Soul Shelter First-Person Essay Contest

Win a generous cash prize for your writing--and get a shot at publication- -in the Soul Shelter First-Person Essay Award.

Submit your best 400-1,500 word first-person essay on the subject of balancing fortune and fulfillment for a chance to win a grand prize of U.S. $1,000 and publication on the Soul Shelter blog. Cash prizes totaling an additional $1,000 will be awarded to seven runners-up.

Every entry will be considered for publication online. There are no entry fees, and with all submissions made online, you won't even have to pay for postage.

Interested? Visit Soul Shelter to review contest rules, read the FAQ, and upload your entry by July 1, 2008.

Here's how to get started:
1. Review the Award Rules at http://www.SoulShel ter.org/
2. Write your entry (400-1,500 words in length).
3. Upload your entry using the form at SoulShelter. org

The Soul Shelter First-Person Essay Award will be judged by a team of published authors. This is not a vanity press, hence no entry fees--and no future solicitations for payments of any kind. Contact information provided by entrants will not be used in any way except to notify award winners, nor will it be shared with any third parties for any reason whatsoever.

Please do not contact the Soul Shelter authors regarding the contest; the Award is sponsored by Ideogram, LLC, an independent marketing resources firm in Portland, OR. Read the FAQ thoroughly before submitting your entry. Good luck! Ideogram LLC 4110 SE Hawthorne Blvd. No. 322 Portland, OR 97214 USA

Contest

I received this information today, and I thought it might be of interest to some writers reading this blog.

NEW ANGEL HORSES WITH A MISSION TRUE STORY CONTEST

The Power of Story to Change Hearts and Minds about the Treatment of Horses

The pros and cons of horse racing are being hotly debated because of Eight Belles' tragic death after this year's Kentucky Derby. Allen and Linda Anderson, authors of a popular anthology series that includes Angel Horses: Divine Messengers of Hope (New World Library,2006), are looking for true stories about equines that inspire rather than outrage animal lovers.

Their Angel Animals Network (www.angelanimals.net) is sponsoring the 2008 Angel Horse Contest to find the most thought-provoking horse stories and consider them for publication in their book, Angel Horses with a Mission (New World Library, Fall 2009). There are cash prizes and no entry fee. Complete contest rules and a downloadable entry form are at www.angelanimals.net/awards.html or write with SASE to 2008 Angel Horses Contest, POB 26354, Minneapolis, MN 55426.

Allen Anderson says, "By showing how the immense spirit, heart,and intelligence of horses enables them to fulfill a higher purpose, we hope the power of true stories will persuade people to challenge brutality and the practice of treating horses as disposable possessions. "

The Andersons suggest considering the following questions and entering the contest by writing about profound experiences: "Has a horse performed an act of compassion, protection, healing, or heroic courage? Have you had a miraculous or mystical experience with a horse? Did a horse lead you to finding your purpose in life? Do you know a horse who has taken on the mission of giving service?"

Good luck!

Anthologies looking for submissions

Here are three anthologies that are currently looking for submissions:

I am working on three projects and seeking content accordingly. 1. Shattered: Life After A Child's Death Stories of inspiration, strength and determination surrounding the challenging loss of a child. Pay for this project is $50-$200. Piece length 800-1400 words. Submissions, queries and questions can be directed to submissions. shattered@ gmail.com.

2. Angels on Earth Stories of Angels found in everyday life. Pay for this project is $50-$100. No stipulations placed on length currently. Submissions, queries and questions can be directed to submissions. bythefire@ gmail.com.

3. Everyday Heroes Stories of the ordinary doing something extraordinary. Pay for this project is $50-$100. No stipulations are placed on length. Submissions, queries and questions can be directed to submissions. bythefire@ gmail.com.

Website development is currently underway for By The Fire and Shattered. Pieces accepted could appear online or in print. The preferred method of payment is through paypal. Other arrangements are welcomed.Link: http://www.absolute write.com/ forums/showthrea d.php?t=98549

Freelance opportunity

I thought I'd pass this opportunity along...

OneNewsPlaza, a new interactive Web site that provides news analysis from a multi-cultural perspective is looking for freelancers of all experience levels who can contribute content about topics including politics, education, business, personal finance, health, entertainment and more.

All writers will work with editors in One News Plaza's Los Angeles office by phone and e-mail to produce compelling stories interpreting major news events and social trends for a diverse audience. Candidates must be able to report and write independently, meet deadlines and pitch their own story ideas. We expect all writers to provide links to primary documents and related websites with their stories. The ability to produce multimedia elements, such as video or photos, to go with stories, is a plus.

Send cover letter, resume and samples to Darrell Williams - Info@OneNewsPlaza. com

Ghostwriting

Ghostwriting is a viable option for freelance writers. If you are unaware of what ghostwriting is, it's where a writer writes something for someone else, but does not get the credit for his or her work (usually). Instead, someone else, usually the person who requested the writing will take credit for the work. It is not unheard of for famous individuals who are not in the profession of writing to have ghostwriters write books for them.

If you are interested in trying your hand at ghostwriting, you can try visiting and posting articles on the following sites.

www.dailyarticle.com
www.constant-content.com

Each of these websites allows authors to post articles and blog entries on the site and customers to purchase the writings for their site or blog. The customer is not required to give the writer credit when purchasing from these sites.

A Cup of Comfort for Adoptive Families

A Cup of Comfort for Adoptive Families

The primary purpose of this book is to celebrate adoptive families and to recognize the extraordinary and challenging experiences that are unique to "chosen children" and their families. We are most interested in stories written by adult adoptive children and their adoptive parents and siblings, but the book will also likely include some stories written by members of the extended adoptive family (grandparent, aunt/uncle, cousin), close friends of the adoptive family (i.e. godparent), and birth family members. Virtually any topic relevant to adopted children and their adoptive parents is acceptable-as long as it is authentic, positive, insightful, and uplifting or inspiring. We do not want heartbreaking stories about adoptive parents or birth families that regret the adoption; there is a place for stories of that ilk, but this book is not that place. All of the stories in this collection must show a positive aspect of adoption and must bring comfort or joy or inspiration to those who have been adopted and/or to the families who adopted them-no matter how difficult the experience and emotions portrayed in the story might be.Submission Deadline: 6/15/2008for full details: http://www.cupofcom fort.com/ share.htm

Access, Acclaim, Achievement Screenwriting Contest

The Access, Acclaim, Achievement Contest, sponsored by Creativescreenwriting is awarding over $22,700 in prizes!

Click here for the complete prize list.

These are the contest's rules and guidelines.

Good luck!

Achieving Blogging Success

Yaro Stark is an extremely talented blogger who shares his tips for successful blogging with other bloggers who want to attain success in blogging.

Yesterday, he sent out a newsletter, which details how having the right mindset can help you achieve success. He asserts our mindset can be a great asset or a great roadblock in our blogging success.

He also recognizes that not only do you have to believe you can be a successful blogger, you almost must have a vision for your blog as well as strategies and tactics for making your blog popular in order to achieve success in the world of blogging.

To subscribe to his blogging tips newsletter, please visit: http://www.blogmastermind.com/.

Family Circle's 2008 Fiction Contest

Family Circle's annual fiction contest begins on March 1st.

Please visit their website for official rules: http://www.parents.com/parents/story.jsp;jsessionid=UYUVASFOPGVHJQFIBQNSBHQ?page=8&storyid=/templatedata/fc/story/data/1201811338481.xml.

Participants may submit two pieces of fiction each.

Good luck!

Wisconsin Regional Writers Association

The Wisconsin Regional Writers Association is currently holding two conctests: the Florence Lindemann Humor Contest and the Al P. Nelson Feature Article Contest.

Each contest's deadline is March 15th.

You may find the rules for each contest at: http://www.wrwa.net/.

Good luck!

Logical-Lust - Romance and Erotica Market

This summary is not available. Please click here to view the post.

Society of Southwestern Authors Writing Contest

Someone who is part of the organization that does this contest every year sent this along to me.

Society of Southwestern Authors Writing Contest deadline: May 31, 2008.

Poetry – 40 lines max
ShortStory – 2500 words max
Personal Essay/Memoirs - 2500words max
Short Stories for Children Ages 6- 12 –1500 words max.

Cash awards each category: First -$300; Second -150, Third - $75.00, Honorable Mention -$25.00. Winning entries published in The Story Teller.Entry fee: $10.00 per entry.

Entry forms/requirementsavailable online: http://www.ssa-az.org/.
Or send SASE to SSAWriting Contest, Entry Forms Dept. PO Box 35484,Tucson, AZ 85740

Teen book project

"Out of Control" --Teen Anthology PAY: $100I am just looking for uplifting stories about how teenagers see theworld. What was done right and what was done wrong, from theirviewpoint. How did things work out for them? The stories should be fromin the approximate range of 600 words to 6000 words. Illustrations canbe included also as part of the story. For each story used, a fee of$100 will be paid. Also, when published, I would like to send you acopy of the book for taking the time to help. The idea is only to have teensand young adults see that they are not the only ones that certainthings have happened to and also how people worked through things. This willgive each and everyone of us relief. The whole project is a non-profitproject. Any money made will go first to publishing the book, then backto projects for teens. People who have already helped on this projecthave done so through pure love of kids. No one involved with thisproject expects any personal gain for any efforts made. The whole ideais teens to help teens. Send submissions to Eve Willner atmailto:eve@evewillner. comThe Toastmaster magazinePAY: $450Published monthly for approximately 226,000 members in 11,500 clubsworldwide. Therefore, it’s important that all articles are gearedtoward an international audience. We welcome submissions from members andfreelancers living outside North America! All submissions must be inEnglish, however. Our readers are knowledgeable and experienced publicspeakers; therefore we accept only authentic, well-researched andwell-crafted stories. Show, don’t tell! Use sources, quotes fromexperts and other research to back up your views. The best articles have style,depth, emotional impact and take-away value to the reader. A potentialfeature article needs an unusual hook, compelling story or uniqueangle.Profiles of colorful, controversial, historically significant, amusing,unusual or unique people are welcome, but keep in mind that our readerslive in 90 different countries, so stay away from profiles of Americanpresidents or sports figures. We pay up to $450 for an article, but wedon’t automatically offer payment for all articles we accept. Paymentvaries depending on the article’s value to us. Please review ourWriter’s Guidelines below before you submit your article. When you areready to send it, please e-mail it tomailto:Submissions@ toastmasters. org. http://www.writerga zette.com/ sendstudio/ users/link. php?UserID= 947&Newsletter= 145&List= 1&LinkType= Send&LinkID= 5711sent by Liana Metalhttp://LianaMetal. tripod.comLiana MetalReviewer/Writer/ Artisthttp://LianasKerkyr a.blogspot. comhttp://LianaMetal. tripod.com

AMY Magazine

ARMY Magazine submission guidelines may be found at this link:
http://www.ausa.org/webpub/DeptArmyMagazine.nsf/byid/KGRG-6CUQGV

This came in on a paying writers jobs list I'm on and I thought I'd make my readers aware of it here as well:

www.thedabblingmum.com is looking for articles and stories to publish with aChristian undertone. Here's what they say about themselves:We welcome both new and veteran writers (men and women alike). We're reallyinterested in originals and reprints that have not been blasted all over theInternet. And unlike many websites that have gone to non-paying status,we're a paying market!

The Dabbling Mum pays on acceptance, not onpublication.

*ARTICLE LENGTH*Keep articles between *500 and 1500 words* or specified length for currenttopics being accepted.

*RESPONSE TIME*We do our best to respond with at least a form letter *within 8 to 16 weeksof submission*.* Please note: No matter how reliable we like to believe technology is, itsometimes fails. If you feel there's a chance your article didn't go throughthe submission form, don't hesitate to drop us an email via our back-upemail account.

*DEMOGRAPHICS*To learn more about our demographics, clickhere<http://thedabblingmum.com/advertising/stats.htm>.

*PAYS ON ACCEPTANCE*Acceptance means when we receive the final draft of your article and approveit for publication.Payment is mailed within 32 days from the time we say your piece is readyfor publication.Checks are written and mailed last day of each month.Article fee and publication rights are non-negotiable.

*Payment*: U.S. dollars in the form of a business check. - a *byline -- under five sentences, including one web address and business name;* - 99 x 125 pixel .jpg *headshot* of author; - an *active link* back to the author's website.

Blue Mountain Greeting Cards

We are looking for highly original and creativesubmissions on friendship, family, special occasions, positive living,and other topics one person might want to share with another person. Submissions may also be considered for inclusion in book anthologies. We pay $300 per poem for all rights to publish it on a greeting cardand $50 if your poem is used only in an anthology. To request a copy of our writer's guidelines (which includescontact/submission information) , please send a blank e-mail towritings@sps. com with "Send Me Guidelines" in the subject line. Youcan also visit our Web site at www.sps.com.

For blogging services, please contact me at: miniemedia@gmail.com.

Guidelines for Pottery Magazine Illustrated

Submission guidelines for Pottery Magazine Illustrated can be found here.

Good luck!

For blogging services, please contact me at: miniemedia@gmail.com.

European Courier Submission Guidelines

The European Courier seeks submission about legal and political issues. They pay $50 for a 1200-1400 word article. They have subscribers from several countries.

Their writer's guidelines can be viewed here.

For blogging services, please contact me at: miniemedia@gmail.com.

Military Magazine Guidelines

The Military Officers Association of America publishes the Military Officer magazine monthly. Its audience is those serving in the military and their families.

Guidelines for the magazine can be found on-line here.

For blogging services, please contact me at: miniemedia@gmail.com.

Are Content Sites All They Seem to Be?

A lot of writers enjoy writing for content sites such as Associated Content, Constant Content, Helium, etc. because the sites offer fast cash and/or a lot of exposure to your work. Please read the following post from Writer Beware Blogs for some things you should consider when deciding whether or not to write for a content site.

At Last! Writer Beware Blogs! A.C. Crispin and Victoria Strauss Reveal All!: Victoria Strauss -- Content Site Cautions

For blogging services, please contact me at: miniemedia@gmail.com.