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WritersNotes.Net: Helping Writers Follow Their Dreams Through Information, Inspiration, and Encouragement!
A Print Market Worth Pursuing
Glimmer Train is an attractive quarterly print literary magazine, each issue of which consists of over 200 pages of “emotionally significant” short literary fiction. The publishers of Glimmer Train describe themselves as “two sisters who love reading.” Not insignificantly, they also boast backgrounds in language and linguistics (Susan) and psychology (Linda).
Magazine and Contest Submissions
Glimmer Train offers various monthly opportunities for writers of short fiction – opportunities which consist of a mixture of "standard" short story submissions (for which they charge no reading fee and currently pay $700 per story, plus 10 copies of the applicable issue – on acceptance) and a variety of writing contests (with reading fees ranging from $15 to $19 and generous prizes of a few hundred to a few thousand dollars).
A Solid Market for Emerging Authors
While the sisters do publish some works written by established authors, Linda explains that she and Susan “(k)eep a keen eye out for new voices, favoring pieces by emerging writers” – good news for those seeking to break into the short fiction market. Both are proud not only that every story they publish is unsolicited, but also that 86% of the stories published in Glimmer Train last year came directly from writers – more good news for freelancers working hard to break into this competitive market.
Convenient Online Submission
One factor that makes submitting work to Glimmer Train so convenient is the publication’s simple online submission process. After filling out the site’s free registration form, setting up a username and password, and reading the guidelines for the specific submission category, authors may instantly submit their work for consideration.
A Magazine Recognized for Quality
Glimmer Train is a prestigious publication – one that, happily, combines a welcome appreciation for fresh new voices with a balanced respect for seasoned literary luminaries. While not merely encouraging, but actually favoring, the work of emerging writers, the publishers have demonstrated their keen eye for talent, having seen six of their published stories listed as “Notables” in the 2010 Best American Short Stories,* coming in right behind The New Yorker. In fact, two of the six Glimmer Train writers who made the list were first-time published authors who made their debuts in the pages of Glimmer Train.
Isn't it Time You Received a Little Recognition?
If you write short fiction, this is a market I’d recommend that you look into. While it is a literary magazine and therefore would likely not publish most genre fiction, it would definitely be well worth your while to do a little research and find out whether something you've already written – or something you might be inclined to write – might turn out to be a good fit for this lucrative writing market.
Best of luck to you!
Jeanne
*The 2011 edition of Best American Short Stories featured one Glimmer Train tale.
Two of the Three Angels
Here's a photo of my grandnieces, Alyssa and Rain, taken earlier today. (Aren't they sweet?) In this picture, they're on their way to Alyssa's physical therapy session at the in-patient rehab center where she is recovering from a traumatic brain injury. Alyssa sustained the injury when she, Rain, and their friend Mia were all hit by a car as they crossed the street in a North Las Vegas crosswalk in late October. Thank God, Alyssa is making fantastic progress! And we're so thankful that Rain has fully recovered, though we're terribly sad that Mia, who was Rain's best friend, didn't make it. Yet, we know that Mia is looking down on the girls right now from heaven with love and joy and that she's cheering Alyssa on in her courageous efforts to recover.
Alyssa and Rain: Off to physical therapy!
For more information about the story, see my next post, The Accident that Has Kept Me from Posting Lately.
A Tragic Accident
Just wanted to let everyone know the reason I haven't posted in quite some time: Two of my out-of-town grandnieces were hit by a car on October 21st (along with their little friend), and both were seriously injured. (The three girls were five, six, and six years old at the time of the accident.)
Tragically, their friend Mia died three days after the accident, and my two grandnieces, Rain and Alyssa, both sustained serious head injuries. Rain sustained a skull fracture and small brain bleed but, thankfully, was out of the hospital three days later. Alyssa, on the other hand, has had a much longer road to recovery. Alyssa sustained serious brain trauma, along with other injuries, and we truly feared we might lose her, both at the beginning and at several other points early in her battle to survive and heal. But, God was gracious. Much has happened during the ensuing battle – far too much to cover here – but after about five weeks in intensive care, Alyssa was transferred to in-patient rehab, where she is today, exactly seven weeks and one day after the accident.
Despite many challenges, scares, and setbacks along the way, Alyssa's continued progress and ongoing recovery have been nothing short of miraculous, and we are so thankful for the prayers of so many people who have joined together to support the family during this trying journey.
Two Links for More Info About Three Beautiful Angels
Rather than go into too many more of the details here, I will provide a few links where you'll be able to get further information on the accident and the journey of the two families if you should be so inclined.
The first link, to the These 3 Angels website, will provide all the background on the accident and loss of Mia, along with a beautiful and inspirational video about the girls.
The second link, to the These 3 Angels Facebook page, is where my niece Christin (Rain's and Alyssa's mom) is posting all the latest updates and many lovely photos of Alyssa as she courageously battles her way back to wholeness. The page also allows visitors who have Facebook accounts and who "Like" the page to leave comments expressing their thoughts, prayers, and good wishes for the families. God has been amazingly good to Alyssa, providing miracle after miracle, and we are so thankful for her incredible progress in just seven weeks!
Of course, the journey continues, and we hope to see Alyssa back home with her family (she has five siblings) before Christmas, even though she will need to continue daily rehab at an outpatient facility after going home. She's progressed by leaps and bounds over the last seven weeks, amazing everyone, and we are truly thankful for these blessings, as we continue to move forward in faith that she will fully recover from all the residual effects of the injury. Perhaps you might even decide to join together with us in prayer for this much hoped-for outcome. We certainly would appreciate it!
Thanks so much for reading!
Jeanne
Today, Sunday, October 16, 2011, is Blog Action Day – the day when bloggers from 100 countries around the world gather to post about a single significant topic. This year, 2,250 bloggers will be discussing FOOD! And what makes this year’s topic even more appropriate is that today is also World Food Day!
Food: A Critical Topic to Every Person on Earth
Food is important to all of us, and so many food-related issues exist that it would be impossible to address them all in a single post. So, for now, let’s discuss a few significant aspects of the topic.
World Hunger
Famine runs rampant in many parts of the world, and numerous organizations are doing their part to make a difference. Some offer direct aid, others educate and advocate. Here are just a few:
ONE: Visit the site to learn what this organization is doing to end hunger, and the ways you can help. Sign the Petition asking the U.S. Congress to fully fund the Feed the Future program. The petition’s message to Congress says this about the critical need: “The famine in Somalia has killed 30,000 children in 3 months. In 2011 we have the opportunity to make famine a thing of the past. Lives are in your hands. Please fully fund Feed the Future and help break the cycle of famine for good.”
Ending Hunger: This organization also asks visitors to sign a Petition putting pressure on politicians to end world hunger. The petition states the following: “We who support this petition find it unacceptable that close to one billion people are chronically hungry. Through the United Nations, we call upon governments to make the elimination of hunger their top priority until that goal is reached.” The original goal was 1,000,000 signatures, and to date, well over 3,000,000 people have signed.
Ending Hunger says this about its objectives: “The objectives? A critical mass of people who no longer accept the presence of one billion fellow human beings living in chronic hunger. To make a lot of noise about the problem. To build up political pressure for change.”
Food for the Poor: This Christian non-profit offers help in various forms to people in need, describing its efforts as follows: “Food For The Poor is the third-largest international relief and development charity in the United States, feeding 2 million poor every day. Our Christian relief programs and projects are helping children and the poorest of the poor by providing food, housing, health care, education, water projects, emergency relief and micro-enterprise assistance in the Caribbean and Latin America.”
Hunger in the U.S.
Many people in the U.S. go to bed hungry each night, and the following organization is working to change that:
Food Rescue: This Indiana-based non-profit addresses the issue of food waste and focuses on how food that is currently (or would currently be) wasted can be donated to area food banks to help feed hungry local residents. While Food Rescue only works directly in its own state, the organization does help people in other states put its principles into practice. It also hosts a Virtual Flash Mob that periodically joins together to simultaneously post pleas on the social media fan pages of various food-related businesses urging them to share their excess food with the hungry, rather than throwing it away.
About its efforts, the organization says the following: “Food Rescue schedules and inspires more than 2,000 "food rescues" each month, turning millions of dollars in rescued food into hundreds of thousands of meals for children and families in need through a network of volunteers working to turn discarded food into changed lives.”
Healthier, More Equitable, and Sustainable Food for All
Slow Food International: This organization describes itself as follows: “Slow Food is a global, grassroots organization whose supporters are linking the pleasure of good food with a commitment to their community and the environment. Today we have 100,000 members worldwide, as well as the Terra Madre network of 2,000 food communities who practice small-scale and sustainable production of quality foods.” Slow Food says it is “committed to good, clean and fair food for all.”
Slow Food USA: Slow Food USA’s mission states, in part, “We believe that food is a universal right. Food that is fair should be accessible to all, regardless of income, and produced by people who are treated with dignity and justly compensated for their labor.” The non-profit also says, “Slow Food USA is working to change the food system through a network of volunteer chapters all over the country.” Its visitors are invited to join their local chapter.
This organization has issued its $5 Challenge, which states, “I pledge to share a fresh, healthy meal that costs less than $5 – because slow food shouldn't have to cost more than fast food." Those who take the challenge can submit photos and descriptions of their meals on the Tips & Tricks & Challenges page.
Please Visit These Websites
The above organizations are but a few that are working to provide food for the hungry or to improve the diets of those who are tired of the modern processed foods that are slowly robbing us of our health and vitality. I hope you will take a few minutes to visit their websites, learn more about their efforts, sign their petitions, and find out what you can do to make a difference – for others as well as yourself.
Too many people battle hunger each and every day – and too many others have more than enough to eat yet are still malnourished. These are the ironies of our crazy modern world -- ironies that we will hopefully be able to work together to change in the very near future!
Here’s to that change!
Jeanne
#BAD11
Blog Action Day 2011 Topic: FOOD
October 16th is Blog Action Day, and this year's topic is FOOD -- a topic that could hardly be more appropriate, since Blog Action Day coincides with World Food Day, which is also October 16th.
Join Us!
As of October 11th, nearly 1500 bloggers from 80 countries were registered to take part in Blog Action Day this year. If you're a blogger, why not join us by getting involved this year! Participating is easy: Simply register your blog at the Blog Action Day website and then publish a post about FOOD on October 16th. Your post can focus on any aspect of the topic. For a few ideas and a list of suggested topics, visit the Why Food? page of the Blog Action Day site.
Suggested Food-Related Topics
You might want to draw attention to world hunger -- a very critical topic in today's world -- or focus on hunger in a specific area, either at home or abroad. Perhaps you'd prefer to focus on healthful food choices, getting back to basics, and moving away from the highly processed products the food industry is foisting upon us to line its pockets, while increasingly eroding our health. There are tons of related topics and just as many angles from which you can approach them. You may even decide to cover more than one food-related topic. Whatever you decide to write about, please do participate and help draw attention to a subject that is crucial to every person on earth.
Collect Your Links
If I might take it a step further, I'd like to recommend that you gather any links you may have to food-related organizations that are helping to make a difference -- or even food-related resources that can help others improve their own food choices -- and add these to your post. In that way, you'll be helping those dedicated organizations make a difference, while also encouraging people to improve their own and their families' health and well-being through wiser and more intentional food-related practices.
For Further Information
For more information about Blog Action Day, read the About page of the Blog Action Day website, where you'll learn what Blog Action Day is, the goal it is intended to accomplish, and a bit about its history.
Hope you'll join us on Blog Action Day 2011 to share your perspective about FOOD and help make a difference! After all, isn't making a difference what blogging is all about?
Let's join together to do our part!
Jeanne
P.S. My apologies for posting so late about this. Hopefully my tardiness won't prevent you from participating!
Are you planning to participate in Blog Action Day this Sunday, October 16th? Hopefully the ranks of participating bloggers will swell between now and the "big day." Last year, 5,600 bloggers from 143 countries participated, reaching 40 million readers with information about another crucial topic -- WATER. Let's help make this year's event just as successful! Let's get people thinking -- and talking -- about FOOD!
September 30th 2011 03:30
Every writer’s business is different – or should I say unique. Some writers work exclusively online. Others write for print media. Many work for local clients, and a considerable number do more than one of the above. That’s why every writer’s method of marketing his or her work will be different.
Of course, I can’t be sure whether you use postcards or other similar printed materials when marketing your writing services. But, if you do, you might be interested in PostcardPrinting.com, a site that offers quite a few options at prices that appear quite reasonable.
Whether you’d like to send a postcard to remember your clients on holidays or offer a special discount to increase business, PostcardPrinting.com offers a selection that can help you express your brand with class. From their line of Promotional postcard designs to their Holiday, Special Occasion, and "Styles” selections, the site offers a variety of attractive styles from which you may choose.
For those who would prefer something a bit more unique, the site also offers the option of personalizing its standard designs or creating your own by uploading your artwork and either using it exactly as uploaded or using the site’s online editing tool to add additional text to your uploaded postcard design. If you have artistic talent and/or have your own logo for your writing business, this option will help you create postcards that truly reflect your brand.
Visit PostcardPrinting.com to see all your post printing options and view the prices for various quantities of standard and UV-coated postcards in selected sizes in either single- or double-sided styles. Your options are virtually endless!
Here’s to effectively marketing your writing!
Jeanne
September 24th 2011 08:49
The Adverb: A "Very" Unpopular Intensifier!
Mark Twain once said, "Substitute 'damn' every time you're inclined to write 'very'; your editor will delete it and the writing will be just as it should be." Clever quote. However, aside from the fact that few of today's editors would actually delete this substitute, I do agree with Twain that "very" usually makes a weak modifier (or "intensifier") for an adjective. I'd much rather use adverbs like these to add color to my prose:
extremely, intensely, incredibly, fully, wholly, emphatically, entirely, deliriously, deliciously, delectably, horribly, crazily, refreshingly, luxuriously, inveterately, totally, absolutely, singularly, uniquely, incontrovertibly, impeccably, impressively, quite, most, indeed, purely, truly, or supremely ...
Adverbs in General: An "Evil" Habit?
Of course, Stephen King would disagree with me, apparently. To King, "The road to hell is paved with adverbs." (I imagine that must be why Twain suggested we substitute 'damn' for 'very.') I do agree with King, however -- to a point. Using an adverb to liven a weak verb rarely works. Far better to omit the adverb and select a stronger, more vibrant verb instead. Yet, when used to modify -- or as mentioned above, "intensify" -- an adjective, the widely underappreciated adverb can definitely handle the task.
Adjectives: Effective Tools When Used Judiciously
Whether we should be using adjectives in the first place, however, has also been addressed by Twain: "As to the adjective, when in doubt, strike it out." Again, as in the adverb/weak verb discussion above, the same principle applies to adjectives and weak nouns: If you're using an adjective purely to slip in a colorless noun, while depending on the adjective to spruce it up, it's probably better to skip the adjective and pull a more expressive noun from your literary quiver. If more writers did this, the much-maligned adjective would command greater respect.
After all, words are the tools of our trade, and using them with power and precision is our crowning achievement.
Here's to powerful prose!
Jeanne
My Sincere Apologies!
I really must apologize for how slowly my blog has been loading lately! I'm sure it's been just as frustrating for you as it has for me -- if not more so! I've been doing a bit of investigating/experimenting today to try to figure out what's causing the problem, but so far no luck.
You may notice that I've removed a few widgets from my left sidebar in the hope that doing so might help. But, alas, it didn't make the slightest difference. I've also experimented with various other changes, including
1. Moving my Sites for Writers list (which, after all, is quite a lengthy list of links) out of my sidebar and into a blog post
2. Trying various blog templates
3. Removing Google ads entirely
None of these tactics has worked. So, I've put everything back the way it was before except for the sidebar widgets that I removed. (It really isn't at all surprising to me that these tactics haven't worked, because my blog has been this way for quite some time and I've only just begun having this problem recently.)
Technical Problems: No Fun!
At this point, I'm pretty much at a loss as to how to correct the problem, since I have no idea what the problem is. Since sidebar overloading doesn't appear to be the culprit, I'm not sure what else I can do to correct it. No matter how many items I remove, the blog loads just as slowly. If you have any suggestions for something else I might try, I certainly would appreciate hearing them. However, I suspect that when all is said and done, I'll have to contact Orble Support for help. (I will probably do this tomorrow.) I hope everyone will bear with me until I'm able to get this problem worked out.
Here's hoping that I -- or Orble -- will be able to figure it out soon! Technical issues are no fun for us non-techies! And slow-loading blogs are no fun for anybody!
Thanks for your patience!
Jeanne
Have you had many technical problems with your own blog? How did you solve them?
A Blueprint for Achieving Your Dreams
Shortly before his death at age 100, Chicago financier and philanthropist W. Clement Stone was asked the question, “How have you done so much in your lifetime?” His reply offers an inspiring glimpse into the inner workings of a visionary who first saw clearly what he hoped to accomplish and then set about to accomplish it:
I have dreamed. I have turned my mind loose to imagine what I wanted to do. Then I have gone to bed and thought about my dreams. In the night, I have dreamed about them. And when I have arisen in the morning, I have seen the way to get to my dreams. While other people were saying, 'You can't do that, it isn't possible,' I was well on my way to achieving what I wanted.
Take a moment to let Stone’s words sink in. Read them again, if necessary.
This deceptively simple formula worked for Stone (who achieved phenomenal success in his lifetime), and it can also become our “blueprint for success” – if we make each step a natural part of our daily lives. (Notice, I didn’t say “our daily routines.” That’s because dreaming – and creatively making our dreams come true – transcends routine and in fact makes our lives anything but!)
Follow Stone's Formula for Success
Let’s examine Stone’s formula and see how we can apply each part to our own lives:
Dream – as in daydream. Just as Stone did, set your imagination free to explore the things you love, enjoy, and value – the things that spark your passion. You’ll recognize them right away because they will capture your imagination, creating a strange sense of excitement and anticipation each time you think about them and bringing with them a unique creative energy that can propel you forward in pursuing them. (And everyone always told you that daydreaming is a waste of time!) As you visualize the possibilities, the “what ifs,” you’ll begin to feel a strong motivation to turn those dreams into reality. Don’t ignore it! That urge can provide the power you need to get where you want to go!
Think about your dreams. Take time to ponder and reflect on the aspirations that are beginning to blossom during your daydreams. You won’t be making formal plans at this point, though you will often resolve to accomplish something specific. Even if your dreams don’t seem very practical – or even possible – think about them anyway. You’ll gradually – or maybe even suddenly – begin discovering ways to start accomplishing your goals. Think about the positive, reinforcing aspects of your dreams before you fall asleep each night. (Skip the negatives and the detailed planning, as these could just keep you awake, defeating your purpose.)
Dream – as in night dream. Pondering your daydreams before falling asleep, as Stone did, will not only give you many conscious insights but will also trigger your subconscious to begin working while you sleep. This often means you will dream about your goal. But, even if you don’t, rest assured that your subconscious will be at work. As Dr. Ellen Weber points out in Brain-Powering Your Dream, your brain will begin building new neural pathways as you sleep – pathways that will help reinforce your determination, fuel your desire, and increase your ability to reach your goals.
Plan to fulfill your dream. The subconscious insights gained during sleep will help you more clearly envision the path that will ultimately lead to your dreams. Use these insights and intuitions to create a plan to get you there. Do any research you may need to make an intelligent and workable plan. Whether your plan is highly structured or a bit more flexible and intuitive is entirely up to you. But, check back in every now and then to see whether your plan needs adjusting (as it likely will). Does it need a little more structure – or a little more freedom? Has your situation (or your market) changed since you made your plan? Have you acquired new information that would demand a slight detour on the path to your goals? Adjust your plan accordingly, using the same dream-driven creativity that went into the original plan.
Ignore the naysayers. Refuse to listen to the people who don’t believe that what you hope to accomplish is possible or who aren’t convinced that you can do it. Surround yourself with positive, encouraging, empowering people – or if need be, act as your own cheerleader. (You are perfectly capable of giving yourself a pep talk anytime you need one. Just recall your hopes, your dreams, your passion, your talent, your faith in yourself and your abilities, and your prior successes, however small. Those should be more than enough to get you back on track!) Whatever you do, stay focused on the prize rather than the obstacles that stand in your way, and you will be irresistibly drawn toward that prize – even though you may have to take a temporary detour around the obstacles first. Creative solutions powered by your dream-inspired determination and drive can help you maneuver smoothly around those obstacles.
Get moving! Just as acting without insight, vision, and focus are counterproductive and will never help us reach our goals, possessing all the vision in the world will never produce results unless we’re willing to do whatever it takes to make the dream a reality. Even a journey of 1,000 miles starts with a single step. Decide what that first step should be and take it. Then, move on to the next step. Before you know it, like Stone, you’ll be well on your way to achieving your dreams!
You can do it!
Jeanne
What are your thoughts on Stone's method for achieving his dreams? In your own experience, have you found any of the above steps particularly easy -- or hard -- to implement? Are any unnecessary? Would you add any?
A Post to Help You Power Your Dreams
In perfect sync with yesterday's post about visualizing our goals to achieve success is this excellent guest post by Ellen Weber: Brain-Powering Your Dream. Read and prepare to make your dreams come true!
If you've never read Ellen's blog, Brain Leaders and Learners, and are at all interested in the way the brain can power innovation, create success, and help you fulfill your dreams, you're in for a fascinating cerebral treat! Bookmark BL&L (or follow it on Facebook's Networked Blogs: Brain Leaders and Learners). You'll learn so much!
Here's to making your dreams come true!
Jeanne
What are your thoughts on the brain and its role in the "success" equation? Does Ellen's statement that our neurons rewire nightly as we sleep surprise you? What potential do you see in that idea, and what sort of new horizons might Ellen's insights open for you?
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