out for more when authors give them characters to believe in … so, in outlines, aspiring authors are asked to give Avon’s editors an idea of more stories to come in the same vein. And finally—for anyone who has discovered the super-dramatic, addictive joy of New Adult, editors are looking for dark spectacles that explore the many twists and turns of true love.

Further guidelines can be found at www.avonimpulse.com—but the sky’s the limit, since there are no specific call outs for this opportunity; as long as it’s romance, it qualifies! This call for submissions is aimed directly at students.
Deadlines:

All submissions should be digitally sent by 5 pm on April 1, 2014, via email to avonromancecollege@gmail.com. All submissions must be submitted from a college email address. All submissions will be reviewed and considered for publication through Avon Impulse, the publisher’s digital-first arm—winners will be announced on May 15, 2014.

International Radio Playwriting Competition

• International Radio Playwriting Competition

  BBC World Service
  Deadline: January 31, 2014
  Genre: Competition, Broadcast Platform: Radio

  An opportunity for writers living outside of the UK to have their 53 minute radio play produced and receive a £2,000 prize.
  

• Arundel Festival Theatre Trail 2014

  Drip Action Theatre
  Deadline: January 31, 2014
  Genre: Both, Broadcast Platform: Theatre

  Writers are invited to submit plays for the 2014 Arundel Festival Theatre Trail.
  

• Hopscotch Horror

  Hopscotch Films
  Deadline: December 15, 2013
  Genre: Competition, Broadcast Platform: Film

  £1,000 for a horror treatment or first draft screenplay with further development from Hopscotch Films.
  

• Opening Lines

  BBC Radio 4
  Deadline: February 14, 2014
  Genre: Competition, Broadcast Platform: Radio

  The BBC Radio Drama Readings Unit welcomes submissions from writers new to radio for their annual series, Opening Lines which is broadcast on BBC Radio 4.
  

• Radio Drama Masterclass: Alfred Bradley Bursary Award 2013 – 14

  BBC writersroom
  Deadline: November 15, 2013
  Genre: Event, Broadcast Platform: Radio

  Radio drama masterclass with award winning BBC Radio Drama North producer, Gary Brown and writer, Michael Stewart.
  

• Verb New Voices

  Arts Council England; The Verb Radio 3
  Deadline: December 13, 2013
  Genre: Both, Broadcast Platform: Radio

  An opportunity for artists based in the north of England to recieve a £2,500 bursary and make a new piece of work for Radio 3’s The Verb.
  

• The Alfred Bradley Bursary Award 2013-2014

  BBC Radio Drama North / BBC writersroom
  Deadline: January 10, 2014
  Genre: Competition, Broadcast Platform: Radio

  The Alfred Bradley Bursary Award is offering a £5,000 writing bursary and the chance of a Radio 4 drama commission to Northern writers new to radio.
  

• Writersroom 10

  BBC writersroom
  Deadline: December 2, 2013
  Genre: Competition, Broadcast Platform: Theatre

  Opportunity for theatres to nominate emerging writers for a seed-commission of £1,000 and a year-long development programme with BBC writersroom.
  

• The Steyning Festival 2014

  The Company
  Deadline: December 5, 2013
  Genre: Both, Broadcast Platform: Theatre

  Plays wanted for the Steyning Festival 2014.
  

• Write Now 5

  Jack Studio Theatre
  Deadline: January 27, 2014
  Genre: Both, Broadcast Platform: Theatre

  Submissions are now open for Write Now 5, the Jack Studio Theatre’s annual new writing Festival.
  

• Chain Gang

  BBC Radio 4 Extra
  Deadline: December 7, 2013
  Genre: Competition, Broadcast Platform: Radio

  An opportunity to shape the storyline of a new BBC Radio 4 Extra drama.
  

• Tony Doyle Award

  BBC Northern Ireland Drama / BBC writersroom
  Deadline: November 28, 2013
  Genre: Competition, Broadcast Platform: TV

  Writer-in-residence opportunity for Irish writers who are passionate about pursuing a career in television.
  

• Little Pieces of Gold - New Writing Showcase

  Little Pieces of Gold
  Deadline: December 15, 2013
  Genre: Event, Broadcast Platform: Theatre

  Have your ten min script performed at a new writing showcase.
  

• Cascade Writer's Couch

  Cascade Writers’ Couch
  Deadline: November 18, 2013
  Genre: Event, Broadcast Platform: Film

  Pitch your feature film project
  

• Script Room

  BBC writersroom
  Deadline: December 16, 2013
  Genre: Competition, Broadcast Platform: Cross-Platform

  Send your script to the BBC - Script Room is now open for submissions of original scripts until December 16th 2013.

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