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WRITING KID
Volume 10, Issue 10           -       May 16, 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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HURRY UP AND WAIT

By C. Hope Clark

You submit an article to a contest or magazine. Two weeks
later you still haven't heard anything. You go back and
check the guidelines to see how much longer you have to
wait. The time passes in slow motion and you're going crazy.

Sometimes we blame the people on the other end. They are
incompetent or don't care. Maybe they are unorganized or
too rude to inform people whether they are accepted or not.
It's not their fault that time drags for you. They are
probably running wide out trying to get everything done
for their competition or publication - the opposite of
what is happening for you.

The best way to deal with waiting is to write. Did you
know that by the time you read an author's new book that
she has already had another approved and writes on yet
a third? Authors write when they wait.

Freelance writers do it as well. They submit a story
idea to one magazine after another, often having two
dozen queries outstanding. Since they write for a living,
they cannot afford to submit one piece and wait for it
before writing another. So they write piece after piece,
and pitch editor after editor.

The lesson here is to write and look forward instead of
waiting to see what might happen to what you've done
in the past. I try to keep thirteen in play. That means
that I have at least 13 stories or queries or contest
entries submitted. Every time I'm rejected or approved,
and my number drops below 13, I stop and find another
story to submit somewhere. I spend so much time trying
to keep a certain number submitted that a contract or
acceptance often surprises me. And boy is that surprise
sweet!

So don't wait for a reply. Just keep writing and seeking
places for your work. You'll be surprised at how being
proactive and looking ahead makes the agony of waiting
disappear.

 
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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.
CHIXLITTLE AND CHIXLIT
http://chixlittle.com/index.html
---
Welcome to the world of chixLITtle, a print magazine and online
community created by girls and made for girls 7-12.

You must be female to be published. If you are age 7 to 12,
submit to chixLITtle; if you are 13 to 17, send to chixLIT.
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.

ALSO

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@chixlittle.com; put "EDITOR" in the subject line.
Application packets are sent on a rolling basis as positions
become available.

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2.
CHICKEN SOUP FOR PRETEENS
http://www.chickensoup.com
---
The preteen years - those years from nine to twelve can be rough
from both a physical and emotional perspective. You are not a kid
anymore but you are not yet a teen. There are so many issues to
deal with and sometimes it feels like you are all alone. You are not.
Stories in this book, almost all written by preteens, will prove
that to you. Deadline December 31, 2010. Stories and poems should
be non-fiction, ranging in length between 300-1,200 words.

CHICKEN SOUP FOR TEENS
http://www.chickensoup.com/form.asp?cid=possible_books
---
A completely new book on one of our most requested topics - TEENS.
The stories in this book, written almost entirely by teens, will be
stories that you will want to read again and again. They will serve
as your guide on topics such as the daily pressures of life, love,
school, friendships, parents and much more. We are looking for
stories that will encourage you, inspire you, make you laugh, make
you cry and show you that, as tough as things can get, you are not
alone. The deadline date for story submissions is December 31, 2010.
Stories and poems should be non-fiction, ranging in length between
300-1,200 words.

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3.
UNIVERSITY LINK MAGAZINE
http://www.ulmagazine.com/writers.html
---
You must be a currently enrolled college student. We pay for
each piece that makes it to print. All published writers receive
by-lines. Pay is commensurate with experience. The better you
write, the more you will make. We are looking for writers to
report on the following topics:

Sports
Health & Fitness
Tech & Gadgets
Music & CD Reviews
Film & DVD Reviews
Webisodes Reviews
General Interest
Sex & Relationships
Politics
Fashion
Bars & Clubs
The Environment
Travel

Send us one sample article (500 words or less) geared for our
format, along with proof of your enrollment status to
editor@ulmagazine.com and we'll get back to you.

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4.
LIGONIER VALLEY WRITERS' CONFERENCE SCHOLARSHIPS
http://lvwonline.org/
---
The 23rd Ligonier Valley Writers' Conference will take place at
the Ligonier Camp and Conference Center on Saturday, July 17.
Contact Judith Gallagher at jgallagher@LHTOT.com or (724) 593-7294.

Thanks to the generosity of an anonymous donor, four scholarships
are available for adult writers. The only criteria for the Ligonier
Valley Writers' Conference Scholarships are writing talent and
financial need. Regarding need, let your conscience be your guide.
We ask that you submit a sample of your writing. The deadline is
June 30. Writers of all ages and backgrounds are welcome to apply.
LVW also invites students who will be high school seniors in the
fall or who are graduating this year to apply for the Tina Thoburn
Memorial Scholarship. Ligonier Valley Writers is a non-profit
writers group in Southwestern Pennsylvania which encourages
interest in the written word and the continued perfecting of the
art and craft of writing.
 
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5.
BARBARA MANDIGO KELLY PEACE POETRY AWARDS
http://www.wagingpeace.org
---
$15 for up to three poems for Adult entries.
$5 for up to three poems for Youth (13-18) entries.
NO ENTRY FEE FOR 12 and UNDER

The Barbara Mandigo Kelly Peace Poetry Awards are an annual
series of awards to encourage poets to explore and illuminate
positive visions of peace and the human spirit. The Poetry
Awards include three age categories: Adult, Youth 13-18, and
Youth 12 & Under. The deadline for submissions is July 1, 2010.
The contest is open to people worldwide. Poems must be original,
unpublished and in English. Send 2 copies of up to 3 typed
unpublished poems. Maximum of 30 lines per poem.

Awards:
Adults - $1,000
Youth (13 to 18) - $200
Youth (12 and under) - $200

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6.
TRINITY GUILDHALL INTERNATIONAL PLAYWRITING COMPETITION
http://www.trinitycollege.co.uk/site/?id=1996
---
£20 ENTRY FEE (See website for guidance on fees from outside UK).
Designed to generate new drama repertoire for schools, colleges
and children/ young people's theatre companies and organisations. 
The competition is open to entrants from anywhere in the world.
Writers are asked to submit a one-act play intended for young
audiences. There are two categories: for audiences of 11 and under,
and for 12-16 year-olds. Writers can be of any age. Plays must
be written in English. Deadline July 1, 2010. The winning entry
in each category will receive:

A cash prize of £1,000.
Publication by Trinity Guildhall in a collection of winning plays.
A gala performance of the play in a London theatre.
Travel and accommodation costs to attend this event.

Up to four additional awards of "Highly Commended" entries will
receive a cash prize of £500. An award will also be made for
The Most Promising Playwright under the age of 12 and The Most
Promising Playwright under the age of 16.

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7.
SEFTON WRITING COMPETITION
http://www.seftonarts.co.uk/uploads/file/entry%20form.pdf
---
ENTRY FEE £2 FOR ADULTS / NO ENTRY FEE FOR YOUNG PEOPLE CATEGORY.

Deadline October 22, 1020. The theme is "IF". Poetry first
prize £250. Four runners up of £50 each. Other writing pays
first prize £250. Four runners up of £50 each. Writing by young
people pays first prize of £50 and five runners up of £10 each.
Poems limited to 40 lines. Other writing is considered short
texts, stories, essays, dialogues, mini-dramas, monologues,
none of which can exceed 500 words. Age limit for young people
category is 14. Young people's work must be illustrated as well.
Open to amateur and professional from throughout the UK.

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8.
USBORNE YOUNG WRITERS AWARD
http://www.usborne.com/youngwritersaward/
---
Five authors have started stories and want your help finishing
them. The five winning entries will each win:

Your winning story published as an iphone App. A trip to Usborne
in London to meet all 5 authors and find out how a book is made.
£100 worth of FREE Usborne books. Meet the author who started
your story at an event in your school. A year's FREE subscription
to Young Writer magazine. A year's FREE subscription to
readingzone.com. The competition is open to children resident
in the UK and who are aged 14 or under on the closing date of
the competition (Wednesday 22nd October 2010).

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9.
THE YOUNG WRITERS SOCIETY
http://www.youngwriterssociety.com/
---
We are an online writing community for young writers, with our
average age around 18. This is a place where young writers can
share their creative works and help each other improve. Feel free
to poke around as a guest, and we hope you'll take the time to
join our community.

YWS is an online community where young writers can share their
literary works with one another. Others then read the work and
provide constructive criticism on the poem or story; in effect
a very large writing workshop managed by one's own peers. In
this way, members drastically improve upon their ability to
write (formally and creatively) in a matter of months. And
because members exhibit their work for an audience rather than
just a teacher or parent, not only are they able to quickly
progress in their writing skills, but they also found enjoyment
in doing so.
 
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10.
CAPITOL CITY YOUNG WRITERS CONFERENCE
http://www.capitolcityyoungwriters.org
---
July 17, 2010,  9:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
SAN DOMENICO SCHOOL, 1500 Butterfield Road, San Anselmo, CA
Cost:  $100, includes lunch and a book
KEYNOTE SPEAKERS:  James Redford and Peter S. Beagle
SPECIAL GUEST: Jane Friedman, Writer's Digest

CAPITOL CITY SUMMER WORKSHOP SERIES
http://www.capitolcityyoungwriters.org
---
August 2-5, 2010, 8:00 a.m. - Noon
Sacramento, CA (location to be determined)
Cost:  $100
SPECIAL GUEST: Brenda Novak, Author
Limited to 25 students. Sign up early to reserve your place.
Five spaces have already been reserved and paid for. 
 
Please visit the website for additional information such as
speaker bio's and registration details. For each of the above
events, there are a limited number of scholarships available to
students with limited financial means. If you would like to
sponsor a student scholarship, or sponsor any portion of the
event, please contact Verna Dreisbach at
verna@capitolcityyoungwriters.org.

 
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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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