The Speculative Fiction Foundation is one of the writer organizations that I admire for facilitating careers.  One of their grants is currently open for applications:

The deadline for the Speculative Literature Foundation’s Older Writers’ Grant is fast approaching! The grant of $750 is available to any writer of speculative literature of 50 years or older at the time of application who is just beginning to work professionally in the field. There are no restrictions on the use of the grant money.

Applicants are asked to submit a brief autobiographical statement, a writing sample, and a bibliography. For full details on how to apply for the grant, please see the SLF web site or email olderwriters@speclit.org. Applications must be received by March 31st, 2010. The successful applicant will be announced on June 1st, 2010.

If you fit the qualifications for this grant, by all means apply!  If not, maybe you know someone else who could use this tip.

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• News: Rose and Bay Award Winners

Check out the new Lambda Literary website for the best in queer fiction and news.  The site offers reviews, interviews, features, and more.

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Sidhe na Daire has a good essay about promoting a book, from the launch to later support. What are some of your ideas for book promotion?

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Holly Lisle has announced the winners of the “How to Revise Your Novel” contest, along with plans for a new contest.

THE WILDCARD WINNER (for 3 videos):

The Name Game: (Problem #71)

Problem 18: Who cares?

How to Commit Problem #14

Congratulations, Emily! (mlekc85)

THE SCHOLARSHIP WINNERS:

Scholarship #5 goes to…

Disaster #5: Vicky and Mike Attempt To Save The World
By Kittiewan

Scholarship #4 goes to…

The Flight of the Naysayer
By Cerulean Son

Scholarship #3 goes to…

NaNovelist Woes
By Laura Rainbow Dragon

Scholarship #2 goes to…

Detective Disaster
By pqr780

And Scholarship #1 and the GRAND PRIZE go to…

First Draft FAIL: #92

By TheFantastic FA

THE NEW SCHOLARSHIP CONTEST

Holly Lisle will soon have a new Create-a-Video contest for the “How to Think Sideways” novel writing course.  Watch for rules and details to appear.

Possibly Related Posts:

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• Read my poem “The Cost of Tears” in Torn World
• Author News: Stephanie Rose Bird
• Book Release: “Neither Here Nor There”

BronzeWord promotes books by Latino or Latina authors.  The site is a treasure trove of resources that span virtual book tours, video trailers, audio interviews, news, and more.

The virtual book tours are particularly clever.  Host blogs feature the author in various ways so a tour crossing through multiple blogs could have one with an interview, another with an article, then a review of the book, and so forth.  Each blog is scheduled for a different day in the tour, and the author is available that day to make comments on that blog and interact with the readers.  Sometimes they do contests and give away a book.

In a world where Latino culture often gets buried, this site is a great resource for authors to promote their books and for readers to find new titles.  I took a Chicana literature class in college for women’s studies credit, and I’ve also studied some (Mexican) Spanish.  It makes me happy to see folks promoting this branch of literature and culture.  ¡Viva la diversidad!

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Recently I received an announcement regarding a new market for very short speculative poetry. This is a Twitter magazine — what I call a “tweetzine.”

Stephen M. Wilson is planning to launch a new speculative poetry Twitter zine called microcosms.  It will debut on April 1, 2010. The first open reading period will be from January 1 through February 28, 2010.

You can read the guidlines are on the microcosms site.  It’s also listed at Ralan.com under ”Flash/Poetry/Twitter.”  The maximum number of characters for poems, including spaces and space for name, is 140.  If you have Twitter and add yourself as a follower, you will receive all tweets as soon as the magazine launches.

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Communities Magazine is currently seeking submissions on the topic of “Education for Sustainability.”  This issue will explore the ways in which intentional communities teach members, guests, and other people the principles and practices of sustainable living and working.  Idea submissions are due by Dec. 28, 2009 and final article manuscripts are due by Feb 15, 2010.

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Here are two markets currently calling for submissions:

Mammoth Book of Hot Romance: pays $300, 6K – 10K words, deadline end of February. This will be published by Robinson UK and Running Press (USA).

Queer Light (angels, fallen angels, demons, nephilim): #K – 20K, pays split of royalties collected. This will come out from Queered Fiction, whose previous offerings include Queer Wolf and Queer Dimensions.

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• Author News: Stephanie Rose Bird
• Book Release: “Neither Here Nor There”

Creative Cauldron is a resource site for writers.  Among its more unusual and handy offerings is this list of dead and dying markets.  Check there to make sure you’re not dumping manuscripts down a grave.

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I had reviewed a piece of weblit for Web Fiction Guide, whereat Chris P. pulled down the review because it mentioned cyberfunded creativity, which he considered an ‘ad.’ So if he is going to be hostile towards cyberfunded creativity, I’m not inclined to post there anymore, and I withdraw my previous recommendation for the site.

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Critters is a site where writers can exchange feedback on each other’s stories.  It also has a place where you can leave spare ideas, or pick up ideas to use in your writing. Remember that ideas can’t be copyrighted, and different authors may do very different things with the same idea!

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Check out the E-Fiction Book Club.  This is a resource where readers can find new web fiction to enjoy and writers can expand their audiences.  Currently the club is reading The Admonishments of Kherishdar by M.C.A. Hogarth and next up is The Philosopher in Arms by Karen Wehrstein.

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Holly Lisle is a supporter of NaNoWriMo, a project which encourages writers to create a whole novel (50,000+ words) during the month of November.  So if you are a current or previous student of her “How to Think Sideways” course, you will now have access to a new board dedicated to discussions of NaNoWriMo.  Drop by the “How to Think Sideways” website and see what your classmates have to say!

Also, if you’re doing NaNoWriMo this year, feel free to leave a comment below and tell us about your project.

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• Excerpt: “Wonder City Stories”
• Read my poem “The Cost of Tears” in Torn World
• Author News: Stephanie Rose Bird
• Book Release: “Neither Here Nor There”

Here is a fun bit of inspiration.  These programs generate poetry and other literature:

Goth-O-Matic Poetry Generator

Billion Godawful Sonnet Generator

Plot-O-Matic

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Americymru has announced the first of next year’s Left Coast Eisteddfod competitions. More will follow.  Visit the Americymru Ning site for more details.

Left Coast Eisteddfod 2010 Poetry Competition Now Accepting Submissions

Today we are pleased and proud to announce the first of our Left Coast Eisteddfod online competitions for 2010. Others will soon follow. Watch this space for further announcements. The rules and submission guidelines are reproduced below. We wish the very best of luck to all our future contestants.

“You may submit your entry in either Welsh or English. You may submit up to five entries in each language category. The two language categories will be judged separately and there will be a prize for each. Accompanying graphics are not permitted. There is a US150 dollars (approximately 100GBP ) prize for the winners in both categories. The final submission date is September 15th 2010 and the winners will be announced at the Eisteddfod ( October 2010 ).

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Recently I posted about a change in enrollment for Holly Lisle’s “How to Think Sideways” writing course.  Holly advises that the enrollment deadline — 12:00 NOON Eastern Daylight Time 10/9/09 — is firm.  If you’re planning to enroll, please do so promptly.  Anyone who misses the deadline will have to wait for a later enrollment period.

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Holly Lisle is planning a new course, “How to Revise Your Novel.”  Therefore, enrollment for the earlier “How to Think Sideways” course is open for a few more days — Friday, October 9 is the last chance — and then it will be closed to further enrollments for a while.  If you are interested, please go through the course badge in the lower left column of this page.  HTTS students receive a discount on HTRYN tuition.  HTTS forums and other materials will remain available to current and previous students.

If you would like to take “How to Think Sideways” at a later time, you’ll need to keep an eye out for open enrollment periods.  Holly expects to offer a couple opportunities per year. This way, people will go through the courses in groups, which makes for better student interaction.

EDIT: Hey, I just heard that someone new signed up for “How to Think Sideways!”  I hope you find the course fun and useful.  If you want to provide feedback, get in touch with me; I’d be happy to post what you think about it.

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Recently Michael Knost announced that he would be running a writers workshop.  Here are the details.

Writers Workshop of Michael Knost

Tuesday evenings 6:00 to 7:00 p.m. eastern time

Cost $120.00 ($30.00 per class)

First come, first serve . . .

Payment (for all classes) must be paid in full prior to October 6, 2009

Nonrefundable on or after October 6, 2009

Accepted payment methods:
PayPal, €“ Money Order,€“ Personal Check

Online classes will be conducted live via audio/video conference with PowerPoint presentations and chat lines. Audio or video capabilities (or special software) are NOT required for participation. However, a computer with Internet connection IS required.

Tuesday, October 6, 2009 -€“ 6:00 p.m. eastern time

Plot and structure.

We are going to discover why many beginning (and often advanced) writers create fiction with no story. We will map out the key elements of plot and structure, and what makes a story a story.

Tuesday, October 13, 2009 -€“ 6:00 p.m. eastern time

Description and detail

Our goal is to understand the true purpose of description and detail, and why neither should be treated as fluff information strewn blindly throughout the story.

Tuesday, October 20, 2009 – 6:00 p.m. eastern time

Point of View and Dialogue

We are going to study the various viewpoints and learn tricks and tips to make your story come alive. We are also going to delve into the  intricacies of solid dialogue.

Tuesday, October 27, 2009 -€“ 6:00 p.m. eastern time

Creating great characters

Then we are going to wrap it all up with the unifying element: character. We will endeavor to find ways of turning the cardboard into well-rounded, flesh and blood people.

To sign up, simply drop me an email (writingwithknost@yahoo.com) with your choice of payment. I will then send you an email with the information needed to make the payment.

Remember, first come, first serve…

Michael Knost

www.MichaelKnost.com

Get my free newsletter at:

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/MichaelKnost/

Follow me on Twitter at:

http://twitter.com/MichaelKnost

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In a recent news post, Holly Lisle shared some excellent advice on characterization.  It involves getting into your character’s viewpoint through playacting.

Be an actor? That’s a WRITING TIP?!

Yeah. Seriously. You have to get inside the skins of your characters while you’re writing them. You have to think in their heads, have to hear their voices in your ears, have to know what they’ll say when something goes right or when something goes wrong.

Part of making them real for your readers is first making them real for you.

So how do you do this?

First, find someplace private. (WARNING: Your family and friends are going to think you’re off your rocker if they catch you at this, so “someplace private” might include either a locking door or a really big corn field with high corn.

Next, you close your eyes and see your character.

Three-hundred pound chess master? Wrap his weight around you and feel it settle onto your bones. Feel the way his belt cuts into your stomach, the way his breathing makes your lungs feel a little tight and compressed.

Six-year-old girl? Watch her skip, fidget, twist her hair, scuff the sole of her shoe into the dirt, and make yourself that short, that fragile, that certain you know everything and that terrified of everything your gut knows you don’t know.

Master swordsman preparing to fight to the death? Feel the weight of your sword in your hand (real ones are surprisingly heavy), the way the hilt bites your palm for traction, the shift of your spine as you move into position, the way your shoulders and hips flex as you step forward. Know you have to live, that the man facing you has to die. Prepare yourself to make the thrust that will end him.

Finally, walk in your character’s shoes.

You’ve readied your mind with your character’s shape, movement, mannerisms. Now open your eyes as your character. Speak in this other voice, ask yourself questions and answer them not as you would answer them, but as your character would. Walk around the room in character. Swing your sword, skip your rope, settle heavily into the chair in front of the chessboard.

In your character’s skin, you’ll make discoveries about him or her that you’ll never make sitting at your desk.

Write with joy,

Holly

Holly Lisle has many other tips and exercises on characterization.  You can find them though either of the badges at the bottom of the lefthand sidebar on this page, one badge for the big “How to Think Sideways” writing course and another for the HollyShop full of assorted books and other materials for writers.

Possibly Related Posts:

• Older Writers’ Grant
• Excerpt: “Wonder City Stories”
• Read my poem “The Cost of Tears” in Torn World
• Author News: Stephanie Rose Bird
• Book Release: “Neither Here Nor There”

Three of my science fiction poems have been reprinted in Passion for Poetry:

• “I, Schrodinger”
• “The Hero Stars”
• “The Sky-Eyes and the Earth-Hearts”

The editor is looking for more poetry – not a paying market, but it should get your name and writing in front of fresh eyeballs. Also, please drop by there and leave a comment or few; it’s good to encourage people to take up editing and promote works they admire.

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• Older Writers’ Grant
• Excerpt: “Wonder City Stories”
• Read my poem “The Cost of Tears” in Torn World
• Author News: Stephanie Rose Bird
• Book Release: “Neither Here Nor There”