I did something quirky today after work. I walked around the corner from the Marriott where I'm staying (of course) and toddled on down to The Slippery Noodle, a blues joint in Indianapols, known for its fabulous history, great music and somewhat crappy food. I'm a  big fan of the Blues, raw emotion, coupled with great rhythms. Oooooo! That's so nice.

The place has quite a history. Built in 1850 as The Tremont Hotel, (an original sign still hangs there) it was the first German Clubs in Indianapolis. In the 1860's the name was changed to the Concordia House, then the Germania House until World War I. It was used as a stagecoach stop,then railroad stop for passengers. It has a rich history with the Underground Railroad as a slave santcuary. Slaves were hidden in underground tunnels, which I had the opportunity to go through. Other names for the place were Beck's Salon and during prohibition it was named Moore's Beer Tavern.

Gangsters like the Brady and Dillinger gangs hung out here, using the back of the building for target practice. Bullets are still lodged there. The present owners are Harold and Lorean Yeagy. The Noodle has been in their family since 1963. Live Blues is played seven nights a week with two bands on the weekends.

It once had 14 luxurious rooms and was used as a brothel. Stayed that way until 1953 when two men fought over a certain woman. She was killed. The kife used, stabbed into the wooden bar. The mark is still there. Ti roof, original backbar. Quite a site for those who love architecture.The basement of the Noodle had been used to distill liquor during prohibition. Cattle and pigs were slaughtered there as well. It's used as storage now.

One of the most interesting things I learned from the staff was that the Noodle has two ghosts. Bonified. George is a black Civil War Soldier. He lives in the basement. He used to shovel coal so when people actually see him they all describe him the same, covered with ash. A delivery man popped in the back door and headed down to the basement with supplies. He flipped on the light-- you guessed it, George was standing there. He dropped everything and bolted up the stairs. He never delivered there again.

They even had a paraormal specialist come in because they had this one spot in the basement gravel floor that never dried. It was a wet even when there was no rain or water leakage. The person they brought in was told nothing before they moved to the basement. When the person reached the room where the spot was, they stopped. They told the owner to quit walking on the dirt floor, as someone or something was buried there. They gave the Noodle a choice. Dig it up and move elsewhere or leave it where it was and cement over the floor. The cement looks petty good!

The other ghost is Sarah. She been spotted a few times. Everyone gives the same description Long, dark hair. A blue dress. She's in the balcony overlooking the stage in the back part of the building.

Anyway, a couple of years ago, a couple asked if they could have a private wedding on the stage in the back room. Bride. Groom. Limo Driver, photographer and pastor. After the ceremony, the photographer asked  if the owner knw who the lady was in the balcony watching the wedding. She wore a blue dress. The owner told the photographer it was someone who came to the Noodle....a lot.

Great history!

Just as I'm ready to get back to my writing at the Marriott, in comes five women. A bit older than I am, but big smiles, self-assured and quite beautiful. I watched them move through the Noodle. Confident. Laughing. Movingtheir arms to te music pumping from the juke box.I had to follow them, hear their story. They met each other in Marikesh and since get together on a regular basis. Travelling. Living la vida loca! How wonderful to see people clinging to the rich life we've been given! You go girls!

Now I've got to run tonight. I've got an early flight! I rambled, but should be back on track by tomorrow!

Put Emotion to Work For You

 I got to visit with Krista, the daughter of a good friend and her two little boys tonight. It took me back to the day that my friend Deb and I shared the news that she was pregnant with Krista. I had found out that I was pregnant with Tate, just months before she had found out about Krista, so I was already bursting. I remembered everything about the day Deb told me. The excitement was pressed into her face. A girl. Sweet and precious, smelling like baby powder, all giggly and so full of smiles.

Today, I sat next to that woman with two little boys of her own, her belly swollen with a third child's coming. The excitement pressed into her face. Krista had become everything her mother wanted for her. Independent. Proudly beautiful. A loving mother and wife. A talented artist. And all of a sudden, I'm wanting to call Deb and tell her what a wonderful child Krista has grown to be! What happened to our babies?

My son calls me a short time later. We talk. I realize that he's no longer my little man. He's someone's husband, someone's friend. He's intelligent, a bit hot-tempered like his father used to be, a hard worker, a good man. I want to tell him that I ache for the little boy he was, but I don't. He's his own man now. I just pray he remembers the love that got him to that place.

I'm tired tonight. It's late and I've spent my night pounding the keys, first for work, then with my writing. I've been on the road a couple of weeks and I'm ready to go home. Don't feel sorry for me. I love what I do. Today I received a lot of encouragement, first from my mentor, Sarah Pritchard, my sister Sue, then a lovely note from a complete stranger. Life just doesn't get any better than this!

So for work today, remember that stories should move the reader. Feel it in your heart. Put it to paper. Edit. Edit. Edit.

I'm Back!

Whoa! A couple of days with good friends and sunshine and I'm almost renewed! Time off always ends too fast! This morning I was back on the plane and am in Indianapolis for work. I sometimes take for granted the beauty I see as I fly, the patchwork of land below me, the puffs of white cotton above me. Then I get whacked by the seat in front of me and I'm smelling the back of someone's head and realize, flying isn't so fun anymore, but I'm still lucky to love what I do!

For the next several days I'm in crunch time. I'm having my manusript read as we speak by a reading group in Des Moines. They have invited me up on Wenesday night to share their thoughts and critiques, which is any writers dream! I've aleady had a few good readers give me information that has made the manuscript better and better.

Balancing everything is tough, but again, I've so much to be grateful for. So for tonight here's an upcoming contest AND a website that you might enjoy! Get with it people! If I can do this, so can you!

Writer's Relief. They have some great information for writers and in this issue they talk about how to handle rejection. Ouch! http://www.writersrelief.com/blog/default.aspx

This is a MUST DO! It's the Summer 24 Hr. Contest that will take place in July. Entry fee is $5.00. The prompt is given on July 24 at noon. You must have the story turned in by July 25 at noon! I always have fun with this one! Usually under 1000 wrds too! http://www.writersweekly.com/misc/contest.php

Have a good week!

A Few Days of Rest

Just a quick note to let you know I may not post until Wednesday, April 28. I'm on a little R & R in Hilton Head! Watch for me then! Have a good few days!

This Week's Contest

The photo above is from the dental convention I'm attending in Minneapolis! The character was too cute!

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$15 ENTRY FEE

This week's contest comes from Funds For Writers. (You must subscribe!) Have fun!


SONORA REVIEW SHORT SHORT STORY CONTEST

A prize of $1,000 and publication in Sonora Review is given

annually for a short short story. Up to 1,000 words. Deadline

May 1, 2010.

http://sonorareview.com/contest



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Where Does a Story Come from?

First, the photos today are from out my window on the river in St Paul, Minnesota. Sure, I travel a lot, but this is usually what I get to see. Anything that is out the window of my car or hotel:)  I'll behere through Saturday!

Anyway, I had a woman ask me today, "Where do your stories come from?"  That's simple. They come from everywhere! I asked her to tell me  bit about her family.  She has a brother who was married to a woman who took him for every red cent he had, then ran off with a man who owned a B-B Que pit.

Right there I wrote down the tidbits of a comedic story.

Next she told me that she went to a Catholic school where the head nun liked to dance, while she took showers. Her mother went bald at 35 from using real "bleach" on her hair. (Yes she was a blonde.) Her father drove a milk truck. Her sister loved to dress as a man.

Can't you just see a hysterical story? She even had to laugh when I pointed it all out! Story ideas are all around us. Your best bet in remembering them is to cary a small notebook with you wherever you go and write own things you observe or hear. Eavesdrop on conversations. What people say might be great dialogue for your next book!

Keep looking at life. There's a story there!

How many Words Should I have for a Book?

First, the photos today, (most of them) are from my journey to Connecticut. I pulled over to the side of the road while I was on the campus of the University of Bridgeport and took them. It's a pretty campus along the water.

Okay, let's roll. I've always wondered how many words do you need to make a complete book? Well, according to several sources, including Writers Digest, here's an approximate count that publishers look for, taking into account that there are always exceptions.

Adult Novels: Commercial and Literary like romance, mystery, suspense, horror, literary & thrillers   Between 80,000 & 90,000 words

Science Fiction & Fantasy: 100,000-110,000 words

Middle Grade Books- Ages 9-12, 20,000-45,000 words

Picture Books- 500-600 words

Young Adult Books: 50,000-70,000 words

Westerns-50,000-80,000 words

Memoir- 80,000-90,000 words


So now you know,,,,,,,what's keeping you from writing?

On the Road ......Again!

Please note the photo today! It's a departure information board at Chicago O'Hare, my pass through home! Thought I'd start sharing some "where is Ginger? photos!

Willie Nelson has always been a country singer whose music, (not lifestyle) I enjoy. Today this song just seemed appropriate! I'm heading to Connecticut, overnight, the on to Minneapolis tomorrow! It takes a special breed of people to this job as it's hard on the body, (not that mine's great). But hose of us that do usually have great employers, (like I do) and have found something to keep them bust during the long waits. I write. Everyday. Something.

When I'm finished with a story, I edit. That means taking out words, putting in words, looking for cliches or anything that will make the story stronger. Well, I'm travelling last week and I have another writer tell me about a website called "Auto Crit". I went online at http://www.autocrit.com/ and WOW! I loved it!

You can paste in a sample of your writing and ask it to give you one of several reports, free to start with! I'd like to hear what you think of it!

P.S. Please note my tardiness, as I am now a day behind in postings!

Day of Rest

Just posted some of the photos from New Brunsick, Canada that hang over my writing desk. They have been a lot of the inspiration for my book. Note the photo above of cabins along the Tobique River. My grandparents, John & Ellen Lovean as well as assorted old pictures from Canada!

What  memories!

This week in Gingerland

This week's been a blur! Got home from Atlanta on Tuesday evening and left for Houston on Wednesday morning. Marriott's Hiltons', taxis, rental cars, United. Nice seat mates throughout this week.

One of things I find most exciting is how many "closet" writers are out there! I met a lovely woman at the airport in Atlanta who kindly offered me a seat at her table when the restaurant was full. We chatted a while about things women do. I told her about my writing. She shared with me that she has a friend who's just published a book and loves to have readers. We shared information and I hope to have contact with him soon, as I know how valuable honest critiques can be. Writers are wonderful about helping each other out!

This month in More magazine, Norris Church Mailer, widow of the great writer Norman Mailer, had a cutting of her new memoir "A Ticket to the Circus" which has just been released. I've listened to parts of the book being read during residency at Wilkes University and love Norris's brutal honesty and humor in the way she writes about her life. If you have a chance pick up the book. I don't think you'll be disappointed!

Last night here in Houston, (I go home in the morning) I had an opportunity to visit with some real "Southern Ladies" from the University of Texas. Being the "new kid" on the block in the field of insurance I'm working in, I can often be left out of so much. But these ladies, Yvette and Tricia were so special. They shared parts of there lives with me, sat with me as we ate and genuinely made me feel a part of the program. Yvette lost her 10 year old son to MS just last year, yet she was so encouraging to those around her. I am always honored to meet people with such strength. You can tell where it comes from immediately.

Tonight, I just turned in Round Three of Ten in "The Whittaker" writing contest. Wow, is this intense! There are about 35 fiction writers. We are scored in each round by a different judge which keeps things impartial. The scores run from 1-100. My friend Gray encouraged me along.

Round One, we both did very well. Round Two she kicked my butt. Round Three...we'll see! At the end of the contest in July, all scores will be tallied and the winner announced! Great fun!

Don't forget if you'd like a very short challenge, try next week's contest with Writers Weekly. It costs $5.00 to enter and starts at noon on Saturday, April 24. It ends at noon on Sunday, April 25. You MUST pre-register! Go to http://www.writersweekly.com/misc/contest.phpu !  At the appointed time (noon) you will receive a prompt (everyone gets the same one) and the word count (how many words you're allowed to use) and then you get to work! Make sure you follow the rules exactly and turn your work in on time!

Well, off to bed! It's been a long, productive day! Have a good one all!

Friday's Contest

First, the photo above is a sunrise in Texas through the trees. I love Spring!

I hope you are enjoying the contests I'm finding to share with you! No, I don't have time to enter everything I reccommend but I do take part in as many as I can. The "fee" associated with the contests goes toward the reading fee and contest prizes. These are reputable contests and can be trusted. Enjoy and good luck with your submissions! This week's comes from Hope Clarks site/Funds for Writers!



E.M. KOEPPEL $1,100 SHORT FICTION AWARD


http://www.writecorner.com/printable.asp

$15 ENTRY FEE

First Place Award: $1,100. Editors' Choices: $100 each. Maximum Length: 3,000 words. Stories must be unpublished. Deadline April 30, 2010. The winning short story and editors' choices will be published on www.writecorner.com . If the winning story is by anyone attending college, university, or school when the story is submitted, the winner will receive, in addition to the $1,100 award, the $500 P.L. Titus Scholarship.

Breaking Up is Hard to do

First, I'm in  Houston and the photos are of downtown (stock photos, not mine)!

For those of you out there that have secured an agent to sell your manuscript to a publisher, way to go! But what happens if you have a "nice" agent and they stop calling or keeping you informed of the hard work they are doing for you? Should you dump them? Should you hang on without the benefit of knowing what's happening? Here's some suggestions from Writers Digest to help you find an exit strategy from the agent who's forgotten you.

 If an agent seemes too busy to check in with you maybe they are:
  1. less experienced than you relaized
  2. have too many projects
  3. are dealing with personal issues

If you've allowed the agent a reasonable amount of time to sell your project, (4 to 6 months) contacting the agent and giving them notice that you'll be seeking other representation is not out of the ordinary.  Give them a 30 day notice, or the contract length of time you've both agreed to and move on!

Agents should give you regular reports about the progress they are making with your project and respond to any questions you might have. If they've not done that, maybe you've got the wrong agent! Don't feel guilty if they don't deliver on their promises. You've got a book to get published!

Make it or Break it Query Letters

First the photo today is from Marietta, Geogia. I was there yesterday at Life College. I can't get over the beauty of the Spring yet. I'm snapping photos of everything that's blooming!

Anyway, at the airport this morning (I'm in Houston until Sunday) one of my airport friends told me she had a friend that was starting to pay attention to this site. They write children's stories and had a question about "queries".

So here goes, Writing 101 on queries!

A query, as we learned yesterday, is just a letter you are writing to an editor to see if they might be interested in your story. Most editors and publishers require a query BEFORE sending your story or manuscript out. If you don't follow the rules, they will usually throw your story away. Not good.

So what's the best way to query? Let's take it in simple steps.

1. First, I think one of the easiest ways to figure out where to send a story is to visit your favorite book store or library. Look over the section of the "type" of book you have written. If it's a childrens book, look in the children's section. Find a story that seems simliar in length, then check to see who the publisher of the book is.

2. Look the publisher up on the web and type in the words "submission guidelines". They will tell you if you need to submit online, or by snail mail. Follow the rules to a tee or you won't get a response.

3. Write the letter. Keep it to one page. Don't tell them it's a wonderful story. Open with a short concise professional salutation. Give them "a hook" or something to sink their teeth into and want to read more. Most times if they can't get through the first paragraph they may not get through the whole letter.

4. Give them a short summation of the book. It does not have to be overly detailed, just the high points.

5. Give them any credentials you might have, such as anything you've had published, any contests you've won, that kind of thing. If you don't have any, say nothing.

6. Ask them if they'd be interested in looking at the manuscript. Give them an approximate word count and tell them if the manuscript is ready.

7. Close quickly and thank them for their time.

Samples of query letter can be found at http://freelancewrite.about.com/od/getpublished/a/samplequery.htm

Tomorrow I'll be leaving some information on agents actively looking for different genres!

Words Writers Need to Know

Every job has "lingo". So it is with writing. So here are a few words that you might need to learn. Sure, it's Writing 101, but trust me, it hasn't been so long ago that I had to ask! These descriptions came from Writer's Market!

Clip-a sample, usually from a newspaper or magazine, of a writer's published work. (It's good to have these when you submit a query)

Literary Fiction-The general category of fiction which employs more sophisticated technique, driven as much or more  by character evolution than action in the plot.

Commercial fiction-To the writer of literary, or serious, fiction, style and technique are often as important as subject matter. Commercial fiction however, is written with the intent of reaching as wide an audience as possible and is sometimes called "genre" fiction.

Genre-A formulaic type of fiction such as romance, western or horror.

Proposal- An offer to write a specific work, usually consisting of an outline of the work and one or two completed chapters.

Query- A letter written to an editor to elecit interest in a story the writer wants to submit.

SASE- self addressed stamped envelope

Slush pile-A stack of unsolicited manuscripts in the editorial offices of a publisher.

Synoposis-A brief summary of a story, novel or a play. As part of a book proposal, it is a comprehensive summary condensed in a page or page and a half.

Unsolicited manuscript-A story or novel manuscript that an editor did not specifically asked to see.


These are simple terms, but you need to get familiar with them before you make a mistake with an editor!

A New Website to get you Going!

I'm forever watching for websites that have interesting information that will help me in my writing. I found this site today. It lists prompts and encourages writers to write for just 15 minutes a day. There are stories on it you can read as well as encouragement for those who are "closet" writers! Try it! Sign up because it's free!


http://www.fifteenminutesoffiction.com/


And one more thing! For my new friend  Mary Ann, here's a website for children's fiction, contests, etc. from a very reputable publisher! Give it a try!

http://www.harpercollinschildrens.com/

A New Roommate

For those of you that know me, our son Tate is in the Coast Guard. He and his lovley bride, Amanda are beng transfered to Kodiak Island, Alaska. Well, we have four granddogs and they can only take two. Miss Amara, the oldest of the dogs and the smalest will be staying behind at Elaine's and Gerald's, Amanda's parents. Bella, the baby and Triton, the bully are going with the kids to Alaska.

Michael just returned from Alabama with the biggest of the dogs, Chauncey!  We'll have him until the kids get settled, then we'll return him. Today we bought dog items, food bowls, water bowls, a dog kennel for the garage, toys, beds, you know, all the "grandkid" things.

Above is his first photo.  He's laying in the box the kennel came in. Look down along the side of this blog and you'll see his new garage kennel (which he'l l probably never be in.) He's going to be great company for us, but we know the kids are missing him already. Isn't it great being a parent and helping out when you can?

This Week's Contest

It seems that there are some wonderful contests going on for those who want to try and win some money. Here's one I've had some luck with. Enjoy!

NEW MILLENIUM WRITING AWARDS
http://www.newmilleniumwritings.com/awards.php

$17 entry fee
$1000 1st Prize for best poem, best fiction, best non-fiction, best short-short fiction. Non-fiction includes humor, memoir, creative nonfiction, travel, opinion, essay, interview, features, investigative reporting. Deadline June 17, 2010. Prose no lonher than 6,000 words. Short fiction no more than 1,000 words. Poetry up to 3 poems and 5 pages. Twenty poetry finalists will be published.

Home Really is Where the Heart is

First, the photo today was taken by my Aunt Georgie many years ago in Saint John, New Brunswick, Canada. I have it posted over my writing desk as a reminder of Canada, a simple place that holds memories of a place I still call "home."

Though this past two weeks I've been in Houston, Texas, Atlanta, Georgia and just in and out of Bridgeport, Connecticut between last night and today,  home is where I want to be.

Travelling can be tough on you as a writer. Working, trying to hit deadlines and still have a clear mind to read and write isn't easy, but I am so blessed to have a supportive husband and family and a great job, so I'm not complaining.

But somebody should feel a bit sorry for me. I got the the airport in White Plains, New York, now come on, there's one thing, New York! Anyway, I'm standing behind a grown man who's wearing pajamas. No joke! Pajamas!  And he's got on Birkenstocks with red socks. Who dresses him?

I go through security and a woman takes off her jacket, because security tells her she has to. She only has a bra on! Now for those of you not well travelled, you don't have to do that. You just tell them you only have a bra on and they'll let you keep your coat on... that's if your a woman. So there I am, following a woman with only a bra on. The guard is slack-jawed, but by the time he closed his mouth she was through security and didn't even blink an eye! 

Next, I get on the plane and wedge myself into the ever-shrinking seat and wait for the door to close, hoping that the seat next to me will go empty. By now, most of you know my luck. Here he comes, all 437lbs of him and jams himself into the seat next to me. I'm trying to be polite and ask him if it might be more comfortable for him if I put up the arm rest between us. Dirty look. I do it anyway. Big mistake. He oozes into my seat, pressing me into the window. Literally.

Long story short. Try flying 2 hrs with your face pressed against the dirty window of a small plane, (no choice of your own) all the while, the big man continues to spead like oleo over the seats .Then  he pretends that its NOT him sending an odor like an old dog who ate rotting sausage into the air. I take it as long as I can, watching him bob up and down every time he had to poof, then finally said to him, "Hey! I can smell you over here, you know!" It was ugly. No it didn't stop.

Anyway, made it home safe. Got the manuscript out to the book club and am awaiting comments. It's a good day!

Trying to Get Published?

  Maybe you're like most writers and have some short stories,  a completed manuscript, play or poetry and you want to get it out into the world. Some of the good advice I've received so far is simple and I'm happy to share it!

1. Send a query letter BEFORE you send a complete project. A query letter is a short introduction to your story to ask if the publisher is interested in taking a look at the complete project. (We'll speak more of this at another time,)

2. Address the query to a particular person. No one wants to receive a query addressed to "Dear Sir or Madam". Do your due diligence in finding out who the right person is.

3. If the publisher has an 800 number, don't use it. Call directly. Most 800 numbers are for subscription information only.

4. Be brief. One page will do.

5. Don't brag. Just offer up the product and ask if they'd be interested.

These are just a few of hundreds of good tips for your first journey into the publishing world. Try taking a poem or short story or even a good blog you've written and then go to your favorite bookstore and look at magazines that might fit the type of story you have. Most magazines publish stories from 300 to 2500 words. Find your fit. Look for the editor of the magazine, then try to pitch it in one page to the editor.

You might even surprise yourself by getting published!

What's a Protagonist or an Antagonist?

In any story there is a good guy and a bad guy. That's the easy definition to the question posed to me by an acquaintance. More than that the protagonist is the main character of any story, the one the reader learns to sympathize with (most often). But protagonists can be depressing, flawed or troubled as well. They can be the person we love to hate. No matter what, they tend to be the lead character in our stories or plays. They can be the narrator or storyteller of the book as well.

On the other hand then, the antagonist is the person or thing that opposes the protagonist. They are the enemy of sorts, the one who puts up the barriers for our main character.

Just learning the simple terms like this helps a writer understand where his character is coming from. In my book, Emily Evans is my lead characer or protagonist.  There are several antagonists. Her father, Denny, her mother Maureen and her own anger which all unite to keep her from giving in to her faith.

Hope this helps a bit! Have a good week!

A Place to Be

One thing I have learned during the past year is the importance of having a "place" to write. Before we moved into the spacious condo we have lived in since last July, we lived in a very small historic home in the center of town. The town we live in is Dutch, complete with windmills and tulips and canals.

In the little house my husband made me a space at the top of the stairs in a nook originally used for acloset. The walls were pine, the ceiling was slanted and very small. But there was a window that looked to the bustling sidewalk below and a desk with a wall in front of it I had plastered with photos and scriptures and  sayings that encouraged me to write.

Now I have a spacious loft, all in white with four huge bookcases and two desks that houses two computers and two leather chairs and overlooks a street where people pass every few minutes.

What difference does it make? None. Just carve a space out of somewhere where you make a committment to write whether it is in a journal, your bible or on your computer. Its about making the committment to read then write.

When I go to my writing place, my sweet husband knows I mean business and gives me the quiet time I need. So today, carve out the place you need to read, to write or to study.  Now get to it!

Have you thought about a Book Club?

For those of you who have read a lot or even a little, do you realize that your local library is a wealth of information for Book Clubs? After a little prodding from one of my writing buddies, I got ahold of our public library and found out there are four local book clubs where I live! I've joined one. We meet the first Monday of the month and discuss a preassigned book.

It's a wonderful time to get to know other readers and for writers it can be one of the greatest outlets you have for your work! I'm taking my completed manuscript to a Book Club in Des Moines on Wednesday for their unbiased critique! They don't know me, but ar excited to be part of this process, so I know I'll get honest ideas to make the story even better!

If you're not open to mixing it up with a group, try this website for an online Book Club!
http://www.WritersDigestBookClub.com

Scholarship for Creative Writers

I'm deviating from my daily "list". I found this scholarship for Creative Writers. It has a deadline, so want you to have a chance at it! This goes for some of you who never though you'd ever write anything! Come on, give it a go! Have fun!


The Peter K. Hixson Memorial Scholarship for Creative Writers
http://www.writersrelief.com/peter-k-hixson-writing-scholarship.aspx


How The Scholarship Will Be Awarded

Three writers will each receive two rounds of A La Carte PLUS submissions valued at approximately $450 per scholarship (cannot be redeemed for cash value).

Our A La Carte PLUS service includes cover or query letter creation and targeting to 25+ literary agents or journals. If you are not familiar with our A La Carte PLUS Service, click here. Winners will receive two rounds of A La Carte PLUS submissions, with the creation of ONE cover or query letter to be applied to both rounds of submissions. We hope to make Peter proud in our commitment to his artistic ideals and dreams.

Three awards will be made, one in each of the genres that Peter submitted with Writer’s Relief:

•Novel and Memoir
•Short Prose (Short Story or Creative Personal Essay)
•Poetry
No other genres are applicable.

Winners will be selected by the Writer’s Relief Review Board based on 1) strength of writing sample, 2) strength of personal statement, 3) financial or other need.


Who Is Eligible To Apply

All writers are welcome, but early- to mid-career writers are especially encouraged to apply. To honor Peter’s too-brief career in creative writing, preference will be given to writers who have not necessarily been widely published, but who demonstrate exceptional technique, voice, and perspective.

Here's an upcoming contest!

Right now, I'm not involved with as many contests as I'd like to be, due to the editing process of my manuscript. Everyone who's gone through this process understands when I say that I'm at the "I just want this thing done!" stage. I'm being pretty picky right now with my time, but here's a contest that is due on April 11 you might be interested in!

5th Annual Warren Adler Short Story Contest
www.warrenadler.com

Stories can be no longer than 2500 words. A $15 entry fee is required.
Subject matter is open to the author.
1st Prize $1000
Peoples Choice Award $500
Three finalists: $150 each

Go on! Give it a chance!