Additional Opportunities for Writers

by Gary Fearon, Creative Director, Southern Writers Magazine


Here on Suite T a few weeks ago, I blogged about some immediate opportunities that writers can get in on.  Today, I'd like to update you on some of them and add a couple of new ones to the mix.

SHORT STORY CONTEST 2017
First, I'd be remiss if I didn't remind you that the deadline for our 6th annual Short Story Fiction Contest is this Thursday night, June 15th.  If you haven't sent in your <1500 word story yet, the $250 first prize might be the right incentive! The easy guidelines are online.
http://www.southernwritersmagazine.com/shorts.html

WHERE WRITERS WRITE
Secondly, I want to thank all the authors who jumped right on the mag's new "Where Writers Write" feature, sending us photos of your work spaces. It's fascinating and fun to get a glimpse of the very spots where great books have come into being. We are full for the July/August issue of Southern Writers, but if you get us your photo and description by July 1st, there's a good chance you'll make it in the September/October issue. Visit http://www.southernwritersmagazine.com/promos-2017.html

SIGNINGS AND SELF-PROMOTION
We knew you guys were clever, but some of the promotions you've cooked up and sent us photos of for this upcoming feature have been downright inspiring. If you've developed a creative giveaway for marketing your masterpieces or have a photo from a book signing you're proud of, show it off in Southern Writers Magazine.  http://www.southernwritersmagazine.com/promos-2017.html

TITLE WAVE
We've been getting in some very entertaining submissions for this article about how book titles were changed before publication, and the reasonings behind each one. Got a story to share about the evolution of your book's title? Tell us about it at http://www.southernwritersmagazine.com/promos-2017.html

GALLERY OF STARS
Each week our online Gallery of Stars gets a ton of visitors seeking to discover authors and new releases (it's only Tuesday and we've already gotten 1,200 hits this week). If you write books, you should be in there! All Southern Writers subscribers are offered a FREE author page in the Gallery. Even if you have your own website (and you do, don't you?), the Gallery is a solid and steadily-seen addition to your promotional platform. Details are at the bottom of this alpha list of authors. As you can see, you'll be in good company! http://authors.southernwritersmagazine.com

SUMMER WRITERS CONFERENCES
The season is heating up with lots of choices that would make a terrific destination for a summer vacation while you regain your writing mojo and get friendly with your fellow wordsmiths. Coming right up, for example, is the popular Mystery Fest Key West this Friday thru Sunday, June 16-18 (www.mysteryfestkeywest.com). Other soon-to-come conferences are in Alabama, Missouri, Virginia, West Virginia, and Nashville, to mention a few. You'll find this summer's offerings at: http://www.southernwritersmagazine.com/conferences.html

As you can see, there are lots of opportunities to get the word out about your books and to recharge your literary battery this summer. What a great time to be a Southern writer!

The Long and the Short of It

by Gary Fearon, Creative Director, Southern Writers Magazine


At a Southern Writers authors event a couple of weeks ago I had the pleasure of speaking with several novelists about their approaches to writing (you'll read about many of them in upcoming issues of Southern Writers).  When I spoke with one author in particular who writes both novels and short stories, I sought his perspectives on writing for the two different formats.

When I learned that his first step in creating his novels was to create a detailed outline, I asked if he plots out his short stories as well. "No," he replied with instant enthusiasm.  Short stories, he explained, are his opportunity to run free. When he begins a novel, he knows how it will end before the opening scene.  For a short story, he lets his characters take him wherever they want to go.

At first glance, one might think the short story would be the one warranting advance planning, since the novel by its sheer length could afford to let its characters wander off course a bit.  I'm even reminded of Abraham Lincoln's famed reply when asked to give an impromptu speech: 

"If I am to speak for ten minutes, I need a week for preparation; if an hour, I am ready now."

However, the short story—unlike the novel—isn't required to conform to the traditional three-act format we expect from a novel.  The hero's journey as explained by Aristotle, Joseph Campbell, Christopher Vogler and others will probably always have some influence on long-form stories, but the short story can afford to carve its own path. A simple contemplation of a single theme? A beginning-to-end chronicle? The sky's the limit with a short story.

By the same token, there are authors who outline their short stories while letting their novel characters cast their own fates to the wind.  Indeed, going back and forth between the two approaches (outlining versus not) seems like an excellent way to exercise both sides of a creative brain.

There are many good books to help take the guesswork out of outlining, such as K.M. Weiland's Structuring Your Novel, and even if flying by the seat of your pants is your preferred writing method, it's good to know the rules so you can break them with confidence.

Whatever your chosen approach, we invite you to forge a potentially new path by entering Southern Writers' 4th annual Short Story Fiction contest.  By popular demand, we've doubled the 1200-word limit and you can now let your imagination run wild up to 2500 words. The deadline is August 1st, 2015.

Visit http://www.southernwritersmagazine.com/shorts for all the details, and good luck!  With a $500 grand prize, there's never been a better time to get short with us.

Short Story Fiction Contest

January 1, 2013 kicked off our “Short Story Fiction Contest”.  We had so many requests to run another contest we decided to open the New Year with it.

The cash prizes are bigger for the First, Second, and Third place winners. We are excited to see who the top three winners will be. These three winners will be on the cover of the Special Edition of the Short Stories Magazine along with their stories in the magazine and the top ten runner-ups will have their picture and stories published in the Short Stories Magazine.

The top three winners and the ten runner-ups will have full access to our promotional venues for their books, year subscriptions to Southern Writers Magazine.

The First place winner will be a guest on Southern Writers Magazine–Radio Show.

Whether you are a beginning writer or a published author we hope you will join in and participate in the contest. 

The contest began January 1, 2013 and ends March 1, 2013.  Here is the link for the guidelines http://www.southernwritersmagazine.com/contest.html.

We wish everyone a Happy New Year!

 

Beginner's Luck? I don't think so

by Doyne Phillips, Managing Editor

Elizabeth B. Elliott, Cheryl Hilderbrand and Sherry Perkins grace the cover of our SouthernWriters Short Stories from the South, Special Edition. Elizabeth was our First Place Winner with Cheryl Second Place and Sherry Third place. They, along with the Top Ten Finalists, had some amazing stories of humor, drama, mystery and romance. Their stories touched the heart and filled the soul with emotion. Reading them has been enjoyable and a study in imagination, creativity and storytelling. All are fantastic and their stories are something I will share with others.

I am told when Elizabeth was contacted to inform her she had won; she was very excited and exclaimed this was her first time to submit a story. Considering the brilliance of her writing and the emotion of the story, that was amazing to hear. Some may call it beginner's luck but after you read her story you will know that cannot be. Apparently Elizabeth’s talent has been there all along but Elizabeth is just now sharing it with the world. I feel we are fortunate that she did and even more fortunate that she chose Southern Writers Short Stories from the South to debut her talent.

This special issue of Short Stories from the South epitomizes the mission of Southern Writers. We exist to nurture and encourage writers, promote and market their books and build a network of authors. I think all would agree this anthology of short stories touches on all we endeavor to achieve. After reading this special issue I hope you will be encouraged and will encourage others to take that next step like Elizabeth B. Elliott did. Southern Writers is intent on making opportunities available. We hope you are as intent on sharing your talent with the world. If you are, we are here for you.

Mayday! How Can We Help You?

by Gary Fearon, Creative Director

While universally recognized as a distress signal, “Mayday” is also what today is, and I’ve mock yelled it at least once every year on this date, usually to some tolerant friend who pretends to appreciate my often groan-worthy puns. Perhaps broadcasting it to the blogosphere today will finally get it out of my system.

Meanwhile, it’s appropriate that this attention-getting term is derived from the French phrase m’aider (“help me”) because today the magazine staff’s attention is focused on two things intended to aid our fellow writers.

First of all, being May 1^st, the newest edition of Southern Writers Magazine hits the virtual streets (online and by mail) today and it’s packed full of bestselling authors and topnotch writing advice.  Notable is the fact that this issue includes a special emphasis on research and historical writing, two areas you’ve been requesting.  You’ll find helpful insights on bringing history to life from Ann H. Gabhart, learn how to do reliable internet searches with Sheila S. Hudson, and get inspiring thoughts on writing memoirs from Kimberly Rae.  You’ll also sit down with Allison Chase, Robert Noonan, Dorothy Love, Mona Hodgson, Ed Southern, and others who share their secrets of artfully capturing history on the printed page.

Have I mentioned Viggo Mortensen?  A familiar face to moviegoers (Lord of the Rings is just the tip of the Viggo iceberg), you’ll discover a whole new side of this prolific poet in an exclusive interview with Sherry Perkins. And if you saw Courageous at your local cineplex you’ll especially enjoy Vicki Moss’ conversation with author and producer Michael Catt. Look over the shoulder of children’s illustrator Robert J. Blake, get a look at Vicki Allen’s private writing hideaway, and discover how daily discipline helps Irene Latham find publishing success.

There’s lots more and I could go on all day about the May issue, but you’ll see for yourself.  Just keep telling us what you want in the mag and who you want to read about, and we’ll keep delivering.  As our editor Susan Reichert said back in issue #1, this is your magazine, and you are helping to make it what authors tell us is their favorite publication for wordsmiths.

As for the other May Day event on our minds: Tonight at midnight is the deadline for our Short Story Contest 2012!  So you still have time to get your 1000-word opus into us for a chance to win cash prizes, subscriptions, and an appearance in a special short story issue we’ll publish of the winning entries.  Details and guidelines are a click away.  Thank you for participating, and good luck!

Well, this has turned out to be one big shameless plug for the mag and the contest, but today it’s all we can think about here so I hope my enthusiasm has been at least a little contagious. In any event, we all learned a little French today. M’aider!