WRITING KID
 Volume 11, Issue 17 - August 19, 2011
 
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 The zine for future writers today.
 
 Publisher/Editor: C. Hope Clark
 Mailto: Hope@FundsforWriters.com
 
 Published biweekly and free for the asking. Spread it around.
 
 TELL YOUR TEACHERS ABOUT WRITING KID!
 
 Find this newsletter online at
 www.fundsforwriters.com/writingkid.htm
 
 Read the archived editions at:
 http://www.aweber.com/z/article/?writingkid 
 
 
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 WRITING NOTES
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 Music As Muse
 
 By Ruth Schiffmann
 
 Whether you're a painter, a poet, or a writer, a routine
 day is filled with lessons that can help you improve at
 your craft. Everyday things can be a great source of
 inspiration. I've learned to listen to my muse the same
 way I listen to my ipod: with the music playing loud and
 clear in both ears.
 
 Create vivid imagery. Straight description has its place,
 but sometimes a better way is to use word pictures:
 relating one thing to another. Similes, metaphors,
 onomatopoeia, they stick in your head and create an
 impression. Katie Perry's "Firework" employs them all.
 The result is a hit song that encourages listeners to
 embrace their true selves, although she never says that,
 in so many words. Still, the message is as clear as a
 color snapshot caught with a telephoto lens. Go through
 your writing and try breaking up blocks of description
 with similes, metaphors, or onomatopoeia. You'll make a
 greater impact, and who knows, maybe you'll have a hit
 on your hands.
 
 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cTfZXh427B0
 
 Get emotional. To be meaningful, words must resonate
 with those on the receiving end. A good place to find
 common ground is emotion. When heartfelt emotion is
 splattered on the page, readers will empathize. The
 human condition is rich with inspiration beyond the
 often-tapped vein of love and heartache. "Spinning" by
 Jack's Mannequin is about being overwhelmed by the
 busyness of life. "Lately it's hard to disconnect, I
 just want something real." Who can't relate to that? The
 next time your story idea well runs dry, start with an
 emotion. Let it loose on the page and see where it takes you.
 
 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m0E8d5P_EUw
 
 Characterization. There are many ways to tell readers
 about your narrator. Please don't resort to describing
 them as they see themselves in the mirror. You're more
 original than that. Show them through their actions or
 through the eyes of another character. In Chris Young's
 song "Voices" we get a good idea of the kind of guy the
 narrator is from the voices of others in his life; the
 words of wisdom offered by various family members. When
 you want to give your audience insights about your
 narrator be clever, be inventive, be subtle, and by all
 means stay away from mirrors.
 
 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oLCfb54e_kM&ob=av2el
 
 Don't be content to let setting be merely a backdrop,
 like a one-dimensional prop in a school play. You want
 your readers to feel like they've been there. A strong
 sense of place can transport readers. Use imagery. Connect
 a place to a feeling or a memory. In Keane's "Somewhere
 Only We Know," they do just that with lines like "Sat by
 the river and it made me complete," and "I came across a
 fallen tree, I felt the branches of it looking at me."
 Create a setting so real that readers will want to keep
 coming back for return visits.
 
 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SGBLiGFaddo&feature=related
 
 Looking for inspiration? Put in your ear buds, curl up
 with a notebook and pencil and listen to the music.
 
 BIO
 Ruth Schiffmann is learning that her muse has many voices,
 and some of them sound just like her favorite music artists.
 To read more of her work, visit www.RuthSchiffmann.com.
 
 
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 Always keep writing.
 
 Hope
 
 PS
 We cover elementary to college teens. Each week we
 carry 12 or so opportunities for all ages. Read each
 market closely. Some cover a wide range and others
 address a very small age group. Always read the directions!
 
 We need guest articles. Have you considered writing a
 guest article for WritingKid? Are you a student, a parent,
 a teacher? All are eligible. Just make sure the topic
 touches upon writing and runs no more than 500-550 words.
 Those under 16 receive the book of their choice. Those
 over 16 receive $10-$20, depending on the quality of the
 piece, the amount of editing required and the obvious
 amount of research.
 
 See the details at www.fundsforwriters.com/submissions.htm 
 
 
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 1.
 INSIDE A DOG - READING CONTEST
 http://www.insideadog.com.au/blog/inkys-creative-reading-prize-2011
 ---
 Submit a creative response to a book you love. It can be in
 ANY FORMAT YOU CHOOSE, but here are some ideas to get you
 started:
 
 write a short story using the characters/setting
 make a video trailer or a machinima trailer
 write a poem or a song
 illustrate your favourite scene/character
 sew a costume
 make a model
 create an art piece
 
 WHAT'S IN IT FOR YOU? A Sony Reader Touch, complete with some
 awesome e-book titles to read! (if you win) And there will be
 MANY runners-up who will get free books, book vouchers, and
 any other fun stuff we can find. We'll be posting our
 favourites on the Dog site as they come in. Submit your entries
 to youthlit@slv.vic.gov.au (or email a link to the YouTube/
 flickr/whatever page where your entry lives) and place
 'Creative Reading Prize' in the subject line. Deadline
 October 14, 2011.
 
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 2.
 ILKLEY LITERATURE FESTIVAL CHILDREN AND YOUNG PEOPLE'S
 SHORT STORY AND POETRY COMPETITION
 http://www.ilkleyliteraturefestival.org.uk/competitions/childrens-and-young-peoples-competitions/
 ---
 Our Young People's Poetry and Short Story Competition is
 open to anyone in Years 7 - 13 inclusive. Schools and individual
 young people are welcome to enter and you can enter pieces you
 have written at home or at school. Short stories shouldn't be
 longer that 2,000 words and can be much shorter. Poems shouldn't
 be longer than 28 lines including the title and can be much shorter.
 Deadline September 26, 2011.
 
 Categories
 A) Years 7, 8, 9
 B) Years 10 and 11
 C) Years 12 and 13
 
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 3.
 TRACEY HURLEY MEMORIAL WRITING CONTEST
 http://mobilewritersguild.files.wordpress.com/2011/05/th-writing-contest-flier.jpg
 ---
 Entries must be 500-2,500 words. Fiction only. Open to students
 in Mobile and Baldwin Counties, Alabama. Two categories: 6-8
 grade and 9-12 grade. Prizes in each category: First $25, second
 $15, third $10. Also publication and other prizes. Deadline
 November 18, 2011.
 
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 4.
 LITERARY AGENCY INTERNS NEEDED IN NEW YORK
 http://bookjobs.com/viewinternship.php?prmCoID=429
 ---
 FinePrint Literary Management is a full service literary
 agency that handles children's to adult fiction and nonfiction.
 We are looking to hire 4-5 interns. Interns will work closely
 with agents day-to-day and learn about the agenting and
 publishing process. Our internship program holds development
 workshops with publishing professionals, and interns may have
 the opportunity to attend industry-related events. Duties
 include reading queries, evaluating requested submissions,
 writing readers reports, and general agency/office tasks.
 20-25 hr/wk (3-4 days). Length of Internship: 4-5 months.
 At least two years of college completed, an avid interest in
 the publishing industry, and applicants need to be READY TO
 READ. We are looking for interns who read commercial fiction
 and nonfiction. Deadline August 22, 2011.
 
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 5.
 NEWPORT REVIEW FLASH FICTION CONTEST
 http://www.newportreview.org/?contests.html
 ---
 ENTRY FEE $8
 Deadline October 1, 2011. Limit 1,000 words. The contest
 is open to all writers ages 13 and above.
 
 First Prize: $250 and publication in Newport Review
 Second Prize: $150 and publication in Newport Review
 Third Prize: $100 and publication in Newport Review
 Honorable Mention: Publication in Newport Review
 
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 6.
 YVNV WRITE A DREAM SHORT PLAY COMPETITION
 http://www.yvnvplays.org/competition.htm
 ---
 In an effort to meet the needs of elementary, middle and
 high school students, Young Voices With New Visions, Inc.
 sponsors the YVNV "WRITE A DREAM!" Short Play Competition.
 YVNV is now accepting original short plays written by young
 people from around the world. Deadline January 15, 2012.
 Students in grades 3-12 are eligible. Selected playwrights
 will become members of the Young Playwrights Unit, and take
 part in an intensive workshop experience to develop their
 original scripts.
 
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 7.
 LIONS INTERNATIONAL ESSAY CONTEST
 http://www.lionsclubs.org/EN/member-center/online-community/official-contests/lions-international-essay-contest.php
 ---
 This contest was created to offer an opportunity to visually
 impaired young people to express their feelings of peace.
 The theme of the 2011-12 Lions International Essay Contest
 is "Children Know Peace." Students who are visually impaired
 and who are ages 11, 12 or 13 on November 15, are eligible
 to participate. One grand prize winner will receive an award
 and US 5,000. Deadline November 15, 2011.
 
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 8.
 JUST FOR KIDS
 http://just4kidsmagazine.com/writer_guidelines.html
 ---
 Just For Kids Magazine is a magazine designed for families
 with toddlers to teens. Just 4 Kids Magazine offers
 wholesome readings that teach about God's love, His Son
 Jesus Christ, the Holy Spirit and the Bible. Each issue
 is built around a specific theme with material that can
 be used by children in a variety of ways. Scripture
 stories, fiction, poetry, prayers, art, graphics,
 puzzles, and activities are included. Submitted articles
 should help children experience a Christian lifestyle.
 Seasonal material is appropriate. We welcome submissions
 from children. Just 4 Kids Magazine is interdenominational,
 and our readers include persons of many cultures and ethnic
 backgrounds.
 
 Stories and articles: Up to 10 cents/word
 Family Devotions: $10 and up
 Poetry: $5 and up
 Activities, games: $5 and up
 Art and Drawings: $5 and up
 
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 9.
 YALDAH MAGAZINE
 http://www.yaldahmagazine.com/hometemp.html
 ---
 Yaldah Magazine for Jewish girls seeks short fiction, poetry,
 true stories, and essays by girls ages 9-17. Writing should be
 of interest to Jewish girls ages 9-14. Topics might include:
 travel to Israel, overcoming an obstacle, a Bat Mitzvah project,
 community service, Jewish holiday experiences, friendship,
 grandparents, large families, and mitzvah observance. Artwork
 is also welcome. For submission guidelines and to learn more
 about Yaldah Magazine, visit the website.
 
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 10.
 FRODO'S NOTEBOOK
 http://frodosnotebook.com/submit.html
 ---
 We actively seek four types of submissions from teens.
 
 1. Poetry. We prefer poems of under 36 lines. Address to poetry
 editor Julia Shields and send in the body of an email to
 poetry@frodosnotebook.com.
 
 2. Creative/Personal Essays. Creative nonfiction, narrative-
 driving and reflective; not journalism or opinion. Address to
 editor in chief Daniel Klotz and send as a .doc (Word), .rtf,
 or .txt attachment to essays@frodosnotebook.com.
 
 3. Fiction. Almost exclusively short-short stories of under
 1,200 words. We mostly want "literary" fiction, but send us
 your fantasy or sci-fi if it's really good and not fan fic.
 Address to fiction editor Timothy Rezendes and send to
 fiction@frodosnotebook.com.
 
 4. Articles. Reviews of current books, movies, and art, as
 well as cultural critique, op-ed, and original journalistic
 reportage, as long as it has a literary/artistic subject or
 slant. Usually under 1,200 words. Send a writing sample or
 two to editor at large Ben Carr atarticles@frodosnotebook.com. 
 
 
 =====================================================
 Contact WritingKid (the Business Stuff)
 =====================================================
 
 
 FundsforWriters/Writing Kid make no warranty as to the
 accuracy of the contests, awards, etc. but we do try to
 check them out in advance to the best of our ability.
 
 C. Hope Clark
 Hope@FundsforWriters.com
 http://www.fundsforwriters.com
 
 Copyright 2000-2011, C. Hope Clark