October/November 2017 Writing Contests

Rachel Poli listed the October/November 2017 writing contests for us. Thank you so much for your efforts, Rachel.

Rachel Poli

October 2017

Genre: Fiction
Theme: Short story (new writers only)
Website: Glimmer Train
Deadline: October 31, 2017
Entry Fee: $18
Prize: First – $2,500

Genre: Nonfiction
Theme: Christmas and Holiday
Website: Chicken Soup for the Soul
Deadline: October 31, 2017
Entry Fee: None
Prize: $200

Genre: Creative Nonfiction essay
Theme: N/A
Website: WOW! Women On Writing
Deadline: October 31, 2017
Entry Fee: $12
Prize: $500

November 2017

Genre: Poetry
Theme: N/A
Website: Writer’s Digest
Deadline: November 6, 2017
Entry Fee: $20
Prize: First – $1,000

Genre: Flash fiction and short story
Theme: N/A
Website: Fireside Fiction
Deadline: November 11, 2017 (opens on November 5)
Entry Fee: N/A
Prize: Pays 12.5 cents per word

Genre: Popular fiction (romance, YA, thriller, crime, horror, sci-fi)
Theme: N/A
Website: Writer’s Digest
Deadline: November 15, 2017
Entry Fee: $25
Prize: First – $2,500

Genre: Short Short Story
Theme: N/A
Website: Writer’s Digest
Deadline: November 15…

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37 Top Book Awards for Authors in 2017

Scott Lorenz, a Book Publicist, informs us about book awards for authors. Thank you very much Scott, this is very helpful.

The Book Publicist

Enter Book Award Contests and Become an Award Winning Author in 2017!

By Scott Lorenz

Westwind Communications

“Do book awards matter?”  YES!!

As a book publicist I can assure you they absolutely do matter! One client won several awards and was contacted by two movie producers about her Young Adult Sci-Fi Fantasy Fiction novel.  Another one of my clients won the prestigious Los Angeles Book Festival award. That then led to a flurry of media interest, which subsequently led to a major New York agent deciding to represent the book and pitch it to all the major publishing houses. This author, needless to say, was happy he decided to enter.

You win awards you sell more products.  Jeff Bezos, CEO Amazon

Jeff Bezos at the 2016 Code Conference (Photo news.techniblogic.com

Recently a business book client won a major award which caused CNN to reach out to request the book.

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Come and be interviewed

Author Don Massenzio invites 10 writers and bloggers to be interviewed and featured on his blog. Contact him!
Thank you for the chance, Don! 🙂

Author Don Massenzio

Hello,

I’ve been running my weekly ‘Perfect 10’ interview series this year. Every Monday, I run an interview with an author and ask them a series of 10 thought-provoking questions. As I look toward the end of the year, I still have about 10 slots open.

If you’re releasing a book for the holidays or trying to get more exposure and meet other authors and bloggers, this is a great opportunity. Just email me at don@donmassenzio.com and I’ll send you the necessary instructions.

This is a great opportunity and there are only 10 slots left until the end of the year.

If you want to check out past interviews, you can find them in the following links:

A.C. Flory, Steve Boseley, Kayla Matt, Mae Clair, Jill Sammut, Deanna Kahler, Dawn Reno Langley, John Howell, Elaine Cougler, Jan Sikes, Nancy Bell

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In Rememberance Of 9/11

September 11, 2001, the day of the worst terrorist attacks the U.S. had to face in its history. Annually we remember the victims and their families; we keep them in our thoughts and prayers.

During the September 11 attacks in 2001, 2,996 people were killed and more than 6,000 others wounded. These immediate deaths included 265 on the four planes (including the 19 terrorists), 2,606 in the World Trade Center and the surrounding area, and 125 at the Pentagon. (Source: Wikipedia)

I think it’s important we don’t forget this day, the ones who suffered, the ones who had to fight with the loss, with despair, and with illness. It was a dark day – and still: ‘UNITED WE STAND.’ Americans proudly helped, supported, comforted and still remember. It is important we never forget how to STAND UNITED!

Today, September 11, 2017, I would like to remember the ones who helped, the ones who were there, risking their lives for others, and in far too many cases, paid the highest price in the line of duty!
Many more, exposed to toxic dust and other hazards, have succumbed to illnesses related to their rescue and recovery efforts over the years. On Thursday, September 7, 2017, the FDNY added 32 more names to the World Trade Center Memorial Wall.

 

*******************************************************************

 

 

Thank you, helpers, thank you, supporters!

Thank you for your sacrifice, for your help, for giving everything you had and paying the one price we never can give back to you.

Thank you, for your belief in helping each one of us, no matter where no matter what.

We will keep you in our thoughts, being grateful you were there!

God bless you.

 

*****

 

Picture courtesy of: http://www.google.com

 

 

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Picture courtesy of http://www.pinterest.com

Anatomy of a Bad Review

Author Don Massenzio provides us with the analysis of a bad review written for one of his books. In my opinion he gives us a great example on how to handle bad reviews in general. But I figure I will find out for sure once one of my own books is published. Thanks for this post, Don!

Author Don Massenzio

Thumb up and down buttons

I’ve been blessed. I’ve written a number of books. I’ve been very fortunate. Readers that I don’t know have given my work reviews that have, in the vast majority, earned four or five stars.

That’s why, when I receive a bad review, I like to study it and figure out if there is something I can learn to improve my work.

When I signed onto the Amazon author’s site, I saw this review for my second book, Let Me Be Frank:

I’ve redacted the name in this review. I didn’t want to make this post about the person who submitted the review, I wanted to make it a teaching moment.

First, I looked at the review. It’s titled ‘Boring’ and starts out with the words ‘too slow’. This is valid criticism for a book and sometimes, in a detective novel, the pacing can be…

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In Need Of A New Computer

Picture courtesy of: https://www.fastweb.com/college-search/articles/undecided-is-not-a-major

 

 

It’s been seven years that I welcomed my desktop to my home… In all these years it has been a loyal and trustworthy accomplice to me in everything I had planned. But I feel it’s getting tired. Even though I can hear it works hard to fulfill my every need it has significantly slowed down.

I would say – another six months and my faithful friend is going to be retired. (or falling into a coma whichever comes first).

To me, this means I need to think about a successor for my dear electronic brother.

After thinking for quite some time and considering the move I have in mind, amongst other things, I decided for a laptop instead of a desktop. Well, that decision was easy, compared to deciding on a model.
The questions I had to ask myself to find THE laptop have been numerous, and I’m still not convinced I thought about everything. Finally, I found a page http://youthvillage.co.ke/top-10-best-laptops/ where they listed the ten best laptops. I was still not sure if one of these would be right for me.

 

I admit I’m lost. I feel overwhelmed with the sheer choices and possibilities. I’m a writer – and I work on a computer daily… but I’m still only a user, not an IT-expert.

After going on with research, I found a website with the best laptops for writers. http://www.144hzmonitors.com/best-laptop-for-writers/ Here they give me a table with the best laptops for writers.

 

Picture courtesy of: http://www.144hzmonitors.com/best-laptop-for-writers/

 

To be honest: It doesn’t help. I’m still no expert and what they list here doesn’t tell me a lot. Yes, some things help – but some of the more detailed descriptions leave me more confused than ever.

I don’t know which one I should pick. I only know I won’t buy an Apple product. After this decision, it still leaves me with five laptops and just as lost as I was before.

 

Is there anyone who can give me a recommendation? Is someone using one of these laptops and can give me a review? Or is there any other suggestion or advice I can follow? I’d appreciate every help I can get.

 

 

July/August 2017 Writing Contests

Thank you very much for all your efforts and work, Rachel Poli. We appreciate it!

Rachel Poli

JULY 2017

Genre: Poetry
Theme: N/A
Website: Literal Latte
Deadline: July 15, 2017
Entry Fee: $10/6 poems or $15/10 poems
Prize: First – $1,000

Genre: Poetry, Fiction
Theme: Fairy Tale
Website: Fairy Tale Review
Deadline: July 15, 2017
Entry Fee: $10
Prize: First – $1,000

Genre: Fiction
Theme: Flash Fiction
Website: Gigantic Sequins
Deadline: July 15, 2017
Entry Fee: $5
Prize: $100

Genre: Any
Theme: “The End”
Website: Visible Ink
Deadline: July 31, 2017
Entry Fee: $7
Prize: $75

Genre: Flash Fiction
Theme: N/A
Website: The Golden Key
Deadline: July 31, 2017
Entry Fee: $4
Prize: $150

Genre: Fiction (New writers only)
Theme: N/A
Website: The Masters Review
Deadline: July 31, 2017
Entry Fee: $20
Prize: First – $3,000

AUGUST 2017

Genre: Fiction/Non-Fiction
Theme: Self-published ebooks
Website: Writer’s Digest
Deadline: August 1, 2017
Entry Fee: $99
Prize: Grand – $5,000

Genre: Flash Fiction/Non-Fiction/Poetry
Theme: N/A
Website: Blue Earth Review
Deadline:…

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