The Writer Mama Back-to-School Giveaway

I participated in The Writer Mama Back-to-School Giveaway last year--and I'll be checking back in this year too!

Here's all the details:

September 1 - 30: The Writer Mama Back-to-School Giveaway was a huge success last year. You don’t have to be a mama, just a writer. This year there'll be more books to give away and more thought-provoking career questions for you to answer to qualify to win. Participants last year commented on how much they learned both from answering the questions as well as from each other. Don’t miss it!

To see a list of the prizes, go here.

Just to give you an idea, giveaways include:

1. 2009 Deluxe Writer’s Market by Robert Brewer

2. 1-yr subscription to WritersMarket.com
3. 1-yr subscription to Writer’s Digest magazine

4. Novel & Short Story Writer’s Market 2009 by Rachel McDonald
5. Guide to Literary Agents 2009 by Chuck Sambuchino
6. Writer’s Digest Weekly Planner by the Writer’s Digest Editors
7. First Draft in 30 Days + From First Draft to Finished Novel by Karen Wiesner
8. Page After Page + Chapter After Chapter by Heather Sellers
9. WGF: Plot & Structure + WGF: Revision & Self-Editing by J.S. Bell
10. Writing the Breakout Novel + Workbook by Donald Maass

Using (Minor) Adversity to Breathe Life into Fiction

Picture this scene:

On the back porch of a house in a suburban Texas neighborhood, one small, brown snake lay curled around itself in the warm afternoon sun. A twelve-year-old boy spies the snake and alerts his brother and cousins. Soon, five children clamor around the reptile, pointing and hollering loud enough to attract the attention of the two middle-aged moms—my sister and me—who are inside the house. We shoot out the front door and run full-speed to the backyard.

“Josh, is its head triangular or round?” I ask, thinking that it looks round.

The group consensus is that it has a round head—it’s probably a garter snake—but I don’t want a snake in my yard, even if it’s not poisonous. I grab a shovel and a bucket.

Who am I kidding? The snake isn’t going to cooperate. It’s going to lunge, and I’m going to scream and fling the shovel.

We need a container with a larger opening for some wiggle room. I put down both the shovel and the bucket and pick up a cooler. “Let’s try this. Wait . . .” I peer at the drain spout. “Remember, the plug came off. That’s a pretty big opening. Do you think the snake can squeeze through here?”

“No,” my sister answers, “but even if it can, we’ll find something to plug it up.” She picks up the shovel.

Five barefooted children huddle around us like we need their help. Okay, I had asked my son if he thought it was poisonous. Now I remember that I’m the adult and responsible for their safety. I make swooping arm motions. “Y’all get back.”

I’m still worried about the opening in the cooler. I want to stuff it with a plastic bag, a stick, something. But there’s no time.

My sis has slid the shovel across the cement. Oops. The area isn’t smooth and she’s not able to slide under the snake easily like a spatula lifting a brownie.

The snake quickly slithers toward safety in the grass. Like a mother bear, my sister protects our young and attacks the reptile.

Whack!

She strikes, but misses.

I shriek, which helps so much.

She charges the snake into the grass.

Whack!

Another miss.

Another whack!

And another.

We no longer see the snake, so I suppose I can stop shrieking.

Whew! Hopefully, it has hightailed it to Austin by now. I really don’t care where it is—as long as it’s not on my property.

As the scene unfolded in my yard, I knew this little drama was worth it because someday it would play a small role in my fiction.
~~~
Adversity.

So when you face trials, even small ones, instead of getting upset, grab a piece of paper and jot down notes. With a simple change of your attitude, you can allow “all things to work together for good. “ Not only will you make lemonade out of your lemons, you’ll find that you have great stories to tell.

Seems like I’m adding to the list every day. Oh, well. They’re only inconveniences, like a snake on the back porch, but they’re going to become conflicts for my characters.

Join me in using adversity to breathe life into our fiction.

~Roxanne~

Writing Contests for Writers Ages 5–105

Writing Contests for Kids (Ages 5–19)
Molly, an ambitious twelve year old, created a writing website for homeschoolers, listing details about dozens of writing contests for kids ages 5–19 in chart format. You can even sign up for a free deadline reminder.

Writers Digest (WD) Writing Contests
WD Fiction Competition
Deadline: 11/3/2008
The WD Popular Fiction Awards is now accepting entries. Compete and win in all 5 Categories! The Grand Prize-Winner will receive $2,500 cash. Click here for guidelines and to enter online.

WD Poetry Awards
Deadline: 12/19/2008
WD is now accepting entries for the 4th Annual Writer’s Digest Poetry Awards. Whether you write rhyming poetry, free verse or haiku—as long as your poems are 32 lines or fewer, WD wants them all! Winners names will appear in the August 2009 issue of Writer’s Digest. The 1st- through 50th-place poems will be printed in a special competition collection, published by Lulu.com. Click here for details.

The WD Short Short Story Competition
Deadline: 12/1/2008
Writer’s Digest is now accepting entries for the 9th Annual Short Short Story Competition. WD is looking for fiction that’s bold, brilliant...but brief. Click here to check out guidelines and to enter online.

Travel Writing Contests
Do you know about unique travel destinations where you live? Use your insider’s knowledge to enter travel writing contests. Entice people to travel to your locale.

Journeywoman.com offers a newsletter featuring tips and stories written by traveling women for traveling women and told from first person point of view. Two stories each year receive a monetary prize. The contest deadline is December 31. For details, click here.

Transitions Abroad offers a yearly contest with different categories for travelers, expatriates and students. Click here for details.

52 Perfect Days. Do you live in a place that is:
*** outside of the tourist hub?
*** in an interesting and less discovered parts of the United States?
*** off-the-beaten-track?
*** an undiscovered section of city, or a relatively unheard of town or experience?
This writing contest is for you. The theme of this writer’s contest is “Undiscovered America.” All entries must be received by October 31, 2008. For contest details, click here.

Traveler’s Tales offers their second annual Solas Awards for Best Travel Writing and a yearly $1,000 Grand Prize for Best Travel Story of the Year. The deadline for the Solas Awards is September 21, however, stories submitted after the deadline are entered in the following year's contest. They offer awards in many categories covering the full scope of travel writing, from adventure to funny, spiritual, women's, food related, memoir, destination, and more. In addition, all entries will be considered for Travelers' Tales books. For details, click here.

Rob Eagar: Free Audio Teaching Session

Rob Eagar is the founder of WildFire Marketing who helps authors, speakers, and publishers spread their message and sell more books through innovative marketing strategies.
I signed up for Rob's mentoring program this summer--and I've learned more about building my author platform in the past two months than I have in all the conference workshops I've taken or books I've read.
Rob knows his stuff.
Rob's offering a free audio teaching session: "Turn Media Interviews Into Book Sales"

In this teaching session, Rob Eagar spells out how to maximize book sales and platform growth once you've already booked a radio or TV interview…even if you write fiction. Here's a peek at some of the important issues that he covers:

1. How to prepare for an interview.
2. How to set proper goals and determine real results from your interview.
3. How to control an interview – even with a difficult host.
4. Specific techniques to help your interview boost your book sales.
5. Plus, Rob shares a secret most interview hosts don't want you to know...

Go here to listen to Rob's 34 minute free audio teaching. You can also get a written transcript.

Leaving a Writing Legacy

This week, I’m giving a speech about the legacies we leave our children. It’s made me think of what kind of writing legacy I’ll leave. If you’re new to writing and not yet published, you may think it’s too early to consider a writing legacy. You’ll worry about that after you’re published. I disagree, and here’s why:

There are published authors who regret having certain books in print. They may regret the format of the book. Perhaps they self-published or published with a less reputable publishing house and the manuscript didn’t receive the editing needed. Perhaps the book was the first of the series and wasn’t marketed well. Now the rest of the series—along with the author’s dreams—seems dead on arrival.

Perhaps the author regrets the content of the book. Maybe she rushed into print at the first opportunity—and wouldn’t 99 percent of all unpublished writers do the same?—but the author didn’t research as well she should have and mistakes are in print. Or perhaps she regrets writing steamy paranormals now that she’s writing inspirationals.

So, think carefully about publishing opportunities and establish boundaries and priorities from the start.

Jane Austen left a fabulous legacy that most of us would trade our IRA’s to have. Yet, she had no idea that, almost two hundred years later, her novels would be held in high esteem or even that she was leaving a writing legacy. Austen was writing popular fiction of her day.

According to Wikipedia, “Austen’s works brought her little fame and only a few positive reviews.” Come on, Jane Austen! It’s hard to believe she wasn’t revered soon after she was published. But that encourages me. You never know about my books or yours . . .

Let’s all write to leave a legacy we can be proud of—and one without regrets.

~Roxanne~

Finding Your Writing Process

“One hasn’t become a writer until one has distilled writing into a habit, and that habit has been forced into an obsession. Writing has to be an obsession. It has to be something as organic, physiological and psychological as speaking or sleeping or eating.”—Niyi Osundare

Are you aware of your writing process? How does understanding the steps it takes from idea to final draft improve your writing? It is an efficient aid to
* Organize your ideas.
* Sidestep writer’s block and procrastination.
* Employ your writing time productively and creatively.

My Process
Idea: When a topic pops into my mind, I write it down. Often the idea ends up in my “Writing Ideas” file. When I feel dry, I enjoy flipping through my ideas to jump start creativity. Once I decide to pursue a certain topic, I move onto research.

Research: Research is how I brainstorm with myself. I enjoy exploring the idea, other people’s opinions, the target audience, and the publication. This includes googling the topic and buying books or magazines on the subject or checking them out from the library. I use amazon.com to buy used books. With the cost of gas, $3.99 shipping is a bargain. If I target a particular publishing house, I review their website and read the descriptions of the books they routinely publish.

For example, I’m writing a Bible study on the book of Esther. I’ve bought every scholarly book and commentary, plus books for the everyday person. First, I read the book of Esther myself, then note parts of the text that catch my interest or reveal fascinating, repeated ideas. I highlight out of the ordinary, generally unknown information, or statements or ideas that grab me in the scholarly and general books. Why write the same old yadda, yadda?

Organize: As I write, I keep all my research books at arm’s length and organize all my research into paper and computer files broken down by topic. Often my research overwhelms me, so I outline what to cover in the article or chapter. Sometimes this is the hardest part for me, finding the creative framework to drop in all my inspired thoughts, plus the supporting research. Once I’ve decided how to present the information, this pattern often reveals what research to leave out.

First Draft: I begin serious writing, following my outline, incorporating my ideas and research, plus keeping my target audience in mind. I try to give myself ample time to work on my article or chapter. I have a number of comfortable places where I write to avoid distractions. I focus, but also take breaks.

Re-vision: When I was a beginning writer, I felt emotionally chained to every word I wrote. Now I see every draft as evolving, subject to change. My critique group provides objective feedback. They help me re-vision, see the article or chapter from a fresh point of view. Besides reviewing the editorial mechanics, they ask me questions, “Tell me more,” or they help me sort out all the fascinating research by telling me things like, “You’re losing me here, Scoti. Put this information in a sidebar.”

Final Draft: I trust my critique group members and take their comments seriously. Writing a final draft is recursive—it often requires going back and forth between the previous steps. Revising involves changes such as clarifying a point, reorganizing paragraphs, deleting superfluous information, adding details, or strengthening the opening hook, subtitles, sidebars, or the final paragraph. Finally, I love a word count. It helps determine the most important ideas I want to present to the reader.

Author Interview with Trish Perry

Trish Perry is the author of The Guy I'm Not Dating, Too Good to Be True, and her most recent book, Beach Dreams, a fun summer read. To sneak a peek at Beach Dreams, you can read an excerpt here.

What got you started along the writing road?
I was working on my Psych degree at the university (I went back as an adult), and I thoroughly enjoyed my classes. When some of my courses required writing on my part, I started getting encouraging feedback from my professors. And I realized how much fun I was having with the various writing assignments that came along. That led me to start taking as many Creative Writing courses as I could, and I absolutely loved them. My long-term plans started to change, and by the time I got my degree, I had decided to wait for graduate school and just write and submit for a few years. I never went back to Psychology!

What are some obstacles for you along the writing road?
I was in the middle of raising my kids while I was at college—I had an adolescent daughter and a brand new baby boy. I never considered them obstacles to my writing, but I certainly put them before my writing. So I didn’t get nearly as much writing done as I would have liked back then. But the timing was God’s. If I had written enough to land a contract while my son was still a toddler, I couldn’t have met contract deadlines and participated in the after-publication marketing required of most authors.

Who has helped you along the writing road? What keeps you motivated along the writing road?
My writing friends, both local and online, have been fantastic in providing critiques and encouragement, and by helping me spread the word about my books. My readers are especially encouraging—when a reader tells me how one of my books touched her personally, I feel as if I’ve been given a total energy boost! Very motivating.

What's next for you on the writing road?
I’ve just started writing the next book in The Beach House series, which we hope to release in June 2009. The tentative title is Sunset Beach. As with all of the books in the series, the setting will remain the same, but all of the characters and their stories will be new.

And I’m writing a monthly humor column, “Real Life is Stranger,” for the Christian Fiction Online Magazine (http://www.christianfictiononlinemagazine.com/berzerk_stranger.html). The column addresses true, outlandish events that we’d never get away with in our novels.

Trish's Web site and blog: Go here


Other bloggers involved with Trish's blog tour: Go here

**Take part in Trish's contest**

Participate in a special contest related to Beach Dreams (prize: a beach bag filled with a few goodies) by posting a response to the following prompt: How has God used a mistake you made - big or small - for his purposes? The example may be serious or funny, complex or simple, and you may or may not have realized he was even using it at the time it occurred. Tell your story, reference that you are participating in this tour, encourage your readers to play along, and link to Trish’s book on Amazon. We’ll have a Mr. Linky up on http://blogtourspot.com for you to add your post and read the other entries. All entries must be received by 5pm CST on August 22. Trish will judge the entries and declare her favorite.

I haven't posted my entry yet, but I've got several mistakes that I could choose from. What about you?

Free to Succeed

Last week we discussed what I believe is the first rung in the ladder of success: failure. Or rather, freeing yourself to the possibility of failing. That’s different than not trying because you might fail. You also free yourself to the possibility of succeeding.

Writing success begins with magic words like: “Chapter One” or “Once upon a time.” Every American author begins to think of being on Oprah—though some of them won’t admit it—but there’s a long journey between “Once upon a time” and Oprah.

Though I’d love to hold my published novel in my hands, I look at the responsibilities of published authors and I’m overwhelmed. Deadlines. Speaking engagements. Websites. Publicity. More deadlines. And a hundred details that I feel unprepared for. I contemplate giving up.

Now, I can choose to stay where I am—hovering on failure—or I can leave my comfort zone and take the next step up. The step toward success. It’s still daunting, but that’s okay because I don’t have to do everything successful published authors are doing now. Chances are they took baby steps on their writing journey.

Baby steps like: writing, studying books on the writing craft, joining a critique group, learning when to heed criticism and when to remain true to your story, rewriting, editing, finishing a good manuscript, seeking publication, accepting writing and speaking opportunities. The list goes on, but steps are taken one at a time.

My baby steps.
In time, negative contest feedback became good feedback. Contest finals became a contest win. One guest blog became an invitation to blog here weekly.

In the past year, I spoke at a luncheon on home schooling, I was the guest on a local radio program, and I’ll soon speak at a Boy Scout awards ceremony. I also taught a workshop at my writers group. Opportunities like these are baby steps preparing me to one day speak as an author.

You may not see opportunities like mine on your horizon. Not long ago, they weren’t on my horizon either. I’ve had to leave my comfort zone to grab these opportunities with both hands. In doing so, I believe that I’ve left failure behind. I’m on the road to success—one baby step at a time.

Come and join me.

~Roxanne~

Writing Authentically

“Be so true to thyself as thou not be false to others.”—Francis Bacon

I’m exhausted. I emailed a book proposal requested by a publisher and finished all the articles for the rest of the year for my monthly solo-parenting column. I survived two computers that crashed, adapting to a new computer and updated Microsoft 2007.

My head is killing me. The sink is full of rinsed dishes. And I need to conquer the pile of mail I ignored to meet my writing goals. I feel like an Olympian. The mountains of writing that I’ve scaled, I tried to be transparent. In some ways, it’s scary and freeing. What wisdom do others offer about being true to yourself so that you can write honestly and with passion?

“We forfeit three-quarters of ourselves in order to be like other people.” —Arthur Schopenhauer

“The reward for conformity is that everyone likes you but yourself.” —Rita Mae Brown

“We are so accustomed to disguise ourselves to others that in the end we become disguised to ourselves.” —Francois de La Rochefoucauld

“No man, for any considerable period, can wear one face to himself and another to the multitude, without finally getting bewildered as to which may be the true.” —Nathaniel Hawthorne, The Scarlet Letter

"If a plant cannot live according to its nature, it dies; and so a man.” —Henry David Thoreau

“It is better to be hated for what you are than to be loved for something you are not.” —Andre Gide

“I wanted only to try to live in accord with the promptings which came from my true self. Why was that so very difficult?” —Hermann Hesse

“One cannot violate the promptings of one’s nature without having that nature recoil upon itself.” —Jack London

“To know what you prefer, instead of humbly saying ‘Amen’ to what the world tells you you ought to prefer, is to keep your soul alive.” —Robert Louis Stevenson

“Follow the grain in your own wood.” —Howard Thurman

Blog Tour: Your Chance to Win a Copy of Finding Stefanie by Susan May Warren

**POST A COMMENT FOR A CHANCE TO WIN A COPY OF FINDING STEFANIE. TELL SOMEONE ELSE ABOUT THE WRITING ROAD AND HAVE THEM POST A COMMENT, AND I'LL PUT YOUR NAME IN THE DRAWING TWICE!**

Susan, you finished well with Finding Stefanie, the third and final installment in the Noble Legacy series.
Thank you.
It was so satisfying to close the book on the Noble family--Nick, Rafe and Stefanie--and have savored well-written plot lines and happy endings that took some doing to get to. Kind of like real life, yes? Happy endings are hard work.

Finding Stefanie has a multi-layered plot, but Susan weaves them all together without missing a beat--and surprised me at the end. But, enough said there. I don't believe in spoilers.
Here's a glimpse at the book's storyline:

When Stefanie put her dreams on hold to help run the family ranch, she never imagined they would slip out of sight. Luckily for Stefanie, those dreams are about to come knocking at her door.
Lincoln Cash has gained fame and fortune on the big screen, but a crippling secret leaves him one last chance to make his mark on the movie industry. With dreams of hosting a new film festival, Lincoln intends to remodel a sprawling ranch in eastern Montana to make it the new Hollywood hot spot.
Unfortunately, a house fire threatens his plans. So does opposition from his new neighbor Stefanie Noble, who's not thrilled about his Tinseltown changes. What Lincoln and Stefanie don't know is that the fire won't be the last disaster to threaten Lincoln or his future. Someone is out for revenge... but who? And who is the real target?

You can read an excerpt of Finding Stefanie here.

Susan's got a fun contest going on during this blog tour.

Grab your magnifying glass and join in on a Fact-o-Find!
Answer these questions about the bloggers on the tour and be entered to win a $50 gift certificate to the movie theater of your choice (you know so you can see some of Cash's great movies *G*)! Email Amy your answers (amy@susanmaywarren.com) Ready, get set, giddy-up!

1. Which blogger is adopting a girl from China?
2. This word 'featherbunkle' is found on which blog?
3. Which blogger is supporting the 'Pickens Plan'?
4. Which blog is "The Cutest Blog on the Block"?
5. Which blogger is a S@HM and also a wife, daughter, sister, friend, nursery director, and woman that is just trying to keep it all together?
6. Which blogger is taking the Southern Reading Challenge?
7. Which blog asks 'How may we serve you'?
8. Which blogger refers to her son as 'super good big guy'?
9. Which blogger is a self-proclaimed 'Starbucks Addict'?
10. Which blogger is a big Trekkie?

For a list of the bloggers, go here.

Writing Contests and Calls for Submissions

“You must stay drunk on writing so reality cannot destroy you.”—Ray Bradbury

Below you will find some opportunities for writers under the influence of an addiction to writing. For details, click on the links below.

Writing/Photo/Video Contest
Free contest. Judges will choose two writers and two photographs/videos based on the theme “intercultural communication and friendship.” Contestants should submit written pieces or photos/videos that demonstrate the promotion of cross-cultural understanding, friendship, and support for one another in their own community or abroad.

Prizes: The two Grand Prize winners of the Writing and Photo/Video contest will each receive one FREE two-week volunteer Quest to any of our short-term locations around the world. Airfare is not included. The two individuals who win Honorable Mention will receive 50% off one two-week Quest to any of our Short-Term locations as well. Grand Prize and Honorable Mention submissions will be published on the UP website, eNewsletter, and YouTube page.

The Gift of Freedom Contest Winner to Receive a $50,000 Grant
This contest offers a grant of $50,000 to one female writer who loves her work, seeks to improve, is community-minded, and is financially burdened. The application process is lengthy, but it is an amazing program. The Gift of Freedom supports women who have a track record of commitment to their art and who are also making a substantial effort to be self-sufficient. The successful applicant will have a well-articulated creative project concept and a clear plan for how it may accomplished. The next grant cycle will be in 2009.

Writing Contest for Fantasy Writers
Write a fantasy story, between 1,000 and 4,500 words long, inspired by the lovely piece of art. No entry fee. Deadline September 30, 2008. Top winner will receive an e-copy of the issue of the magazine and a standard SF/F magazine contract and will be paid to publish their story in the magazine. They will also receive their choice of a free print copy of the issue OR a mug with the front cover of the issue pictured along with their name and the title of their story. Runners-up will receive a choice between a mug with the cover of the issue or a free print copy of the issue.

12th Annual Robert Frost Foundation Annual Poetry Award
Write a poem “in the spirit of Robert Frost.” You can submit up to three poems. Prior published work may be submitted; for all work submitted to the Robert Frost Foundation, you retain copyright and the Robert Frost Foundation will request your permission if we choose to publish your work on our web site or in other foundation publications. Accepts email submissions. Deadline is September 15, 2008. $10 entry fee.

Poetry Submissions
Level 4 Press, Inc. seeks contemporary poetry to publish in its many poetry anthologies. Poets included receive a free copy of the anthology per poem included. Our focus is on high quality writing in general, and we have a particular interest in poetry. Roughly, 75% of our titles are poetry related. Our titles have already garnered 9 gold medals and 28 finalist awards in various literary contests.

Fiction Submissions
Green Mountain Review wants submission for stories around the themes "Shame" and "Glory" for an upcoming all-fiction double issue. Submission deadline is January 2, 2009.

New Writer on the Writing Road

Hi, I’m Roxanne Sherwood, and I’m excited to be on this Writing Road with you. During our journey, we’re going to discuss various aspects of fiction writing. I’m not published yet, but I won the 2008 Touched by Love Contest and finaled in the 2007 Genesis Contest.

I’m the poster gal for proving that if I can complete a novel, then anyone can. It’s taken five years to write my book; but during that time, I’ve home schooled six children, relocated across country, had two pregnancies in my forties—one stillbirth, one healthy baby—graduated four teens from high school, and done all the other things that moms do. Now, I’m doing them as a single mom, since losing my husband, Jack, suddenly fifteen months ago. If you’ve lost count, I have seven children, ages 21 to 2, who all live at home.

Free to Fail.

Oddly, I only began writing my novel after I gave myself the freedom to fail. As the mom of a big family, I don’t have much free time. (Case in point: 22 loads of laundry each week.) Was it fair to write, when I couldn’t guarantee that I’d ever be published? Wouldn’t I be wasting time that could be better spent in a hundred other ways?

Though moms say we’re on call 24/7, we do have down time to pursue hobbies, relax with friends, watch movies, chat on the phone, or exercise. (Okay, I added that last one because I should, not because I always do).

I decided that if I was going to read anyone’s book, it was going to be mine. If my novel never gets published, the hours spent weren’t wasted because I’ve enjoyed the writing journey immensely and I’ve learned a skill. So I’ve already accomplished more than if I wasted those hours watching television. Once it was okay to write, even if I failed to publish, I paved the way to succeed. And you can too.

~Roxanne~

Next week: Free to Succeed.

Real Simple Essay Contest

Real Simple magazine--one of my all time favorite magazines--is hosting their first-ever Life Lessons essay contest.

The guidelines are pretty simple: Whatever the memory of the most important day of your life is, share it. Other than that, stick to a 1500 word count and then e-mail your entries to lifelessons@realsimple.com.

Here's your chance to be published in Real Simple and win $3,000.

Deadline: Online entries must be received by 11:59 PM on Sept. 9, 2008. Mailed entries must be postmarked by Sept. 9, 2008 and received by Sept. 16, 2008.

For more details, go here.

New online publication: Sotto Voice

Sotto Voice is a new online publication. It will be published quarterly, as well as a full-color annual print anthology with selected favorite pieces from the previous year.
The editors are in the review process for their first issue. The call for submissions is going so well that they need additional editors to help review submissions.

They are looking for:

• poetry editors/reviewers
• fiction editors/reviewers
• non-fiction editor/reviewer
• art editors/reviewers

All positions are unpaid, part-time (you specify the number of submissions you'd like out for review at any given time), and completely online.

Sotto Voice is accepting submissions for its Fall 2008 issue. For more information, go here.

What the editors are looking for:

Thoughtful, well-crafted poetry and prose

FICTION: stories from around 1,000 words to no more than 5,000 words. We may, on occasion, accept exceptional work that does not meet these requirements.

NONFICTION: in general, we're look for creative essays as well as autobiographical/memoir-type pieces. They must be thought-provoking and, of course, well-written.

POETRY: poetry of any slant, bent, and length is acceptable, as long as it's not epic-length.

For more information on submission guidelines, go here.