welcome good citizens.

Crime and Suspense

2006-04-04T07:28:00.000-07:00

Crime and Suspense is a great zine that delivers what the title promises and more. Not only does it feature fiction, the site also offers radio dramas, writing tips, and other resources to the aspiring author.

The submission guidelines are lengthy but detailed. Be sure to familiarize yourself with the magazine before submitting, and follow the guidelines closely (as always). Good luck!

Ho ho ho, Merry April

2006-04-01T07:02:00.000-08:00

April began, for me, with an NPR story about the new iBod, a device which could control one's body functions. Maybe I was just tired, but I didn't pick up on the "April Fool's" thing until the interviewer ate rat poison to test the device, just as the batteries died.

Today's link is to a very small project, one that's just getting started by an IU student. The Creative Monkey seeks to publish the rejected, the unpublishable, and the just plain unlucky. Since they're just setting out, they're open to just about anything you can throw at them, including poetry, creative non-fiction, and fiction.

Submissions should be sent to dawritingmonkey(at)yahoo(dot)com by April 17th, and the first issue should be viewable around April 23rd.

Sarah Hatter

2006-03-28T05:04:00.000-08:00

Sarah Hatter is up to something. Or, more specifically, she's launched Misc. Books and Press with Wendy Atterberry. Hatter's a great writer, and I'm looking forward to seeing what she does with a small press. From the site:

"Miscellaneous Books and Press is an independent company dedicated to publishing smart, witty, delightfully quirky and sometimes poignant literary fiction and nonfiction by writers more in love with their craft than working the corporate mainstream. We are especially interested in insightful writing that lights the shadowed and miscellaneous corners of reality in unexpected and engaging ways.

We aren't interested in re-crowning the prom queens."

Long time no see

2006-03-27T17:57:00.000-08:00

Haven't updated in a long time, because, well, JAKE Magazine is finished. The experiment ended, and therefore the blog did too. But recently I've been getting some hits from friends at ScribeSpirit and Flashing in the Gutters, so somebody needs to be here to say hello.

"Hello."

Please feel free to check out JAKE, in it's entirety, over here. In the meantime, I'll figure out something to update this blog with. Most likely this will continue to be a resource of links to places to publish, with emphasis on the Midwest and Indianapolis in particular. If there's something _you'd_ like to see on this blog, drop me a line at jake_magazine(at)yahoo(dot)com.

Cheers,
Alex

spaceship radio

2005-12-16T08:19:00.000-08:00

Podcasting is huge right now, and that's one bandwagon we'd like to jump on! Not by actually producing them, but by pointing out one that is currently accepting submissions.

Think about that. Imagine all the people podcasting. If this opens up as a viable market for fiction, it could be huge. Bemoan the loss of magazine culture all you want, but make support the new culture in the meantime.

Today we're pointing people to Spaceship Radio, a podcast that's currently playing old 1950s science fiction radio plays. Next year, however, they plan to produce and launch original plays written by contributors.

Check out the site for details. There don't seem to be specific submission guidelines, but here's what we've gleaned from the message boards:

* Have an idea but not the time to write it? Discuss/develop ideas on the message board or in wiki.
* Scripts should be (roughly) 20 pages/125 words in length.
* Science-Fiction is interpreted broadly. Don't get caught up in mimicking Star Trek or Babylon 5. They want new and well-written.

For more details, check out the site. Podcasting fiction could be huge.

Poetry Contest

2005-12-10T09:18:00.000-08:00

Sure we're still wrapping up here, but I wanted to post this before it was too late. The Writer's Digest is sponsoring its annual Poetry Contest, and if you've got a piece less than 32 lines you could be a winner. From the website:

"Competition Rules

1. The competition is open to poems 32 lines or fewer. Entries outside the line limitation will be disregarded. Judging is blind. Type the line count on a separate cover sheet along with your name, address, phone number and email address.

2. The entry fee is $10 for your first poem and $5 for each additional poem. You may enter as many poems as you wish. You may send one check (in U.S. funds) and one entry form for all entries.

3. All entries must be in English, original, unpublished, and not submitted elsewhere until the winners are announced. Writer's Digest reserves the one-time publication rights to the 1st through 25th-place winning entries to be published in a Writer's Digest publication.

4. If you are submitting your entry via regular mail, all entries must be on one side of 8-1/2 x 11 or A4 white paper. Poems will not be returned.

5. Entries must be postmarked by Tuesday, December 20, 2005.

6. Winners will be notified by March 1, 2006. If you have not been contacted by this date, you may assume that your entry is not a finalist and may be marketed elsewhere.

7. Enclose a self-addressed, stamped postcard with your entry if you want to be notified of its receipt. We cannot notify you personally of your poem's status before the winners are announced. If entering online, you will receive a confirmation email for each entry you submit.

8. Winners' names will appear in the August 2006 issue of Writer's Digest magazine. Their names and poem titles will be posted at www.writersdigest.com.

9. The following are not permitted to enter the competition: employees of F&W Publications, Inc., and their immediate families and Writer's Digest contributing editors and correspondents as listed on the masthead."

~posted by Alex

Issue 5

2005-12-01T08:40:00.000-08:00

IT'S OUT!

Hold the presses, call the authorities, JAKE's fifth issue is out and we want you to read it.

Featuring interviews with author Joe R. Lansdale, Concentricus founder Fred LeBlanc, and all new work by our writers, it's hard to think of a better way to end our run.

Check it out at the usual place, and stay tuned to this blog for a few major announcements before we hit the ol' dusty trail.

~posted by Alex

Tell Tale Press

2005-11-22T12:45:00.000-08:00

Maybe you would like five hundred dollars?

Maybe you would like Tell Tale Press.

January 10, 2006 marks the deadline for Tell Tale Press's short story contest. After you check out the guidelines, make sure you check out the past winners on the right hand side of your screen!

"Show us your imagination
Make one of the 24 stories your starting point. Have some fun. Create a new story based upon the characters or setting, or continue the adventure that begins at the bottom of each page.
ALL ENTRIES MUST BE BASED UPON TELL TALE PRESS, INC.® STORIES.
all titles™ and ©2004 tell tale press, Inc.®

Prizes
Three winners each receive a $200 U.S. Savings Bond*; a fine writing instrument; and a complete set (8 boxes) of greeting cards, 12 notepads and a piece of framed artwork of the collection that inspired their entry (total retail value $225). Three honorable mentions receive a box of the greeting cards and framed artwork of the collection that inspired their entry (retail value $50). That’s the minimum – more prizes may be added in the future.

* Non U.S. residents win an equivalent ($100) cash prize.

New Bonus Challenge
Mixed into the continuing adventures on the story pages are quotes from six great movies. The first three entrants to correctly identify all six quotes and the movies they came from each win a complete set of 24 greeting cards ($60 value), to be announced at the next writing contest deadline: January 31, 2006.

Writing Contest Rules

ENTRY: There is no entry fee. Anyone from any country can enter. You may enter more than once, but each entry must be submitted separately and include its own entry form.

DEADLINE: All entries for the next deadline must be postmarked or emailed by January 10, 2006. Any entry received after that date will be automatically entered in the next contest for which the deadline is July 10, 2006.

SUBMISSIONS: All submissions must:

be original works based upon any of the stories and/or characters created by
Tell Tale Press, Inc.®;
be in English;
not exceed 2,000 words (or 10,000 characters if submitted online);
be printed by computer or typewriter.
No handwritten entries will be accepted. Submissions will not be returned.

ANNOUNCEMENT OF WINNERS: The next winners will be announced on January 31, 2006."

~posted by Alex

ScribeSpirit

2005-11-15T09:50:00.000-08:00

ScribeSpirit is a new magazine getting started just about the time we're hitting the road. Pretty convenient, eh? But their reach is a little more expansive, with editors and staff in several continents. I received some detailed information from Jody Kuchar about the project, and present it for your consideration:

"I'd be happy to give you some background on the eZine, which will
launch it's Issue One on New Years Eve. The Premier Issue, which is online now, was published in September. We have been a group project since about February of this year. Each of the founding and charter members know each other through a shared online connection. The original members are from Brasil, Australia, England, Germany and the USA. Some of us have met in person, all of us have been communicating online for at least 2 years.

Please keep in mind that this is the Premier Issue and since it's launch, we have added other authors and artists as contributors for Issue 1. The theme for Issue 1 is "Living Arrangements". I would be happy to share with you some of the articles
that will be included in that issue. Submissions for Issue One are now
closed.

Issue Two will publish on March 1st, 2006.
The theme for Issue 2 is: "ART: whatever that means to you." Deadlines for Issue Two are January 15th.

Issue Three theme: "Words". Publication date: May 1st, submission deadline: March 1

Issue Four Theme: "Food" - Publication date: July 1st, submission deadline: May 1

Issue Five Theme: "Metaphor" - Publication date: September 1st, submission deadline: July 1st.

ScribeSpirit
SUBMISSION GUIDELINES

ScribeSpirit considers original articles, poetry and artwork for it's
online publication. All submissions must be directly influenced or
relative to our thematic schedule.

All material must be submitted with legal permissions and releases.
Authors and artists will maintain copyright privledge. Copyright
privledge reverts to authors and artists after expiration of Issue
which feature same (submitted material).

Deadline for submitted material is 60 days from original announcement
of theme.

All submissions will be edited for the purpose of translation, length,
libel and defamation and spelling intention. ScribeSpirit will not
censor edit any material that is submitted according to guidelines.

Submissions must be made online (electronically) and be accompanied by
a short biography and digital photo. Include your name, address, day time phone and email address. All letters and submissions to jodykuch@mac.com And please, remember to put "Submissions" in the subject line.

Art Submissions
In every issue of ScribeSpirit, we seek to present a lively range of
illustrative and photographic "voices". We are always on the lookout
for skilled artists with a talent for interpreting editorial content,
and welcome examples of your work for consideration. Because of our
small staff and busy production schedule, we ask that you read and keep in mind the following guidelines. We also kindly ask that you not email seeking
feedback or to check if your work has been accepted. Be assured, if
your art strikes us as a good fit for the E-Zine, we want to talk to
you as much as you may want to talk to us. It just might take a while.

* Make seeing your art easy for us! Make sure your digital file is of
high resolution quality and is at least of 'medium' size. Show us that
you are consistent in your ability to execute high quality work. We are
highly unlikely to give you an assignment based on only one sample, and
we strongly prefer that you send several samples at one time rather
than single examples.

* Do not send cover letters, resumes and gallery or exhibition lists.

* Do not send links to websites. We do not have the staff capacity to
follow-up and your messages and samples will be deleted or thrown away.

* Photographers: tell us where you are!

* Clearly include your name, address, phone, email address in EVERYTHING you submit.

Cartoon Submissions
Size matters, but not to the exclusion of great material. We would prefer single panel cartoons, but will accept multi-frame cartoons. Cartoons submitted will not potentially be published for at least 2 months. Send camera ready drawings or
high-quality photo images in jpeg format to the email address above.

Submitting an Article
To submit your article for consideration, submit by email, a double spaced, TextEdit, Appleworks or Word document compatible with Macintosh. You must hold the rights to the article, if you do not, also include the name, address and email address of the party who does for reprint permissions.

We are open to receiving simultaneous submissions; make sure other
publications know we are also considering your work. Our staff is
small, so we may take some time to reply to unsolicited manuscripts.

On acceptance of written material, you will be asked to electronically
sign Financial Understanding Agreement, various publication permissions and releases. All submitted articles will be edited for spelling intent, legal libel and defamation issues, length and translation. You may be asked to electronically sign
statement which indicates you understand same. ScribeSpirit does NOT edit as a form of censorship, although we take every precaution to ascertain all published material is original and of your own creation.

Again, thanks for your interest."

~posted by Alex

Last Days

2005-11-13T17:04:00.000-08:00

ATTENTION GOOD CITIZENS!

We're in the last few days of JAKE submissions, and we're seing a lot of good stuff coming in! If you've already submitted, you'll hear back from us soon. But for those of you that haven't, what are you waiting for? Send us your poetry, your prose, your huddled masses of words. Good luck, and keep writing!

~posted by Alex

Josh Friedman

2005-11-10T08:14:00.000-08:00

We've published a couple scripts in the past, which leads us to conclude that there must be a few people out there writing them. Therefor we bring you I Find Your Lack of Faith Disturbing, written by screenwriter Josh "War of the Worlds" Friedman. Friedman's entries are funny, and usually pretty thoughtful. From the blog:

"I was outside pooping my dog this morning when I ran into a guy who I always run into while pooping my dog. He doesn't actually live in the neighborhood but always drives to my street and parks in front of my house so he can take his dog for a walk--even though my dog absolutely hates his dog and lunges after him every time he sees him. Now why he won't park his car up the street from my house or on another street entirely is a mystery to me and one that I can't figure out without getting into it with this guy at 6:30 in the morning. And I don't want to talk to ANYBODY at 6:30 in the morning.

But today we end up talking. The guy used to be in the entertainment business but as a lawyer--he then worked as an investment banker with various companies. It's his opinion (and on this general point I agreed with him) that the entertainment business is the most fucked up business in the world. I often say this to people, but since I've never worked in another business it's hard for anyone to take me seriously. But this guy's worked with lots of different companies in lots of different capacities.

So I'm thinking hey this guy's not so bad even if he buses in his dog to crap on my lawn and run from my crazy chihuahua. I ask him why he thinks Hollywood's so messed up.

GUY: Well, that's easy. Most other companies are driven by the R&D guys, the marketing guys. They decide who needs what product and how to make it. In Hollywood, they need more creative guys who come from marketing. Let the marketing guys have more control.
ME: Oh my God I'm going to fucking kill you right now.

Actually I said:

ME: Really?

Because let's not forget it's 6:30 in the morning and as a rule I won't commit manslaughter until I've eaten."

~posted by Alex

Hackwriters

2005-11-03T16:16:00.000-08:00

Hackwriters is a misleading name, but that's the worst thing we have to say about it (and, well, it's kind of a joke, too). The best thing we can say is that there is a lot of free stuff to read on here, which helps you get past the "please read our magazine before submitting" thing without emptying your wallet. Interested? Here are their guidelines for submissions:

"Hackwriters will accept all submissions on any and every topic, within our remit of travel writing, fiction, lifestyles and comment as long as they are analytical or questioning in nature. We will not publish any work that demonstrates discrimination, sexism, racism, or any other -ism you can think of. We are interested in writing of the highest quality, and ask only that it be thought-provoking without being offensive.

Please send them either as a Microsoft Word attachment or within the body of your email. (Word Limit guide 1000-2000 preferred)
Note when using word please write as if for a US Letter or A4 sized page with natural wordwrapping. If you wish to include a picture or a graphic with the article, please send it to us as a small JPEG attachment scanned at 72dpi and no larger than 100k

We will reply as soon as possible. Please note that articles not used in the next issue may be carried over for subsequent issues. In this case we will notify you via email of which issue your submission will be included in. Accepted articles will be indexed and archived after a period of time. Hackwriters is a free magazine and does not pay.
Note: we are a site based at a academic institution and are bound by a code of ethics

The Editor.
submit your work to: hackwriters 'at' gmail.com
use the @ symbol"

~posted by Alex

Perspectives Magazine

2005-10-27T12:17:00.000-07:00

I don't have much information about this magazine yet, and they don't seem to have an internet presence, but the premise will at least provide for a fun writing exercise. "Perspectives Magazine" is seeking stories told from the perspective of inanimate objects. Here's their official debriefing:

"Submissions are being accepted for the new quarterly PERSPECTIVES magazine, which will launch in January 2006. Seeking new and published writers of all ages who want to stretch their imaginative ability. Give inanimate objects human qualities and write about an object’s world from its perspective. Rights: First rights. Response time: 4 - 6 weeks. Payment: Non-paying; for exposure only. Contributors will receive a copy of magazine.

For complete details, email perspectivesmagazine (at) gmail (dot) com with “Request Guidelines” in the subject line. I look forward to your submissions."

~posted by Alex

Concentricus

2005-10-26T16:52:00.000-07:00

Concentricus. Kicks. Ass.

What else can I say about it? This is one of the best online writing magazines I've ever seen, in part because it combines the idea of a magazine with the best parts of a writer's group. It is both a support center and a publisher. It is a place to make friends, read new work, and sharpen your critiquing skills. Browsing through the forums you'll find that members are intelligent, well-spoken and (best of all) good at critiquing the work without critiquing the person.

If you've been frustrated by online communities before, give this place a shot. The sociopathic egomania that plagues other places has been kept in check. Maybe this will change as the site grows, but let's hope not.

For more, check out their damn fine website. Registration is free, and you can browse the magazine regardless of membership.

~posted by Alex

Two in a Row

2005-10-26T11:46:00.000-07:00

Continuing with yesterday's trend, today we're linking to a series of interesting interviews, excerpts and articles on Forbes.com about communication. Ranging from articles on beaming messages to alien stars to a conversation with blogger Wil Wheaton, they give a kind of cultural cross-section on what communication means to us now.

Check out the index here. Many of the articles are short and sweet, perfect for reading at work during downtime.

~posted by Danny

Lone Star Statements

2005-10-25T12:49:00.000-07:00

We usually don't link to pages that aren't venues for publishing or tips for writing, but Matthew Baldwin's article Lone Star Statements deserves a look. Sorting through Amazon reviews of a few selections from Time's "100 Best" book list, Baldwin has collected a number of one-star reviews. The result is funny, weird, and fascinating.

An example:

"The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe (1950)

Author: C.S. Lewis

“I bought these books to have something nice to read to my grandkids. I had to stop, however, because the books are nothing more than advertisements for “Turkish Delight,” a candy popular in the U.K. The whole point of buying books for my grandkids was to give them a break from advertising, and here (throughout) are ads for this “Turkish Delight”! How much money is this Mr. Lewis getting from the Cadbury’s chocolate company anyway? This man must be laughing to the bank.” "

~posted by Danny

Spinning Jenny

2005-10-20T17:15:00.000-07:00

For prose and poetry writers, 'tis the season to submit to Spinning Jenny, whose reading season began in September and runs through May. Though it seems as though Jenny usually prefers missionary style submissions, her guidelines do suggest she's open to some experimentation.

From the site:

"at-a-glance
Genres: Poetry, fiction, drama
Reading period: September-May only
Response time: 1-4 months
Simultaneous submissions: Not accepted
Email submissions: Accepted (see below)

details
Spinning Jenny is an open forum for poetry and fiction. We are pleased to consider experimental writing and work by unpublished authors. However, writers are strongly encouraged to review a recent issue of the magazine before submitting their work.

Please send up to six poems or ten pages of fiction or drama for consideration. We prefer to receive no more than three submissions per writer per year, and generally cannot reply to more. We do not consider simultaneous submissions or material that has been previously published in any format. Note that we are not considering full-length manuscripts for book publication at this time.

submission methods
Submissions and correspondence may be sent by regular postal mail or email. Postal submissions must include a self-addressed stamped envelope if a reply is desired; we will not reply via email to submissions sent by post. Email submissions must be cut-and-pasted into the body of the email. File attachments of any kind are not accepted. Email containing attachments is automatically deleted from our mail server.

response time
We accept submissions all year and make every effort to respond to all correspondence within 16 weeks. Because of the volume of mail we receive, we regret that it is not possible for us to provide comments on returned submissions, nor can we provide critiques. We cannot be responsible for the loss or return of unsolicited pieces.

payment & rights
Spinning Jenny does not charge reading fees. Payment to authors is made in complimentary contributor copies. The magazine is copyrighted; rights to individual pieces revert to the authors upon publication.

address
From September to May only, send submissions to:

submissions@spinning-jenny.com
(remember, no attachments)

or

Spinning Jenny
c/o Black Dress Press
P.O. Box 1373
New York, NY 10276"

One other note: there is little of the magazine's content available online, so you may have to submit blind to this one or buy an issue to get a feel for it.

~posted by Danny

Ellipsis

2005-10-18T11:55:00.000-07:00

I was tipped off to this lit mag by contributor Karen Mitchell, who wrote to say we've still got a few months before the Ellipsis deadline hits. Below are submission guidelines, but be sure to check out the site for further details:

"During August 1-November 1, send 3-5 poems, short fiction or other prose preferably under 5,000 words, and visual art (slides, securely wrapped and identified) to:

Ellipsis Editor
Westminster College
1840 South 1300 East
Salt Lake City, UT 84105

Include a stamped, self-addressed envelope for notification and return of material. If you have not heard from us by April 1, please let us know. It is helpful to include a brief contributor's note in your cover letter, and please make sure your cover letter has your phone numbers and email as well as name and address. We currently pay contributors $10 per published poem and $50 per story, plus one copy of the issue."

~posted by Alex

Indiana Poetry Festival

2005-10-15T12:55:00.000-07:00

Hope to see you all at the Indiana Poetry Festival this year! I'll be volunteering at the Big Car booth early in the afternoon, so come for the Handsome and stay for the poetry.

Directions to the festival are here, and more information about the whowhatwhen can be found here. Support the arts, support Indiana, support the very fact that there's something so damn cool to do on a beautiful Fall Sunday.

~posted by Alex

Aesthetica

2005-10-13T16:27:00.000-07:00

At first glance, 'Aesthetica: A Review of Contemporary Artists' struck me as a 'high-brow' literary magazine. Or, to put it another way, not easily accessible to those seeking ways to get into the business of writing. But in truth, while it is a literate and intelligent magazine, it is also uniquely committed to making art and literature approachable. From the site:

"Aesthetica is a literary magazine based in York, UK. The magazine was initially started in order to promote creativity, equality and diversity within the literary arts in and around the York area, but its focus - and intended audience - have since become much wider.

At Aesthetica, we believe everyone in society has a voice, and a right for that voice to be heard. We are interested in what people have to say about their lives and experiences, and strive to make Aesthetica, in all its forms, a medium for that. We are in the business of opening doors and dispelling the aura of pretension that often surrounds art and writing. We believe in accessibility and an open community within the arts.

The journal takes the form of a 110 page, perfect bound paperback journal. We publish poetry, prose, articles, reviews, drama, interviews, photography and at least 6 - 10 pieces of full colour artwork (see our submission guidelines for more information). We aim to publish every second month - about six times a year - and each issue is supported by a launch night where excerpts from the journal are read aloud. At the launch of issue eight around 100 people attended. This continues to exceeded our initial expectations - Aesthetica has become a real link between different communities and cultures and have forged a strong bond between strangers. We have received submissions from as far away as New Zealand, Canada, Australia, India, United Arab Emirates, Mexico, America and Europe, as well as from York and all over the UK.

We have also started a writers' workshop which takes the form of an informal get-together for Aesthetica writers to chat about their work, and about art and writing in general.

Aesthetica is a not-for-profit venture. That means we don't make any money or receive any funds for our time and hard work. Every penny we make selling the magazine is rolled back into producing the next issue and organising Aesthetica-related events.

Aesthetica was a finalist for the Best Community Project Award 2004 in the city of York. We have also appeared on York TV, BBC North Yorkshire Radio, York Hospital Radio, in The Yorkshire Evening Press, The Vibe, Orbis, Flock, Sandman, Literature News, Reach, The Talk, The Fly, Verb, The Link, YO1 Magazine, Myslexia, The Leeds Guide, and The Yorkshire Word. Aesthetica made its way to Poetry Challenge 2003, at Union Chapel in Islington, where co-founder Dale Donley recited poetry.

I would describe Aesthetica as slightly different than most literary magazines. We are concerned with making music, literature, and art accessible for everyone. There is too much of a stigma attached to literature and art. Tony Harrison, who is one of our favourite poets, has a major theme in the breaking down of barriers. We hope that Aesthetica goes some way towards achieving that objective."

Be sure to check out those submission guidelines, too; they accept writing in a variety of genres and topics.

~posted by Alex

Files Now Available

2005-10-08T08:59:00.000-07:00

For those of you that haven't had a chance to pick up a print copy of the magazine yet, the music is now available online, along with band info and websites. As with everything else on the contents page, each band now has it's own stage. You can check out the revised website here.

~posted by Alex

Music Updates and NaNoWriMo

2005-10-06T10:49:00.000-07:00

We're working on getting the musical contributions online, and will most likely be hosting the music on Purevolume. Please bear with us, this should be up by this weekend.

Another quite important event to happen this week is the official opening of registration for National Novel Writing Month! From the FAQ:

"The Basics

When can I sign up?October 1, 2005

When is the cut-off date for sign-ups?
November 25, 2005 (hope springs eternal).

When do I start writing?
At 12:00:01 am local time on November 1.

How do you win? Are there judges? What are the prizes?
The way to win NaNoWriMo is by writing 50,000 words by midnight on November 30. Every year, there are many, many winners. There are no "Best Novel" or "Quickest-Written Novel" awards given out. All winners will get an official "Winner" web icon and certificate.

Can I handwrite the novel?
Absolutely. We can't verify your word count, but verification is just icing on the NaNoWriMo cake.

What if I start and don't finish?
That's ok. Nothing ventured, nothing gained, right?

What if I hit 50,000 words but I'm only halfway through my story?
The 50,000 word limit is a threshold, not necessarily a stopping place. Reaching 50k and realizing you still have a lot of wrapping up to do is a good thing---it gives you something to come back and work on later.

How do you define "novel?" Does fan fiction count? What if I want to write interconnected short stories rather than a novel? What if my story is largely autobiographical, or is based on a real person? Can I still write it in November?
We define a novel as "a lengthy work of fiction." Beyond that, we let you decide whether what you're writing falls under the heading of "novel." In short: If you believe you're writing a novel, we believe you're writing a novel too.

Why are you doing this? What do you get out of it?
NaNoWriMo is all about the magical power of deadlines. Give someone a goal and a goal-minded community and miracles are bound to happen. Pies will be eaten at amazing rates. Alfalfa will be harvested like never before. And novels will be written in a month.

Part of the reason we organize NaNoWriMo is just to get a book written. We love the fringe benefits accrued to novelists. For one month out of the year, we can stew and storm, and make a huge mess of our apartments and drink lots of coffee at odd hours. And we can do all of these things loudly, in front of people. As satisfying as it is to reach deep within yourself and pull out an unexpectedly passable work of art, it is equally (if not more) satisfying to be able to dramatize the process at social gatherings.

But that artsy drama window is woefully short. The other reason we do NaNoWriMo is because the glow from making big, messy art, and watching others make big, messy art, lasts for a long, long time. The act of sustained creation does bizarre, wonderful things to you. It changes the way you read. And changes, a little bit, your sense of self. We like that."

~posted by Alex

IT'S OCTOBER 1ST!

2005-10-01T06:41:00.000-07:00

BREAK OUT THE PINATAS, LADIES AND FELLAS! It's finally October 1st, and the long nights and days of putting the magazine together have paid off. Over the next few days, we'll be distributing the print copies to the usual places - Luna Music, Half Price Books, Borders, the MT Cup - and we're currently accepting e-mail requests for a copies.

If you would like to get your copy, absolutely free, e-mail us at jake_magazine (at) yahoo (dot) com with a mailing address and the subject line 'BECAUSE I LOVE YOU' (subject line optional).

Meanwhile, for those of you fartin' around all day on your computer, the new edition is up and ready at the usual place. Please note, there are still a couple areas under construction. We're working on getting our music submissions online, as well as a soon-to-be-posted interview with Stephen D. Rogers. Both these items are available in the print version, which is all the more reason to drop us a line.

And where else can you expect to find Peter S. Beagle with the Shake Ups, or Jerry Dreesen's art alongside Melvin Cartagena's script about TV and the end of the world? Stop by, check it out, and let us know what you think.

Gold Dust

2005-09-27T11:37:00.000-07:00

This magazine didn't make much of an impression at first glance, but let's be honest: the current JAKE website's format doesn't exactly move one with its beauty. I don't think we'll be the ones throwing stones.

What does recommend Gold Dust Magazine is the quality of the submissions and the variety of material they're willing to take on. The submission guidelines, for instance, include advice for sending everything from poetry and prose to book promotions and interviews.

I'd strongly suggest the curious contributor check out the submission guidelines. Take note, they aren't accepting new submissions until November, which should be plenty of time to get something together.

It's also worth your time to check out the preview pages to get a feel for the magazine. And the fact that they're damn good reads is another reason 'Gold Dust' is worth paying some attention to.

~posted by Alex

My Favorite Bullet

2005-09-25T21:18:00.000-07:00

This post got eaten once already, but maybe this one will stick. 'My Favorite Bullet' is a magazine that does what it sets out to do: publish great free form poetry and essays, as well as provide readers with a site that's easy to navigate and enjoy.

The magazine comes out pretty regularly, so it's worth checking out their complete Submission Guidelines. An excerpt:

"No Simultaneous Submissions
Period.

No Previously/Currently Published Work
Period.

Submit 3 - 5 poems at a time, in a single submission. Not one poem, not 54 poems, not in 3-5 separate e-mails.

Rights remain with author; it’s still your work.

E-Mail submissions only – MUST include the word “submission” in the subject. Mail submissions to editor@myfavoritebullet.com

NO ATTACHMENTS
Copy/Paste into the body of the e-mail. I cannot promise I will view your work if it has an unsolicited attachment.

Single-Space your work. Spare the Fancy Fonts and Oversized Text. I find double-spaced manuscripts distracting, and manually reformatting for publication is decidedly tiresome.

Prrofread Profreed Proofread
Triple-check your work. Assume that it will be the version published. Use “Spell-Check” but don’t trust the program (form & from are both correctly spelled...
and there’s a stinking difference between “to” and “too” as well as “its” and “it’s”)

Submit only once per issue
But feel free to submit to every issue. Do NOT, however, re-submit material I’ve already rejected.

Say hello
Pretend we’re meeting in person. You wouldn’t just shove your work in my hands and walk away. Or maybe you would. And I probably wouldn’t read it."

~posted by Danny

That Library Thing

2005-09-20T12:02:00.000-07:00

Every now and then you find something that's just plain neat. Library Thing certainly qualifies.

Essentially, this is a tool you can use to catalog a library online, allowing you to easily bring up a group of books based on subject, author, whatever. This could be your personal library, or the library of an organization. You enter a title and the site brings up it's information after scouring Amazon and the Library of Congress, providing you with ISBNs and other information. A couple clicks adds the title to your catalog.

Besides the application for personal collections, you can browse other people's libraries. Find someone with common interests and you'll also find a list of new titles and authors to read. If that's your idea of fun (and oh god yes, is it mine), you'll find this tool invaluable.

~posted by Danny

One Interesting Dude

2005-09-19T12:59:00.000-07:00

Everybody's got that great story that's made better by virtue of being true. That stranger you met on the street corner, the things you've learned from your children, that crazy thing you did in high school and didn't confess to for years afterward. And maybe you've thought, "I should write that down."

We've focused a lot on fiction markets, so today we're looking at something a little different. Creative Fiction is 100% freelance written, and pays $10 a page for accepted manuscripts. They've got a great track record for printing intelligent, interesting material, and they're looking for great, true stories, stories about you.

Submission Guidelines, from the site:

"What we're looking for:

• Strong reportage

• Well-written prose, rich with detail and a distinctive voice.

• An informational quality or instructive element that offers the reader something to learn (an idea, concept or collection of facts, strengthened with insight, reflection and interpretation.)

• A compelling, focused, sustained narrative that is well-structured, makes sense and conveys meaning.

Guidelines for Submission:

• Submissions should be typed, double-spaced, 5,000 words maximum.

• Please do not send multiple submissions.

• Please do not send queries. We consider only complete essays.

• Faxed or emailed submissions will not be accepted.

• Please include a self-addressed, stamped envelope for response. Manuscripts will be recycled unless you request otherwise and provide sufficient postage for the return of the manuscript.

• We will reply to manuscripts sent from outside the United States by email, if an email address is provided. For return of a manuscript outside the United States, please enclose a pre-paid postal coupon with sufficient postage to cover sending the manuscript.

• We accept simultaneous submissions, but do ask to be kept informed of the status of your manuscript.

Please send unsolicited material to:
Creative Nonfiction Foundation
5501 Walnut Street, Suite 202
Pittsburgh, PA 15232"

~posted by Alex

Down to the Wire

2005-09-15T10:17:00.000-07:00

Today's September 15th! That means it's your deadline to send us your art, music and words for our fourth issue, on the streets October 1st.

Meanwhile, September also marks the beginning of science-fiction magazine Ideomancer's latest reading period, ending this October. If you like writing speculative, supernatural or horror fiction, they'd be worth checking out.

From the site:

"Ideomancer publishes science fiction, fantasy, horror, slipstream, and flash fiction. We are open to any story with a speculative element-the supernatural, the unexplained, or the undiscovered. Stories without this element will not be considered. In other words, no matter how brilliant your serial-killer story is, it won't pass muster with us; we want that something extra that pushes a story beyond the bounds of reality. We also accept poetry — we're open to anything other than epic with a speculative element.We will only consider one poem at a time. Please do not send more than one poem per submission and do not submit additional poetry until you have received our response. Emails containing multiple poems will be deleted unread. You may submit stories to Ideomancer while your poetry is under review, but do so as a separate submission in a separate email.

Our reading periods will be the months of December-January, March-April, June-July, September-October. Any stories or poems submitted to us during the months of November, February, May, and August will be deleted unread.

All stories and poems sent to Ideomancer should be e-mailed to us (no snail mail submissions). Attach your story as an .rtf file — no other file types will be accepted! Do NOT embed your story in your e-mail message, or it will be deleted unread."

(Yeah, they're a little strict, but they're also a paying market.)

~posted by Danny

Cemetery Dance

2005-09-12T18:13:00.000-07:00

Crime fiction will always have an audience, and it attracts a lot of talented writers. Cemetery Dance Publishing caters to both. Specializing in crime, mystery and horror, the company puts out fiction in a number of media, including novels, comic books, and their regularly released magazine. A magazine that could always use a few submissions...

From the site:

"Cemetery Dance Magazine
Richard Chizmar, Editor-in-Chief
P.O. Box 623
Forest Hill, MD 21050

FICTION: Horror, dark mystery, and suspense short stories up to 5,000 words. Query for longer material. We want tales that are powerful and emotional -- creepy, chilling, disturbing, and moody. Suspense/mystery/crime tales with a horror element are always welcome. Both supernatural and psychological stories are fine. Most common reasons for rejection are: lack of power, lack of originality, slow pacing, poor writing, boring themes. Read the magazine, see what type of fiction we are publishing -- don't submit with a blind eye!

SUBMISSION FORMAT: Send us manuscript and SASE. No electronic submissions. Simultaneous submissions are okay, if noted in cover letter. Authors outside the United States should send disposable manuscripts with a business sized SAE and proper US postage. US postage can be purchased online at usps.com from anywhere in the world. No IRCs, please.

RESPONSE TIME: Averages 2-4 months.

ARTWORK: We solicit all our cover and interior artwork directly. Query first with samples.

PAYMENT: Professional rates of three to five cents per word, plus two contributor copies. Payable within 30 days of publication. Up to 5,000 words; maximum payment of $150. All rights revert to the author upon publication.

READING PERIOD: We are open to submissions year round.

Please do not send any email submissions, proposals, queries, or pitches.

Check out Writers' Corner for writing tips from authors such as Edward Lee, Tom Piccirilli, and Gary Raisor."

~posted by Alex

Last of the Independents

2005-09-08T13:05:00.000-07:00

Whether or not you believe in the more sinister implications of buying books from the larger booksellers or places like Wal*Mart, there are plenty of reasons for shopping at independent booksellers. That doesn't mean they're always easy to find.

Fortunately, someone's done the hard part for you. New Pages.com offers an almost comprehensive directory of independent stores in the United States and Canada. When you're done choosing your new favorite stores, it might also be a good idea to pull out a few of your best manuscripts and browse New Pages' listing of literary magazines. You won't be disappointed.

~posted by Alex

Underground with the Moles

2005-09-07T14:34:00.000-07:00

Sick of putting up with all that Mainstream mumbo-jumbo? Ready to explore the dark, seedy underbelly of Midwestern literature? Then grab your toothbrush and a flashlight, because the Writer's Center of Indiana is sponsoring "Indy Underground 2: Do Not Feed the Animals".

Seedy!

Wait, you think we're putting you on? This isn't countercultural enough for you? Tired of this post being so damn chock-full of questions? I refer you to this snippet from the site:

"Indy Underground returns in November with a thrilling, and perhaps slightly dangerous new theme, DO NOT FEED THE ANIMALS. We invite you to venture into the Harrison Center for the Arts’ subterranean Underground for an evening with the ever-captivating Karen Kovacik and the astounding George Singleton. These brave and daring writers will regale us with amazing and artful tales of the strange men and beasts who lurk the pages of their prose.

As will become the fashion at Indy Underground events, beer, music, and general merriment will be in no short supply. We hope the festivities don’t sound too menacing; be brave and bring an adventurous compatriot to share in the excitement (maybe they’ll even guard your pew or folding chair and hold your hand if you feel a bit anxious).

What is Indy Underground?

Indy Underground is a quarterly Reading Series sponsored by the Writers’ Center of Indiana.

Each reading revolves around a theme and is preceded by a half hour of beer, wine, and merriment.

Each reading is followed by live music.

In between, two of today’s most exciting writers will read selections from their fiction, nonfiction and poetry."

~posted by Alex

Word For/ Word

2005-09-06T16:45:00.000-07:00

Before we get into today's featured zine, please note the Red Cross banner on the right of your screen. As an organization, JAKE is in no position to mount it's own hurricane relief effort, but if you haven't done so already please take a moment to look around the Red Cross website and find out how you can help.

----

Word For/ Word has grown quite a bit since its first zine, but continues to feature excellent pieces of poetry and prose from authors hailing from a variety of backgrounds. Be sure to check out the 'Field Notes' section, too, for resources and handy links.

WF/W's Submission Guidelines:

Word For/Word is seeking poetry, prose, poetics, critical work, reviews, and visuals for issue #9. The deadline is February 1, 2006. Please direct queries and submissions to:

Word For/Word
c/o Jonathan Minton
PO Box 231
Glenville, WV 26351

Submissions should include a biographical note and publication history (or at least a friendly introduction), plus an SASE with appropriate postage for a reply. A brief statement regarding poetics, process, praxis or parole is encouraged, but not required. Please allow one to three months for a response. We will consider simultaneous submissions, but please let us know if any portion of it is accepted elsewhere. We do not consider previously published work.

Email queries and submissions may be sent to: editors@wordforword.info

Email submissions should be attached as a single .doc, .rtf, .pdf or .txt file. Visuals should be attached individually as .jpg, .gif or .bmp files.

Word For/Word acquires exclusive first-time printing rights (online or otherwise) for all published works, which are also archived online and may be featured in print anthologies of Word For/Word. All rights revert to the authors after publication in Word For/Word ; however, we ask that Word For/Word be acknowledged if the work is republished elsewhere.

Word For/Word is open to all types of poetry, prose and visual art, but prefers innovative and post-avant work with an astute awareness of the materials, rhythms, trajectories and emerging forms of the contemporary. Word For/Word is published biannually in the Summer and Winter.

A print anthology of Word For/Word is forthcoming. For more information, contact: anthology@wordforword.info"

The End of the Experiment

2005-09-03T07:11:00.000-07:00

Yeah, it was sketchy from the get go, but we all knew how this would end. A shout, a whimper, a hail of police gunfire; ce la vie.

We have two more issues to go, #4 in October and #5 in December. You'd be right to point out that this is not the six-issue run you were promised. You'd be right to comment that there's no real reason, besides, perhaps, inexcusable laziness, to end the run a year early.

Oh, you. We can't fool you. The truth is, our current format will continue through December. The experiment in self-publishing will be over.

The next chapter begins in 2006.

Thanks to the generous support of Big Car, issue #6 will be the first of what will be a long, continuous run of magazines. JAKE is being expanded and updated. The circulation is being increased ten-fold, and we will be distributing the print magazine much, much further.

Despite these changes, the basic goal remains the same. JAKE Magazine will continue accepting written work of any genre, any style. Because JAKE will still love you, and that's something.

Complain, Complain

2005-08-31T09:11:00.000-07:00

Working on things for a Very Exciting Announcement, which will be posted in the next couple of days. A couple of them, actually, but who wants to live in so much tension?

In the meantime, here's a conversation between Jonathan Lethem and Dave Eggers on the literary world at large. It's not always interesting to listen to a couple strangers talk shop, but this discussion has enough insights and questions to be worth checking out.

~posted by Alex

2

2005-08-29T10:45:00.000-07:00

Two points of business:

1.

JAKE Magazine is now registered with Published.com, a pretty amazing resource for writers looking for places to send their work. Besides allowing independent artists and writers to register their own work (self-published books or magazines, for instance), it features a directory divided by category of writing for easy navigation. Check it out!

2.

We're thrilled to announce that our next issue will feature an interview with Stephen D. Rogers, who has published hundreds of pieces in everything from "Chicken Soup for a Grandma's Soul" to "Carnival of Horror". Check out his website if you haven't read his work before. You won't be disappointed!

~posted by Alex

Grammar Party!

2005-08-27T08:02:00.000-07:00

Man, who doesn't like grammar? Communists, that's who.

It seems to be the complaint of most 'professional' litmags that contributors often turn in work that hasn't been edited for sentence structure and basic grammar. Maybe it's because we're not very professional, or we've just been lucky, but so far the submissions have been spot on.

Still, it never hurts to brush up now and then, or discover something new. This site offers a little refresher course in sentence variety. It sounds quite boring, but the article is well written and is chock full of entertaining examples of both good and bad use of sentences. (For one example, check out the 239 word, gramatically correct sentence.)

~posted by Danny

Godspeed, Glimmer Train

2005-08-24T16:00:00.000-07:00

Glimmer Train is one of the most highly respected literary magazines around, and it's easier to submit to than ever. Besides paying very, very well for published work (up to $500), they've changed their submission format to allow for electronic submissions.

The submission guidelines are here. Be sure to check out the rest of the site to get a feel for the tone and shape of the mag. These guys are doing some great work, and the best way to support them (besides generous cash donations) is to keep giving them great writing to publish.

~posted by Alex

Manuscripts Event: "Pardon Our Intermission"

2005-08-23T22:50:00.000-07:00

You've all heard the sad news by now that JAKE's Wednesday night shindig is cancelled...but just in case you're wondering where those literary energies you've built up can possibly be spent, there may be an alternative. Butler University's literary magazine, Manuscripts, is holding an open mic reading tomorrow evening and encourages students on campus along with writers from the surrounding community to come join in "a night of Music, Poetry, and general Hoopla." The reading begins at 7:00 p.m. in the university's Starbucks (located at the north entrance of Atherton Union, just west of the campus mall) and will conclude around 8:30. Writers of poetry, prose, short fiction, and essays are all welcome to come out and read, or they may simply listen to the student performances and hear selections from the current issue of Manuscripts. Come grab a drink (of the caffeinated variety), share your writing, and hear some great work by Butler's writers and musicians--after all, you already had your schedule cleared for JAKE. Right?

~posted by Tracy

Masterpiece in a Day

2005-08-18T10:31:00.000-07:00

Preregistration forms are now available for Fountain Square's Masterpiece in a Day competition. This is a one day event for artists, writers and musicians who can think fast on their feet. The even runs from 9am - 6pm on September 17th. From the site:

"Masterpiece in a Day, presented by Indiana Farm Bureau Insurance, allows visitors to see artwork created before their eyes, listen to poetry and short stories written on the streets and hear musicians making and performing their songs of Fountain Square. The event, including the new art fair, and improved activities for children, is free for contestants and visitors. Local restaurants will be selling food and neighborhood stores will be open for shoppers. Live, local traditional country music in the afternoon adds to the fun.

Here's the schedule for the free concert on the Music Stage at Shelby and Prospect Streets:
11:30-12 -- Graham Case
12-12:30 -- Tecumseh Flyers
12:30-1:15 -- Punkin Holler Boys
1:15-2 -- Freightliners
2-2:45 -- Tumbleweeds
3-5 -- Live performance of the Music Contest

The big draw for the artists, besides living in the dream of an Indianapolis arts neighborhood like this for a day, is the event's $15,000 in prize money. Art, music and writing with first place prizes of $1,000, second of $500 and third of $200. "

~posted by Danny

Cancellation

2005-08-16T19:41:00.000-07:00

For reasons I'm not entirely clear on, Big Car won't be able to host the JAKE open mic night. I'm sorry to post this so close to the 24th. It's unclear at this point if this is a postponement or a cancellation, so we'll assume the latter until we hear otherwise.

I'd be a little more bothered, but I know something you don't (yet). We'll soon be announcing our interview for issue 4, and it's a big'un! Stay tuned for magazine updates and links galore.

~posted by Alex

Zafusy

2005-08-11T16:24:00.000-07:00

We've menioned a few more experimental or surrealist magazines before, including John Clark's pLopLop, but good ones can be hard to pick out from the bad apples.

Zafusy is one of the good'uns. Though it's probably best to read the magazine for yourself to get an idea of what they're looking for, here are the official submission guidelines:

"zafusy: experimental poetry, prose and visual art - but all things considered.

Send all poetry submissions in the body of an email (not an attached document unless its a visual submission) with your full name and the word "submission" typed in the subject field. Contributors that fail to do this will be frowned upon. Please specify "poetry submission", "prose submission" or "submission: other".

Don't double space the lines or use exotic fonts or coloured text.

Please also include any information regarding work published elsewhere, and whether you have linked to us from your blog or personal website. A bio always appreciated.

Poetry prose art submissions all go to: editor@zafusy.com or zafusy@myway.com depending on whether or not you trust our forwarding service."

~posted by Alex

Hats Off

2005-08-08T12:32:00.000-07:00

If you're longing passionately for one of those quaint, old-fashioned, independent bookstores in this world of corporate giants, Big Hat Books is your...well, your John Wayne. Founded last year by Elizabeth Houghton, a former L.A. Times book reviewer, and her husband Dan Barden, a novelist and professor of English at Butler University, the shop lives to serve the Indianapolis community, even offering space and resources for local schools and writing-related events. From the site:

"Big Hat Books is proud to be Indianapolis' only independent general interest bookstore. We may be small - 1125 sq feet - but we like to think big, so don't hold back, no request is too out of the realm of possibility. Working with corporations, schools, libraries, hospitals and affinity marketing groups is as much fun for us as finding the perfect read for individual book-lovers visiting our store in Broad Ripple Village. Our selection of books is hand-chosen, and while we hope to help you find exactly what you want, please know that we are always willing to do what it takes to find 'the' book for you, your family, friends or colleagues. Read lots, and visit often!"

For more information, check out the site, Nuvo's archives, or pay a visit to the store itself, located next to the Monon Coffee Shop on E. Westfield Boulevard in Broad Ripple.

~posted by Tracy

Internet Fiction

2005-08-05T21:25:00.000-07:00

Internet Fiction is a wonderful collaborative site that seems to genuinely care about exposing writers to new audiences. The editors are looking for stories, poetry, interviews and even musical submissions. From the site:

"InternetFiction is dedicated to all areas of writing. The scope of submissions is therefore wide and is even open to further suggestion - if a worthy suggestion is made and the technology is viable to make this possible the editors will strive to make it happen.

InternetFiction encourages all writers of all countries (translators and foreign editors are needed for non-english language areas of the site to begin), faiths and cultures to submit to the site; complicit with this statement is the welcoming of all forms and styles.

Submissions may be: fiction, non-fiction, short fiction, letters, reviews, interviews, articles, journals, musical compositions, humorous stories/ideas, cartoons, photojournalism, travel writing, essays, memoirs, biographical pieces. in short anything. And should you not find any particular interest catered for you are more than welcome, as previously stated, to make any suggestion whereby the site can accommodate such work.

All Submitted work should be in Word or *RTF format, unless otherwise stated.
Submissions should be made as an attachment via email to submissions@internetfiction.co.uk

Should you wish to write a column for InternetFiction please provide a summary of what you might cover, vaguely from what angle and provide an example. Again, you will not be paid for your efforts but this may well provide you with an area to which you might direct your admirers or potential employers.

Should you wish to submit a short story for InternetFiction there is no strict word limit but you should bear in mind most readers will be reading from a screen. The length of someone's attention span is dependent on length and quality. When submitting your work please include some brief information about yourself and work should you want this to appear with the published story.

Should you wish to submit a musical composition to InternetFiction this should be in MP3 format, at present the site does not support any other format. When submitting your tracks please include some brief information, a picture or image and, if you have one, your website address - you will be expected to link this site to your own.

Should you wish to submit an interview to InternetFiction this is ordinarily typed up by yourself in the usual Word or *RFT format. Should you wish this to appear on the site as an audio file the editors will liase with you by email regarding how this may best be achieved.

Should you wish to submit a novel to InternetFiction and promote it in the same fashion as Fish Packing in Alaska you are more than welcome to contact the editors.

Should you wish to submit to the humour section or have an idea you would like to discuss with the editors in which you could be given space on the site to do this, again you may do this through writing to the editors.

We do make decisions on all submissions and normally respond within a month, however, if two months pass and still you have not heard received the courtesy of a reply please send a query regarding this."

~posted by Danny

Competitors!

2005-08-03T20:19:00.000-07:00

Boy, say a couple nice things about a webzine and what happens? They wind up putting out a print mag the same day you do. So on October 1st, I expect our humble readers and contributors to pick up JAKE and 63 Channel's first printed magazine.

In the meantime, start getting your submissions ready for 63 Channels. Glen Feulner writes:

"SUBMISSIONS: Start sending them! Due to the time involved in layout and preperation this will be a shortemed submission period. You have from now till August 21st to be considered for the print issue. All submissions after that period will be kept in consideration for future online issues. Remember, only submit to this if you are willing to buy an issue on your own. I don't want to force people to buy an issue, as I said before 63 Channels is not about making money, but since we're not charging submissions fee's and not making a profit, we simply can't buy issue's for those of you that are accepted.

Here's the submissions guidlines for the issue. Poetry - 2 poems, max 35 lines each, Fiction -1 peice of fiction, 5,000 word limit to all stories. Articles - one article per person, 1,500 word max. All submissions must be in english and include your full name. The issue will hit stands October 1st and be available to order online, domestic and international."

~posted by Alex

Terrible Cries in the Night

2005-08-01T02:15:00.000-07:00

It's 4am, and the coffee's long since worn off, but it's finished. JAKE issue 3 is online and ready for action, baby! There's a lot of great stuff this month, including interviews with Victor Gischler and Joyce Brinkman, along with poetry, short stories and essays. We're very proud to present such a strong issue, and we have our contributors to thank.

Enjoy, good citizens!

~posted by Alex

Open Mic Night

2005-07-28T10:04:00.000-07:00

It's official, good citizens!

The first JAKE Magazine Open Mic night, graciously hosted by the Big Car Gallery, will be held on Wednesday, August 24th. Beginning at 6 pm, all JAKE contributors will be invited to read, followed by any-and-everyone interested in showing what they've got.

The Big Car Gallery is located in the Murphy Building of Fountain Square. The address: 1043 Virginia Ave., Suite 215, or I could just refer you to this handy Mapquest link.

Direct questions to jake_magazine(at)yahoo(dot)com. Contributors keep your eyes open for e-mails with further details.

~posted by Alex

Showcase

2005-07-25T18:47:00.000-07:00

If you're hankering for some original work, check out the Fiction Addiction Showcase. Poetry, short stories, novel excerpts and more are posted daily, free to the public. To post work, however, requires a $20 membership fee. Whether you care to pay or not, there's an interesting selection of reading material that can help get the juices flowing.

~posted by Danny

Murder in '39

2005-07-20T22:00:00.000-07:00

In honor of regular contributor/supporter/top-notch guy Glenn Guimond, who came out of a major operation in good health this morning, I thought I'd post a link to Raymond Chandler's essay, "The Simple Art of Murder".

From the piece:

"In everything that can be called art there is a quality of redemption. It may be pure tragedy, if it is high tragedy, and it may be pity and irony, and it may be the raucous laughter of the strong man. But down these mean streets a man must go who is not himself mean, who is neither tarnished nor afraid. The detective in this kind of story must be such a man. He is the hero; he is everything. He must be a complete man and a common man and yet an unusual man. He must be, to use a rather weathered phrase, a man of honor--by instinct, by inevitability, without thought of it, and certainly without saying it. He must be the best man in his world and a good enough man for any world."

~posted by Alex

63 Channels

2005-07-19T10:51:00.000-07:00

It's hard to talk up this site enough. '63 Channels' offers so much to readers that I wasn't sure where to begin as I browsed the site. While I recommend looking at as much of it as possible, I've chosed a few places that are sure to impress, as well as prove useful:

Emerging Artists: From the site - " "Emerging Artists" is our attempt to expose you, the readers, to some great new poetry, fiction, music, artwork, whatever, that you may miss out on other wise. Everything listed here is less than 6 months old and has links to preview and buy the work."

Submission Guidelines: If you're a writer, artist or musician, you want to check this out. They're looking for reviews, stories, poems, art, photography, and more. Not only that, but if you've put together a larger project (a book, say, or a CD), you could find yourself featured on the "Emerging Artists" page.

Featured Writer Duane Locke: This should give you some idea of the shape of the site, as well as what it means to be featured on it. Locke's a talented writer, too, which makes this page worth your time no matter how you slice it.

~posted by Alex

The Poem Tree

2005-07-17T19:46:00.000-07:00

They say it's making a comeback. Metered poetry, lately shunned for free verse and spoken word, is still worth getting familiar with. The Poem Tree offers excellent examples of the 'form' on their site, in it's many, many variations. Browse such authors as Edgar Lee Masters, John Donne, and Sara Teasdale.

~posted by Danny

Tick, Tick, Tick

2005-07-14T10:56:00.000-07:00

If you've been thinking of submitting to JAKE, the end is nigh! Tomorrow marks the deadline for the third issue. If you don't make it, don't be discouraged. There's still plenty of time to submit for the October issue (deadline September 15). Many thanks to all who've contributed thus far; they keep getting better and better.

~posted by Alex

Long Expanses of Excellence

2005-07-13T11:35:00.000-07:00

Fiction like bullets: short, loud and hard. That's the idea behind 'sudden fictions', also known as 'flash fiction' (and probably a dozen other names). It's harder than it sounds, but the technique is worth learning. Even if contained within a longer work, keeping particularly jarring or important scenes down to a few pages can help increase their impact.

Merklee.com offers some resources on writing flash fiction. Be forewarned, not all the links work, but most of the articles offer good advice and interesting perspectives on the process.

From one such article, by Jack Goodstein:
"The idea that in literature, as often in life, good things come in small packages is not particularly new. At the beginning of the nineteenth century there was a strong feeling that long works, no matter how brilliant or sublime they might be, in fact perhaps as a result of that very sublimity, were too much for the limited human mind to deal with in large chunks. Human beings were incapable of experiencing prolonged ecstasy; every once in a while they needed a rest. The conclusion was obvious: if you were going to write a long work, it was essential to avoid long expanses of excellence. These must be broken up and separated by passages, shall we say, less excellent."

~posted by Danny

storySouth

2005-07-11T20:22:00.000-07:00

The internet is big. I mean, really, really big. Enormous, even. It's always helpful, then, to find a website that's already done the legwork and can connect you to good webzines and useful resources. And if that website also accepts submissions and runs a few contests, well, that would be pretty awesome, yeah?

storySouth.com is officially 'pretty awesome'. The results of their most recent competition, the "Million writers contest", are worth checking out, both for the pieces and for the links to other zines.

And, thought not currently accepting submissions, it appears they plan to do so in the future. Check out their guidelines and get an early start.

~posted by Alex

Sellouts

2005-07-09T12:07:00.000-07:00

Now, don't jump to conclusions, or our masterful title will mislead you. As most everyone has heard before, a good writer must also be a good reader. However, those of you who have perused the "Self-Help/Writing" section of your local bookstore may have noticed the shelves littered with manuals on style, "fill-in-the-blank" novel outlines, and get rich quick guides to the publishing industry. Seems that there's hardly a worthwhile read among them. But sometimes a good book gets lucky, and earns its place on the sales charts at the same time it earns a place on a writer's bookshelf. Here's a quick overview of some JAKE-recommended perennial bestsellers--"sellouts"--that have proved their worth year after year.

1. The Elements of Style, Strunk and White. Sounds like a textbook your high school grammar teacher would make you read, but this handy publication has sold millions of copies and earns its reputation as "the writer's bible." It's not only a helpful reference for any editorial questions that may crop up, but its sections on how to make your writing clear, concise, and accurate are invaluable for any literary undertaking.

2. Zen in the Art of Writing, Ray Bradbury. A fabulous collection of essays on falling madly in love with writing and making it last. If you need something to perk you up, give your writing some new fuel, and send your creative genius skyrocketing, this is the book for you and probably always will be.

3. If You Want to Write, Brenda Ueland. If Zen is the rocket fuel, this book is the ladder up to the launch pad. Ueland advises writers and non-writers alike to overcome the common fears associated with creative expression--rejection, incompetence, inability to arrive at perfection--and just make the first steps to see where they lead.

4. 20 Master Plots (And How to Build Them), Ronald B. Tobias. It may sound like just another "stick to what works" publishing book, but this is anything but a fill-in-the-blank form for your stories. Tobias provides in-depth outlines of the most enduring plot structures, including examples of everything from Shakespeare to Orwell to Wolfe. The book is not a how-to manual as much as an exploration of what makes certain plots meaningful, and what kinds of characters and events make those plots worthwhile. How meaningful and how worthwhile, Tobias leaves up to the author and his or her creative vision.

5. Writing Down the Bones, Natalie Goldberg. In answer to the many "How to Get Published" books that tell us what to avoid, Goldberg argues that we should concentrate instead on how to create. The book is one of the first compilations of certain rules that have become writing canon: "Show, don't tell," "Be detailed and specific," "Don't ask questions without offering answers," even if that answer is just a step in the right direction. Most importantly, though, Goldberg makes clear her belief that writing is a connection, between writers and readers, between mind and body--even between pen and paper--and that it must be felt in order to be created.

They may be critically acclaimed bestsellers, and they may show up on list after list of what to read when you want to write. But don't be too quick to withhold your applause. They've certainly earned every inch of their popularity.

~posted by Tracy

Brain Pickin's

2005-07-06T18:42:00.000-07:00

Powell's Books has a pretty damn fine website for booklovers looking for reviews, recommendations and good deals, but what I have fallen in love with is the interview section. The site features conversations with writers as diverse as Sarah Vowell, Dave Barry, Richard Dawkins and Bharati Mukherjee, and the whole thing is free. Check it out the next time you're fighting writer's block or just want a little inspiration to keep up the good fight.

~posted by Alex

Just Ducky

2005-07-05T14:40:00.000-07:00

Any webzine featuring ducks in space-suits and babes with lasers is all right in our book. 'Ducky' is also a good place to find and submit a number of pieces, including poetry, prose and essays. From the web site:

"To Submit to Ducky:

Ducky accepts submissions of poetry, fiction and essays. We are selective. We will not look at unsolicited manuscripts that do not follow the submission guidelines listed below. Writers hoping to find a home in Ducky for interviews, translations, reviews and criticism should query the editors before submitting. Please note that we DO NOT at this time, nor do we plan to, accept submissions for The Ducky Mix Tape or submissions of visual art. Please inform us if you are submitting your work simultaneously. We seek to respond to submissions within 8 weeks of receipt, but since we are an all volunteer staff, try as we might, we sometimes take longer.

Guidelines:

1. Electronic submissions only

2. Please limit submissions to 3-5 poems, 1 story or essay

3. All submissions should be sent as a SINGLE MS Word document attached to an email message; in other words, if you are submitting 5 poems, please do not attach 5 separate Word documents.

4. Please include in the body of your email a brief paragraph introducing yourself.

5. Your electronic submission must have a subject line that adheres to the following format: Surname_submission_DUCKY_type of submission. So, if your name is Johnson and you are submitting poetry, your subject line should read: "Johnson_submission_DUCKY_poetry"

6. Send all submissions to "submissions@duckymag.com". (Please note the new email address.)"

~posted by Danny

Tumbleweeds...

2005-07-03T20:27:00.000-07:00

My apologies for the lack of posts. Things are getting busy over summer, and we've already gotten more submissions for the next issue than we usually see by the end of the deadline.

But things are settling down again, and the posts will resume their regular frequency, starting with this recent announcement from the Indianapolis Writer's Center:

"Writers' Center of Indiana Contest Announced

Writers from all areas are invited to submit up to 5,000 words that feature at least one of the "Seven Deadly Sins." The winner will receive the prize of $1,000, and the winning piece will be published on our website and in our news magazine, 'Literally'. As this contest is listed in Poets and Writers magazine, we have received many entries thus far, but there is still plenty of time for you to submit. Don't miss out!

Contest Guidelines:

Submit two copies of each piece submitted> -> one copy with a cover sheet including name, address and telephone number, and one clean copy.

Previously published work will be accepted.

Include SASE for response only; work will not be returned.

Multiple pieces may be submitted, with a $10 reading fee required for each entered manuscript. Enclose check or money order made payable to the Writer's Center of Indiana.

Deadline for entry is August 31, 2005.
Winners will be announced by September 30.

Mail entries to:

The Writer's Center of Indiana
Sins prize
P.O. Box 30407
Indianapolis, IN 46230-0407"

~posted by Alex

Start Me Up

2005-06-28T18:43:00.000-07:00

You just hummed the riff, didn't you? Don't lie. We know better. If it takes Mick Jagger to get you people thirsting for summer writing tips, then so be it!

Well, as you may or may not know, JAKE conducts unofficial behavioral experiments on the unsuspecting patrons of local bookstores. (It's perfectly legal.) The findings are very preliminary so far, but our latest study reveals that, while the first page is definitely still the clincher for getting your novel published, the hype that's written by others is what keeps the book in someone's hands all the way to the register. What does this mean? Well, it means you could take a page out of Dave Eggers and architect your own back cover...Or it means you need a plot that can be stunningly encapsulated in three to four sentences. As it turns out, this is a wonderful exercise for either putting a novel-in-progress into perspective or for rescuing that old idea for a novel from the trash heap. Your only assignment is to put the most exciting and crucial elements of your story into a four-sentence summary...then knock it down to three...then two. It's harder than it sounds, but invaluable for keeping a tight focus to your story, and it keeps you from getting caught up in the excuse that your story is simply "too complicated" to be summarized (a line that could stop the best writers in their tracks). Give it a try, especially if you have some story ideas that have been lying dormant. You may find that once you revisit them, you can't get no satisfaction.

Now, this is the last time we scrounge up song titles to motivate you with, y'hear?

~posted by Kim

Mmm, Delicious Announcements!

2005-06-25T07:29:00.000-07:00

We're excited to announce that the next issue of JAKE will feature not one but two interviews with a pair of writers as different as...well, as a hard-boiled crime writer and the Indiana state poet laureate.

Yes, the legends are true; we've been doubly honored with the chances to speak with Victor Gischler and Joyce Brinkman, about everything from writing for webzines to children's literature. There will be a couple other surprises this August too, but you can't expect me to give everything away.

As an addendum to an earlier post about John Clark's pLopLop, there have been a few questions as to what kind of work should be submitted. The answer: just about anything. While pLopLop has tended to have a surrealist edge, that doesn't mean they aren't interested in other pieces of work. And the fact that they take electronic submissions (see earlier post) means you can send as many pieces as you need.

pLopLop is a nationally known magazine that has featured writers such as Lawrence Ferlinghetti and Kurt Vonnegut. If a couple hacks like them can get in, what are you waiting for?

~posted by Alex

Salute Your Shorts

2005-06-23T08:50:00.000-07:00

We've covered a few Writer's Digest competitions in the past, and it's worth noting that taking a prize in any of them is the stuff impressive cover letters are made of. But here's good news for anyone who finds the realm of realist short fiction a little daunting--Writer's Digest has a newer contest specifically for the writers of short shorts. The Short Short Award is only 5 years old, but the genre is continually growing in popularity and critical acceptance, and there's no better time than now to break into it. Need some examples or info on what exactly a short short is? Here's a few notes toward defining the concept (also called flash fiction or Story Bytes):

"..Very short stories themselves range in topic. Many explore a brief event---a vignette of something unusual, unique and, at times, something even commonplace. Some stories can be bizarre, while others quite lucid. Some are based on actual events, while others are entirely fictional....

"As you can see, it's tough to pin down a collection of stories with a general, all-encompassing description. However, these very short stories often do tend to examine a slice of life, one fleeting moment that may serve as a defining incident or provide an important revelation. We all have these incidents at various times in our lives, and Story Bytes often strive to explore these 'moments of transition.'"

The deadline for WD's competition is Thursday, December 1 of this year--enough time to put some serious (or humorous) thought into your piece, even if you write only one word a day! Short shorts are incredibly versatile in that they can tackle most topics without being questioned--people have written short shorts inspired by ads at the bus stop, e-mail conversations, and even restaurant comment cards. So if you've been dying to write about the meaningful connection between that oddly shaped spot on your ceiling and the time Grandma drove you to the zoo, now's your chance. Just keep it short (under 1500 words, for WD) and we'll give you the benefit of the doubt.

~posted by Robert

Summer Solstice

2005-06-21T11:08:00.000-07:00

After a brief but fruitless search for good summer writing prompts, I decided to post a few links that should get the creative juices flowing. The first comes from Pulse Planet, a site offering MP3s recorded from events around the world. Dive into a Scandinavian Solstice festival and see just what a little extra sun can mean to someone. From the site:

“It's the summer solstice and we're celebrating the longest day of the year at a Scandinavian festival. I'm Jim Metzner, and this is the Pulse of the Planet.

Accordionists and fiddlers play traditional Swedish folk songs, dancers prance around a festive May Pole and volunteers dish out pickled herring. We're at the American Scandinavian Association's midsummer picnic in Carderock Park, Maryland.
Swedish native, Rosemarie Oster, is a professor at the University of Maryland.

"Well, the summer solstice is celebrated by a lot of people all, all around the world , at least in the western world. And it's the same thing in Sweden. The greeting of the, the longest day; in some places in Sweden, sunshine all the time-- all night long. And it's uh you know, a celebration of the powers of nature and rejuvenation and all of this." "

The second article is a more informative one, an explanation of the Pagan origins of Solstice festivals. If you’re like me, a bit of interesting non-fiction might compel you to put pen to paper:

“Long before the dawn of any of the modern Judeo-Christian-Islamic faiths, rituals followed a more simplistic path. Guided by the natural cycle of birth-life-death-and-renewal, the ancients marked their seasons by celebrating each phase of the wheel of life. Both male and female principals were honored, God and Goddess, and each was given honor as the sun and moon entwined in their cosmic dance.”

And, finally, enjoy the full text of Shakespeare’s “A Midsummer Night’s Dream”. See what all the fuss is about, and let Bill’s romp remind you of the kind of magic summer still holds.

~posted by Danny

Second Glance

2005-06-19T23:26:00.000-07:00

In general, we try to steer away from linking to other sites just to say, "Go check out their events," because we'd really prefer to hide our moments of laziness from you for as long as possible. However, this may be enough of an exception that we don't mind telling you to keep tabs on it whenever you get the chance. The Writer's Center of Indiana has been in business for over 20 years, offering classes, workshops, publishing services, and some of the most consistently impressive writing-related events in the state, so nothing is lost by perusing their list of upcoming events from time to time. The Center also hosts monthly open readings on the second Wednesday of each month at the downtown location that are worth checking out. If nothing else, it's comforting to know that such a place exists where writers of all levels (even the youngest among us) can find community support and acceptance, especially when similar programs often seem to run up against obstacles in smaller school, library, or church settings. We'll be sure to keep you updated on the Center's latest happenings--but hopefully you'll find that a visit to their site is all the convincing you'll need that goals this big are worth keeping a closer eye on.

~posted by Tracy

pLopLop online

2005-06-19T19:44:00.000-07:00

CALL FOR SUBMISSIONS!

John Clark's surrealist magazine 'pLopLop' is in the process of moving to Big Car's website and needs submissions of poetry, prose, art, and anything else oozing from your diseased little brains.

Electronic submissions can be sent to john(at)bigcar(dot)org and/or glenn(at)bigcar(dot)org.

If you'd rather deal in hard copy, send your submission along with a SASE to:

pLopLop
PO Box 11443
Indianapolis, IN 46201

~posted by Alex

Hoosier Logic, 2

2005-06-16T18:52:00.000-07:00

Earlier we posted about Hoosier Logic, the new Indiana-based webzine that's looking to publish all kinds of work.

Well, the site is up, and it's far cooler and funnier than something with the word 'Hoosier' in it has any right to be. This looks like it could be one of the most exciting things to happen to the state and its writers in a long while. Check out the submission guidelines while you're there, or read on:

"If it’s good, Hoosier Logic might publish your:

Personal essay
News story
Interview
Film/music/book critique
Short fiction
Poetry

Indiana-centric writing is enthusiastically encouraged, but not necessarily a requirement for publication.

Send your submission or inquiry to submissions(at)hoosierlogic(dot)com"

~posted by Alex

Indy Poets Reading

2005-06-14T10:34:00.000-07:00

Hey there, are you busy the afternoon of June 26th? You are now! The Poetry Alliance of Indy, headed by Scott Brewer, is throwing a book release party and regional poetry reading on Sunday from approximately 3pm-6pm. The event will be hosted by Big Car Media and will be held in their Gallery at the Murphy Building in Fountain Square [directions]. Come celebrate the release of books by several of the Alliance's members and support the Indiana poets who will be reading, including Scott Brewer, Jeff Matheus, Ricardo Parre, JL Kato, Marci Donner, Sherri Wagner, Barry Harris, Ben Rose, and Jim Walker. Also, there is still limited space available for additional readers; just drop an e-mail to Glenn Guimond of Big Car at sirinigar(at)yahoo(dot)com and let him know you'd be interested. We speak from personal experience when we say that Big Car knows how to throw a shindig, so come and see for yourself!

RECAP:

Who - Scott Brewer and the Poetry Alliance of Indy

What - Poetry Reading and Book Release Party

When - Sunday, June 26th at 3pm

Where - Big Car Gallery in the Murphy Building at Fountain Square

Come on out and join the fun!

~posted by Kim

First Impressions

2005-06-13T12:58:00.000-07:00

First of all, a happy JAKE birthday to our esteemed editor-in-chief Alex! If you know him, find him, see him on the street, be sure to pass along the good wishes.

Today's operation was nearly fruitless, and it's been said that posting on Mondays is a quickly fading trend in the blogverse. But we never give up, and our arduous search has unearthed something of particular interest: a few choice publishing guidelines given at a recent writing convention from the chief editors of Tor Books, a major publisher specializing in sci-fi, fantasy, and so-called "paranormal romance."

Now, you may be wondering what this has to do with you, the contemporary poet. Or you, the anecdotal essayist. Or you, with your quick and witty murder mysteries. Fortunately, even if the prospect of publishing fantasy or science fiction doesn't make your little heart skip a beat, it's always beneficial to know exactly what a publisher's guidelines and expectations are before submitting, and these from Tor contain several excellent tips for submitting work anywhere. Here's a short list compiled from Ray Rhamey's report of the convention (available at Flogging the Quill.com):

Do:
Focus a lot of time and energy into your title and your first page. A good first impression is what gets you in the door.
Feel free to mention if you've won a top-level, highly respected contest.
Note any experience you have in the genre that could set you apart (if your occupation is the same as that of your main character, if you have previously published anything in the genre).
Read up on your genre. Become familiar with a few techniques. Obviously you can't steal plot or character ideas, and probably wouldn't want to. But a knowledge and full command of the genre lends immense power and confidence to your writing.
Follow all house procedures, such as font requirements, margins, paper size, page length or numbering.
Check the company's turnaround times, so that you...

Do not:
Call, write, e-mail or otherwise irritate the publisher before the given turnaround date has passed.
Point up contest placings lower than second.
Bribe the publisher with candy or gifts.
Mention your MFA in creative writing. (What you write proves that you're publishing material. What you've learned about writing is irrelevant until you show that you can apply it.)
Think that a lack of credentials excludes you. Some houses are more particular about previous publishing credits and contests placements than others, but most look at every submission that comes in and will judge your manuscript with an eye for quality above all else.

Most importantly, do not ignore the publisher's guidelines. Most companies provide at least a minimal list of their requirements and expectations. Ignoring them conveys that you aren't serious about your work or the company's publishing and is a determining factor in whether or not your submission gets any further.

Check out the full article for more information on the convention this past weekend, and if you're interested in learning more about Tor, drop by their site for an overview and list of publishing credits. If you're really interested, or you want to find out what on earth "paranormal romance" is, check out their submission guidelines. And look to the stars...That is, ahem, if you're into that kind of thing.

~posted by Robert

A Little Pearl of Wisdom

2005-06-09T23:00:00.000-07:00

If you're feeling especially productive this summer, or if you have some time off coming up soon in which you might think about being productive, we have a worthwhile project for you. Pearl Magazine is looking for submissions in its poetry book prize. From the site:

"MANUSCRIPTS should include a title page with the author's name, address, phone number, and e-mail address; an acknowledgment page listing previously published poems; a table of contents, 48–64 pages of original poetry; and an SASE for reply or return of manuscript. Manuscripts should be unbound, typed, pages numbered, and name should appear on title page only. Clear photocopies and computer print-outs are acceptable. We will consider simultaneous submissions, but ask that you notify us if your manuscript is accepted elsewhere.

PRIZE: In addition to publication and the $1,000 cash prize, the winner also receives 25 copies and a foreword by the finalist judge. [About Frank X. Gaspar]

ELIGIBILITY: Open to all poets, with or without previous book publication. Students and friends of the judge are not eligible for this year's competition.

$20 ENTRY FEE includes a copy of the winning book. All other proceeds go to the continuing publication of Pearl.

JUDGING: The selection of manuscripts for final judging will be made by the editors of Pearl. All entries are read anonymously.

SUBMISSION PERIOD: May 1 – July 15th postmark. The winner will be announced and manuscripts returned after the first of next year."

The deadline, obviously, is very soon--so if you don't have 48-64 pages of poetry that could be compiled for send-off in the next week, this contest could be something to work on over the summer and revise in time for next year's competition. Also, if patience is not your muse or poetry simply isn't your medium, Pearl will begin accepting regular submissions of short stories as well as poetry in September--leaving all summer as ample time to write and revise any publishing prospects you've been keeping in storage. There's something to be said for submitting whatever you can as soon as you can, but to get the most out of your summer, nothing beats a little preparation.

~posted by Tracy

BeeHive

2005-06-08T22:05:00.000-07:00

For a literary journal that's venturing into interesting electronic territory, check out The BeeHive Journal. Not only do they publish written pieces and artwork, but they are looking for electronic work such as e-books and hypermedia. This site is well worth investigating if only to get a better understanding of such material. And, of course, they accept submissions. From the site:

"BeeHive is always interested in receiving new content. If you are interested in submitting a piece to the BeeHive journal please drop us an email.
We are interested in new fiction, hypertext projects, poetry, critical theory essays, art and art historical essays. Our editorial policy is open - we are not limited to any specific genre or subject. We are most interested in writing that challenges...

BeeHive accepts submissions as attached files in most common formats for MAC or PC. Poetry may be submitted in the body of an email message.
Please do not send content on initial contact.

Send queries to: beehive(at)percepticon(dot)com" (Notice the spelling of 'percepticon' when mailing)

~posted by Alex

Poetry 180

2005-06-07T21:12:00.000-07:00

When I was in high school, I filled notebooks with poems. Poems full of forced rhymes and focused mainly on the agony of being a teenager, or, worse, a teenager in love. Reading those notebooks again is more than enough to keep me from trying to write a poem again, if only to spare the populace at large.

As intimidating as trying to write a poem that really means something can be, it can also be a struggle to read them. Did I really get it? Is that what the author meant? How can this be entertainment without a car chase? It isn't easy at times.

So former poet laureate Billy Collins has created the "Poetry 180" project. Aimed at high school students, this site is full of poems that are approachable, readable, and fun. While many of us may be long graduated, the selections offered at this site are still excellent pieces that invite the reader to relax and enjoy.

Check out the site, or skip straight to all 180 poems here. A good writer must first be a good reader.

~posted by Danny

Fraudulent Charges

2005-06-06T23:45:00.000-07:00

Not too long ago we posted a little something about Foetry.com and the possible concerns of submitting to writing contests. However, this is by no means a reason to avoid contests altogether. Some can offer genuine recognition and consideration by publishers (not to discount the occasional fabulous cash prizes). Contests should just be approached with caution and careful background checking, and whether you decide to keep an eye on a site like Foetry or do your own research, here are several helpful questions you should be able to answer about any writing contest, courtesy of The Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America:

"Who's conducting the contest? If it's an organization, magazine, or publisher you don't recognize, be sure to verify its legitimacy. If you can't confirm this to your satisfaction, don't enter. Be especially wary of contests that are conducted by individuals, or are nothing but a webpage of contest rules, or are announced on Usenet with only a mailing address, or appear in the form of an ad in the back pages of writers' magazines (these are usually vanity anthology companies).

"Is there an entry fee? Contrary to popular belief, this is not an automatic sign of a questionable contest. Many legitimate contests charge a fee to cover processing expenses and fund the prize. However, entry fees should be appropriate. Between $5 and $15 is average for smaller or amateur contests; larger ones may charge a bit more. Anything over $25 should prompt you to do some careful checking.

"How frequently does the organization conduct contests? If there's a contest every month, or bunches of contests every quarter, this may be just a moneymaking scheme.

"Are the contest guidelines clearly stated? A legitimate contest will provide clear rules, including information about contest categories, deadlines, eligibility, format, fees, prizes and the circumstances in which they will or will not be awarded, judging, and rights you may be surrendering. If you can't find these, don't enter.

"What's the prize? There are many possibilities--money, publication, books, gift certificates. The prizes should be clearly stated, and they should be appropriate to the contest sponsor. Contests with huge prize amounts--$5,000 and up--should be treated with suspicion, since they may be moneymaking schemes.

"Contests that offer publication as a prize are very appealing. Bear in mind, though, that there are many illegitimate contests that offer publication to contest winners. If the contest is sponsored by a publisher, research the publisher thoroughly before entering (and never enter a contest whose rules make it impossible for you to refuse the publishing contract if you win). And be sure you know exactly where and how you'll be published. Sometimes magazine contest prizewinners are published in a separate booklet available only by special order. If you're looking for exposure, this sort of publication isn't the way to get it.

"There should never be an extra cost associated with a publication prize. If there is, it's almost certain the contest is a fake."

More tips are available on the site, as are links to several databases of safe, reputable writing contests, so take a look around. A good rule of thumb is to read the fine print, as that's usually where fraudulent contests or moneymaking scams are forced to reveal their dastardly plans to charge extra fees or retain your publication rights. No one ever said that a little competition isn't good practice, but it's smart to make sure that the finish line is actually someplace you want to end up first.

~posted by Kim

Back to Work

2005-06-03T10:54:00.000-07:00

Maybe you thought we'd forget to crack the whip now that issue two is out and we're all getting drunk? Well, you were almost right, and if I didn't have to wake up to use the bathroom I might not be writing this. But I did, and I am, so it's back to work, bucko.

Today's featured publisher is Typo Magazine, a web-based publication looking for poetry. Their submission requirements are simple and straight-forward, and after a few minutes on the site you should have a good idea of whether they're a match for you or not. Here, in full, are the Submission Guidelines.

"Send at least three poems, pasted in the body of the e-mail, to submissions@typomag.com. We do not open attachments and delete any e-mails containing attachments. If pasting your poem into the body of an e-mail doesn't suit the format of the poem, please query us first.

We typically respond to submissions within a month. Simultaneous submissions are fine as long as you notify us immediately upon publication elsewhere."

See? Easy peasy. Now get to it.

~posted by Alex

Update for 2

2005-06-01T17:29:00.000-07:00

You can pick up a copy of JAKE at the following locations:

Half-Price Books, 86th Street
Half-Price Books, Castleton
Borders Bookstore, Castleton
The Abbey Coffeeshop, Indianapolis
Luna Music, 86th Street

As of June 3rd, you can also find them at:

Big Car Gallery, Fountain Square
Herron School of Art, IUPUI Campus
Fountain Square Public Library, Fountain Square

To order one, send a note our way, via jake_magazine(at)yahoo(dot)com with your mailing address.

Issue Two: Reckless Amateurism's Finest

2005-06-01T11:00:00.000-07:00

It's official! JAKE Issue Two is online, just waiting to be read!

You'll find scripts, stories, poetry and interviews, some of the strongest contributions to date. Issue One is still available in the archives as well, so if this is your first visit to the site you've got a lot of great stuff waiting!

We are currently delivering the printed magazine, and will soon provide a list of distributor locations where you can pick yours up.

The magazine will also be distributed at the Big Car Gallery this Friday, June 3rd, during a show beginning at 7:30pm. What better way to celebrate issue two than to surround yourself with art, music, drink and friends?

Thanks to everyone who's shown us their support, and thanks especially to our contributors for making this such a great issue! Let's keep up this momentum for Issue 3.

~posted by Alex

Guerilla Publishing

2005-05-29T21:52:00.000-07:00

It's always interesting to meet a famous writer who's shared the same hallways with you, especially when they've happened to pull a couple of pranks in their day. On a visit to his alma mater, Butler University, author Michael Martone brought up a curious piece of advice for writers who are just starting out: Misbehave. Often, Martone said, looking too hard at the constraints on a situation leaves writers feeling inadequate and powerless to express themselves, and makes them feel especially vulnerable when putting their work on the line for others to read. After discussing a few of his own shenanigans, Martone urged beginning writers and those who have had their share of rejection slips to uncover loopholes wherever they can in the interest of shameless self-promotion--in other words, to indulge in a little "guerilla publishing." Fortunately, for fearful law-abiding citizens, this wouldn't mean breaking any rules. Martone cited instances where he and authors of his acquaintance have posted works on library bulletin boards, left stories on coffee shop tables, and even put together their own chapbooks and slipped them into a used book store's inventory. Many people seem to think that their writing can only become public domain through a real-life publisher or a recognized organization, and Martone stresses that the work is, first and foremost, yours to do with what you will. As an added bonus, the worst anyone can do to your "guerilla publishing" is take it off the walls, and in the meantime, you might gain a few stalkers or even a nod by those real-life publishers we so desperately seek. It may not be a call to the grand writer's rebellion you were expecting, but for every poem we see tacked up next to a lost dog poster, we'll know that the movement is still going strong.

~posted by Tracy

Valpo

2005-05-27T07:40:00.000-07:00

We don't do enough local mags, do we? Well here's a link to Valparaiso Poetry Review, published by the university. Check 'em out, then check out their submission guidelines to see how you can hit the big time. From the site:

"Valparaiso Poetry Review presents new, emerging, and well-known voices in contemporary poetry alongside one another, and it offers another opportunity for more readers to discover young or established poets whose writings deserve an even larger audience.

Valparaiso Poetry Review will be highly selective in choosing works for inclusion in each issue, accepting only accomplished, quality poetry. Unsolicited manuscripts are read year round

Valparaiso Poetry Review accepts submissions of unpublished or previously published poems, book reviews, author interviews, and essays about poetry or poetics which have not appeared online and for which the rights belong to the author. If a submission has been previously published in a print journal or book, the original publication must be identified to insure proper credit.

Valparaiso Poetry Review is not intended to replace the traditional literary magazine or book of poetry. Instead, this electronic journal complements print publications of literary journals and poetry collections by introducing new readers to them.

Unsolicited book reviews are welcome. Please check the list of Recent and Recommended Books for possible subjects of reviews. Small press publishers and poets are encouraged to send books for review consideration to the postal address below.

Simultaneous submissions are welcome; however, confirmation of acceptance is regarded as a commitment to publication, and it is expected that the manuscript will not be later withdrawn for placement with another publication. All rights remain with the author.

Submit an essay or book review, or no more than five poems at a time. Postal submissions should include a cover letter with some biographical information and a SASE, and should be sent to the following address:

Valparaiso Poetry Review E
dward Byrne, Editor Department of English
Valparaiso University
Valparaiso, IN 46383-6493"

~posted by Alex

Writer's...uh...what is it...Stoppage?

2005-05-25T11:22:00.000-07:00

Anyone dealing with writer's block knows what a pain in the ass it is. Author Tina Morgan offers tips in her article at Fiction Factor:

"Writer's Block is the bane of every writer's existence. Even if you've never experienced it, it can make your toes curl and your stomach roll at the mere thought.The inability to form a cohesive sentence, or even think of something worthy of writing down, the strong belief that everything you write is rubbish, the eye-strain from hours of staring at a blank screen, deleting work that took hours to struggle through - all are symptoms of Writer's Block.How do you know if you really have writer's block or if you're just in a small slump? Ask yourself the following questions:

1) Have you panicked yet?

2) Did you try to force yourself to write only to become extremely frustrated over the quality of slush you were creating?

3) Has it been more than five minutes since you wrote your last cohesive sentence?

4) Have you wept for the inability to write even an email?

5) Have you begged your friends to just 'shoot' you?

6) Have you almost talked yourself into the idea that taking a job as a check-out chick will be more rewarding than publishing career?

If you've answered no to any of those questions, you probably don't have writer's block. If you've answered YES! to all six, then you're probably not amused at this moment."

~posted by Danny

Foetry

2005-05-23T11:11:00.000-07:00

You know, just this morning I was in the shower thinking, "I could stand a little more literary drama in my life." Someone upstairs must have heard me, because I soon ran across Foetry.

If you've linked to some of the articles we've posted in the past, you may have run across Moby Lives, a website regularly updating on Foetry's activities. If not, this site is worth a look around. Consider that most beginning writers will at some point come across an advertisement for contests that require entry fees. If nothing else, the articles and discussions on Foetry's site will help raise your awareness of how easy it is to turn a contest into a scam. From the website:

"One of the most common ways American poets publish a book is through open competition at some of the best-known presses. Many publishers require an entry fee, usually $20 to $25 per manuscript. With hundreds or even thousands of entries, a lot of money is involved.
And then it's a fair competition, right? Wrong.

Over and over again, judges often select their students, friends, and even their lovers. Help us to stop this criminal activity."

~posted by Danny

Imaginary Friend

2005-05-22T13:45:00.000-07:00

This is somewhat more personal than the average JAKE post, but I wanted to share just in case there are some aspiring writers in similar circumstances. A few years ago, I was in a sort of writing crisis--feeling that few people believed in my ability to write and knowing full well what my chances were of making a living of it. In my desperation I went to the library, and Brenda Ueland jumped off the shelves at me. It was just that magical. Rather than adding to the pollution of "How to Get Published" books, she compiled several of her essays and dedicated them to the aspiring writer. Her book, "If You Want to Write," may not be as proficient or practical as something like Bradbury's "Zen in the Art of Writing," but to me it has been every bit as meaningful. Here's a little snippet of what made me love this book, and it demonstrates one of her main points that you only need three things in order to write: belief in your ability, belief in your originality, and someone in your life who believes in both.

"How does the creative impulse die in us? The English teacher who wrote fiercely on the margin of your theme in blue pencil: 'Trite, rewrite," helped to kill it. Critics kill it, your family. Families are great murderers of the creative impulse....Older brothers sneer at younger brothers and kill it. There is that American pastime known as 'kidding,'--with the result that everyone is ashamed and hang-dog about showing the slightest enthusiasm or passion or sincere feeling about anything....

"Well, that is all right. But this is one of the results: that all people who try to write (and all people long to, which is natural and right) become anxious, timid, contracted, become perfectionists, so terribly afraid that they may put something down that is not as good as Shakespeare.

"And so no wonder you don't write and put it off month after month, decade after decade. For when you write, if it is to be any good at all, you must feel free,--free and not anxious. The only good teachers for you are those friends who love you, who think you are interesting, or very important, or wonderfully funny; whose attitude is:

'Tell me more. Tell me all you can. I want to understand more about everything you feel and know and all the changes inside and out of you. Let more come out.'

"And if you have no such friend,--and you want to write,--well then you must imagine one."

If it helps you imagine, everyone on the JAKE staff is tall, well-proportioned, and very pretty. And we all want to hear more.

~posted by Tracy

SpokenWar

2005-05-20T06:16:00.000-07:00

At the top of the SpokenWar website you'll find the slogan "no banners, no bios, no bullshit". That sums up this e-zine nicely. Divided into four sections ('audio', 'video', 'photo', and 'write'), the site leaves with with nothing but the work and the creator's name.

Check it out to see a simple but effective take on a magazine design here. While you're there, if you get a feel for the type of submissions SpokenWar publishes, you'll want to send your pieces to submit (at) spokenwar (dot) com.

~posted by Alex

The Future of the Novel

2005-05-19T11:31:00.000-07:00

David Barringer writes a fascinating column on the future of the novel as he sees it, and the ever-ongoing trend towards both slowing time and providing glimpses of the mind's inner workings within literature. Whether or not he's right, the man raises some interesting points.

From his column:

"Once you delve deeply into the conscious mind, you find a world of phenomenon beyond or beneath capture in words. Elusive. Ineffable. A swarm of fragments, clipped phrases, half–thoughts, dreams, hallucinations. Whole arguments go nowhere, trains of thought you've tugged along since you were a child, adding car after car headed for destination unknown and unknowable. Fears, desires, associations, lusts. It's a madhouse.

And yet, it isn't. We can control it. We can assert authority over our own rambling disorder. The novelist must investigate the rambling disorder as well as this authority, recognizing that this authority may coincide with the identity of the novelist doing the investigation (around and around we go). Somehow, we impose a linear order upon our multilayered nonlinear battleground of consciousness, and, if the novelist wishes to remain a novelist and not a screenwriter or some other artist, the novelist, working in a linear medium, must do the same."

~posted by Danny

Blaze

2005-05-19T02:36:00.000-07:00

'Blaze' magazine is a publication specializing in short pieces, especially poetry and prose. If you're a lover of sudden fictions, this is a great place to look into. From the site:

"Submission Guidelines

All work should be previously unpublished. Simultaneous submissions are encouraged, but please notify us right away if your work is accepted elsewhere.

All rights revert back to the contributor upon publication, but we'd appreciate the courtesy of acknowledgment if your work is published elsewhere.

We will respond within 3 months and ask that you not submit again before you've heard from us about the first batch.

Please send poems and stories in the body of the email (We will not open attachments) and include a short bio that includes any recent publications.

Poetry
3-5 pieces, no more than 100 lines each.

Flash Fiction
No more than 2 stories, 300-1000 words each.

Photography
Up to 10 images. Send a jpeg of your photo at
72 dpi and 400 X 500 pixels.

Interviews, book reviews, and essays
Please query.

Email all work to Blazesubmissions (at) aol (dot) com"

~posted by Tracy

The Bradbury Chronicles

2005-05-16T17:42:00.000-07:00

Who loves ya, baby? We're working to make this site even more useful. In the near future, we'll be compiling all the links we've posted into a single page for quick-reference. Links to contests that have come and gone will be absent from the list, though we'll probably link to the organization. Our hope is that by regularly updating this list you'll be able to find what you need without digging through the archives.

As if that wasn't enough good service for one day, here's an interview with Ray Bradbury's biographer, Sam Weller, author of the new "The Bradbury Chronicles". Weller was given unprecedented access, and worked with Bradbury for several years to compile his book. From the interview:

"How involved was Bradbury in the actual writing? As a writer did he have impulses to try and control the outcome?

Nothing. And that is a testament to the man’s respect of the creative process. That was the whole reason he left me alone. Throughout the whole thing he said I don’t want to know what you’re doing. I don’t want to know what you’re writing. He never asked me to send him a thing. He said I don’t want to footprint your creative process so I am not going to recommend anything. He never once gave me one kernel of advice except to not think. That’s his credo. Don’t over-intellectualize your writing process. Enjoy it. When you over-analyze and second guess what you are doing as a story teller it can handcuff you and get you to the point where you start second guessing whether what you are writing is good or not. So, he says, trust the fact that you are a good writer at this point and just write it, let it rip. That is the only advice he gave me.

I would send him a couple of pages here or there when I had a good day of writing and I was excited, more to share with him as a friend than him as subject looking at it. He would immediately call back in tears saying, "I love this! It’s beautiful. If the whole book reads this way, it’s going to be incredible." He never told me a thing. Not even at the end, he didn’t recommend anything. At the very end of the process, he called me. I had given him the manuscript. He was in the hospital. It was done and I turned it into the publisher, and he said, "I only have two suggestions and I hope you don’t mind." I thought, oh god here we go. One was to change a word on page 236 from sarcastic to jovial. It was ridiculous.' "

~posted by Danny

Playwright Contest

2005-05-13T18:12:00.000-07:00

Two days ahead of schedule we've begun work on the layout for JAKE, but there's still time to totally fuck us up. All you stragglers out there take note that the deadline is still May 15th, and until then we will be accepting submissions for the sensual second issue, hitting the stands on June 1st.

In the meantime, here's a contest for script-writing hopefuls in the audience. From the announcement:

"The Indiana Theatre Association Offers New Playwright Awards

The new Frank and Katrina Basile Emerging Indiana Playwright Awards will
be presented during the "Indiana Theatre Works Conference," September
9-11, 2005 in Indianapolis. A $1,000 award will be given for the best
overall play, and three $500 awards will be given for best drama, best
comedy and best experimental play. The conference is sponsored by the
Indiana Theatre Association (ITA) and is made possible through support
from the Indiana Arts Commission.

Deadline: July 1, 2005

Please submit only 10 pages from any part of the script."

To find out more, call 317-634-4670, or visit the Basile Awards Website.

~posted by Danny

Three Candles

2005-05-11T17:57:00.000-07:00

'Three Candles' is a sharp little magazine publishing both poetry and prose. Check out the site to get a feel of what they're looking for. You may notice they publish more poetry than prose, and that under the 'book reviews' section almost all the selections are by poets. Keep that in mind when submitting, but don't hesitate to send prose. The dearth of short stories may just be a sign that not enough folks are sending submitting them.

The (lengthy) guidelines from the site:

"Submission Guidelines, Poetry:

I look for well crafted poems that speak to the human experience. I generally prefer lyric poems in any form or length that exhibit a strong sense of voice, but I also read and publish formal and experimental poems. The only real criterion is excellence. No previously published poems or simultaneous submissions. I will accept submissions of any topic or length, provided the poems are not overtly religious (in the sense of propaganda), sexist, racist, pornographic, or otherwise unartful work. Please don't ask for a critique—due to the volume of submissions, I rarely comment on poems.

How to submit: Send 3 - 5 poems in the body of an email message to editor@threecandles.org, along with a one paragraph biography, a short list of your most meaningful publications, a brief description of what making poetry means to you as an artist, and the certification statement that appears in bold below. Please remove or replace smart quotes before cutting and pasting, as they are replaced by a string of strange characters when the email is converted to ascii text. If you have an unusual form and really need to preserve its appearance, please send in rich text format (*.rtf). Please copy the following text into the email with your poems:

I certify that I am the author of these unpublished poems, that they are not under consideration by another journal, and that should one or more pieces be selected for publication, I will grant three candles the right of first publication. I understand that they will be published on the Internet, and in the event that they are reprinted in *any* form (print, web, electronic media), I will cite three candles as the place of first publication. All copyrights revert back to the author upon publication.

Submission Guidelines, Prose:

For non-fiction, please send one piece of 8,000 words or less, along with a bio, a list of prior publications and a short statement describing your vision as an artist. I am looking for work that transcends mere ideas, beautiful language that surprises, startles, delights, or enrages. Teach me something new. Go beyond the quotidian or make me see why the quotidian is an artful topic.

For fiction, I am looking for stories whose images, pacing, and artfulness of language capture the reader immediately. The best stories weave a dreamlike spell. Please send one piece of 8,000 words or less, along with a bio, list of prior publications and a short statement describing your vision as an artist.

How to submit: Send work in .doc or .rtf format to editor@threecandles.org and the certification statement that appears in bold below. Copy the following text into the email with your submission:

I certify that I am the author of these unpublished work(s) of prose, that they are not under consideration by another journal, and that should one or more pieces be selected for publication, I will grant three candles the right of first publication. I understand that they will be published on the Internet, and in the event that they are reprinted in *any* form (print, web, electronic media), I will cite three candles as the place of first publication. All copyrights revert back to the author upon publication.
The Fine Print:

This site is intended for your reading enjoyment. Toward that end, poems may be read live or printed for reading at leisure.

All poetry and prose © 1999 - 2005, by the poets featured herein. No work may be reproduced, copied, or excerpted at length except with prior permission from the author."

~posted by Alex

Big Car Show

2005-05-08T00:31:00.000-07:00

Cancel your May 20th plans, and force your relatives to live at least another day, because you've got something better to do!

Jim Walker sez:

"Our Big Car Launch Party Celebration event is May 20. We have Bird of America (see
www.thisishowwedo.com/birds/index.html) playing in our space as part of
a national tour. Leading up to Birds of America, we'll have spoken word
performances about cars from our Big Car writers, a screening of
Infected with the Taste of Chrome, Sleep Study Live (that's the bed
installation I was talking about) and a variety of other things."

These readings include poetry and prose from past JAKE contributors, as well as a collaborative novel by Glenn Guimond and myself. Please come support Big Car, and show that you approve of the mighty damn fine job they've been doing.

As always, everybody loves Mapquest. Questions about the show can be e-mailed to us at jake_magazine(at)yahoo(dot)com.

~posted by Alex

JAKE: Helping Y'all Smarten UP

2005-05-07T02:17:00.000-07:00

For those of you who don't come here for the non-stop smut and filth, Janus Head may be the kind of e-zine you've been looking for. The work on this site is smart and interesting without getting on your nerves. If you have any interest in the essay as an art form, you'll want to hit this shit.

And for you famemongers, Janus Head accepts submissions. From the site:

"We welcome essays, stories, poetry and artwork dealing with any expressions of contemporary philosophical engagement and practices.

CRITERIA FOR ESSAYS: Submissions should be no longer than 10,000 words. Works should be typed and double-spaced. Format requirements: APA or MLA styles (footnotes should be placed at the end of paper). Submit one disk or CD and two (2) copies to the address below. Your essay should include a brief abstract (120 words or less). Also include a brief biography for the contributors page, should your paper be accepted. Make sure to include all relevant contact information, including a permanent e-mail address. Email submissions will not be accepted!

CRITERIA FOR SHORT FICTION, CREATIVE NON-FICTION, & POETRY: Please include a cover letter, a short biography, and correspondence information. Short fiction should be typed and double-spaced and should be no longer than 9000 words (about 36 pages or shorter). Poetry should be typed in the format in which it is intended to be printed. Three to five poems are the suggested number for poetry submissions. Submit one disk or CD and two (2) copies to the address below. Please note: We are no longer accepting poetry submissions via email. If you submit your poetry via email, please do not expect it to be reviewed.

If your submission does not follow these guidelines, it will not be reviewed."

~posted by Alex

Lester Dent's Pulp Tips

2005-05-06T19:24:00.000-07:00

This could almost be funny, except that I think the author is dead serious. And after you read "The Lester Dent Pulp Paper Master Fiction Plot", you might rethink how you've been writing your private eye tales.

From the site:

"This is a formula, a master plot, for any 6000 word pulp story. It has worked on adventure, detective, western and war-air. It tells exactly where to put everything. It shows definitely just what must happen in each successive thousand words.

No yarn of mine written to the formula has yet failed to sell.

The business of building stories seems not much different from the business of building anything else.

Here's how it starts:

1 A DIFFERENT MURDER METHOD FOR VILLAIN TO USE
2 A DIFFERENT THING FOR VILLAIN TO BE SEEKING
3 A DIFFERENT LOCALE
4 A MENACE WHICH IS TO HANG LIKE A CLOUD OVER HERO"

~posted by Danny

Barcid Homily

2005-05-03T15:29:00.000-07:00

"Barcid Homily" is an e-zine looking for poetry and short story submissions, especially the strange and unique. From the site:

"How to Submit Poems & Short Fiction:

Please register yourself and send submissions via email to barcidhomily@barcidhomily.com

Please include submission in the body of the email. No attachments will be accepted.

Return notification of acceptance will be via email. We will respond with acceptances within 7 days. We regret to say that due to the large number of submissions, we cannot always respond to each submission that the editors deem is not a fit for Barcid Homily.

Along with submission include full name, email address, and short literary bio if desired.

Please limit short stories to 2,500 words. Editor's preference is for short poems.

All genres are accepted. We are looking for the unique.

We do not pay for submissions at this time. By submission author agrees to grant Barcid Homily First North American Serial Rights, right of publication on Barcid Homily, or in written Anthologies of Barcid Homily works. Copyright remains with the author. The author will have the authority to have the work reprinted elsewhere after it has appeared in Barcid Homily, for example in a short story collection or anthology, as long as Barcid Homily is credited with first publication in the reprint."

~posted by Kim

To Do: Lists

2005-05-02T23:39:00.000-07:00

Okay, so very few of us writers are probably churning out the volume of work we'd like. If quick and easy suits your fancy, you may want to pick up on Alex's post about McSweeney's a while back and take yourself on a quick tour of the site. Almost everything about McSweeney's is upfront, so it's no wonder that they aren't secretive about their support of creative list-writers. What's a creative list, you ask?

[selection from "Bartlett's Familiar Quotations," by Marvin Bell.]

"Hi there. John Bartlett."
—John Bartlett

"Reservation should be under 'Bartlett.' Right, that's two T's. Yes. 'Bart-let-et.'"
—John Bartlett

"Yep, that was me. I'm that Bartlett."
—John Bartlett

"No, it's fine. I'm asked about this quite often, actually. So we're at this party, and Gil Fedigan—do you know Gil?—puts 20 bucks on Coriolanus for 'Brevity is the soul of wit.' I mean, can you imagine? Coriolanus! How can you be so far off and still be in the right bloody ballpark? Anyway, it should have been easy money. Everyone in the place knew it. Joanie, Gil's wife ... Harold! You were there. Harold's shaking his head, he's heard this a million times. Everyone knew I was right. But he insists on looking through both plays in their entirety, page by page, starting with Coriolanus! And I'm sitting there, and I think to myself, 'Well, my God, John, wouldn't it be fabulous if there were some easier way?'"
—John Bartlett

Now, if what I just did is legal, you should be both gasping in enlightenment and laughing your eyes out. It's just that simple. So check out McSweeney's frequently updated selection of Lists, read the most masterful submission guidelines ever here, and get cracking.

~posted by Danny

Tanka Girl

2005-05-01T14:02:00.000-07:00

The "World Haiku Review" (official magazine of the World Haiku Club) is a site dedicated to appreciating the form. It's full of information about Haiku and its poets, and hosts the occasional contest. The deadline for the current contest is May 1st, so it may be too late unless you have a few Haiku lying around.

From the site:

Founded in 1998, the World Haiku Club is a non-profit-making organisation, established for the purpose of creating a world-wide network of haiku poets through which to help disseminate and develop haiku, and also to raise standards and quality of the genre. The WHC seeks to establish a synthesis between tradition and innovation ("fueki-ryuko") as well as a balance between different schools of thought. Therefore, WHC is a broad church not siding with any specific organisation nor supporting any single poet.

~posted by Alex

Believer

2005-04-29T11:21:00.000-07:00

The Believer, published as part of Dave Eggers' Galactic Empire (aka McSweeney's), has some very cool stuff online right now, including articles about Hunter S. Thompson and Morrissey, and an interview with China Mieville explaining his view that Rumsfeld is a "geek gone to the dark side".

Also, if you're up for writing a bit of non-fiction, you might stop by the contacts page where you'll find some tips on what they're looking for. From the site:

"The Believer will consider unsolicited nonfiction manuscripts. Please do not send poetry or fiction. General inquiries, along with query letters, essays, interviews, lists, charts, etc., should be emailed to queries(at)believermag(dot)com. Please include clips or a brief publication history."

~posted by Alex

Disencouragement

2005-04-27T13:58:00.000-07:00

Uh, am I alone in the feeling that this is not the ear in which to make your fortune writing short stories?

Steve Almond has written a beautiful column on why he loves the form, and why it's worth your time even if your day job is flipping burgers.

~posted by Kim

Mojo Joe

2005-04-26T13:44:00.000-07:00

As if to prove how incredibly bizarre and fertile his imagination is, Joe R. Lansdale offers a free short story every week. If you're a fan of Lansdale, it's a great place to read more without going broke. If you've never heard of him, well, you're in for something real special.

~posted by Alex

A-Maize-ing

2005-04-24T00:06:00.000-07:00

Pretty clever title, I should say.

The Writer's Center of Indianapolis is currently accepting submissions for their literary journal, Maize. The April 30th deadline is coming up fast, so submit, submit!

From their site:

"Maize is a literary journal published twice annually by The Writers Center of Indiana. We seek work that is vigorous and well-crafted: be it fiction, literary nonfiction or poetry. With few exceptions, we print only work which has not been published previously. We do not accept unsolicited photographs or artwork.

Please submit one short story, one piece of nonfiction, or up to three poems. Manuscripts must be typed, double-spaced on 8 x 11 white paper, one side only. The first page of your manuscript, or each poem, must contain your name, mailing address, and a telephone number where you can be reached during the day. We cannot respond to manuscripts that are not accompanied by a self-addressed, stamped envelope (SASE). No submissions via e-mail or fax. No manuscripts will be returned.

We pay authors and obtain First Serial Rights; non-exclusive, one-time anthology rights; and the right to run the work on our Web site. Authors may proof their galleys. We pay $25 minimum for poetry and a $100 minimum for fiction and nonfiction, plus two copies of the publication.

Reading periods are January to April (for fall issue) and July to October (for spring issue). The deadlines are:

April 30 for Fall Issue
Date to be announced for Spring 2006

Mail submissions to:

Maize
The Writers' Center of Indiana
P.O. Box 30407
Indianapolis, IN 46230-0407"

~posted by Kim

Poetry Read-Off

2005-04-22T14:44:00.000-07:00

Slight update on tonight's Poetry Read-Off, featuring JAKE contributors Karen D. Mitchell and Clint Smith. Due to space requirements, the event has been moved from the Writer's Center to the Art Center. So! Without further ado:

Mapquest Knows All.

~posted by Alex

Artists and "Remark."

2005-04-19T15:54:00.000-07:00

If you're here because of the efforts of the Lovely Ladies of Art (the LLA) and brightly colored flyers, chances are you may be thinking of submitting artwork. If that's the case, a bit of clarification:

The deadline for Issue 2 remains May 15th for written submissions. Currently, though, there is no deadline for artisic or musical contributions. This is because we plan to publish these pieces altogether in a later issue, likely October or December. Why the wait? It largely depends on the volume of pieces we receive. If we can get enough submissions, we'll bump the publication date up.

Still have questions? I can't blame you. Send them our way at either jake(at)k(dot)ro , or to jake_magazine(at)yahoo(dot)com. (Excuse the parentheses, we're dodging spammers.)

For you poor saps stuck with the May 15th deadline, if you've already sent your poetry submission to JAKE and you're wondering what to do with your idle hours, take a gander at Remark. As the site puts it, it's a "damn fine 'zine".

'Remark' is fairly open about submissions of different styles, but takes exception to most rhyming verse. From the site: "Please read several back issues before submitting. I favor free verse and rarely will I accept a poem done in rhyme. Below is a sonnet that appears in issue 31 that is a great example of the type of rhyming, formed poetry that works for me. Please type poetry submission in the subject line. Please do not send attachments. I won’t be opening any attachments. Copy and paste your poetry into the body of an email. Please do not submit more than five poems at a time. I will get back to you as soon as possible. Thank you!"

~posted by Alex

Matt Fraction

2005-04-18T13:33:00.000-07:00

We're very excited to announce that Issue 2 will feature an interview with Matt Fraction, whose work includes Last of the Independents and The Annotated Mantooth!, among others. Mr. Fraction gives advice on starting out in the industry, as well as his experiences with writing and collaborating on scripts.

Hell, you could make this the "Summer of Fraction, 2005". Pick up 'Mantooth!' now, put a few bucks aside for the soon-to-be-released 'Five Fists of Science', and grab a free copy of JAKE with this sexy exciting interview. Everybody wins!

~posted by Alex

Updates, updates

2005-04-17T15:06:00.000-07:00

Submissions are beginning to come in for issue two, and we've still got a month to go. Part of the credit goes to new our publicity editor, Matt, who's been helping get the word out with flyers and advertisements.

In the meantime, we're hoping to register a domain name soon and transfer the site. This will hopefully make it a little easier to find, and we're experimenting with changing the format. Even if the magazine itself doesn't change, we might have to make adjustments for art and music submissions.

And don't forget the event this Friday, April 22nd, starting around 7pm at the Indiana Writer's Center. There will be several poets reading that night, including Karen D. Mitchell, a JAKE contributor. Come check it out and help support Karen, along with other local writers!

~posted by Alex

Lie More Plausibly

2005-04-12T09:22:00.000-07:00

How do you create a plausible story without getting bogged down in the details? How long should you tell your audience about Centerville, Illinois, before you get back to your characters on their way to a gunfight in Chicago? You don't want to kill the action, but that research wasn't for nothing, was it?

Evan Marshall, author of "The Marshall Plan", explains getting the research to fit the story. From the site:

"When does research become a bad thing? When writers use it as an excuse not to start writing yet. I've seen writers spend ten years researching a novel that not only didn't require such exhaustive background work; it would have been better off without it. Still other writers love doing research so much -- or at least they say they do -- that they never write at all. It's like being a perpetual student, staying in school, earning degree after degree, in order to put off venturing out into the real world.

Research has its rightful place in the novel writing process and is in fact vital to many kinds of stories. The key to keeping it under control is to understand that there are actually two kinds of research for the novelist; to know which kind should be done when; and to know when not to do research at all."

Or you can just make shit up, like in 'Star Wars'. Your call.

~posted by Danny

Radio, oh Radio

2005-04-10T19:46:00.000-07:00

The deadline's coming up fast on this one, so you might want to call in sick for the next few days. But by god it would be worth it if you win. From the BBC's site:

"Rules in detail

You are asked to write a radio play of about sixty minutes on any subject of your choice. This means that your finished script should be a minimum of 50 pages of A4 or foolscap paper (or equivalent) and a maximum of 75 pages (note, a rough guide is a minute per page; read and time your play if you can before you send it!). The play should have a maximum of six central characters.

The play must be the original, unpublished work of the person or persons submitting it. It must not have been previously produced, in any medium.

In the case of an entry by two or more writers, we will need written or email confirmation from each writer involved that they are prepared to take a share of the prize money and are prepared to receive those funds from a nominee. The nominee must be one of the writers credited for the winning play.

We will pay prize money to only one individual; consequently if a play written by two or more writers wins the competition, prize money will be paid to one entrant and it will be that individual’s responsibility to distribute these funds to the additional contributors.

The contest is open to any writer who is not normally a resident of the United Kingdom."

For the rest of the (pretty extensive) rules to this contest, click the link above. The deadline's April 30th, so get cracking.

~posted by Alex