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WRITING KID
Volume 10, Issue 14           -       July 11, 2010

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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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DOT YOUR I's AND CROSS YOUR T's

That used to be a common saying in school many years ago.
Teachers taught handwriting, reminding students to tend
to the details of writing before turning in an assignment.

The same goes for our writing today. Our computers
automatically dot our I's and cross our T's, but they
don't catch all the errors in our work. Here are a few
habits many writers make, particularly new writers. As
you evolve as a writer, keep a list of these common errors,
adding to the list as you find others. That way you can
go down your list and make corrections before you prematurely
hand in a piece.

1. Watch passive voice.
   The majority of the time, active voice beats passive voice.
   Repeated passive voice is the sign of a lazy writer, and
   usually means the writer is TELLING instead of SHOWING.

   HE RAN sounds better HE WAS RUNNING.
   SHE SANG beats SHE WAS SINGING.
   THEY BEAT THE DRUM surpasses THEY WERE BEATING THE DRUM.
   SHE KNEADED THE DOUGH excels over THE DOUGH WAS KNEADED.

2. Avoid ambiguous identifiers like THERE, THIS, and IT.
   These words weaken your writing, again, making the writer
   appear lacking in vocabulary.

3. You often can omit HAD. Use it sparingly, and each time
   you use it, try to read that same sentence without it.
   Most of the time it works.

4. Avoid adverbs, again using them sparingly. Find your
   adverbs (usually -LY words) and attempt to rewrite the
   sentence without it while still making the impression
   meant for the adverb.

   HE LOUDLY RANG THE BELL. Change to:
   HE POUNDED THE HAMMER ON THE BELL.

   SHE DANCED SUPERBLY. Change to:
   HER SLENDER LEGS MOVED WITH GRACE ACROSS THE STAGE.

You may already know what to add to this list. Good writers
maintain a list of mistakes to check before submitting work.
Then before long, you don't need most of that list, because
you learn by habit to dodge the faux pas that label you a
beginning writer.

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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. Send any submissions to
hope@fundsforwriters.com and label it SUBMISSION TO
WRITINGKID.

 
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1.
KID-CAST
http://www.kid-cast.com/
---
Kid-cast.com is a website for kids to publish their own
Podcasts so that other kids can listen. The idea is to make
sure that there's a kid-safe Podcast out there for our young
minds to hear. Contributions by kids makes it that much better,
by allowing kids to listen to their peers on subjects they
love!

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2.
THE HISTORY TREE
http://www.thehistorytreeonline.com/submissions.html
---
A history and genealogy magazine for children. Wants
articles of original work from adults knowledgeable about
history and genealogy, as well as articles from children.
Please send all submissions as an attachment to
submissions@thehistorytreeonline.com. See the website
for specifics on the types of articles they need.
  
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3.
DIVERSE VOICES QUARTERLY
http://www.diversevoicesquarterly.com/
---
Poetry: 3-5 poems, 40 lines maximum. Please send in one file,
separated by a page break between poems.

Short stories: 3,000 words maximum. You may submit up to two
short shorts that add up to 1,000 words.

Personal essays/creative nonfiction: 3,000 words maximum.
Send only one essay at a time.

Send your submission to: submissions@diversevoicesquarterly.com
Provides an outlet for AND by everyone: every age, race, gender,
sexual orientation, and religious background. This journal will,
in essence, celebrate and unify diversity.
 
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4.
CROW TOES QUARTERLY
http://www.crowtoesquarterly.com/
---
Crow Toes Quarterly is looking for playfully dark, intelligent,
descriptive literature written for children ages 9 and up. Stories
can range in length, but must not exceed 3000 words and please,
pretty please, send only your best, most carefully edited work.
Poetry is open to interpretation... Only submissions sent by
snail mail will be considered.
 
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5.
CLAREMONT REVIEW
http://www.theclaremontreview.ca/submit.htm
---
The editors of The Claremont Review are looking to publish first
class poetry, short stories and short plays by young adult writers
(aged 13-19) anywhere in the English speaking world. We publish
anything from traditional to post modern, but with a preference
for works that reveal something of the human condition.
 
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6.
CHIX LITTLE
http://www.chixlittle.com/
---
A literary ezine by and for girls 7-12.

chixLITtle seeks motivated, reliable girls for its editorial board.
Develop skills in journalism and communication as well as
teambuilding. Great experience for college and beyond. Query to
submit@chixlittle.com; put "EDITOR" in the subject line.

For regular submissions:
Choose one or two of your best pieces of writing--nothing too
long: poem, short short story, review, rant, love letter, song.
(300-word maximum, please). We require a signed permission form
from a parent or adult guardian before we can publish your work.

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7.
CHIX LIT
http://chixlit.com/
---
A literary ezine by and for girls 13-17.

chixLIT seeks motivated, reliable girls for its editorial board.
Develop skills in journalism and communication as well as
teambuilding. Great experience for college and beyond. Query to
submit@chixlit.com; put "EDITOR" in the subject line.

For regular submissions:
Choose one or two of your best pieces of writing--nothing too long:
poem, short short story, review, rant, love letter, song. (300-
word maximum, please). We require a signed permission form from a
parent or adult guardian before we can publish your work.

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8.
THE BLUE PENCIL ONLINE
http://www.thebluepencil.net/bp-submissions/tbpo-writers-guidelines/
---
The Blue Pencil Online publishes the work of writers ages 12 to 18
from around the world, with the intention of showcasing the best
and full scope of teen writing.   

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9.
ALL GENRES WRITING CONTEST (FOR AGES 12 and UP)
http://www.allgenreswritingcontest.com/
---
$25 ENTRY FEE
All Genres Writing Contest is an international writing contest,
but only accepts manuscript submissions in English. The first
prize is a three-day writing retreat at one of the top 10 luxury
resorts in the World, Dunton Hot Springs in Colorado. That
retreat includes airfare in the continental U.S. and all of
your meals during your stay. Every writer deserves to be pampered,
so we also include $250 if you want to get a massage or other
treatment while on site. Winners can choose to receive the cash
equivalent of each prize ($3,000 first prize, $1,000 Category
prizes, $75 runners-up). Deadline August 15, 2010.

Every entrant will receive the following perks:
$50 off a new website. The offer includes a domain name and
hosting if you do not already have one.
$15 off one homemade cookie order from My Catered Cookie.
$25 off one funding search for grants/scholarship if in school.
We are always looking for new sponsors. Each time we get a new
sponsor, we will send you the coupon.

One winner will be selected in each of the categories. Each
winner will receive a brand new computer. You will be able to
choose from either Apple or HP stores. The grand prize replaces
the category prize for the winner. Allgenreswritingcontest.com
Contest is open to any individual who is 12 years of age or older
at the date of entry and has access to the Internet. Junior entries
are not eligible for the Colorado Retreat prize.
 
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10.
INTERNATIONAL STUDENT PLAYSCRIPT COMPETITION
http://www.isplayscript.org/
---
NO ENTRY FEE
The free-to-enter ISPC is unique in several respects, being
genuinely worldwide, having no restrictions on form, content,
length, number of characters or locations and - above all -
giving every entry a helpful, encouraging but honest appraisal.
There is no limit to how many scripts any student can enter. The
annual closing date for entries is 30 November. The winner
receives a cash prize - currently £1,000 - and a highly rated,
rehearsed reading.

 
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Contact WritingKid (the Business Stuff)
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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 2000-2010, C. Hope Clark

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