By the end of January, if you have at least 30 new ideas, you can sign the STORYSTORM PLEDGE and possibly win some PRIZES! How awesome is that? Check out the first post here!
This challenge focuses on writing 85,000 words in 90 days. You have to commit to 1,000 words, every day, for three months. Some writers will write more in one day. The 90-day time frame gives writers time to catch up if another commitment interrupts them.
April is the first of three 30-Day editing months. This means you have a month in April to finish up your project before the editing phase that begins on May 1st.
Learn more here! Shout out to my friend, Rebecca, for sending me the link 🙂
I hope you guys have a blast with these two challenges! I’m excited and have already written 1,000 words on a new project about a lace maker in the 1880’s 🙂 ❤
Hi dear friends, today is the last day of #24DaysofWriting. I hope you were inspired to write some wacky and fun short stories. I know I have 🙂
Check out today’s submission opportunity.
World Weaver Press
GLASS & GARDENS: SOLARPUNK WINTERS Open for Submissions: January 1 – March 1, 2019 Publication: January 2020 Length: up to 8,000 words
Solarpunk is a type of eco-aware science fiction. It imagines a hopeful future founded on renewable energies. Solarpunk stories show how we adapted to climate change or how we overcame it.
For this anthology, World Weaver Press want stories that take place in winter. Read more here!
Happy Writing
Thanks for joining me this month! I hope you’ve written heaps and had fun brainstorming.
Hi dear friends, there are only two more days left of this blog series. Thanks for joining me ❤
Today’s submission opportunity is for Havok. They are an ezine, and seek flash fiction. Keep reading to learn more 🙂
Havok Publishing
Havok looks for memorable, and well-edited fiction between 300-1,000 words. It can be across a variety of genres. Science fiction, comedy, thriller, and fantasy. They want stories that take people away from daily troubles, bringing them into a new world.
Recycle – February 2019
Submissions are open now for this opportunity. This is an interesting prompt and they explain it well on their website.
They aren’t looking at recycling in the way we usually think of it. Think outside the box. They gave a few examples on their website. Why is Jack the Ripper collecting organs, how do the fae turn baby’s laughter into magic? Whose stealing your newspaper and swapping it with paper mache swans?
Strange, eh? It’s going to be a fun opportunity. March’s theme is: Relocate. Both February and March are open for submissions.
I wrote this short story for the Weird Christmas flash fiction contest. I wanted to continue the story of my characters, Beira and the stag. You may have met them in The Winter Crone.
What happens to Beira and Alaor when they find Santa Claus? Who do they unexpectedly discover behind the fluffy beard :)?
Enjoy ❤
Santa’s Secret
The white stag hated Christmas lights.
It reminded him of the dreary Hallmark movies his mistress enjoyed so much. She wept and scratched her watering nose at every cheesy ending while he wondered when the filmmakers would hire a better writer.
His mistress begged to differ.
“What are you brooding about now, Alaor?”
Beira, the Winter Goddess, leaned towards him and draped an arm around his neck. “I can see that scowl from a mile away.”
“Why is he here?” Alaor asked. “Parading around as the jolly Santa Claus?”
Beira shrugged. “Your guess is as good as mine. I thought I got him for good. Maybe my Granny magic didn’t work.”
She sniggered to herself but Alaor shook his great head, upsetting a child carrying a tray of hot chocolates. He hardly regarded the spilled brown liquid or the tears in the boy’s eyes. Beira leaned down to help the little boy.
Alaor had greater matters on his mind.
Jolly St. Nick. The stag wanted to rush in and spear the bugger in the belly with his antlers.
If the children only knew who was really behind the mask.
Beira popped back up and flicked his ear gently. He didn’t look away from the imposter. Her gaze softened as she regarded him a moment too long. “Stop worrying.”
“I’m not worrying,” he snapped before stalking forwards through the evergreen decorated gate.
Passersby’s exclaimed as they took in his majestic white coat and amber antlers. A little girl darted forwards, a dingy carrot in her hand.
“Beira,” he snarled, and she laughed in ringing booms before swooping down to catch the little girl’s arm.
“That’s so sweet of you but my friend doesn’t like carrots. He’s – um – allergic.”
Alaor snorted, streams of white clouds exiting his nostrils. Trying to feed him like a second-rate mule. He was the Winter Goddess’ protector.
“Hmph.”
Beira sunk her fingers into his fur and purred, “Don’t be so uptight. They think you’re pretty.”
Alaor choked and she nudged him forwards, grinning. “Come on. We need to go see Santa.”
He followed his Winter Goddess before stopping at once.
Santa sat on a scarlet velvet chair. However, behind the white beard and embarrassing red broadcloth, the Sun King glared at him and Beira.
“You tried to kill me,” he grunted.
Alaor raised an eyebrow at the Sun King and his ridiculous disguise.
“Least you managed to survive, Santa. I’ll make sure to pay a visit to the North Pole. Looks like you’re in my realm now,” Beira said sweetly.
The late Sun King gritted his teeth and Alaor stamped his hooves.
How are there only four days left of this blog series and five days until Christmas?! Where has this month gone?
How are you all making out? I would love to hear what you worked on this month. On the last day of this series, I’ll show a tally of what I finished.
Mslexia Magazine
Today’s submission opportunity is for an online magazine, Mslexia.
This magazine includes interviews, news, reviews, grants, and competitions. It’s read by beginners and top authors. It’s an amazing magazine for women who write. They aim to promote established and new voices.
Themed Writing
They ask for theme prose and poetry twice a year. Winners are selected by guest editors and are sent a small payment.
Mslexia seeks stories up to 2,200 words, poems up to 40 lines long, and short scripts up to 1,000 words. This includes character names and stage instructions. They only accept four poems, two short stories, and two short scripts per entrant.
Issue 82: Clothes
For this submission, send poems or stories on the theme of clothes. Costumes, uniforms, clothes of the future compared to clothes from the past, are a few examples. You could write about the material, sewing, etc. Read more about the theme here.
Send it by March 11th, 2019.
Good Luck
Happy writing, friends! Let me know what you’re working on in the comments below ❤
Only ten days left! How are you all making out with these prompts? So far I’ve finished Weird Christmas, Dreaming Robot Press MG story, Iceland story, 2 poems for Blue Mountain Arts, and the self-acceptance piece.
I’ve really enjoyed dabbling in different genres. So fun!
Magical Mail Writing Contest
Write a letter for Legendary Letters! The letter should be around 3-4 paragraphs long, and 200-300 words each. You’re going to choose a character and holiday on their website.
Submissions are due December 15th at 11:59pm PST. Check out their website for more details 🙂
Cast of Wonders
This is a young adult short fiction market. They are open to stories up to 6,000 words long. They seek fiction that reflects the entire spectrum of human experience.
Submission Guidelines
Submissions must be anonymous.
They’re looking for stories that evoke wonder, are a little unreal, and resonate emotionally and deeply. They aim for the 12-17 age range.
Interestingly enough, the stories are presented in audio format! Readers cannot skim past ‘boring bits’. Cast of Wonders looks for stories that have well-defined characters, engaging dialogue, and strong pacing.
They love high fantasy. Elves, secondary worlds, magic, and dragons! They also love modern, alternate history, and urban fantasy. They like science fiction like near and far future, space opera. They must be accessible to their target audience.
They’ll accept comedy, paranormal romance, superheroes, and steampunk. It should all inspire a sense of wonder.
How are you making out? It’s been a little while since I last blogged. There was a picture book contest on Tuesday that I participated in. Turns out, picture books are a lot of fun to write but also super hard! I wrote an article for Wow Women that is going to be published on April 6th 🙂 Just found out two days ago and am so thrilled. I will post the link when it goes live.
Today I would like to talk about encouragement. Why encouraging others is so important and why receiving that encouragement is incredibly life giving, even when you have just received a rejection, slipped up, or have received terrible news.
Don’t give up.
I’m serious, please don’t let the darkness creep in and steal the light. Hold onto the promise that you will be okay, that there will be another opportunity coming your way. That even if you slipped up with whatever you are struggling with, it doesn’t mean the end for you, and it certainly does not define you. There is a new day. You will get through this.
I wanted to talk about encouragement because there have been so many contests lately and opportunities in the writing world. Some, I have managed to succeed in, and others, I was not chosen. The thing is – in writing and in life – this is going to happen all the time. What’s important is not letting this steal the joy of writing from you or knock the confidence from your core, but instead, you can learn how to gracefully accept the rejection and keep your head above the water. Allow yourself a moment to grieve or feel frustrated, but don’t stew in it.
My Mum always said, when one door closes, another will open.
Encourage others. In these moments when we feel dismay, a word of encouragement can mean the world to someone. I myself was on the receiving end of a word and it really lifted my spirits. I didn’t settle into a cloud of doubt and worry that I wasn’t good enough at writing and would never succeed.
You can do this ❤
What are you all doing this weekend? I can’t believe we are at the end of the month!
Also, just discovered a fun activity happening this April, for writers, if you would like to join, check this out:)
#WIPjoy is back for April!! All writers are invited for this month of fun. Remember to follow the hashtag and favorite/RT/comment on each other's posts to spread the writerly encouragement. Let's revitalize our creativity this spring! 🌿 pic.twitter.com/ODFZvBXW10
