New contest from Writer Mama

A new contest for writer mamas, writer papas, writer everybodies — you need not breed in order to win:
The Writer Mama, Christina Katz, is giving away a writing tool a day through her blog, The Writer Mama Riffs, every day for thirty days during the month of September. In addition to over thirty prizes such [...]

Get aboard the clue train

Guide to Literary Agents is running an occasional series called “Why Your Manuscript Can Get Rejected.” Parts 1, 2, and 3 are up. Some of the advice seems really basic, but look at it this way: If you’re not making the mistakes these experts are talking about, you’re way ahead of the pack!
Profligate use of [...]

VaBook 2008: Save the date!

I guess it’s official — there will be another Virginia Festival of the Book seven months from now. I received a postcard in today’s mail urging me to reserve a place at the Business Breakfast, Festival Luncheon, Crime Wave Mystery Luncheon, and/or Annual Authors Reception to be held March 26-29, 2008.
Reservations will be accepted by [...]

How to reject a short story

A rejection from VerbSap — but a nice rejection. It hurts a little to know I was close … On the other hand, I definitely feel as though they read my story with care, and I appreciate that.
Thank you again for submitting to VerbSap. “The Bandwagon” was close to the mark for us. The [...]

Cool contest from Gotham

Via Practicing Writing, a great newsletter/blog for writers — very practical and informative — a contest from Gotham Writers’ Workshop:
The Fall 2007 Contest
Dazzle us with a piece of writing that is no more than 100 words. You may use any topic and any form-fiction, nonfiction, or poetry. As Strunk and White say, “Vigorous [...]

Since everyone else is doing it….

Heck, yeah, I’m a visionary. And you can tell me anything.

Tip o’ the hat to Against the Glass and Wags Outside.

William Gibson: He’s everywhere!

William Gibson’s been in the news a lot lately, doing interviews for his new book, Spook Country. Unfortunately, one of his interviews was with the gratingly unpleasant Deborah Solomon of the New York Times. Book of Joe gives us the whole August 19 interview, which is already locked in the “Times Select” archives. As usual, [...]

Storyglossia to post new submission guidelines

An announcement from Storyglossia:
STORYGLOSSIA will close to new submissions on September 15th and reopen for submissions December 1st with new guidelines.
Wonder what the new guidelines will be.
Editor Steven McDermott publishes a great mix of new and experienced writers. Clifford Garstang had a story in a recent issue, check it out.

Bloomington does it again

National Geographic Adventure Magazine names Bloomington, Indiana, one of the 50 Best Places to Live. And which Central Virginia university happenin’ town is not on this list? Is there no justice in this world? Did I bring bad mojo when I moved here? Is it the gangs? The security cameras?
Surely not.

How not to reject fiction

Writers are always swapping rejection slip stories: The rejection that came on a teeny-weeny slip of paper, as though the editor could hardly stand the thought of wasting any tree pulp on us at all; the inscrutable rejection; the oddly worded rejection; und so weiter. The feeling in my critique group seems to be, if [...]

VABC wants to hear from you

From my inbox:

Hello VABC-News list,
Remember to mark on your calendar the evening of October 26 (5:30-8PM), when the 2007 “Raucous Auction” will be held at the Virginia Arts of the Book Center. It’s an annual evening filled with fun, food, and wine where we auction off true treasures: art prints, autographed books, broadsides, class discounts, [...]

A little taste of home

The Indiana State Fair, always a culinary leader, has banned trans fats from its concession stands. I know, there’s nothing wrong with a deep-fried Pepsi ball or a deep-fried Snickers Bar that eliminating trans fats is going to cure. I assume it’s just a PR move.
You don’t have to spend much time in Indiana to [...]

Update from me

If you’re wondering why I’m not posting at my usual blistering rate, it’s because I’ve been working my tail off at a local store. In the meantime, I’ve left some projects simmering on the burner: a review of Money for Nothing, a couple of classes, several borrowed books, Jamestown by Matthew Sharpe, and little things [...]

Shout-out: Augusta Free Press

Many thanks to the Augusta Free Press for adding me to their blogroll. Check ‘em out for Valley news.

Movie recommendation: Z by Costa-Gavras

I heartily concur with this review of Z by Ralph of CE Conversations. I saw it just recently myself, and thought it was terrific and very timely.