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.

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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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Ayn Rand

"Do not let your fire go out, spark by irreplaceable spark in the hopeless swamps of the not quite, the not yet, and the not at all...The world you desire can be won. It exists. It is real. It is possible. It is yours." - Ayn Rand

Willlesden International Short Story Competition 2013

Willesden international short story prize 2013-14

Rules Rules 2013-14 Note, there are significant changes since previous years. The competition is open to all aged 18 or over, regardless of nationality or country of residence. Entries must be: - in English - double-spaced - in a normal font size (12 point is fine) Entries must be entirely your own work and never previously published or broadcast, online or offline. You can submit as many entries as you like, provided the entry fee is paid for each one. However, please only submit your best stories. In the case of multiple entries, all will be read but no more than one will be short-listed. As the short list is created anonymously, this will be checked at the final short-listing stage and if necessary de-duplicated. Please provide your real name and details. In the event that your story reaches the short list, you will be given the opportunity to specify a pen name for public use. We reserve the right to disqualify entries by anyone using multiple "identities" if we feel that these have been submitted with the purpose of deception. Entries submitted on behalf of somebody else are not allowed and are disqualified. Manuscripts must show no name, address or identifying marks other than the title of the story and any that do will be disqualified. After the anonymous reading and selections, your name and details will be retrieved if your entry has been successful. The word limit this year is 7,500. There is no set theme. Entry is by completing the online entry form and uploading your manuscript in Microsoft Word (".doc" or ".docx") or RTF (".rtf") format to our account in the Submittable.com system. There is an entry fee of £6 per entry. Entry fees are non-refundable.

Willesden international short story prize 2013-14

Rules Rules 2013-14 Note, there are significant changes since previous years. The competition is open to all aged 18 or over, regardless of nationality or country of residence. Entries must be: - in English - double-spaced - in a normal font size (12 point is fine) Entries must be entirely your own work and never previously published or broadcast, online or offline. You can submit as many entries as you like, provided the entry fee is paid for each one. However, please only submit your best stories. In the case of multiple entries, all will be read but no more than one will be short-listed. As the short list is created anonymously, this will be checked at the final short-listing stage and if necessary de-duplicated. Please provide your real name and details. In the event that your story reaches the short list, you will be given the opportunity to specify a pen name for public use. We reserve the right to disqualify entries by anyone using multiple "identities" if we feel that these have been submitted with the purpose of deception. Entries submitted on behalf of somebody else are not allowed and are disqualified. Manuscripts must show no name, address or identifying marks other than the title of the story and any that do will be disqualified. After the anonymous reading and selections, your name and details will be retrieved if your entry has been successful. The word limit this year is 7,500. There is no set theme. Entry is by completing the online entry form and uploading your manuscript in Microsoft Word (".doc" or ".docx") or RTF (".rtf") format to our account in the Submittable.com system. There is an entry fee of £6 per entry. Entry fees are non-refundable. Unfortunately we cannot help with any payment problems you might experience due to geographical location, computer system incompatibilities or any other issues. Please do not submit correspondence concerning entries as this will likely break the anonymity and therefore disqualify your entry. Opening date for submissions: 1 August 2013 Closing date: 20 December 2013