Erica Verrillo's Blog, page 65

New Year's Resolution: Write What You Fear

Every new year I make a resolution, which I dutifully post on this blog. Many of those resolutions have been practical, aimed toward the goal of getting published.

For 2013, I posted a "Know Your Market" resolution. It was a good one. (Although I strongly suspect my market hasn't been born yet.) The following year I made a resolution to get more rejections than C. S. Lewis. (He got over 800; I clocked in at a measly 160.) Last year, I actually went ahead and made a publishing plan for myself, and for anyone else who might be listening. And I even got some stories published by following it.

This year, I am going to embark on unexplored territory. I mean that literally. This coming year I will face my deepest fear as a writer - not the daunting task of sending hundreds of queries, nor the overwhelming rejections, and not the sense of futility that comes with wondering if I am on the wrong track entirely.

In 2017, I am going to ditch all that and do something I have not yet done. I am going to write the thing I fear the most -  a memoir.

To most people, writing a memoir may not evoke a feeling of mind-numbing terror. But to me, it does. I write children's fantasy. Even my adult stories conscientiously avoid anything personal. They almost religiously skirt things that might point directly to me, or to any of the difficult, often painful. emotions experienced by adults. I am a feverishly private person, and to go down those paths makes me quake with cowardice.

And yet, I find I must. I have had the (mis)fortune of having lived through a war, and that experience, with all its violence, pain, and loss, demands to be written in a time of national crisis.

Let me be clear; I really don't want to.

So, come with me. Let this be your year to confront the thing you don't want to write. Are you a non-fiction writer? Write a piece of fiction. Do you write speculative fiction? Write an essay. If you are frightened of writing a novel - do that. If you can't seem to conquer the short form, go ahead. Write a poem. Write a history book. Do anything you have never attempted. Because to try out new forms, new ideas, new media will only expand you.

Ta-Nehisi Coates got it right when he said, "The craft of writing is the art of thinking."

Go forth into 2017, and think.

47 Calls for Submissions in January 2017 - Paying Markets

The New Year opens with nearly four dozen calls for submissions. Every genre and every form is welcome! All are paying markets.

Many of these journals have recurring calls for submissions, so if you miss this window, you can always submit during the next reading period.

For more literary journals seeking submissions see: Paying Markets.

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Fiyah Magazine: 'Spilling Tea' issue. Genre: Speculative fiction featuring stories by and about people of the African Diaspora. Payment: $150 per story, $50 per poem. Deadline: January 1, 2017.

Bellevue Literary Review. Genre: Poetry, fiction, and nonfiction that explores the concept of family. "Illness can rattle the struts of a family unit, often irrevocably. Most families, of course, do not break completely apart because of illness, but there is no doubt that illness in one member can have profound, often permanent, effects on the nature of the family structure. By turning a creative lens to these dynamics, we hope to produce a collection of works that paints a picture—however complicated—of the frustrations, hopes, and connections that define a family."  Payment: Small honorarium and print copies. Deadline: January 1, 2017.

Garden of Friends. Genre: Addiction-themed horror. Payment: $500 per story. Deadline: January 1, 2017.

Lethe Press: 'A Scandal in Gomorrah' anthology: Queering Sherlock Holmes. Genre: Short stories with queer aspects of Victorian era sexuality.  Payment: 3 cents per word. Deadline: January 1, 2017.

Six Hens. Genre: Creative nonfiction. "Six Hens features true stories about the moments that define and redefine women." Payment: $50. Deadline: January 2, 2017. Note: Read the contract carefully.

Inkubus Publishing: Fairy Tail. Genre: Fairy tale. ‘Fairy tales have long been used to entertain, teach, and even sometimes frighten readers of all ages. Whether it’s witches eating unsuspecting children, princes cursed because they are terrible people, young maidens outsmarting fairy creatures, or just tales of mystical fairy folk, fairy tales are an indelible part of the storytelling experience. For this anthology we want you to give us your sexy take on fairy tales or fairy stories.’ Payment: $15 and Contributor's Copy.  Deadline: January 2, 2017.

Ashland Creek Press: Writing for Animals Nonfiction Anthology. Genre: Nonfiction. "We seek articles from authors and educators about the process of writing about animals in literature. Our focus is on including a mix of instructional and inspirational articles to help readers not only improve their work but be inspired to keep at it. Articles may be previously published and should not exceed 10,000 words." Payment: $100 per essay. Deadline: January 3, 2017.

Chrome Magazine. Genre: Articles and creative essays only – no poetry or fiction. ‘The only instructions are that the piece should be based around the colour Red, between 500-1500 words. The article is also to be ideas based: intelligent, thoughtful, provocative, different, creative, beautifully written, accessible and interesting. Also the piece has to be timeless, a reflection rather than fast news.’ Payment: Not specified. Deadline: January 5, 2017.

The Lifted Brow Magazine. Genre: Translated Literary Work. "Our translations will largely focus on works from the margins: people who live and write from demographic margins, and/or writers whose work sits in the literary margins, and/or translators who interpret the translation act in surprising ways or stretch the bounds of what ‘translation’ means: your work might be cross-modal or cross-genre, might include insertions, erasure or collage." Payment: Up to $300/submission. Deadline: January 8, 2017.

Crab Orchard Review: Weather Reports: All About the Weather. Genres: Original, unpublished poetry, fiction, or literary nonfiction in English. "We are open to work that covers any of the many possibilities in how we think about and experience the weather through science, history, popular culture, art, and our own lives." Payment: $25 (US) per magazine page ($50 minimum for poetry; $100 minimum for prose) and two copies of the issue. Deadline: January 10, 2017.

Texas Home School Coalition Review. Genre: Nonfiction articles about home schooling. (See website for topics.) Payment: $40 for nonexclusive print and electronic rights to feature articles that have been published previously, or works to which the author wishes to retain the copyright. (Authors should confirm that agreements with previous publishers will not conflict with THSC’s nonexclusive rights.) $110 for the exclusive print and electronic copyright to previously unpublished works.  Deadline: January 10, 2017.

Twelfth Planet Press: Octavia Estelle Butler Issue. Genre: Nonfiction. "We are looking for letters addressed to Butler, which should be between 1000 and 1500 words." Payment: 5 cents/word up to $USD75 for letters, to be paid on publication. Deadline: January 12, 2017.

Tor.com. Genre: Fantasy novella: 20K - 40K words. They are looking for "epic fantasy, sword and sorcery, high fantasy, or quest fantasy genres, whether set on Earth or on an original fantasy world. However, we will only be considering novellas that inhabit worlds that are not modeled on European cultures. We are seeking worlds that take their influences from Africa, Asia, the indigenous Americas, or any diasporic culture from one of those sources. To qualify, novellas should center the experiences of characters from non-European-inspired cultures." Payment: Advance. Deadline: January 12, 2017.

Splickety: Time Warp. Genre: Fiction. "If the Coen brothers could turn the The Odyssey into O Brother, Where Art Thou?, imagine all the classics that could be recast and retold. For our Literary Retellings theme, we want recognizable characters and plot thrown into unique settings. Take Shakespeare or Dickens, Twain or Hemingway beyond where we’d expect. Moby Dick in the great lakes? Sure. Robin Hood during the Roaring 20s? Why not? The Tell-Tale Heart beating below a samurai’s tatami-covered floors? Absolutely. (Please include the title of the original classic story in your submission.)" Payment: $0.02 per word. Deadline: January 13, 2017.

Rattle: Poets with Mental Illness. Genre: Poetry. Payment: $100. Deadline: January 15, 2017.

Versal. Genre: Poetry, prose, art. Theme: Migration. Payment: Not specified. Deadline: January 15, 2017.

Ploughshares Journal: ‘Look2 Essay series’. Genre: Essay about an under-represented or neglected writer with talent. Submit pitch only. Payment: Up to $250/essay. Deadline: January 15, 2017.

Living Education Updates. Genre: Nonfiction articles on homeschooling. Payment: $50/article. Deadline: January 15, 2017.

Qu Literary Magazine. Genres: Prose, poetry, nonfiction, drama/screenplay. Payment: $100 (prose), $50 (poem). Deadline: January 15, 2017.

Outlook Springs. Genre: Fiction, poetry, CNF tinged with the strange. Payment: $25 for pose, $10 for poetry. Deadline: January 15, 2017.

The Capilano Review. Genre: Poetry, fiction. Experimental writing and art. Payment: $50 per page. Deadline: January 15, 2017.

Great Weather for MEDIA: Annual Print Anthology. Genres: Poetry, flash fiction, short stories, dramatic monologues, and creative nonfiction. "Our focus is on the fearless, the unpredictable, and experimental but we do not have a set theme for our anthologies." Payment: $10. Deadline: January 15, 2017.

Liminal. Genre: Speculative fiction and poetry. "We like stories that are strange and unsettling, sharp-edged and evocative.  Although we will consider any genre, we have a soft spot for weird fiction, magical realism, soft science fiction, and those uncategorizable stories that straddle the line between genres." Payment: 6 cents/word/fiction. $50/poem. Deadline: January 15, 2017.

Spirit's Tincture. Genre: Fiction and poetry that includes some element of fantasy, myth, fairy tale, or folklore. Payment: 6 cents/word. Deadline: January 15, 2017.

Wizards in Space. Genres: Poetry, fiction, nonfiction. Payment: $30. Deadline: January 15, 2017. Reprints accepted.

Helios Magazine. THEME: Commercial Cosmonauts & Hired Guns. Genres: Fiction, poetry, nonfiction, and art: "stories that delve into various journeys of unwilling and daring adventurers. What propaganda forces these individuals to battle against the universe and formidable foes? What are the stories being left untold in these narratives dominated by the lone white male savior against the world?" Payment:$0.03 USD per word for the first 1,500 words and $0.01 USD after for short stories, and $0.25 USD a line for poetry. Deadline: January 15, 2017.

Bikes in Space: Volume 5. Genre: Speculative short story on the theme of Intersections. "Stories that are accepted will all have a feminist perspective and incorporate bicycling in some way, whether or not they are actually about feminism or about bicycles." Payment: Percentage of Kickstarter. Deadline: January 15, 2017.

Sharkpack Poetry Review. Genre: Poetry. Long form. Payment: $25. Deadline: January 15, 2017.

Ella @ 100. Genre: Poems, stories, essays, scripts, and graphic essays or stories inspired by the life and work of the incomparable Ella Fitzgerald. Payment: $10 and contributor copy. Deadline: January 15, 2017.

Morel. Restrictions: Authors must live in Southwestern Ontario or write about the region. Genres: Fiction, poetry and essays about Southern Ontario. Payment: $25 per piece. Deadline: January 22, 2017.

Enchanted Conversation: A Fairy Tale Magazine. Genre: Prose or poem fairy tale on theme: "Steadfast Tin Soldier." Payment: $30/story; $10/poem US dollars only. Deadline: January 30, 2017.

Three Drop from a Cauldron: A Face in the Mirror, a Hook on the Door (An Anthology of Urban Legends & Modern Folklore). Genre: Poetry and flash fiction based on urban (or rural, or suburban, or the internet…) legends and modern folklore from any culture and any continent. Payment: Revenue sharing. Deadline: January 30, 2017.

Black Rabbit. Genres: Fiction (900 words max) and personal essays (250 words max). Payment: $25 per piece. Deadline: January 31, 2017.


Crystal Lake Publishing: C.H.U.D Tribute Anthology. Genre: Stories between 3,000 and 10,000 words. Theme is the 1984 slasher film, C.H.U.D. Payment: 3 cents per word. Deadline: January 31, 2017.

Kristell Ink. Genre: Speculative fiction. Themes: Infinite Dysmorphia, Terra Nullius or Holding on By Our Fingertips. Payment: £10 on acceptance of story, plus a physical copy of the publication, the eBook, and royalty share of profits. Deadline: January 31, 2017.

Broken Eye Books: Ride the Star Wind. Genre: Speculative tales that combine space opera with cosmic weird horror, either set within the Cthulhu Mythos or inspired by it. Payment: 8 cents per word. Deadline: January 31, 2017.

Chicken Soup for the Soul: Dreams, Premonitions and the Unexplainable. Payment: $200. Deadline: January 31, 2017.

Dreaming Robot Press: Young Explorer's Adventure Guide. Genre: Middle Grade Science Fiction. (Ages 8 - 12) 3,000 to 6,000 words. Payment: 6 cents per word. Deadline: January 31, 2017.

On Spec. Genre: Speculative fiction and poetry. Payment: $50 poem, up to $200 story. Deadline: January 31, 2017.

Room Magazine: Migration. Restrictions: Open to Canadian women. Genre: Poetry, fiction, creative non-fiction, and art that explores migration in all its many forms. Payment: $50 CAD for one page, $60 for two pages, $90 for three pages, $120 for four pages, $150 for five or more pages. Deadline: January 31, 2017.

Wordrunner E-Chapbooks. Genres: Fiction, memoir and poetry. "The theme for this year's anthology is breaking barriers or pushing against boundaries. Fiction on this topic can be contemporary or historical. Our preference, whether in fiction, nonfiction or poetry, is for emotional complexity. We are not interested in genre fiction unless it transcends genre." Payment: $100 for collections, $5 to $25 for poems, stories and essays published in the annual anthology. Deadline: January 31, 2017.

Carnival of Madness Anthology. Genre: Horror. "Buy the ticket and step into the last Carnival you will ever attend! Authors, let your darkest ideas and fantasy unite at the Carnival of Madness. Psycho-thrillers invite their audience to be a part of the nightmare that you create! So....Wanna go for a ride?" Payment: $25 and contributor copy. Deadline: January 31, 2017.

Martian Migraine Press: A Breath from the Sky: Unusual Stories of Possession. Genre: Weird Fiction. "We encourage our authors to unshackle themselves from the standard tropes that can weigh down the imagination and move into truly authentic dimensions of fear, awe, and cosmic wonder. We want to see the Weird move with confidence into the 21st Century, and want our authors to share that commitment. For A Breath from the Sky: Unusual Stories of Possession, the seed story will be H P Lovecraft’s classic The Colour Out of Space." Payment: 3 cents/word (CAD) and contributor copies. Deadline: January 31, 2017.

Hyperion and Theia. Genre: Fiction, poetry, and art on theme of Saturnalia. Payment: 2 - 3 cents/word. Deadline: January 31, 2017.

The Cantabrigian. Genre: Literary fiction. Payment: Not specified. Deadline: January 31, 2017.

Pen&Ink: Triskaidekaphilia Book #2: Ravenous! Genre: Vampire Romance. Payment: $10 USD and a paperback copy of the anthology. Deadline: January 31, 2017.

NonBinary Review: Issue #12 The Works of Edgar Allan Poe. Genres: Poetry, fiction, essays and art on theme of Edgar Allan Poe. Payment: 1 cent per word for fiction and nonfiction, and a flat fee of $10 per poem and $25 per piece of visual art. Deadline: January 31, 2017.

The Fantasist. Genre: Fantasy novellas, 15,000 to 40,000 words. Payment: $100. Deadline: January 31, 2017.

35 Writing Contests in January 2017 - No entry fees

There are nearly three dozen free writing contests in January. They cover the full range of genres, from debut mystery novels to poetry. In addition to the prestige of winning a contest, a few of the monetary prizes this month are substantial.

Be sure to check the submission requirements carefully, as some have age and geographical restrictions.

Many contests are offered annually, so if you miss a contest you may be able to catch it next year. For a full month-by-month listing of contests see: Free Contests.

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Tony Hillerman Prize. Sponsored by St. Martin's Press. Genre: Debut mystery novel set in Southwest. Prize: $10,000 advance against royalties and publication, Deadline: January 2, 2017. Read guidelines HERE.

Christopher Doheny Award. The award recognizes excellence in fiction or creative nonfiction on the topic of serious physical illness. The award is presented annually for a completed manuscript that has not yet been published. Prize: $10,000. Deadline: January 2, 2017.

Nuff Said Publishing's annual Speculative Writing Contest to Promote Diversity (SWCPD). Restrictions: The contest is open to United States residents. Genre: Speculative fiction less than 10,000 words. Prize: $100 and publication in anthology. Deadline: January 3rd, 2017.

Texas Institute of Letters Literary Awards. Restrictions: Entrants must have resided in Texas for at least 2 consecutive years, or have been born in Texas. Genre: Book (published). 11 different categories. Prize: $6,000. Deadline: January 3, 2017.

John F. Kennedy Profile in Courage Essay Contest is sponsored by the John F. Kennedy Library Foundation. Restrictions: The contest is open to United States high school students in grades nine through twelve attending public, private, parochial, or home schools; US students under the age of twenty enrolled in a high school correspondence/GED program; and US citizens attending schools overseas. Genre: Essay on an act of political courage by a US elected official who served during or after 1956. Prize: The first-place winner receives $10,000 comprised of a $5,000 cash award and $5,000 from John Hancock. The second-place winner receives $1,000. Up to five finalists receive $500 each. Deadline: January 4, 2017.

Stop the Hate: Youth Speak Out Essay Contest. Stop the Hate® is designed to create an appreciation and understanding among people of differing religions, races, cultures and socioeconomic backgrounds. Genre: Essay, 500 words. Restrictions: Northeast Ohio 6-12th Graders. Prize: $40,000. Deadline: January 6, 2017 for Grades 6-10, January 20, 2017 for Grades 11-12.

Japan Center-Canon Essay Competition. The aim of the Japan Center Essay Competition is to promote awareness and understanding of Japan in the United States and to help young Americans broaden their international horizons. Genre: Essay. Contestants should write, in English, one or more aspects of Japan including art, culture, tradition, values, philosophy, history, society, politics, business, and technology in relation to their personal views, experiences, and/or future goals.  (Contestants do not need to have any experience in visiting Japan or studying Japanese. Prize: Best Essay Award in the High School Division: 1st Place: $3,000 and a Canon camera, 2nd Place: $1,500 and a Canon camera, 3rd Place: $750 and a Canon camera; Best Essay Award in the College Division: $3,000 and a Canon camera; Uchida Memorial Award: $1,000 and a Canon camera; Merit Award: $200 (each) for up to five awards. Deadline: January 8, 2017.

New York Times "Win a Trip with Nick Kristof" Contest. Genre: Essay (700 words max) on why you should win this prize. Prize: A reporting trip in the developing world with New York Times columnist Nicholas Kristof. Restriction: Open to US college and graduate school students. Deadline: January 8, 2017.

The Maureen Egen Writers Exchange Award introduces emerging writers to the New York City literary community. The prestigious award aims to provide promising writers a network for professional advancement. Since Poets & Writers began the Writers Exchange in 1984, 85 writers from 33 states and the District of Columbia have been selected to participate. Restrictions: Open to Maine residents. Genre: Poetry and Fiction. Prize: A $500 honorarium; A trip to New York City to meet with editors, agents, publishers, and other writers. All related travel/lodgings expenses and a per diem stipend are covered by Poets & Writers. Winners will also give a public reading of their work; and One-month residency at the Jentel Artist Residency Program in Wyoming. Deadline: January 9, 2017. For guidelines click HERE.

Moving Words Poetry Contest. Restrictions: People who live within the DC Metro transit area (the Northern Virginia counties Arlington, Fairfax, and Loudoun and the cities Alexandria, Fairfax, and Falls Church; the District of Columbia; and the Maryland counties Montgomery and Prince George's) and who are over 18. Genre: Poetry. Prize: $250 honorarium. Deadline: January 12, 2017.

Orwell Prize. Genre: Political writing published between 1st January and 31st January 2016. All entries must have a clear British link. Fiction and non-fiction. Prize: £3,000.00. Deadline: January 12, 2017. (Their website is impossible to figure out, which is ironic.)

The Ellen Meloy Fund for Desert Writers was established in 2005 to honor the memory of Ellen Meloy. The Fund provides support to writers whose work reflects the spirit and passions embodied in Ellen’s writing and her commitment to a “deep map of place.” Ellen’s own map-in-progress was of the desert country she called home. Genre: Only literary or creative nonfiction proposals will be considered. No fiction or poetry proposals will be reviewed. Prize: $3,000. Deadline: January 15, 2017.

French-American Foundation Translation Prizes. Genre: Book - best English translation of French in both fiction and non-fiction. Prize: $10,000. Deadline: January 15, 2017.

Lee Bennett Hopkins Promising Poet Award. Restrictions: Open to poets who have published no more than two books of children's poetry. Genre: Children's poetry (for children and young adults up to grade 12). A book-length single poem may be submitted. The award is for published works only. Poetry in any language may be submitted; non-English poetry must be accompanied by an English translation. Poetry copyrighted from 2016 to 2018 may be submitted. Prize: $500. Deadline: January 15, 2017.

Women Artists Datebook. Restrictions: Women. Genre: 4 poems. Peace and Justice. Prize: $70. Deadline: January 15, 2017.  See more details HERE .

VCU Cabell First Novelist Award. Genre: First novel published July–December 2016. No self-published books. Prize: $5,000. Deadline: January 14, 2017.

Posen Society of Fellows Awards. Genre: Jewish-themed dissertation. Prize: $40,000 fellowship. Deadline: January 15, 2017.

Stacy Doris Memorial Poetry Award. Genre: Poem, 3-10 pages long, that demonstrates a "truly inventive spirit." Prize: $500. Deadline: January 15, 2017.

Bethesda Literary Festival Essay and Short Story Contest. The Bethesda Urban Partnership & Bethesda Magazine have partnered to honor local writers at the Bethesda Literary Festival held April. Genres: Essays and short stories. Restrictions: Residents of Washington, D.C., Maryland and Virginia are eligible. Prizes: First Place: $500 and published in Bethesda Magazine. Second Place: $250. Third Place: $150. Honorable Mention: $75. Deadline: January 20, 2017.  For more details click HERE .

James White Award. Restrictions: Non-professional authors from anywhere in the world. Genre: Previously unpublished science fiction stories of 6000 words or less, but the stories must be written in English. Prize: £200 plus publication in Interzone. Deadline: January 20, 2017.

IGGY/Litro Young Writers' Prize. Restrictions: Open to 13–18 year olds. Genre: Short story. The theme is Memory. Prize: £1,000 and publication. Deadline: January 20, 2017. Read submission guidelines HERE.

Bodley Head/Financial Times Essay Prize. Restrictions: Open to authors aged 18-35. Genre: Scholarly or journalistic essay on a topic of your choice. 3,500 words max. Prize: £1,000, e-publication with Bodley Head, a mentoring session with the Financial Times/Bodley Head editorial staff, a subscription to FT.com, and a selection of books from Bodley Head. Deadline: January 29, 2017.

Jerry Jazz Musician Fiction Contest. "The Jerry Jazz Musician reader has interests in music, social history, literature, politics, art, film and theater, particularly that of the counter-culture of mid-twentieth century America." Genre: previously unpublished work of short fiction. Prize: $100.00. Deadline: January 31, 2017.

College Undergraduate Poetry and Florence Kahn Memorial Award. Restrictions: Undergraduates working toward a degree in an accredited U.S. college or university. Genre: Poetry. Prize: $500. Deadline: January 31, 2017.

Helen and Kurt Wolff Translator's Prize. The annual Helen and Kurt Wolff Translator's Prize is awarded each spring to honor an outstanding literary translation from German into English published in the USA the previous year.  Genre: Published fiction or non-fiction, may include: novels, novellas, short stories, plays, poetry, biographies, essays and correspondence. Prize: $10,000. Deadline: January 31, 2017.

14th Michael E. DeBakey Medical Student Poetry Awards. Restrictions: Only undergraduates currently enrolled in accredited United States medical schools are eligible. Genre: Poetry. Prize: $1,000 top prize. Deadline: January 31, 2017. Note: Winners do not retain copyright.

The Danuta Gleed Literary Award for best first collection of short fiction in the English language was initiated by John Gleed in honour of his late wife to promote and celebrate the genre of short fiction, which she loved. Restrictions: Canadian residents only. Prize: A $10,000 prize will be awarded for the best first collection of published short fiction in the English language. Two finalist will also be awarded $500 each. Deadline: January 31, 2017.

Imagine Little Tokyo. Little Tokyo Historical Society (LTHS) seeks fictional short stories in Japanese or English for its second annual “Imagine Little Tokyo” writing contest. The setting of the story should be in Little Tokyo, Los Angeles, CA– either past, present or future. Prize: $600. The winner of the youth division (18 or younger) will receive $400. Deadline: January 31, 2017.

Caine Prize for African Writing. Restrictions: Open to writers born in Africa, or nationals of an African country, or with a parent who is African by birth or nationality, Genre: Short fiction (published). Prize: £10,000. Deadline: January 31, 2017.

Nelson Algren Literary Awards is a short story contest sponsored by the Chicago Tribune. This contest is open to residents of the United States. All entries must be: fiction, less than 8,000 words, double spaced, written in English. Prize: One grand prize winner will receive $3,500. Four finalists will each receive $1,000. Five runners-up will each receive $500. Total value of all prizes: $10,000. Deadline: Closing date January 31, 2017.

Walter Rumsey Marvin Grant. Restrictions: Open to authors under 30 years of age who have not had a book published. Applicant must have been born in Ohio or have lived in Ohio for a minimum of five years. Genre: Short fiction and creative non-fiction. Prize: $1,000. Deadline: January 31, 2017.

Words and Brushes. Genre: Fiction inspired by artwork. Prize: $300 top prize. Deadline: January 31, 2017.

El Chapo Review Essay Contest 2017. Genre: Creative non-fiction. Prize: $500 top prize. Deadline: January 31, 2017.

Outlet Publishing Young Writers' Short Story Competition. Restrictions: Open to ages 16-25, UK residents only.  Genre: Short story. Prize: £150 top prize. Deadline: January 31, 2017.

8 Writing Conferences in January 2017

January is cold, dark, and dismal. What better way to warm up your writing fingers than with a cozy conference?

This month features conferences all over the US, from New Jersey to San Francisco. If you have a completed manuscript, there are conferences with pitch sessions, as well as the opportunity to informally chat with agents and editors. There are also workshops, readings, and discussions.

Many conferences are offered annually, so if you miss a conference in your area this year, you can always catch it next year. For a full month-by-month list of conferences go here: Writing Conferences.

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TMW January Jumpstart XVII. Jan 6 - 8, 2017, Oak Ridge, TN. Parallel sessions of workshops on fiction, poetry, nonfiction, writing for young people, editing, storytelling, self publishing, oral history, keeping series books fresh; panel discussions/readings; Saturday banquet. Faculty includes banquet speaker Sonja Livingston; Michael Knight, Jesse Graves, Courtney Stevens, Denton Loving, Beverly Connor, Bob Mayer, Saundra Kelley, Robert Gipe, Judy DiGregorio, Cathy Kodra.

Winter Poetry & Prose Getaway. January 13 - 16, 2017, Galloway, New Jersey. Workshops in poetry, fiction, and creative nonfiction, as well as craft talks, one-on-one tutorials, featured readings, and open mics. The faculty includes poets Stephen Dunn, Laura McCullough, Sharon Olds, and James Richardson; fiction writers Joyce McDonald and Carol Plum-Ucci; and creative nonfiction writer Barbara Hurt. Tuition, which includes some meals, ranges from $490 to $690, depending on the workshop; lodging is not included.

Poets and Writers Live. January 14 - 15, 2017, San Francisco, CA. The conference features publishing panels, craft talks, readings, multimedia performances, and a book and magazine fair, as well as small-group sessions in poetry, fiction, and creative nonfiction. Ticket holders also receive one free drink at a cocktail reception at the conference hotel on Saturday night. Participating writers include poets Jane Hirshfield, Joyce Lee, Ishmael Reed, Barbara Jane Reyes, Kay Ryan, Solmaz Sharif, C. Dale Young, Javier Zamora, and Matthew Zapruder; fiction writers Grant Faulkner, Jonathan Franzen, Bich Minh Nguyen, and Benjamin Percy; and nonfiction writers Sarah Manguso and Susan Orlean. U.S. poet laureate Juan Felipe Herrera will deliver the keynote. Participating publishing professionals include agents Anna Ghosh (Ghosh Literary), Jennifer March Soloway (Andrea Brown Literary Agency), and Danielle Svetcov (Levine Greenberg Rostan Literary Agency); and editors Jordan Bass (McSweeney’s), Rusty Morrison (Omnidawn Publishing), Ethan Nosowsky (Graywolf Press), and Steve Wasserman (Heyday Books). The cost of the two-day conference is $175 before December 4 and $250 thereafter.

Key West Literary Seminar. January 16 - 20, 2017, Key West, Florida. The seminar offers readings, lectures, and conversations with poets, fiction writers, and nonfiction writers. The 2017 theme is  “Revealing Power: The Literature of Politics.” The writers' workshop offers workshops and craft discussions for poets, fiction writers, and nonfiction writers. Faculty includes Jennine Capó Crucet, Billy Collins, Marie Myung-Ok Lee, Kristen-Paige Madonia, Michael Maren, Daniel Menaker, Kate Moses, Rowan Ricardo Phillips, and Dani Shapiro.

Eckerd College Writers’ Conference. January 14 - 21, 2017, St. Petersburg, FL. Workshops, roundtables, panel discussions, Q&As, readings book signings, and receptions. The faculty includes poets Richard Blanco, Denise Duhamel, Major Jackson, and Peter Meinke; fiction writers Lan Samantha Chang, Andre Dubus III, Fabienne Josaphat, Laura Lippman, Stewart O’Nan, Les Standiford, Sterling Watson, and David Yoo; and creative nonfiction writers Ann Hood and Helen Wallace.

Palm Beach Poetry Festival. January 16 - 21, 2017, Delray Beach, Florida. The faculty includes poets David Baker, Tina Chang, Lynn Emanuel, Daisy Fried, Terrance Hayes, Dorianne Laux, Thomas Lux, Carl Phillips, Martha Rhodes, and Charles Simic.  $895 includes all events, one gala seat; $495/auditor. Accepted participants may schedule a one-on-one conference at additional cost.

Digital Book World Conference + Expo, New York City, Jan. 17– 19, 2017. This is the premier event for digital publishers and content providers of all sizes and business models.

Write on the Red Cedar, Jan 20 - 21, 2017, East Lansing MI. Workshops, speakers, panels, manuscript reviews, networking, and pitch appointments with literary agents. Regular Registration $125 includes Friday night cocktail party and full slate of workshops on Saturday. Full Conference $200. (Prices go up after Dec. 1)

2 New Literary Agents Seeking Writers

Here are two new agents seeking clients. Maximilian Ximenez (L. Perkins Agency)is actively pursuing clients for both fiction and nonfiction works. In fiction, he is acquiring science fiction, fantasy, horror, and thrillers, particularly cyberpunk and neo-noir as well as books with a uniquely deconstructive bent. For nonfiction, Maximilian is seeking popular science, true crime, and books pertaining to arts and trends in developing fields and cultures. Hannah Fergesen (KT Literary) is looking for young adult and middle-grade, as well as some select adult fiction.

Note: You can find dozens of new and established agents seeking clients here: Agents Seeking Clients
_________________________________ Maximilian Ximenez of L. Perkins Agency

About Maximilian: Maximilian Ximenez grew up within the New York publishing industry. Prior to joining the L. Perkins Agency, he worked at Blizzard Entertainment, creators of the popular Warcraft, StarCraft, and Diablo video game franchises. He is a strong believer in publishing and narrative as a central pillar of franchise and transmedia development.

What he is seeking: Maximilian is actively pursuing clients for both fiction and nonfiction works. In fiction, he is acquiring science fiction, fantasy, horror, and thrillers, particularly cyberpunk and neo-noir as well as books with a uniquely deconstructive bent. For nonfiction, Maximilian is seeking popular science, true crime, and books pertaining to arts and trends in developing fields and cultures.

How to submit: For submissions, please send an email to maximilian [at] lperkinsagency.com with your bio, a brief synopsis, and the first five pages of your book or novel in the body.
________________________________ Hannah Fergesen of KT Literary

About Hannah: Before settling in New York City, Hannah worked and went to school in Denver, where she obtained her degree in Writing for Film and Television. Opportunities in New York presented themselves before she could run off to LA, and she course-corrected her career toward publishing, a dream of hers since childhood. After stints as a remote intern for a well-known agent, a bookseller at the famous Books of Wonder, an intern at Soho Press, a literary assistant at Trident Media Group, and a freelance editor working with well-known authors, Hannah joined KT Literary in 2016. Hannah is a proud geek and TV junkie, with an all-consuming love for Doctor Who, Harry Potter, and anything created by Joss Whedon.

What she is seeking: I’m looking for young adult and middle-grade, as well as some select adult fiction.

In young adult and middle-grade, I’m looking for speculative and contemporary stories, running the gamut from fantasy, mystery, horror, and magical realism to family-oriented dramas, historical fiction, and stories dealing with contemporary issues, such as mental health or addiction. I’m also very interested in finding a good, twisty mystery or suspense. If it’s historical or has a speculative bent, even better. I am into contemporaries with light science fiction elements, as well as pure science fiction with politics and an edge, or a bold reimagining of another time. I’d love to see historical fiction in both young adult and middle-grade.

In adult, I want weird and/or lyrical fantasies and speculative mysteries. I’d also love something with a good twist, like DARK PLACES by Gillian Flynn (GONE GIRL less so, but the idea is the same).

How to submit: Send queries to hannahquery@ktliterary.com. The subject line of your email should include the word “Query” along with the title of your manuscript. Queries should not contain attachments. If we like your query, we’ll ask for the first five chapters and a complete synopsis. For our purposes, the synopsis should include the full plot of the book, including the conclusion.

29th Free ���Dear Lucky Agent��� Contest: Historical Fiction

Chuck Sambuccino, the editor of the Guide to Literary Agents, is running another "Dear Lucky Agent" contest. (There are two this month.) These contests allow writers to submit one page of their manuscript to be judged by an agent. The genre for this contest is historical fiction. There is no entry fee.

Winners of the contest have a more than good chance of getting representation. It's good to enter contests, not just because you may win one, but because they force you to write short summaries and synopses, and to polish your first few pages until they shine. These are usually the only pages an agent will see before making a decision.

The contest deadline is December 31, 2016. CLICK HERE for more details.

For hundreds of free contests organized by month see: FREE CONTESTS.
_______________________

From the GLA blog:

Welcome to the 29th (free!) “Dear Lucky Agent” Contest on the GLA blog. This is a FREE recurring online contest with agent judges and super-cool prizes. Here’s the deal: With every contest, the details are essentially the same, but the niche itself changes—meaning each contest is focused around a specific category or two. If you’re writing historical fiction, then this 29th contest is for you! The contest is live through end of day, Saturday, Dec. 31, 2016. The contest is judged by agent Elise Erickson of the Harold Ober Agency.

WHY YOU SHOULD GET EXCITED

After a previous “Dear Lucky Agent” contest, the agent judge, Tamar Rydzinski (The Laura Dail Literary Agency), signed one of the three contest winners. After Tamar signed the writer, she went on to sell two of that writer’s books! How cool! These contests can’t be missed if you have an eligible submission.

HOW TO SUBMIT

E-mail entries to dearluckyagent29@gmail.com. Please paste all text. The only time to include attachments are when you have to attach images to show your social-media sharing (more info that below).

MEET YOUR (AWESOME) AGENT JUDGE!

Elise Erickson of Harold Ober Associates graduated from St. Olaf College and the NYU Summer Publishing Institute in 2014, and spent several months interning at Penguin’s New American Library imprint, Folio Literary Management, and Susanna Lea Associates before taking on her current position at Harold Ober Associates. She grew up in both Florida and Minnesota, but is quickly learning to love city life in NYC. Elise is passionate about the role and responsibility of the literary agent, especially being an advocate for authors. In addition to working with books, she currently assists in selling Harold Ober’s TV, film, and subsidiary rights, and is actively building a client list of her own.

WHAT TO SUBMIT (AND OUR SOCIAL MEDIA REQUIREMENTS)

The first 150-300 words (i.e., your first double-spaced page) of your unpublished, completed historical fiction. You must include a contact e-mail address with your entry and use your real name. Also note your city of residence (i.e. — the city & state you live in, not your full address). Submit the title of the work and a logline (one-sentence description of the work) with each entry. Self-published memoirs are not eligible.

Please note:  To be eligible to submit, you must mention this contest twice through any any social-media. Please provide a social-media link or Twitter handle or screenshot or blog post URL, etc., with your official e-mailed entry so the judge and I can verify eligibility. Some previous entrants could not be considered because they skipped this step! In short, simply spread the word twice through any means and give us a way to verify you did; a TinyURL for this link/contest for you to easily use is http://tinyurl.com/zodcsgo

An easy way to notify me of your sharing is to include my Twitter handle @chucksambuchino at the end of your mention(s) if using Twitter. If we’re friends on FB, tag me in the mention. If you are going to just use Twitter as your 2 entries, please wait one day between mentions to spread out the notices, instead of simply tweeting twice back to back. Thanks. (Please note that simply tweeting me does not count. You have to include the contest URL with your mention; that’s the point. And if you use Twitter, put my handle @chucksambuchino at the middle or the end, not at the very beginning of the tweet, or else the tweet will be invisible to others.)

Here is a sample TWEET you can use (feel free to tweak): New FREE contest for writers of Historical Fiction http://tinyurl.com/zodcsgo Judged by agent @EliseShaull, via @chucksambuchino

2 New Literary Agents Seeking Clients NOW

Here are two new agents seeking clients. Serene Hakim (Ayesha Pande Literary) is actively seeking young adult (all genres but in particular: science fiction and fantasy with a unique hook, realistic YA with diverse characters), upmarket women's fiction, and anything that gives voice to those whose voices are underrepresented and/or marginalized. Elizabeth Copps (Maria Carvainis Agency) represents a wide range of genres from MG and YA, to adult contemporary + literary fiction, mystery, psychological thriller, women’s fiction, historical fiction, horror, and select nonfiction projects.

Note: For a list of dozens of new and established agents actively seeking clients see: Agents Seeking Clients
Serene Hakim of Ayesha Pande Literary

Prior to joining Ayesha Pande Literary, Serene Hakim worked at Laura Gross Literary Agency in Boston. She has also interned at David Godine Publisher and Chase Literary Agency. Serene holds an M.A. in French to English translation from NYU and a B.A. in French and Women’s Studies from the University of Kansas.

What she is seeking: Serene is actively seeking young adult (all genres but in particular: science fiction and fantasy with a unique hook, realistic YA with diverse characters), upmarket women's fiction, and anything that gives voice to those whose voices are underrepresented and/or marginalized. Stories dealing with the Middle East and the variety of immigrant experiences out there will definitely catch her eye. Intriguing female characters are also a huge plus. For nonfiction, she is seeking humorous and fascinating memoirs, and is particularly interested in LGBTQ and feminist issues.

How to Submit: To submit a query, please use the query form on the Ayesha Pande Literary website: www.pandeliterary.com/queries. Elizabeth Copps of Maria Carvainis Agency

About Elizabeth: I migrated from Florida to start my career with Maria Carvainis Agency as an intern in 2010. In 2011 I signed on with the agency as a full-time assistant, and two years later I was promoted to Associate Agent. For me, the very best books are timeless, thought provoking, and discussion spurring. I want to see characters who burst off the page and elicit some sort of emotional response in their readers. There are only so many settings and themes to expound on, but every single person is different which means there are limitless combinations of character traits a writer can play with. That’s pretty amazing. The King said it best regarding what it means to create a complex character: “Bad writing usually arises from a stubborn refusal to tell stories about what people actually do―to face the fact, let us say, that murderers sometimes help old ladies cross the street.”

What she is Seeking: I represent a wide range of genres from MG and YA, to adult contemporary + literary fiction, mystery, psychological thriller, women’s fiction, historical fiction, horror, and select nonfiction projects. I’m an equal fan of hilarious stories as well as dark, gritty and sinister reads.

How to Submit: Please send a query letter, a synopsis of the work, first 5-10 pages, and note of any writing credentials. Please email queries to mca@mariacarvainisagency.com. All attachments must be either Word documents or PDF files.

28th Free ���Dear Lucky Agent��� Contest: Memoir

Chuck Sambuccino, the editor of the Guide to Literary Agents, is running another "Dear Lucky Agent" contest. (There are two this month.) These contests allow writers to submit one page of their manuscript to be judged by an agent. The genre for this contest is memoir. There is no entry fee.

Winners of the contest have a more than good chance of getting representation. It's good to enter contests, not just because you may win one, but because they force you to write short summaries and synopses, and to polish your first few pages until they shine. These are usually the only pages an agent will see before making a decision.

The contest deadline is December 31, 2016. CLICK HERE for more details.

For hundreds of free contests organized by month see: FREE CONTESTS.

For a huge list of agents looking for memoirs see: Mega-List of Agents Looking for Memoirs (and other Nonfiction)
________________________

From the GLA Website:

Welcome to the 28th (free!) “Dear Lucky Agent” Contest on the GLA blog. This is a FREE recurring online contest with agent judges and super-cool prizes. Here’s the deal: With every contest, the details are essentially the same, but the niche itself changes—meaning each contest is focused around a specific category or two. If you’re writing a memoir, then this 28th contest is for you! The contest is live through end of day, Saturday, Dec. 31, 2016. The contest is judged by agent Jennifer Wills of the The Seymour Agency.

WHY YOU SHOULD GET EXCITED

After a previous “Dear Lucky Agent” contest, the agent judge, Tamar Rydzinski (The Laura Dail Literary Agency), signed one of the three contest winners. After Tamar signed the writer, she went on to sell two of that writer’s books! How cool! These contests can’t be missed if you have an eligible submission.

HOW TO SUBMIT

E-mail entries to dearluckyagent28@gmail.com. Please paste all text. The only time to include attachments are when you have to attach images to show your social-media sharing (more info that below).

MEET YOUR (AWESOME) AGENT JUDGE!

Jennifer Wills has five years of experience in some of the publishing industry’s leading literary agencies. She worked with publishers around the world as an assistant in Trident Media Group’s huge foreign rights department, and with domestic publishers as an assistant at Writers House (where, incidentally, she began her career as an intern). She joined The Seymour Agency in April 2016, where she has quickly moved up the ranks to associate agent. Jennifer has always loved helping fledgling authors become New York Times bestsellers and she’s ready to be a relentless champion for her own clients’ work.

Jennifer is interested in a wide range of subjects and genres, and is actively looking to find some excellent memoir clients.

WHAT TO SUBMIT (AND OUR SOCIAL MEDIA REQUIREMENTS)

The first 150-300 words (i.e., your first double-spaced page) of your unpublished, completed memoir. You must include a contact e-mail address with your entry and use your real name. Also note your city of residence (i.e. — the city & state you live in, not your full address). Submit the title of the work and a logline (one-sentence description of the work) with each entry. Self-published memoirs are not eligible.

Please note:  To be eligible to submit, you must mention this contest twice through any any social-media. Please provide a social-media link or Twitter handle or screenshot or blog post URL, etc., with your official e-mailed entry so the judge and I can verify eligibility. Some previous entrants could not be considered because they skipped this step! In short, simply spread the word twice through any means and give us a way to verify you did; a TinyURL for this link/contest for you to easily use is http://tinyurl.com/j4d3kqz

An easy way to notify me of your sharing is to include my Twitter handle @chucksambuchino at the end of your mention(s) if using Twitter. If we’re friends on FB, tag me in the mention. If you are going to just use Twitter as your 2 entries, please wait one day between mentions to spread out the notices, instead of simply tweeting twice back to back. Thanks. (Please note that simply tweeting me does not count. You have to include the contest URL with your mention; that’s the point. And if you use Twitter, put my handle @chucksambuchino at the middle or the end, not at the very beginning of the tweet, or else the tweet will be invisible to others.)

Here is a sample TWEET you can use (feel free to tweak): New FREE contest for writers of Memoir http://tinyurl.com/j4d3kqz Judged by agent @WillsWork4Books, via @chucksambuchino

Should You Go to A Pitch Conference?

There are many varieties of writing conferences, ranging from writing retreats, workshops where you write and get critiques, and master classes in which you meet with a single author to large annual meetings for writers' organizations, and practical conferences where you present your project to editors and agents. These are known as pitch conferences.

If you have a completed manuscript, a pitch conference will suit your needs perfectly. These conferences not only offer you a chance to pitch your work to an agent or editor, they include workshops that teach you how to pitch. There is no better way to meet an agent, so if you can go to one of these conferences, I highly recommend it.

You can find a comprehensive list of writing conferences HERE as well as links to help you find conferences in your area.

Helpful articles:

The Literary Agent Pitch: Dream Or Nightmare?
This is a wonderful article about how to approach a pitch session with an agent.

Rant: Pitch sessions are the spawn of Satan
Literary agent, Janet Reid, reminds us that literary agents are human.

4 Questions Agents Ask Writers at Pitch Sessions
Be prepared! Agents ask questions!

What's Your Book About? How to Make a Pitch
Step-by-step instructions for how to make a pitch.

__________________________

Upcoming pitch conference

(Even if you don't plan on going, read the website. It will give you a good idea of what a pitch conference is like.)

New York Pitch Conference 

When: Dec 8 - 11, 2016

Where: New York City 

The New York Pitch Conference and writers workshop is held four times a year and features publishing house editors from major houses such as Penguin, Random House, St. Martins, Harper Collins, Tor and Del Rey, Kensington Books and many more who are looking for new novels in a variety of genres, as well as narrative non-fiction. The event focuses on the art of the novel pitch as the best method not only for communicating your work, but for having you and your work taken seriously by industry professionals. 

See a full list of faculty members with bios HERE.

Fees: The registration fee until December 5 is $795.00, and $895.00 after that date. This fee covers all conference pitch sessions and workshops. Registration form is HERE.

27th Free ���Dear Lucky Agent��� Contest: Women���s Fiction

Jacquelyn Bischak: Woman Reading By The Window Chuck Sambuccino, the editor of the Guide to Literary Agents, is running another "Dear Lucky Agent" contest. These contests allow writers to submit one page of their manuscript to be judged by an agent. The genre for this contest is women's fiction. There is no entry fee.

Winners of the contest have a more than good chance of getting representation. It's good to enter contests, not just because you may win one, but because they force you to write short summaries and synopses, and to polish your first few pages until they shine. These are usually the only pages an agent will see before making a decision. (Sometimes they only read a paragraph.)

The contest deadline is Tuesday, Thursday, Nov. 25, 2016. CLICK HERE for more details.

For hundreds of free contests organized by month see: FREE CONTESTS.
_____________________

From the GLA blog: 

Welcome to the 27th (free!) “Dear Lucky Agent” Contest on the GLA blog. This is a FREE recurring online contest with agent judges and super-cool prizes. Here’s the deal: With every contest, the details are essentially the same, but the niche itself changes—meaning each contest is focused around a specific category or two. If you’re writing a women’s fiction novel, then this 27th contest is for you! The contest is live through end of day, Thursday, Nov. 25, 2016. The contest is judged by agent Irene Goodman of the Irene Goodman Literary Agency.

WHY YOU SHOULD GET EXCITED

After a previous “Dear Lucky Agent” contest, the agent judge, Tamar Rydzinski (The Laura Dail Literary Agency), signed one of the three contest winners. After Tamar signed the writer, she went on to sell two of that writer’s books! How cool! These contests can’t be missed if you have an eligible submission.

HOW TO SUBMIT

E-mail entries to dearluckyagent27@gmail.com. Please paste all text. The only time to include attachments are when you have to attach images to show your social-media sharing (more info that below).

MEET YOUR (AWESOME) AGENT JUDGE!

Irene Goodman has been a leading member of the publishing community for over 30 years. She has sold more than 1,500 books and counting. Her clients are regulars on the New York Times, USA Today, Publishers Weekly, and Bookscan bestseller lists. She began her career as the assistant to the agent who represented Stephen King, and established her own agency shortly after that. Her fiction list includes upmarket women’s fiction, middle grade, young adult, thrillers, historical fiction, and mysteries. Her nonfiction list includes pop culture, Jewish interest, science, self-help, Francophilia, and lifestyle.

Irene has written columns and articles for a number of writers’ publications, and is also a frequent speaker at writers conferences, including keynoting at the Historical Novelists Society and Novelists Ink., and workshops at the San Francisco Writers Conference, the Surrey International Writers Conference, the Pacific Northwest Writers Conference, SEAK, the South Carolina Writers Workshop, Malice Domestic, and many regional events. Originally from the Midwest and still trying to lose the accent, Irene has a B.A. and a master’s degree from the University of Michigan. She and her husband divide their time between New York and the Berkshires, and have two grown children.

WHAT TO SUBMIT (AND OUR SOCIAL MEDIA REQUIREMENTS)

The first 150-300 words (i.e., your first double-spaced page) of your unpublished, completed women’s fiction novel. You must include a contact e-mail address with your entry and use your real name. Also note your city of residence (i.e. — the city you live in, not your full address). Submit the title of the work and a logline (one-sentence description of the work) with each entry. Self-published novels are not eligible.

Please note:  To be eligible to submit, you must mention this contest twice through any any social-media. Please provide a social-media link or Twitter handle or screenshot or blog post URL, etc., with your official e-mailed entry so the judge and I can verify eligibility. Some previous entrants could not be considered because they skipped this step! In short, simply spread the word twice through any means and give us a way to verify you did; a TinyURL for this link/contest for you to easily use is http://tinyurl.com/jje3qaw

An easy way to notify me of your sharing is to include my Twitter handle @chucksambuchino at the end of your mention(s) if using Twitter. If we’re friends on FB, tag me in the mention. If you are going to just use Twitter as your 2 entries, please wait one day between mentions to spread out the notices, instead of simply tweeting twice back to back. Thanks. (Please note that simply tweeting me does not count. You have to include the contest URL with your mention; that’s the point. And if you use Twitter, put my handle @chucksambuchino at the middle or the end, not at the very beginning of the tweet, or else the tweet will be invisible to others.)

Here is a sample TWEET you can use (feel free to tweak): New FREE contest for writers 
of Women’s Fiction http://tinyurl.com/jje3qaw Judged by agent @igagency, via @chucksambuchino