Archive for September, 2009

Sunday Scribblings 179 – Key

Sunday Scribblings

“The prompt this week is: key. What is the key to your problem? The key to your heart? Who is the key member of your group? What key on your ring is the most important? What key does the music in your head play in? What is the key issue that is the problem today? Do keys jingle? Do you lose your keys? What do you think of: key.”

The key to life is paying attention.

The key to good brownies is thick batter and lots of choc chips.

The key to feeling at home anywhere is to have your own coffee mug.

The keys to not getting depressed when working at home are having green plants on your desk and a window the the sun can shine through onto you.

The key to ‘what’s wrong with the world today’ is that we’re letting politicians and the media tell us what’s going on in the world.

The key to inner peace is defining it.

Share

My First Ever Fiction Friday

Fiction FridayHow Fiction Friday Works

Fiction Friday is easy to do.

* Every Thursday, just check this page for this week’s theme or challenge.
* Spend at least 5 minutes composing something original based on the theme or challenge.
* But, remember, no editing. This is to inspire creativity not stifle it.
* On Friday, simply post what you wrote to your own blog.
* Then come back to Write Anything and leave the link in the comment section below.

Please don’t forget to leave us a comment in addition to leaving a link!

You might also like to Tweet links from this site as they are posted.

***

Okay. This should be interesting. Clock ready to time me… Prompt…

Pick an ordinary object, and give it an extraordinary use.

I’m not sure why I’m telling you this. I suppose the pressure just got too much. After all, what is more pressure than keeping a wonderful secret?

You see, I do have a secret. Like everyone does, of course. But this secret could very possibly change the world. Yes, yes, I know I’m being awfully dramatic, but it’s true! You don’t believe me? Well, I didn’t think you would. But let me tell you about the most amazing object on my desk…

I am an office supplies addict. That is no secret. But when I bought my last ordinary looking block of post-it notes (multi-colour with yellow on top followed by blue, pink and green), I never would have guess my life could change in such a way.

I used it like a normal block of post-it notes, as one would do. However, the other day I noticed as I was running my finger along the non-sticky end of the block that one of the pages had a mark. I had gotten the block on sale, so I thought maybe this is why it had been so cheap.

I searched for the marked pages and found it. With a black border all around it, I saw this simple sentence: “Beware hot coffee today.”

A joke? I thought so. Then three hours later, a coworker turned around too fast and spilled coffee all over me. All over me! I didn’t click with the message until later that night…

The next morning I flipped through the block to find the page just so I could take it out and have a laugh about the coincidence with my friends. I couldn’t find a marked page in the yellow section. Instead, I found a marked page in the pink section. A black border around it like before, the sentence read, “Buy a lottery ticket.”

I wasn’t believing at this point, but I grabbed a scratchie on my lunch break anyway, figuring there would be no harm to a little fun.

I won $600. No joke.

You can imagine what happened from there. Every day I check my future-telling post-it note block for advice about my day. The message is never anything especially stunning or extraordinary, but let’s just say that I’m a bit richer, a bit happier, dating again and checking out my odds on the stock market…

Share

Your Worst First Lines Contest

Redlines and Deadlines Worst First Lines Contest

In an attempt to ward off the end-of-summer blahs, we here at Redlines and Deadlines are hosting our first-ever worst first line contest!

We’ve had a best and worst last line contest, and we’ve had a best first line contest, but we figured that sometimes coming up with horrible lines is more entertaining than coming up with great ones.

There are three categories: Mystery, Romance, and SciFi/Fantasy.

To participate, leave a comment with the absolute worst first line that you can create. Be sure to indicate which category. Original sentences only, please, nothing from someone’s published book.

Contest will close on September 11. The winner in each category will receive a free Ellora’s Cave or Cerridwen Press e-book of their choice.

Share

Open Calls for Submissions – Lesbian Romance and Erotica

Anthology: And Then It Shifted: Women Open Up About Leaving Men for Women (Seal Press)–December 1, 2009. Payment: $50+ [link].

Anthology: RUMPLEDSILKSHEETS: Lesbian Fairy Tales Erotic Romance Anthology (Ravenous Romance)–October 15, 2009. Payment: $10+royalties [link]

Anthology: Lesbian Lust: Red Hot Erotica (Cleis Press)–October 15, 2009. Payment: $50 [link]

(Found on EREC.com)

Share

Call for Submissions: Angels and Demons Anthology

Angels for whom heaven is not enough. Demons searching for redemption in a mortal’s arms. Seraphim, nephilim, heaven’s warriors or creatures from the pits of hell—love could be waiting for them all.

Samhain Publishing invites you to step into the light or embrace the forces of darkness with stories of angels and demons from any mythology. Will your angels be wicked and your demons be wanton? Only you can decide on which side of heaven or hell they’ll fall.

Samhain Publishing is seeking submissions for their Spring 2010 demons and angels themed anthology. Stories can be of any genre or heat level, and submissions are open to M/F, M/M, or multiples thereof, but all submissions must feature either an angel or demon theme (or both!) as integral to the story. Submissions should be 20,000 to 30,000 words in length.

Submissions are open to all authors previously published with Samhain as well as authors aspiring to publish with Samhain. Submissions must be new material, previously published material will not be considered.

Additionally, manuscripts previously submitted, whether individually or for past anthologies, will not be considered either. Please be aware that manuscripts submitted to this anthology cannot be resubmitted at a later date unless by invitation from an editor. However, submissions with merit for possible publication at Samhain are and will be passed to interested Samhain editors even if not chosen for the angels and demons anthology.

Chosen manuscripts will be published as separate ebooks under their individual titles in Spring 2010 but will be combined as one print title for Winter 2010 print release.

To submit a manuscript for consideration please include the full manuscript (of 20,000 to 30,000 words) with a comprehensive 2-3 page synopsis in addition to a letter of introduction/query letter which details the genre, heat level and story length. Full manuscripts are required.

As well, when you send your manuscript, please be sure to use the naming convention Title_AngelsDemons_MS and Title_AngelsDemons_Synopsis. This will ensure that your submission doesn’t get missed in the many submissions we receive, and makes it easy for me to find in my ebook reader.

Submissions are open until November 1st and final decision will be made by November 16th.

Submissions and questions can be directed to Angela James at editor@samhainpublishing.com Please put Angels and Demons Anthology in the subject line.

**permission to forward granted**

Share

Chicken Soup for the Soul Calls for Submissions – October

chickensoup

…Results Stories…

Have you read a particular Chicken Soup story and, after reading it, found that it changed your life? We are looking for stories on how a story made important changes in your life and what specifically happened to you after you read it. Please be sure to let us know the title of the story that touched your life.

Christmas and Holidays – Ho Ho Ho

We love the holidays! They are a magical time of the year; a time of family, friends and traditions. They can bring special joy and unexpected blessings into our lives. Please share your Christmas, Chanukah and Kwanzaa stories with us… stories that will touch the souls and warm the hearts of our readers.

The deadline date for story submissions is January 15, 2010.

Dieting and Fitness

Eat less – exercise more! We have all heard these simple words but, in reality, dieting and staying fit require a lot of work. Tell us about your commitment to health and fitness. What changes did you make in your eating habits? What kind of an exercise program did you follow that made the difference? Were you still able to treat yourself to that occasional delicious piece of chocolate cake and stay in shape? The true stories in this book will inspire you, make you laugh, touch your heart, and let you know that you can do it!

The deadline date for story submissions is September 30, 2009.

Endurance Sports (run,cycle,swim)

Whether you are a triathlete, a duathlete, or you just love to swim, run, or cycle, we want to hear about your sports, your races, and how endurance sports fit into your life, whether you are an amateur, a student athlete, or a pro.

The deadline date for story submissions is September 30, 2009.

Grandmothers

Everyone has a great story about the unconditional love between grandmothers and their grandchildren. We are looking for wonderful stories celebrating grandmothers and grandchildren, written by grandmothers about being a grandmother, and by grandchildren about their grandmothers. Stories about stepgrandmothers and honorary grandmothers are welcomed also. We are not looking for stories from children so please save those for a future book.

The deadline date for story submissions is March 31, 2010.

Grieving and Recovery

Grieving is a difficult process that those who have lost a loved one must go through in order to get to the recovery phase. This important collection of stories will be like a support group that will offer comfort and understanding and show you that, no matter how devastating your loss is, you are not alone. You can get through the process and, with time, you will regain your strength and move forward with your life.

The deadline date for story submissions is March 31, 2010.

Grieving and Recovery for Cat Owners

We all know that we will probably outlive our cats, but that doesn’t change our grief when we lose them. This book will help cat owners deal with their loss. We would also like stories about aging cats and getting a new cat after losing a previous cat. Please submit stories about the whole cycle of pet loss — the aging of your cat, the loss, and the recovery (i.e. new kitten).

The deadline date for story submissions is March 31, 2010.

Grieving and Recovery for Dog Owners

We all know that we will probably outlive our dogs, but that doesn’t change our grief when we lose them. This book will help dog owners deal with their loss. We would also like stories about aging dogs and getting a new dog after losing a previous dog. Please submit stories about the whole cycle of pet loss — the aging of your dog, the loss, and the recovery (i.e. new puppy).

The deadline date for story submissions is March 31, 2010.

Mothers and Daughters

Mothers and daughters… they are, at the same time, very similar and also completely unique. Mothers show daughters who they will become. Daughters live out mothers’ dreams. Through birth, childhood, teen years, adulthood, grandchildren, aging, and every step in between, this relationship can be the best, the hardest, and the sweetest.

The deadline date for story submissions is December 31, 2009.

NASCAR

Everyone loves great stories about families working and playing together, grit and perseverance, and fast cars! We are collecting stories for the ultimate NASCAR book, coming out in February 2010, in time for the new season. We are excited to have well-known NASCAR columnist Cathy Elliott editing the book.

The deadline for story submissions is August 31, 2009.

Teacher Tales

We have all had that one teacher who has made a difference in our lives. And teachers, remember that one student who made you know why you decided to be a teacher and who you will never forget? We are looking for stories from both teachers and students that will tell that unforgettable story.

The deadline date for story submissions is August 31, 2009.

Click here to submit your stories.

Share

InkyBlots First Official Interview Winner!

confettiThe time has come, and I am so happy to announce the winner of the First Official Interview Contest.

The winner was chosen at random by me making a list of all the entries, numbering them and then having my husband pick a number.

Congratulations to…

ShootingStarMag!

ShootingStarMag has a choice of either a $25 Amazon egift certificate or a free virtual book tour coordinated by yours truly.

Thank you to everyone who participated on this contest as well as my contest on Down Under Views. I cannot think of a better way to start a new site. Please come back often, as I will have more interesting things to come…

Share