Welcome to Thursday’s Writer’s Headlines…
Today you get a bonus package of Writing Opportunities, Writer’s Contests, Writer’s Conferences, as well as the MoGo7000 Challenge to help you write your book and the Christian Communicators Conference to help you develop or expand your speaking ministry. Enjoy!
Writing Opportunities
Thanks again to Marilyn Shipe for helping me round up these great writing opportunities!
1. Writer’s Digest Magazine
Helps writers improve their skills, find means to publish, stay abreast of the industry, and promote. Accepts email queries at wdsubmissions@fwmedia.com. Articles are 800 to 1,500 words. The Inkwell column is 800 words. Payment is 30-50 cents/word.
2. Pearson Places Magazines
Comet, Explore, and Challenge Magazines are for students from kindergarten through 8th grade. Needs vary. Always on the lookout for new writers, illustrators, cartoonists and other creative types to help us put together the best magazines we can. Be sure to check out Comet, Explore, and Challenge Magazines writer’s guidelines.
3. Adoptive Families Magazine
Adoptive Families is the leading information resource for families before, during, and after adoption.
4. Breathe Magazine
Looking for content that’s both informative and entertaining for active women who value a healthy lifestyle. A “healthy lifestyle” encompasses everything from how we treat our minds and bodies (nutrition, fitness, health, beauty) to how we treat our planet (green living, social responsibility, eco-friendly products and practices). Our features vary in length from 800-2,500 words, and relate in some way to each issue’s theme.
5. Blue Mountain Arts Greeting Cards
Seeks contemporary prose or poetry written from personal experience that reflects the thoughts and feelings people today want to communicate to one another, but don’t always know how to put into words. Does not need rhymed poetry, religious verse, one-liners or humor. Pays $300 for all rights and $50 for one-time rights for a book use.
6. AARP
Story idea letters for specific features and departments should be one page in length and accompanied by recent writing samples. The letter should explain the idea for the piece, tell how you would approach it as a writer, give some sense of your writing style, and mention the section of the magazine for which the piece is intended. Your samples should not include the actual story that you are proposing.
7. Colorado Central Magazine
To put our guidelines in a nutshell: We publish material we like to read about the area we live in. We’re not interested in it if it’s routine and boring, or if it’s not about this area. We serve Central Colorado and the San Luis Valley. On a map, that’s a swath from Leadville and Fairplay south to the New Mexico line. It’s the counties of Alamosa, Chaffee, Conejos, Costilla, Custer, Lake, Mineral, Rio Grande, and Saguache, along with the adjacent parts of Fremont, Gunnison, Huerfano and Park counties.
8. Eating Well Magazine
EatingWell is the only national food magazine that focuses exclusively on eating healthfully (our motto: “Where Good Taste Meets Good Health”). We are the preeminent magazine resource for people who want to enjoy food that is delicious and good for them.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Writing Contests
1. ERMA BOMBECK WRITING COMPETITION
$15 ENTRY FEE – Choose one category for entry: Humor or Human Interest. Write a personal essay of 450 words or fewer. Be sure to use the online entry form. All ages may enter (all entries are judged together). Only one entry per person. Awarding a prize of $500 in each of four categories (one entry per person for Humor either in the Global or Local (Dayton) category and for the Human Interest either in Global or Local), PLUS a paid registration (value $350) to the Erma Bombeck Writers’ Workshop which will be held in April. Winners are also recognized at the Workshop luncheon. Entries accepted beginning January, 2012.
2. THERE IS HOPE MAGAZINE WRITING CONTEST
There is Hope Magazine is a new biannual magazine premiering in June, 2012. This magazine will feature articles of how everyday people are overcoming obstacles and achieving personal victories in their lives. All entries must be NON-FICTION and include 2 references of people, different from the author, who can verify the truth of the story. Stories – Entries should be between 200 and 750 words. Poems – Entries should be between 1 and 5 stanzas. Jokes/Humor – Less than 50 words Deadline March 1, 2012. The author of the cover story will receive $500, a photo shoot and 5 free copies of the magazine. All other awarded authors will receive $100 and 1 free copy of the magazine.
3. Christian Writer’s Guild Operation First Novel Contest
Members, enter our Operation First Novel Contest for the chance to win $20,000 and publication by Worthy. Details for new contest coming later, but you need to be writing now! (MoGo7000 is a great way to get it done!)
4. American Christian Fiction Writers’ Genesis contest
The Genesis Contest is the ACFW contest for unpublished Christian writers. Genesis has a number of categories/genres to enter, the opportunity for unbiased feedback on writers’ work by published authors and experienced judges, and the chance for the category finalists to have their work read by Christian publishing house editors and literary agents. ACFW has been pleased to see previous category winners and finalists move further in their writing careers to become published authors. The Genesis Contest opens January 2, 2012 8:00 a.m. CST.
5. The Amy Foundation Writing Awards
The Amy Foundation Writing Awards program is designed to recognize creative, skillful writing that applies in a sensitive, thought-provoking manner the biblical principles to issues affecting the world today, with an emphasis on discipling. To be eligible, submitted articles must be published in a secular, non-religious publication (either printed or online) and must be reinforced with at least one passage of scripture.
6. Utmost Christian Writers Poetry Contests
For Christian poets only!
7. Women of Faith Writing Contest
Hurry! Contest ends January 31, 2012.
8. Stage of Life Writing Contests
Thousands of bloggers, writers, and regular people in every stage of life, from teens to Baby Boomers, come to StageofLife.com each month to enter our “essays about life” writing contests.
9. Greenville-Spartanburg Writers Contest
If you live in Greenville or Spartanburg county in South Carolina, you’re invited to participate in this two-category contest for fiction and poetry.
10. South Carolina Arts Commission First Novel Prize
The First Novel Competition recognizes one of South Carolina’s exceptional writers by providing a book contract with Hub City Press. The competition is a highly competitive, anonymous process. Publication by Hub City of at least 1,500 paperback copies of the book will bring recognition that may open doors to other resources and opportunities. The book will be nationally distributed through John F. Blair Co. of Winston-Salem, N.C.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Writers Conferences
Here are some conferences I’ll either be at this year or have taught at the conference or a sister conference in the past. I hope you’ll make it to at least one of these great events!
1. Christian Devotions Writer’s ADVANCE Boot Camp: February 24-26, 2012; The Cove, Asheville, NC
2. Write2Ignite: March 16-17, 2012, North Greenville University, SC (I’ll see you there!)
3. Carolina Christian Writers Conference: April 20-21, 2012, Spartanburg, SC (I’ll see you there! New conference–site up soon!)
4. Colorado Christian Writers Conference: May 16-19, 2012, Estes Park, CO
5. Blue Ridge Mountains Christian Writers Conference: May 20-24, 2012, Ridgecrest, NC (I’ll see you there!)
6. St. Davids Christian Writers’ Conference: June 19-23, 2012, Grove City, PA
7. North Texas Christian Writers Conference: June 22-23, 2012, Keller, TX (I’ll see you there!)
8. Greater Philly Christian Writers Conference: August 1-4, 2012, Langhorne, PA
9. Gideon Media Arts Conference and Film Festival: August 11-16, 2012, Ridgecrest, NC (I’ll see you there!)
10. CLASS Christian Writers Conference: October 31-November 4, 2012, Ghost Ranch, NM
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Want to Write a Book This Year? Then Join in on the MoGo7000 Challenge!
Great opportunities don’t come to those who WAIT, they come to those who WORK. Need some help getting that book written? If so, the MoGo7000 Challenge is just what you’ve been waiting for!
Cindy Patterson won $100 last week, simply by working on the book of her heart. Want a book AND $100? Check out the MoGo7000 guidelines and get started. It’s FREE!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Are You a Woman Who Feels Called to Develop or Expand a Speaking Ministry?
Then mark your calendar now! The 3rd Christian Communicators Conference will be August 29-September 2 at…drumroll, please…The Cove! Carolyn Knefely and I are hard at work to put together the best package ever, so be sure to check back next week for more details. And if you want to be sure you receive the information as soon as it’s released, just visit the Christian Communicators website and sign up for the newsletter and blog.
We can’t wait to partner with you to bring glory to God through ministry!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Well, that should be enough opportunities, contests, conferences, and writing and speaking help to get you started, so…what are you waiting for?
Write on!
Vonda
