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Rumple_deWriter

Over 90 days ago

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15 Apr 2021

A blessing on Vic and his wander boy, Larry, for today's setup (Larry, you did remember to get the tea kettle going, right?) ;) So when will this week's Friday Eve celebrations start? ;)

Larry, sympathy to you and your Padres for losing to the worst team in baseball (Pirates) just before facing the best team in baseball (Dodgers) who do double-duty as da Pads biggest rival. Best of luck in this weekend's series.

My coffee mug is filled, so is my non-mug bearing hand but with Sarah's cookies. Thus outfitted, I'll find a comfy chair over at the corner table and wait on developments to, you know, develop.

Later, Inspirators. glasses8

glasses8

14 Apr 2021

Roland, he posted this yesterday: It would be nice if we had enough readers to score the stories to reach the magical ten scores. It was not that long ago that a good story would receive at least 20-25 votes as a minimum, or is my memory lying to me again?

I checked, and we have had 98 members active this month. Maybe 20-30 of those joined and never returned. That still leaves about 70 members. Are they not reading any stories or reading but not scoring?

If you are a writer, you should be helping your fellow writers on Stories Space. Comments always helped me to improve, thanks to the helpful criticism I would get.

Me, I replied today: Amen! Preach it, Brother Roland.

Verbal posted some less than positive thoughts on some new MLB rules changes. Which brings up the obvious question of whether old buddy Jeff and any other baseball fans has ever had a positive thought about any rules changes? ;

Sarah, down here in the valley of the sun, the weather is about as nice (temp around 80f) as you are enjoying on your mountain.

HOWEVER, what makes going outside and enjoying natures bounty, is, in 25 words or less --mosquitoes -- which show up even in the morning. I'm told that once the temp starts hitting 100f on a regular bases, dem 'skeeters' will depart for cooler lands. Me, I sure hope so.

Later, Inspirators. glasses8

glasses8

.

14 Apr 2021

Happy, Hump Day, to all , especially those aspiring to be inspired.We done did it! Yep, my new microfiction story (check sig line) has edged past ten votes. While my ignorance of the protocols for a story getting on the Top Story, Story Pick or whatever the category is being called these days is boundless, it'll be nice to have that listing reappear on the main page, imo.

Coffee's cooking and the tea kettle is kettling while Sarah's cookies are available. Enjoy.

Later, Inspirators. glasses8

glasses8

13 Apr 2021

Morning to all, with a special 'Welcome Back! to Amelia. A blessing on Larry for today's setup and to Sarah for all those healthy and delicious cookies.

Just so y'all know, this is the last day I'll be pimping my new micro story, 'How I Broke My Nose Playing Chess at Church Summer Camp', probably.

https://www.storiesspace.com/stories/micro-fiction/-how-i-broke-my-nose-while-playing.aspx

While comments are the only things that really matter, I'd like to have it reach ten votes so there can be at least one story in the SS 'Top Story' list

Meant to stop by last evening but my senior granddaughter, her husband, and their soon to be among us daughter (aka, my second great-granddaughter,) took me out to celebrate the mother-to-be's birthday.

Coffee and cookies in hand, I'll now slip over to the corner table, grab a comfy chair and try to recall all my good deeds yesterday. ;)

Later, Inspirators. glasses8

glasses8

12 Apr 2021

Because of their short length, haiku often find their homes in journals dedicated to the haiku form specifically, or to Japanese formal poetry in general. Following are 17 journals that want your haiku and other forms of Japanese poetry in English. Not all of them are open for submissions now, but most are.

x x x

Haikuniverse is the partner website of The Poetry Super Highway, publishes one new haiku every day, and reads submissions all year.

Haiku Journal is a print annual with an online component. They want “all forms of haiku which follow the syllabic pattern 5/7/5.” They read no-fee submissions all year and pay writers a token amount.

Modern Haiku is a long-running journal of English-language haiku and Japanese forms that reads submissions all year for their print anthology, and they have sample poems from each issue on their website.

Shamrock is the online haiku journal of the Irish Haiku Society. They’re looking for haiku, senryu, haibun and haiku-related essays, and publish bi-annually with submission deadlines of February 28 and August 31.

Failed Haiku – A Journal of English Senryu is an online monthly journal looking for “senryu, haibun, haiga, rengay, sequences, and any other related form that is senryu based.”

Acorn is a biannual print journal of “contemporary haiku” that reads submissions from January-February and July-August. They’re looking to showcase “the individual poem and the ability of haiku to reveal the extraordinary moments found in everyday life.”

Haiku Commentary is a weekly publication of Japanese poems accompanied by multiple commentaries on that poem which is a unique twist on the haiku journal. They publish haiku, senryu, tanka, haiga, haibun, and shahai and read year-round.

Frogpond is the literary magazine of the Haiku Society of America. Appearing three times a year, they’re looking to publish “the best in contemporary English-language haiku and senryu, linked forms including sequences, renku, rengay, and haibun, essays and articles on these forms, and book reviews”

Heron’s Nest is an online quarterly journal of haiku that welcomes “both modern, freestyle haiku, and haiku that adhere to a syllabic structure of 5-7-5 with the inclusion of a seasonal reference.“

Poetry Pea is a print journal and podcast publishing haiku and senryu with themed deadlines.

Wales Haiku Journal is a quarterly journal of Japanese poetry forms, though currently they are limited to haiku and haiga. They read poems “on any theme or subject, but works that embody the nature tradition of both haiku and Welsh poetry are of particular interest.”

Mayfly is a bi-annual print journal publishing only 15 haiku each issue. They have deadlines of May 15 and November 15.

Bottle Rockets is a bi-annual print journal that is looking for “What we are looking for: haiku, senryu, very short haiku-like poems (no more than 7 lines), tanka, and cheritas. Nothing else. Please don’t ask.” Their next submission window is April 1-June 1, 2021.

Blithe Spirit is the quarterly print journal of the British Haiku Society, looking for “haiku, tanka, haibun, sequences, linked forms, articles, reviews” which reads email submissions year round.

seashores is “an international journal to share the spirit of haiku” that reads haiku and senryu for their biannual print issues with deadlines in January and July.

Sonic Boom publishes a variety of poetry and art with a major section called Paper Lanterns that focuses on Japanese formal poetry including senryu, haiku (all types including poemwords, found, parallel, and concrete haiku), tanka & kyoka, sedoka, cherita and gembun. Their reading period is in October.

x x x

Copied from an article by, Zebulon Huset, in the free, online newsletter of, Authors Publish magazine (highly recommended) glasses8

glasses8

12 Apr 2021

How y'all are? It's another Moanday Mourning. Sorry about that.

The coffee pot has been sorta cleaned and filled with whatever coffee Mendalla da Man left under the counter. Both it and the tea kettle were filled with artesian spring water then and put to work.

Sympathy to all who suffered through their baseball team's loss yesterday. That goes double for Roland since both Chicago clubs loss as did Sarah's Braves and Elizabeth's Nats.

BREAKING NEWS: It's been a long time coming but my first new story in ages is short, in fact it's Micro length. The following link may or may not work. If you get a chance, please check it out and let me know what you think.
https://www.storiesspace.com/stories/micro-fiction/-how-i-broke-my-nose-while-playing.aspx#60744c8b8254273560605aee

Coffee's cooked. Me, I'm gonna fill my mug to the brim, grab me some of Sarah's cookies and go sit outside and wait for sunrise in a few minutes.

Later, Inspirators. glasses8

glasses8

11 Apr 2021

Howdy to all doody's and doodettes

I can't imagine anyone, especially sports fans, not enjoying the Musgrove story. Two more items I've come across about him and his family: They had/have season tickets to Padres home games and their home is about 15 miles from the ballpark.

Just so you know the age of miracles hasn't passed, I've just submitted my first story (a micro) in ages. Sympathy is extended to the mod who tries to verify that sucker. ;)

Lunch is served.

Later, Inspirators. glasses8

glasses8

10 Apr 2021

Mega-congrats on the Padres' no-hitter, Larry. I'll leave you the chance to tell folks a bit about Musgrove, the winning pitcher. Just for the record, with their first-ever no-hitter, the Padres' are no longer the only MLB team without a no-hitter. Brings back to my cankered mind memories of the early New Orleans Saints. ;)

A mug full of coffee in one hand and many cookies in the other, I'll step outside, grab a seat and fight off the morning doves going after dem cookies. ;)

Later, Inspirators. glasses8

glasses8

9 Apr 2021

TGIF-type salutations. Things got a tad busy around here yesterday. That just happens to have been AFTER I left to go sip coffee, eat cookies and bemoan all the baseball losses. Just another example of the good judgement and taste of Inspirations customers. ;)

In fact, once I've finished yammering and the coffee's ready, I'll try a repeat on all that today. Who knows, it might increase both baseball wins and customers.
Hope everyone has a good to tolerable weekend. Supposed to be sunny a warmish 90 plus) out here in the Valley of the Sun. Y'all do the best you know how.

Later, Inspirators. glasses8

glasses8

8 Apr 2021

Morning, Inspirators. Mucho thankos to Larry (aka Friend of Vic) for this morning's setup.

With the Padres and D-backs both losing late games , yesterday became a day that shall live in infamy, a calamitous disaster erupting from a catastrophy, at least for Inspiration baseball fans; for best I can tell, everybody's team(s) lost. note: I added the (s) to teams since I've also been following the Yankees since the days of Mickey Mantle.

Time to grab a mug of coffee, some of Sarah's cookies and go sit outside and feel sorry for me and my teams. ;)

Later, Inspirators. glasses8

glasses8

7 Apr 2021

Morning to Larry, Sarah, and any late-comers who show up seeking tea, coffee, cookies and/or conversation.

Commiseration is available to Sarah whose braves are now 0-4. sad

sad

Meanwhile, the D-backs slithered to a 2-3 record thanks to an overtime win against the Rockies.

Time for coffee and cookies and talk about what was 'normal' once upon a pre-covid time.

Later, Inspirators. glasses8

glasses8

7 Apr 2021

BREAKING NEWS

There's a new list in the forum. While all previous calls for subs remain, the new list is for 'Calls for themed submissions. The really big news is all but one actually pay writers! Check 'em out.

glasses8

glasses8

6 Apr 2021

Morning, to all who enter this scene of old world cuture and charm. ;)

Just posted a new list of themed calls for submissions and (drumroll) all but one mentions Money for writers. smile

smile

Baylor won the men's college basketball title, leading all the way to beat previously undefeated Gonzaga,86--70. While I didn't have a dog in that hunt, following it explains my being even groggier than usual this morning.

But a mug full of Larry's beneficial brew and some of Sarah's cookies should be an aide to my alertness.

Later, Inspirators. glasses8

glasses8

6 Apr 2021

There are 33 themed calls for fiction, nonfiction, and poetry, including 13 themed contests. Some of the themes are: generations; climate change; gaslamp fantasy; art; ocean animals; asinine assassins; cryptids emerging; winter wonders; sleep and dreams (as related to fairy tales); and consequences of war. All but one pay cash for submissions.
* note: This is copied from the free online newsletter of Authors Publish magazine (highly recommended so the links won't work, sorry about that.Google the sites title to reach their submissions requirements.
-- Just SUBMISSION CALLS--

Held: Generations
Held is a Canada-based literary journal. They will publish fiction, nonfiction, experimental prose, poetry, and artwork, and the theme is ‘Generations’. Their guidelines say, “Think about the stories flowing from all the voices in your life. The tale your father told you about the prank he played on his eighth-grade English teacher. Or the secret a stranger told you on the subway. Or a craft tradition passed down from your grandparents. … Stories that have been passed down, overheard, stories that blur the line between fiction and nonfiction, where truth lies in the telling and not in the accumulation of facts.” They want work that “explores the transfer of knowledge from one person to another, from one generation to another.” They will prioritize work by Black, Indigenous, racialised creatives, as well as people who identify as 2SLGBTQ+, and those living with disabilities. They also have a cover art contest on the ‘Generations’ theme, and the deadline for that is later.
Deadline: 6 April 2021
Length: Up to 1,500 words for prose; up to 5 pages for poetry
Pay: CAD50
Details here.

Rock and a Hard Place Magazine
They are reading fiction submissions for Issues 6 and 7, and they also accept artwork. Their tagline says, ‘A lit-noir publisher focusing on stories of the desperate, and what they do next’. Stories can be in any genre, or a mix of genres. Their guidelines say, “stories that detail life at the bottom or at the margins of human society. These can be stories about losers who always make the wrong decisions, or they can be stories about people who always make the right decisions but who still can’t get ahead because of the hand they were dealt in life.” The deadline for issues 6 and 7 is in April, and contributors are paid, except for flash fiction submissions. They are also reading stories for a charity anthology, titled Under the Thumb: Stories of Police Oppression, for which there is no payment, and which has a later deadline.
Deadline: 10 April 2021
Length: 2,000-5,000 words
Pay: $35 for fiction
Details here.

House of Zolo volume 3: The Climate Change Edition
This is a journal of speculative fiction and poetry. They are reading on the ‘Climate Change’ theme. Their guidelines say, “We are looking for radical, forward-thinking fiction and poetry that examines the future of our planet as it relates to Climate Change.
What will the Earth look like in a hundred years, five hundred years? How will cities evolve and humans adapt over the coming decades? The coming centuries?
What part does technology play in our future?
What will happen to the animals? …
Utopias, dystopias, magic realism, horror, science fiction — all speculative genres are welcome.”
Deadline: 15 April 2021
Length: 1,000-6,000 words
Pay: $25 per poem, $50-75 for fiction
Details here.

Extraordinary Visions: Stories Inspired by Jules Verne
The North American Jules Verne Society is seeking short fiction and illustrations for its upcoming anthology. They want short stories inspired by the writings of Jules Verne. Their guidelines say, “Your story may be set in any time or place. You may use characters from Verne’s novels (they’re all in the public domain) or make up your own. You need not write in Verne’s style. The connection between your story and at least one of Verne’s works must be obvious and significant.” They also accept reprints. They pay for artwork, as well.
Deadline: 30 April 2021 (or until filled)
Length: 3,000-5,000 words
Pay: $0.02/word
Details here.

Bronzewood Books: Gaslamp Fantasy Anthology
They want fiction submissions for an anthology that will be “filled with short stories that highlight a magical or haunting Victorian setting. The tentative plan is to release in time for Halloween, so the more spooky you can make the story, the better.
If you’re curious about what Gaslamp Fantasy entails, think about Steampunk but less about tech and more focus on magic.” Gaslamp is a subgenre of both fantasy and historical fiction – see their extensive guidelines for more.
Deadline: 30 April 2021
Length: 2,000-8,000 words
Pay: $0.015/word
Details here.

Silver Shamrock Publishing: Midnight From Beyond the Stars
They want original alien horror stories with a The Thing/Alien/The Blob/Critters/Night of the Creeps kind of vibe.
Deadline: 30 April 2021
Length: 2,500-6,000 words
Pay: $0.06/word
Details here.
(Another horror anthology, Darkness Blooms, touching on at least one of these themes – identity, security, and community – is also open for submissions, with a 31 May deadline; writers can send up to three stories.)

Long Con Magazine: Art About Art
Long Con Magazine is a digital arts and literary quarterly that publishes art that is about art – by which they mean artwork created in response to other artworks. They accept visual, video, audio, and other (digital, hybrid, etc.) submissions, as well as text-based and literary submissions – poetry, fiction, dramatic scripts, and their translations. To be considered for Issue 7, send in submissions by end-April. They read submissions on a rolling basis. They encourage collaborative submissions.
Deadline: 30 April 2021 (for Issue 7)
Length: Up to 5 poems; up to 10 pages of prose
Pay: CAD25-50
Details here.
(There is also a similarly themed horror fiction anthology – stories that incorporate some element of art or craft. The Handmade Horror Stories anthology closes on 28 April.)

Fiyah: Sound and Color
This magazine publishes speculative fiction, nonfiction, and poetry by writers of the African Diaspora only. For the ‘Sound and Color’ theme their guidelines say, “We want to see to stories and poems about experiencing new worlds with particular emphasis on sensory detail. Magic systems based on color schemes, aural spectres in northern lights, the hearing of mysterious voices, the intoxicating scent of alien flowers luring our heroes to their deaths, etc.” They publish reviews as well, and they’re taking pitches for nonfiction to be published on the web as well as print – see guidelines.
Deadline: 30 April 2021
Length: Up to 1,000 words for poetry; 2,000-15,000 words for fiction; 800-1,200 words for nonfiction
Pay: $50 for poetry, $0.08/word for fiction, $0.10/word for nonfiction
Details here.

Rainbow Dog Books: Shark Week – Ocean Animals
This is a fiction anthology. Their guidelines say, “We’re looking for excellent general audience furry stories that involve the ocean, an ocean dwelling creature, or ocean life in some way. All stories should be PG-13 at most.” This will be their first anthology publication.
Deadline: 30 April 2021
Length: 1,500-12,000 words (query for longer or shorter)
Pay: Half a cent per word
Details here.

Woodhall Press: Nonwhite and Woman – 153 Micro Essays on Being the World
They want true narratives from BIPOC writers who self-identify as women (cis/trans) for their upcoming anthology, which celebrates how women of color live and thrive in the world. Their guidelines say, “How has the color of your skin influenced your life? What did you do to claim yourself and your identity, or how was it challenged? Show us a single moment, a string of vignettes, or literary snapshots of your life. We’re looking for micro essays, micro memoirs or prose poems”. Writers can submit up to three pieces. They also accept reprints. There is no cash payment for contributors.
Deadline: 30 April 2021
Length: Up to 300 words
Pay: Contributor copy (hard copy for US-based addresses, digital copy for others)
Details here.

Smart Rhino Publications: Asinine Assassins
They want stories “involving a character (e.g., assassin, gun for hire) with the (synonyms for asinine) in mind. The “asinine” element must be critical in the plot—we particularly like dark humor, but we’ll also consider anything comedic, zany, or surreal. Stories can be any genre (although the focus is on suspense), but they must fit the anthology’s theme.”
Deadline: 1 May 2021, or until filled
Length: Preferably 3,000-5,000 words
Pay: $20
Details here.
(Also see Mystery Weekly Magazine’s call: the Die Laughing anthology of humorous mystery stories, with a 1 June deadline.)

Improbable Press: Cryptids Emerging – Tales of Dark Cheer
This is a fiction anthology about cryptids (like sea monsters, jackalopes, bigfoot) around the world. They want “contemporary supernatural or historical fantasy about cryptids living with humans, or just at the edge of our vision, stories of what the world would look like if cryptids were real. … Pick a cryptid from legend or make one up, we want a strange, spooky, sweet, sexy, and/or funny story of emerging. Whether that’s your cryptid coming out of hiding, a human being true to themselves, or a cryptid/human pairing falling in love, the heart of your tale is about rising, changing, growing.” They don’t want violence, horror, or pain. They also accept reprints.
Deadline: 1 May 2021
Length: Up to 5,000 words
Pay: $0.05/word
Details here.

Consequence Forum: Consequences and realities of war
This forum addresses the human consequences and realities of war and geopolitical violence through literature, art, and community events. They publish fiction (including flash fiction and story excerpts), nonfiction, poetry, translations, and visual art (including artwork, graphic narratives, video essays, and photo essays). They no longer charge a submission fee.
Deadline: 1 May 2021
Length: Up to 5,000 words for prose; up to 5 poems
Pay: $25 for print poems and print art, $25-75 for print prose; $50 for online reviews, art, and poetry; $100 for online prose
Details here.

Zoetic Press: NonBinary Review — Industrial Revolution
They are reading fiction, creative nonfiction, and poetry on the Industrial Revolution theme. They want writers to “explore each theme in any way that speaks to them: re-write a familiar story from a new point of view, mash genres together, give us a personal essay about some aspect of our theme that has haunted you all your life”, according to their guidelines. Each work must have a clear and obvious relation with the theme. They also accept artwork.
Deadline: 1 May 2021
Length: Prose up to 3,000 words; poetry up to three pages
Pay: $10 for poetry; $0.01/word for prose
Details here.
(They are also reading work on the Prohibition theme, with a 1 August deadline.)

Skullgate Media: Winter Wonders
This is a speculative fiction anthology. Their guidelines say, “Do you like to cozy up next to a roaring fire during a snowstorm? Does winter bring out the best in you… or the worst? Do you have a story of narrowly escaping an abominable snow beast, or finding romance during a blizzard in an enchanted cabin? Are snow-covered mountains the scenery of fabulous fables… or nightmares? Living snowmen, magical solstices, ice-crusted alien planets, whatever floats your iceberg. We want your stories that include “winter wonders”: stories of survival, interstellar adventures, or magical nights. Sci-fi, fantasy, weird-fiction, and everything in between—as long as your story has “winter” and “wonder,” we want you to share it with us.”
Deadline: 1 May 2021
Length: 3,000-15,000 words
Pay: $10-15
Details here.

Tales From The Cyber Salon Event #2: The High Street
This is a science fiction project. Throughout 2021, Cybersalon will host ‘Tales of the Cybersalon’, a series of interdisciplinary technology and policy investigations through science-fiction storytelling; apart from publishing, for selected writers, this involves a reading of their story, and discussion with panel experts to finesse the technological aspects of their fiction (see guidelines). They are currently reading fiction on the High Street theme. They are not looking for the post-apocalyptic or utopias on other planets; the stories need to be plausible enough for their experts and audience to engage with them meaningfully. The theme guidelines say, “One thing is certain. The high street landscape has now irrevocably changed and there is no point clinging on to a sentimental vision of the past. … In 2013 and 2018 the High Street Tasks Force’s Grimsey Reviews attempted to offer alternative futures for our high streets and town centres. The accelerated digital transformation brought about by Covid-19 has made their challenge to, “start planning for a bold new world,” all the more urgent. Retail has left the buildings! We invite you to offer new visions of the high street and to reimagine the centres of our towns and cities.”
Deadline: 2 May 2021
Length: Up to 1,000 words
Pay: £50
Details here.

WolfSinger Publications: Crunchy With Ketchup
This is a fiction anthology featuring dragons. Their guidelines say, “What we are looking for are stories that feature really badass dragons – they can be evil or good – or somewhere in between. The point is they need to live up to the power and strength we picture when we imagine a dragon.
If your dragon is able to be defeated by a human knight – it should be because…well, I’m not sure what it should be because of – but it needs to be believable to someone who knows beyond all doubt dragons are the biggest, baddest predators out there.
Show us why you should never meddle in the affairs of dragons as they may consider you crunchy and taste good with ketchup. Break the story-writing rules if you want. If you use a tried and true plotline, twist it in an original and interesting way.” They will accept all speculative fiction genre stories; humour is a plus. Stories should be PG-13.
Deadline: 31 May 2021
Length: Up to 15,000 words
Pay: $15 and royalties
Details here.

Sliced Up Press: Bodies Full of Burning – An Anthology of Menopause-Themed Horror
They want fiction for this horror anthology, and stories must involve menopause as a main plot point. Their guidelines say, “Menopause can be hell – so show us your demons, your darkest dreams, bloodiest crimes or scariest transformations. It’s called the change of life, but transitions can be deadly.”
Deadline: 1 June 2021, or until filled
Length: 1,000-4,000 words
Pay: $0.01/word
Details here.

Fairy Tale Review: The Lilac Issue – Sleep and Dreams
They publish work around fairy tales – short fiction, essays, lyric nonfiction, scholarship, poetry (in received and forms), translations, graphic novels, comics, drama, and artwork.
The Lilac Issue is themed around “sleep and dreams: the forgotten language of fairy tales.” For the first time, they will be paying contributors.
Deadline: 6 July 2021
Length: Up to 1,000 words for fiction and nonfiction; up to 4 pages for poetry, graphic novels, comics, drama
Pay: $50
Details here.

The Savage Realms
This is a new monthly magazine and they want to bring back the golden days of sword-and-sorcery pulp fiction. They want “heroic tales of savage barbarians, evil wizards, and beautiful maidens.”
Deadline: Open now
Length: Up to 10,000 words
Pay: $25
Details here.

THEMED CONTESTS

Grist: Imagine 2020 – Climate fiction for future ancestors
This is a climate fiction contest; stories have to be 3,000-5,000 words. They have extensive guidelines, including: “Envision the next 180 years of equitable climate progress. What will the world look like in the year 2200 — or anywhere between then and now? How will we move around the cities of the future? What will we eat, drink, wear, use, and live in? How will we hold our relationships to land, resources, and one another? What kind of a world do you, a future ancestor, want to build? … Stories should be set anywhere between the present day and the year 2200, and should show our path to a clean, green, and just future.” They will be reading for the following core elements: hope; intersectionality; resilience; a society that is radically different from the one we live in today, and how we got there; a focus on climate, with creative and clearly articulated solutions that put people and planet first. Also see guidelines for details of the inspirations and genres the contest is rooted in.
Value: $3,000; $2,000; $1,000; and honorarium of $300 each for nine finalists
Deadline: 12 April 2021
Open for: All writers
Details here and here.

Keats-Shelley Prize Memorial Association: Two prizes
These are contests of poems and essays on Romantic themes.
— Keats-Shelley Essay Prize: Adult writers should respond creatively to the work of the Romantics; essays of up to 3,000 words may be on any aspect of the lives of the Romantics and their circles. There is also a poetry prize, which has an entry fee.
— Young Romantics Prize: For the poetry prize, poets aged 16-18 should submit poetry on the theme of ‘Writ in Water’, of up to 30 lines. For the Young Romantics essayist prize their guidelines say, “Essay writers are asked to address this question (preceded by two quotations):
‘Do you not see how necessary a World of Pains and troubles is to school an Intelligence and make it a soul?” — John Keats
‘The sweetest songs are those that tell of saddest thought.’ — PB Shelley, To a Skylark
How can poetry – especially the poetry of John Keats and Percy Shelley – help us cope with adversity? … Your response can take whatever form, mood or tone you choose: literary criticism, political commentary, personal essay, opinion piece, the script for a podcast. You can agree or disagree.” Entries must be 750-1,000 words, including quotations.
Value: Total prize purse of £5,000
Deadline: 12 April 2021
Open for: All writers for the Keats-Shelley essay prize; writers and poets ages 16-18 for the Young Romantics prize
Details here and here.

Science Me a Story
This is an international contest which aims to promote the use of short stories as a tool to communicate science to children in a fun and engaging way. The contest has two categories: work in Spanish and in English. The story, real or fictional, must be conceived from the objective of scientific dissemination to primary school children (ages 6-12 years) through the use of the narrative technique, as prose or poem. The topic should be related to science, the scientific method, the research process and scientific discovery, everyday life of a scientist, and others alike. Prose must be 400 to 1, 700 words, and poems, 170 to 1,000 words.
Value: £200, £150, £100 for each category
Deadline: 18 April 2021
Open for: All writers
Details here.

Ayn Rand Institute: Two contests
These are international essay contests for students centred around Ayn Rand’s works: Anthem, The Fountainhead, and Atlas Shrugged. All runner-up prizes have more than one winner in each contest and category. The guidelines also say, “All entries become the property of the Ayn Rand Institute and will not be returned. Essays may be reproduced on our website and/or shared with third parties for purposes of marketing the contest.” The deadlines for the contests around Anthem (for 8th to 12th grade) and The Fountainhead (11th and 12th grade) are in April; the deadline for the contest around Atlas Shrugged (for 12th grade, undergraduate, and graduate students) is in September. Writers are to submit an essay on one of three specific topics centred around Ayn Rand’s novels, Anthem and The Fountainhead (click on ‘Topics’ under each for topics, and on ‘Rules’ for length guidelines).
Value: $2,000, $250, $100 for 8th-12th grade/Anthem; $5,000, $1,000, $500 for 11th-12th grade/The Fountainhead
Deadline: 29 April 2021
Open for: All students
Details here.

The Willie Morris Awards: Two awards

There is a poetry award for an unpublished poem (up to three pages), and a fiction award for fiction novels published in 2020 – both are for work that invokes the American South.

Value: $2,500 for poetry; $10,000 for published novels
Deadline: 30 April 2021
Open for: Unspecified
Details here.

Queer Sci Fi: Ink
They want to see science fiction, fantasy, paranormal, or horror LGBTQIA stories of up to 300 words on the theme of Ink. Their guidelines say, “Ink is everywhere. Liquid ink the books and magazines and newspapers we read. Virtual ink in our devices. Tattoos have moved decorative body art ink into the mainstream, and our politicians and celebrities often get more ink in the press than they can handle. And ink can leave an indelible stain.
Tell us about ink (and the stain it leaves) on your characters, the culture, and the world, for better or worse.”
Value: $75, $50, $25
Deadline: 30 April 2021
Open for: All writers
Details here.

Parsec Ink Short Story Contest: Still Waters, Deep Thoughts
This is a contest for a science fiction, fantasy or horror short story (up to 3,500 words) on the theme ‘Still Waters, Deep Thoughts’ – which can be used in the setting, plot, characters, or dialogue – the winning story will be one which uses the contest theme as a key element. Entrants must be non-professional writers (those who have not met eligibility requirements for Science Fiction Writers of America or equivalent: sale of a novel or sale of 3 stories to a large-circulation publication). Read the terms carefully – one of these is, “Submission to the contest implies consent for publication”. A maximum of two submissions is allowed.
Value: $200, $100, $50
Deadline: 15 April 2021
Open for: Non-professional writers (see guidelines)
Details here.

Preservation Foundation Contest: Non-fictional Animal Stories
This is an international contest for unpublished writers (see guidelines). Their upcoming deadline is for the non-fiction animal stories category: “Stories should be factual and true accounts of an encounter or encounters by the author with a wild animal or animals. These include, but are not limited to, birds, fish, butterflies, snails, lions, bears, turtles, wombats, etc., as long as it is not a pet.” Entries should be 1,000-10,000 words. They want all entries, regardless of whether or not they win, to be on their website as long as the Foundation exists (see guidelines). Also see contests in other genres, which will open for submissions later in the year.
Value: $200, $100
Deadline: 30 April 2021
Open for: Unpublished writers
Details here.

New England Crime Bake: Al Blanchard Award
This is a short story award. Their guidelines say it must be a crime story, of up to 5,000 words, by a New England author or have a New England setting if the author is not from New England. The story may include the following genres: mystery, thriller, suspense, caper, and horror. (No torture/killing of children or animals.) Apart from the cash award, the winner also gets publication in Level Best Books’ Crime Fiction anthology, and admission to the Crime Bake Conference (though conference attendance is not a requirement). Writers can send up to two stories.
Value: $100
Deadline: 30 April 2021
Open for: All writers
Details here.

Wilbur & Niso Smith Foundation: Author of Tomorrow Award
This international contest is designed to find the adventure writers of the future. Writers must enter a piece of short fiction. The work must fall within what can be defined as adventure writing (see guidelines). There are three categories: for writers ages 16-21, 12-15, and under 11.
Value: £1,000 in the 16-21 group, £100 in the 12-15 group, £100 in the under-11 group
Deadline: 30 April 2021
Open for: All writers ages 21 and under
Details here.

Humane Education Network: A Voice for Animals
This is an international essay contest for students in two categories: for 14-15-year-olds, and for 16-18-year-olds. The essay themes include mistreatment of one animal species, the preservation of one endangered species, and more (see guidelines). Participants must currently be attending middle or high school, or be home-schooled, and less than 19 years of age on 1 February 2021. The contest is also open for those for whom English is a second language. Entries can be essays, essays with photos, or videos. They have extensive guidelines.
Value: Total prize purse up to $5,900; individual prizes of up to $500
Deadline: 30 April 2021
Open for: All 14 to 18 year old students
Details here.

The Black Orchid Novella Award
They want novellas (15,000-20,000 words) that confirm to the tradition of Rex Stout’s Nero Wolfe series. They should focus on the deductive skills of the sleuth. Also, “We need to stress that a novella is not a padded short story. A novella needs to be as tight and fast-paced as a short story or a novel. Authors need to ensure that the story they want to tell is properly sized for whatever format they choose.” They are not looking for derivatives of the Nero Wolfe series, or the milieu. Send mailed submissions only.
Value: $1,000 and publication in Alfred Hitchcock’s Mystery Magazine
Deadline: 31 May 2021 (postmarked)
Open for: All writers
Details here.

5 Apr 2021

Welcome to Inspirations, all seeking to be inspired or just get in out of the cold.

The coffee pot has been rinsed out, wiped off, then filled with water free of pollywogs and dark roast coffee on account as how this is yet another Moanday mourning. The tea kettle is also in business.

Baseball fans reeling from their favorite team's the start this season -- consider the destair of ever loyal Boston Red Sox fans following Boston being swept this weekend by the lowly Baltimore Orioles, no kidding.

Gill, the news about your parents is just dang outstanding. smile

smile

Time for some coffee and a bunch of Sarah's cookies. Think I'll grab a comfy chair and wonder where, oh where, Curvy got off to.

Later, Inspirators. glasses8

glasses8

3 Apr 2021

What's up? Well, here in the Valley of the Sun, what's up is the temp which just hit 90f. Think I'll stay inside to follow the two men's semi-final college basketball games (Baylor vs Houston & Gonzaga vs UCLA) while sipping on Larry's coffee and Sarah's cookies.

Later, Inspirators. glasses8

glasses8

2 Apr 2021

Morning to all and congrats to Larry on the Padres one run win over my honetown D-backs. In fact, one-run games seemed all the rage yesterday in MLB as the Yankees, Braves, Giants, Marlins, Twins, Indians and White Sox lost by one-run. The Cubs cemented the bad day for Chicago baseball fans witha two-run loss to the Pirates. Take heart baseball fans, there's a lot more to come. ;)

Thanks to Survivor's hard(ly?) work and the astute supervision of Vic the Magnificent, there's coffee and the makings for tea. Think I'll fill my mug with coffee and grab a random samplling of Sarah's cookies then slide into a comfy chair. After that, who knows?

Later, Inspirators. glasses8

glasses8

1 Apr 2021

Morning greetings to all who come seeking Inspirations. As Larry so ably stated it is not only the first day in April, it is the opening day for major league baseball -- no fooling. ;)

Thanks to the combined efforts of Larry and Sarah, and no doubt inspired by the presence of Victor, coffee and cookies are available. No pushing and shoving, please. There's plenty for all -- at least there dang well better be.

Having filled both my mug (with coffee) and my free hand (with cookies) I'll retire to a comfy chair at the corner table and let the old Philco wireless start warming up for the first game broadcast.

Later, Inspirators. glasses8

glasses8

,

31 Mar 2021

Morning, Larry. How's by you? Out here in the valley of the sun, life appears to have slowed down into something like a dull uproar. While the governor and state legislature manage to provide some comedy relief, about the biggest news is the U of AZ women's basketball team, for the first time, making it to the women's final four

With a mug full of Larry's larapping good coffee in one hand and a sampling of Sarah's oatmeal raisin cookies in the other, I'll head over to the corner table and occupy a comfy chair. After that, who knows?

Later, Inspirators. glasses8

glasses8

29 Mar 2021

A sympathetic salute to all Monday Moaners.

With the opening day of major league baseball a few hours away, several inspired baseball nuts have felt lead to predict this season's winners. While that is, no doubt, fun and maybe even mentally stimulating, it is also child's play.

For I say unto you, the real challenge is to predict any sports season's big losers. Therefore and for what it's worth, the cracked Inspirations brain trust is proud to unveil...

BASEBALL'S BOTTOM-FEEDERS, 2021 ed.

So here's the deal, for now. Your challenge, whether you choose to accept it or slink off to a more serious thread, is to pick and then post on Inspirations, this year's baseball 'losers' -- that is to say the teams you think will end the regular season with the worst won-loss record in the six MLB divisions.

Some additions are possible.

While mlb has its WC (wild cards) in another waste of good bandwidth 'Baseball Bottom-feeders could launch (MC) its very own, Mild Card' to recognize the also-rans in the games lost department.

A All-Star game checkup might be a possibility.

Just for the record, I have 'NO', I say again, 'NO' plans to do any sort of monitoring or record keeping. Everyone who makes a prediction will be on their own, though possibly subject to Inspirations' Honor Code.

Anyway, do it or don't. Me, I had fun dreaming this up. If there's any interest here, I might invite denizens of that den of depravity over in the red light district to drop in and leave their predictions. Who knows, it might actually increase SS traffic just a bit.

Later, Inspirators. glasses8

glasses8

27 Mar 2021

Morning, Larry. Thanks for the set-up. A mug full of your coffee and a handful of Sarah's cookies should do the trick -- though with April's Fool Day approaching, I'm not sure exactly what kind of trick.

Roland's primo predictions reminds me of an old story about a famous sports writer who back in the pre-expansion era, in his pre-season predictions column, correctly predicted the finish for every major league team. For his trouble, he later received not one single congratulation from his readers.

Time to fill my mug with Larry's first-rate coffee and grab a handful of Sarah's incomparable cookies, then go hunker down in a comfy chair by the heater (its 48f out here in the desert) and await further developments.

Later, Inspirators. glasses8

glasses8

26 Mar 2021

How y'all are? TGIF greetings to all seeking inspiration to go along with cookies, coffee and tea.

Someone better send the para-medics to Verbal's place and to bring a stomach pump.

Roland, German chocolate cake is a major goodness. BTW, you and your bride might want to check out the 'Dandy Don's' site. It's a free, daily LSU sports site. While football is the main attention getter, the owner/operator, Don Long is a huge fan of LSU baseball.

Sarah, in a way, Jeff's cookie caper might be considered a major compliment. Anyway, that'll probably be used when pleading mitigating circumstances before da judge. ;)

Thanks to Roland leaving a generous collection of goodies, I'll have a bagel with cream cheese to go with the coffee he also provided.

Later, Inspirators. glasses8

glasses8

25 Mar 2021

Granted: You are now following in the footsteps of Sally Ride but the next space flight is one-way only.

Wish I was a Kellogg's cornflake, floating in a bowl taking movies, laughing awhile, living in style. Talking to a raisin who occasionally plays L.A., casually glancing at his toupee. ('Punky's Dilemma' -- Simon and Garfunkle)

25 Mar 2021

Don't know about y'all, but in my most humble opinion, we've been way past due for some good news. So hearing Larry' great test results, the news that Sharon's young'un seems mo' better, and learning Jeff's back ain't as bad as it has been comes as a welcome change-of-pace.

Oops, almost forgot to get the coffee pot and tea kettle in gear. With Sarah's new batch of cookies waiting, that would be a shame.

BTW, it's now just one week until MLB cranks up. Don't tell Jeff and Sarah, they both might get overly excited.

Speaking of baseball, thought some of the sports' more ardent fans might be interested in this bit of statistics concerning a pitcher for the LSU baseball team
"LSU pitcher Landon Marceaux has been on fire lately and sits atop the SEC’s individual pitching stats with an ERA of 0.00 in 30 innings pitched this season. (note: that ERA reminds me of my highest test score in h/s algebra. ;) )

With a filled coffee mug in one hand and several cookies in the other, I'm heading for a confy chair to try and figure out the new baseball rules.

Later, Inspirators. glasses8

glasses8

24 Mar 2021

Granted, your wife snores no more, but now she talks in her sleep.

I wish I was an English muffin, about to make the most out of a toaster -- I'd ease myself down, coming up brown. 'Punky's Dilemma' -- Simon and Garfunkle)

glasses8

glasses8

24 Mar 2021

Happy 'Hump Day' to all who enter seeking inspiration but then, if need bee, willingly settle for coffee or tea plus Sarah's cookies. That reminds me to get the coffee pot and tea kettle cranking. Done. smile

smile

Most of my family have gone back to their usual roosts. That includes my two great-grandkids who I got to meet for the first time. It was a good weekend.

Think I'll grab some coffee, a few of Sarah's cookies and go sit in a comfy chair at the corner table to consume all that while contemplating life and the infield fly rule in baseball and the equally mysterious offensive pass interference rule in football.

Later, Inspirators. glasses8

glasses8

22 Mar 2021

There's a vicious rumor running amuck that it's still Moanday Mourning. If so, I have another five minutes left of of this weekly suffering. The folks out on the west coast have another hour to endure and don't even think about all the misery in the cesspool of suffering known as Hawaii. ;)

The coffee pot has been refilled and there are more of Sarah's cookies available to help kill the taste of my too-strong coffee. (hint: a lttle water or a lot of cream can help)

Later,, Inspirators. glasses8

glasses8

20 Mar 2021

Morning, y'all, and thanks for the coffee, Larry. Most of my family living up in your neck of the woods are down here in Phoenix for baby showers, meetings with both paternal grandparents and this old maternal great grandparent. Odds are I'm gonna be a tad busy this weekend.

With my coffee mug filled as is my other hand with Sarah's cookies, I'll slip outside for a last moment of peace and quiet. ;)

Later, Inspirators. glasses8

glasses8

19 Mar 2021

TGIF greetings to all who enter is bastion of old world culture and charm. The coffee pot has been serviced and is now ready to provide hot caffeinated ambrosia to all in need. The tea kettle is also ready for duty.

Me, like a Martin to its box, I'm heading for some of Sarah's oatmeal raisin cookies (btw - what's an Angel Kiss cookie?) Think I'll set outside to enjoy. them and a mug of hot coffee.

Later Inspirators. glasses8

glasses8

18 Mar 2021

Over on the venerable Competitions and Calls for Subs' forum is a new list of literary mags looking for stories to publish. While 'literary' type fiction is their main objective, most will consider other genres. Word has it some of these places even pay! So check it out if you get a chance.

glasses8

glasses8