In a message dated 3/3/2006 10:42:01 A.M. Eastern Standard Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes:
Flash Fiction Flash Newsletter (March 2006 Issue 52) FLASH FICTION FLASH: The Newsletter for Flash Literature Writers http://groups.yahoo.com/group/FlashFictionFlash Issue 52: March 2006 Editor: Pamelyn Casto Newsletter devoted to markets, contests, publishing news for short-short literature 1,500 words or fewer (including short-short stories, prose poetry, creative nonfiction, haibun, flash memoirs, flash plays) NOTE: I'm told that if you put the newsletter email address into your address book it will not be viewed as spam by the anti-spam programs. Enter this address in your address book so your email won't bounce: [EMAIL PROTECTED] WANTED: MORE SUBSCRIBERS Please tell your writer friends about the free newsletter (below) and they can subscribe, too. More subscribers wanted. Always. They can subscribe by sending a blank email message to [EMAIL PROTECTED] No copying this newsletter in part or in whole without express permission of the editor. Refer those interested to the newsletter URL/ link so they can subscribe themselves. See http://groups.yahoo.com/group/FlashFictionFlash See newsletter below. ================================================= NEWSLETTER CONTENTS * Next Online Four-Week Suddenly Flash Fiction Course Begins April 10, 2006. See info below and at http://www.flashquake.org/editorial/flashfiction.html * New Course -- Flash Fiction II. A continuation of the present Flash Fiction course will begin June 12, 2006. (See more info below.) * Featured Market: MYTHOLOG: Literature of Mythic Proportions (by John Young) * Flash Literature Markets * Flash Literature Contests * Flash Literature Publishing News * Articles & Interviews On Flash Fiction Writing * Online (Free) Flash Literature Workshops Info * How To Change Your Newsletter Subscription Email Address-- Please Read * How to Send Your Flash Fiction/ Flash Literature News ============================================== NEXT ONLINE FLASH FICTION COURSE (April 10, 2006) Pamelyn Casto's next four-week online flash fiction course starts Monday, April 10, 2006. The fast-paced course fills rapidly so sign up soon to reserve your spot in the next session. See all course and signup details at flashquake http://www.flashquake.org/editorial/flashfiction.html PAST FLASH FICTION COURSE PARTICIPANTS COMMENTS: (Comments used with permission from participants.) Samantha Hoffman: Thanks so much for this course. It was much more thorough and detailed than I would have expected for the price. Your enthusiasm for writing is obvious and your eagerness to impart knowledge is admirable. I learned more and got lots more information than I expected. I especially appreciate your thoughtful and insightful critiques. ----- Bill West: This course has been a delight, full of nuggets of information that will help my writing. The most important aspect of this course has been the realization that critquing great flashes is one of the great teachers of the art of writing flash. At first I found the volume of information a little intimidating but Pam's careful administration made the whole experience a joy. She demonstrates infinite patience. ----- Kevin J. Macky: I enjoyed Pam's Flash Fiction immensely. A lot of information was delivered but Pam's method of organizing it made it possible to keep track of what was going on. The interactive nature of the course ensured a good back-and-forth between and among the students as well as with Pam, the instructor. The writing, and writing ideas, exercises made for a very stimulating four weeks. The course material on the use of myth and voice within stories was very useful. The tips or pointers on how to analyze and critique a story were also very helpful, both during the course and in my own reading after it. The care, effort and expertise that Pam brought to the critiques of the exercise stories really helped me improve the writing I am doing. All in all, a very well-spent four weeks and great value for money. ----- Donna Johnson: Pam Casto is an energetic and insightful instructor who executes her lesson plans with a firm and guiding hand, all the while inspiring creativity. A student can go anywhere with this course she chooses. It's amazing how well organized Pam is to impart so much information in four short weeks. The selected text instructs by example, and it is a pleasure to read. I would certainly be interested in another course. ----------------------------------------------------- NEW COURSE: FLASH FICTION II (JUNE 12, 2006) Pamelyn Casto will be teaching a Suddenly Flash Fiction Course Part II. This new online four-week course will begin on Monday, June 12, 2006. Those wanting to take this course are required to have taken her original Flash Fiction Course (above). The new course syllabus will be up at flashquake soon and you'll be able to read more information about the course at that time. If you'd like to be notified when the new course syllabus is viewable, write to [EMAIL PROTECTED] and you'll be put on a notify list. (Label your message Notify: Flash Fiction II.) =========================================== FEATURED FLASH LITERATURE MARKET (Article by John Young [EMAIL PROTECTED] ) MYTHOLOG: Literature of Mythic Proportions Asher Black, Editor I recently spoke with Asher Black, editor of Mytholog ezine. He is a pleasure to work with and deserves your best mythic writing. Hmm. Mythic writing? Read on. More than just Minotaurs and Daedalus await you. RUNDOWN: MYTHOLOG is a quarterly electronic magazine that publishes material with mythic development, regardless of genre or medium. We don't necessarily mean Fantasy or retold fairy tales. Westerns, Detective, or General Fiction, Sci-Fi, Comic-related material, or Interstitial Literature may convey a sense of universal experience or local tradition. Likewise, whether it's flash, short or graphic fiction, poetry. all of these media can convey mythic development. The staff accords equal professional dignity to electronically published and print work. This translates into several protocols, from integrity of publication rights to peer-judged submissions and superb production values. We are willing to break some traditional rules for evaluating and publishing literature. For instance, we buy stories not words, paying accordingly. Likewise, new or widely-published author, famous or obscure, staff member or not, we don't judge submissions on author credits, frequency of appearance, or other ad hominem standards. ESSENTIALS: We require a header indicating acceptance of our guidelines, and accept submissions only by e-mail. Since we publish quarterly, writers are assured a response within the quarter, but we're usually looking at 30-60 days, unless there is a lot of debate over the piece among the Submissions Board. We often respond with extensive feedback, but only if the author requests it. We're able to do this, because we put extensive thought into each submission. We don't accept simultaneous submissions or work that has ever appeared in public format, either in print or on any web site. The readership is diverse; some people get what we're doing in terms of mythic development, and some just like a good story in a professional format. We're looking for stories that are part of the one story, the oldest story, the continual multi-part historical drama of human existence. Two brothers struggle for their father's approval; lovers are held apart by social convention; a great leader cannot see that those closest to her are her betrayers. These are chapters in the great story, which might be a Western, Sci-Fi, or suburban yuppie Romance. They might have elves or aliens or talking animals, or they might be about Francis Bacon or about your boss. What they have in common is that individuals have retold the great story and added something to it that makes it contemporary - makes it comprehensible to modern men. We are making a chronicle of that form of mythmaking. PET PEEVE: The number one speed bump, common to most publications, is submissions that don't follow the guidelines. After that, it's sifting through writing that isn't self-edited before submission. People will read a synopsis of our magazine in a list and send a rough draft, or something we can't use (previously published, Word document attachment, novella or random visual art without a query, etc.). I suppose, after that, it's stories with no ending; the author starts out with an honest idea, and then chumps out with a cheap ending that betrays the reader. The ability to finish with the same vision that began the work is a hallmark of publishable writing. SLUSH-INATOR: A satisfying ending is always a good sign. A lack of filler - some sign that the author has edited his own work with integrity - will keep us reading. Something unique to say, an original idea or an unoriginal idea originally presented, real plot development - as much as possible in a short medium - instead of cheap tricks indicates really healthy writing. Above all, I suppose, hit us with something unexpected. We do like elves and retold fairy tales, and such, and we frequently publish these, but hit us with a religious Western, or Detective Science Fiction, or make us laugh, or illustrate your own already-good work, or interest us with a new medium (we've yet to receive much-requested graphic short fiction that we can use), and you're going to get noticed. Your submission response will either be relatively quick (when the Submissions Board gives four thumbs up) or else last minute (when we've heartily debated something that challenges us). Final answer? The basics: plot, character, dialogue (if the piece has dialogue) - do those right, and who wouldn't publish it? NITTY GRITTY: We acquire First World/Electronic Publications Rights. Anything appearing in a public forum before (print or on a web site) is already published. Reprints, electronic or print, must credit MYTHOLOG. In exchange for this, your work is handled professionally, presented with high production values, and you're paid: Short Fiction (500 - 7500 words) or Graphic Fiction: $5 Flash Fiction (generally 500 words or less) $3 Poetry, Essay, Review $1 Illustration, Cover Art, Photography $1 SPECIAL MESSAGE from the editor: MYTHOLOG provides a great deal of simultaneous value for reader, author, and staff. We often have pieces illustrated (with links to artist galleries), frequently feature supporting background or quotations, blurb everything, provide verification of publishing and staff credit, and the list goes on. The magazine 'feels' like a magazine, not just web site. It's an interactive atmosphere with a sense of continuity, like an ongoing story. Subscribers (subscribing is free) get notifications when their next issue is ready, and special content is in the works. In all, you get the same feel from our magazine as from an annual subscription or a pricey glossy from the local big box store. -- End-- (Review by John Young. If you'd like to see a particular paying market for flash literature featured, contact John Young at [EMAIL PROTECTED] with your suggestion.) ============================================ FLASH LITERATURE MARKETS (Paying) For flash literature markets paying * an honorarium or * a subscription * and/ or a contributor's copy. Market/ Contest mentions in the newsletter are not necessarily endorsements. Always check out all details for yourself. (If you know of or are the the editor of a paying publication (honorarium, subscription, and/ or contributor's copy) that considers flash literature submissions, do contact me at [EMAIL PROTECTED] and I'll list the publication.) ----- QUICK FICTION Web site: http://quickfiction.org/issues.php Guidelines: http://quickfiction.org/submit.php Print publication, printed biannually (fall and spring). Seeks prose poems under 500 words. Pays copies. ----- BLACK OCTOBER http://www.blackoctobermagazine.com/guidelines.cfm Wants gothic and psychological horror. Accepts stories from 100 to 4000 words long. Pay starts at $.05 per word. ----- PEDESTAL MAGAZINE Web Site: http://www.thepedestalmagazine.com/ Guidelines: http://www.thepedestalmagazine.com/submit1.asp Takes flash fiction up to 1000 words. Pays five cents per word. ============================================== FLASH LITERATURE CONTESTS FOOD WRITING's Food and Fiction Writing Contest www.food-writing.com Food Writing, a bi-weekly ezine, is sponsoring a short story contest. There is no fee to enter your short story with food as an ingredient, but you must be a subscriber to Food Writing (it's free; subscribe now at www.food-writing.com). Rules: 500 words maximum. Food must be included in the short story. It can be the main character or in the background but food is essential! Three winners will be awarded $50 each plus publication in Food Writing ezine and on the Food Writing website. Winners will be chosen by three judges including the publisher of Food Writing. Deadline: April 21, midnight. Winners Announced in the May 2 issue of Food Writing. Other: No fee to enter but must be a subscriber of Food Writing, a free online newsletter. 500 maximum word count. Email entry to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] . ----- >From Last Month's Newsletter (but the deadlines are still valid) BYLINES MAGAZINE (Contest) http://www.bylinemag.com/contests.asp >From the web site: CHARACTER SKETCH-Deadline March 25, 2006. Practice creating believable characters in 500 words or fewer. Show your character in a scene, doing something typical of him. Entry fee $4. Prizes: $40, $25, $15. FLASH FICTION-Deadline April 5, 2006. A quick fiction which feels complete in less than a thousand words. These stories often depend on atmosphere, technique, and a sense of immediacy. Entry fee $5. Prizes: $50, $30, $20. ----- MID-AMERICAN REVIEW: The 2006 Fineline Competition Prose Poems and Short Shorts & Everything In Between http://www.bgsu.edu/studentlife/organizations/midamericanreview/index2.html Final Judge: Denise Duhamel Postmark deadline: June 1, 2006.There is a 500-word limit for each poem or short. A $5 entry fee (check or money order, made out to Mid-American Review) is required for each prose poem/short, or $10 for each set of three. All $10-and-over submissions will receive Mid-American Review v. XXVII, no. 1, where the winners will be published. ============================================ FLASH LITERATURE PUBLISHING NEWS NOTE: If I didn't include your news it's likely due to * not sending it to me at my private address * your news not being appropriate for this newsletter (see above for what news we accept) * the link/ URL wasn't included or was sent incorrectly (with typos). * not labeling it Flash News (so I can sort it from spam) * my accidentally overlooking it. Remember that contributors of news need to send the full and *correct* info (including the correct URLs) before it can be published in the newsletter. NOTE: See how to send news at end of newsletter (or you can model what you send on the news below). Send your flash literature publishing news today (or before the end of each month). ----- Correction from last month's newsletter. The collaboration information below was left out. Below is the corrected news item: MARGE SIMON's flash fiction, "Lilith, Revisited," which was written in collaboration with BRUCE BOSTON, can be viewed at The Pedestal Magazine www.thepedestalmagazine.com http://www.thepedestalmagazine.com/Secure/Content/cb.asp?cbid=4801 MARGE SIMON's story, "Remembering the River Woman," written in collaboration with BRUCE BOSTON, can be viewed at http://electricSpec:http://www.electricspec.com/Boston.html URL of zine: www.electricspec.com ----- NOMA Gallery in Middletown, CT welcomes author JESSICA TREAT JESSICA TREAT will be reading new works on Friday, March 3, 6:30 pm. There will be an open forum for questions and answers. Then on Saturday, March 4, 9:00am to noon, Treat will conduct a flash fiction workshop. Class size is limited and pre-registration is required. Fee: $35.00. See website info: www.nomagallery.org Jessica Treat's collection of short-short stories, A Robber in the House (Coffee House Press) is in its second printing. She is also the author of Not a Chance, stories and a novella (FC2, 2000), and the recipient of an Artist Fellowship Award in Fiction from the CT Commission on the Arts. Her work has appeared in Ms., Epoch, Double Room, Quarterly West, Web del Sol, Terra Incognita, 3rd Bed, and others. She is Associate Professor of English at Northwestern CT Community College and coordinator of the Mad River Literary Festival, now in its 10th year. ----- ANNA McDOUGALL's flash fiction, "Preventative Measures," is published in the Spring Issue of flashquake www.flashquake.org ANNA McDOUGALL's flash fiction, Controlling Jane, will be published in the winter/spring issue of The Landing www.thelandingmag.blogspot.com (expected in the March issue). ANNA McDOUGALL's creative nonfiction flash, "Pieces of Paradise," is published in the March issue of Writer's Post Journal. ANNA McDOUGALL's creative nonfiction flash, "Beyond Bad Luck," is published in the March issue of Bread 'n Molasses www.breadnmolasses.com ----- SAMANTHA HOFFMAN's story, Aging Gracefully, has been accepted by FiftySomething Magazine SAMANTHA HOFFMAN's story, Harder, has been accepted for publication by The Corner in London. ----- JERRY SCHATZ's microplay, "Waiter, There's a Glass Eye in My Soup...." is in this week's edition, Feb. 26 - Mar. 4, of QUICTIONonline http://www.quictiononline.net/ ----- DIANA WOODS's story, Last Chance for Romance, will be published in the Spring Issue of A Flasher's Dozen http://flashers-dozen.blogspot.com. ----- JONETTE STABBERT'S flash story, Prey, will be featured in the March issue of Crime and Suspense http://www.crimeandsuspense.com JONETTE STABBERT's micro-fiction story, "Disappearing Act", previously published by Flashshot, will be included in the Flashshot: YEAR TWO anthology http://flashshot.tripod.com/ ----- BOB BRILL's story, Old Man on a Tricycle, appears in the Spring issue of Flashquake http://www.flashquake.org ============================================== ARTICLES & INTERVIEWS ON FLASH FICTION WRITING INTERVIEW with MICHAEL ARNZEN On Writing Flash Fiction --Interview by Jerry Schatz (Originally published in Flash Fiction Flash Newsletter #25, March 2003) http://www.gorelets.com/gorelets/Schatz_ArnzenIV.htm INTERVIEW with RICHARD CURREY on Writing Flash Fiction --Interview by Pamelyn Casto (Originally published in Flash Fiction Flash #17, July 2002) http://www.richardcurrey.net/pages/interviews.html PAMELYN CASTO's online article, "Flash Fiction: The Short-Short to Ultra-Short Story," can be read in Net Author's E2K http://netauthor.org/e2k/jan2002/features.html1 or at Riding the Meridian http://www.heelstone.com/meridian/meansarticle1.html To learn more about writing flash fiction, the articles below were co-written by Pamelyn Casto and Geoff Fuller for various Writer's Digest publications (Writer's Digest, Start Writing Now!, and Writer's Digest Yearbook). Pamelyn Casto and Geoff Fuller. "How To Write Short-Short Stories." Writers' Digest. Feb. 2001 issue Pamelyn Casto and Geoff Fuller. "Put The Flash Into Fiction." Guide To Writing Fiction Today (A Writer's Digest Yearbook Publication). Winter 2002 Pamelyn Casto and Geoff Fuller. "Simple Complexity." Start Writing Now! Your Introduction to the Writing Life (A Writer's Digest Publication). Jan. 2002 Pamelyn Casto and Geoff Fuller. "4 Simple Steps to Short Fiction That Shines." Writer's Digest. October 2002 issue Pamelyn Casto and Geoff Fuller. "Give Your Tales a Twist." (a feature-length article on writing twist endings). Writer's Digest Yearbook: Guide To Writing Fiction Today, December 2002 issue. ========================================== ONLINE FLASH WORKSHOPS INFO (FREE WORKSHOPS) ----- FLASH FICTION CRITIQUE WORKSHOP (Free) FlashFiction-W The Flash Fiction Online Writing Workshop & Critique Group http://home.att.net/~p.casto Admin: Pam Casto [EMAIL PROTECTED] Participation required (no browsing or lurking), members must be 18 or over, use real names, and must not use the list for advertising, spamming, solicitation, or flaming. Once your application is received/ approved you'll get the workshop guidelines or be added to our waiting list. This is a very active workshop often with over 50 messages per day (all following the guidelines, however). TO JOIN: To join FLASH FICTION Critique Workshop's waiting list send a blank subject header message to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] In the message section write: Subscribe FlashFiction-W Your First/ Last Name You'll be notified as soon as there's an opening. New members are added as present members leave. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- FLASH MEMOIRS WORKSHOP (online, free) http://groups.yahoo.com/group/FlashMemoirs For nonfiction short-shorts (nonfiction work 1,000 words or less), including short memoirs, creative nonfiction, essays, slice-of-life vignettes, and haibun. Participation required. TO JOIN: send a blank email message to [EMAIL PROTECTED] You will then receive workshop guidelines. Administrator: Debi Orton -------------------------------------------------------------- FLASHXer-- The Flash Fiction Online Exercise List (free) http://groups.yahoo.com/group/FlashXer Participation is required (no lurking or browsing) and all members use their real names. TO JOIN send a blank email message to [EMAIL PROTECTED] Administrator: Irv Pliskin ================================================ HOW TO CHANGE YOUR NEWSLETTER SUBSCRIPTION ADDRESS Please Read! 1. From your old email address, send a blank email message to [EMAIL PROTECTED] (that will stop the newsletter from coming to that address). 2. From your new email address, send a blank email message to [EMAIL PROTECTED] (that will ensure that the newsletter will arrive at your new address). All you need, in either case, is the "to" address. If you're already subscribed and you don't receive the newsletter as usual, go to http://groups.yahoo.com/group/FlashFictionFlash to check to see if you're bouncing (and you can reactivate yourself) or check to see if you're no longer a subscriber (and if so follow the above instructions on subscribing again). ================================================ HOW TO SEND YOUR NEWS: To publish your flash literature news I need *all* the info below. And you must send your news yourself. (See format samples in newsletter, too.) Before sending to me, check to make sure your URL/ link is typed correctly. If I receive a URL that won't connect I can't publish your news. All publishing news must have a URL or link to the publication (unless it's a print publication with no 'net site). This newsletter is for publishing news for work 1,500 words or fewer (including flash fiction, sudden fiction, fast fiction, short-short creative nonfiction, short-short memoirs, haibun, prose poetry, flash plays). If you have appropriate publishing news send me a brief note at [EMAIL PROTECTED] and always follow the directions below (or model your note on those in the Flash Literature Publishing News segment of the newsletter). 1. Label message: Flash News 2. Include your full name (if you publish under a pen name be sure to tell me which name to use in the newsletter). 3. Include your email address (don't leave this out) 4. Include your flash literature title(s) 5. Tell me where/ when your work was published (include URL ALWAYS-- and send full URL (e.g., http://www.journalname.com ) (Unless it's a print publication with no 'net site.) Print publications often don't have URLs or 'net sites and if they don't, I can publish your news without them. But print publications are the only exceptions. All others need the full and correct (and double-checked) URL/ Link. No attachments. Send your news via regular plain text email. Please send in above format or I can't publish your news. -- END. ------------------------------------------------------------ ________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________ To subscribe send an email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] To unsubscribe send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Yahoo! 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