This week we’ll discuss how to write the hard stuff without experiencing trauma while you write. Notes and guidelines Whenever a writing prompt is suggested, feel free to write whatever you want. You never have to stay with the prompt. Don’t stop and think, just follow your mind and write wherever it takes you. What’s on your mind is more important than the suggested prompt. Keep writing, don’t cross out, don’t erase, don’t stop and think . . . keep your pen moving. If you get stuck: Rewrite the prompt. Literally, write the prompt and see where that takes you. Or write, “What I really want to say.” And go from there. If you don’t like where you’re going, start over. Start over by rewriting the prompt. Or just start writing about something different. When we have an emotional situation, we tend to replay it in our minds. Perhaps we…
Category: Just Write
Did a single decision change your life?
Real Simple magazine Essay Contest: Did a single decision change your life? Would your world now be completely different—even unthinkable—if, at some point in the past, you hadn’t made a seemingly random choice? Maybe you stayed a few extra minutes at a party—and met your soul mate. Maybe you decided to have lunch with a friend or quit a job or just took the long way home. If you can’t imagine the rest of your life without what happened next, write it down and share it with us. Enter Real Simple’s eighth annual Life Lessons Essay Contest and you could have your essay published in Real Simple magazine and receive a prize of $3,000. Deadline: September 21, 2015 Photo by Jim C. March
Write from that place where the real you exists.
“Write from your heart. You’ll hear that a lot, but what it means is to write from what moves you, what frightens you, what makes you deeply sad, what makes you ecstatic. Remember to write from that place where the real you exists.” John Kelly, Writer Magazine, July 2015 Photo by Jeff Cullen. Click here to see Jeff’s portfolio on fotolia.
Cimarron Review looks for strong writing and cover art
Cimarron Review is “interested in any strong writing of a literary variety . . . especially partial to fiction in the modern realist tradition and poetry that engages the reader through a distinctive voice—be it lyric, narrative, etc Cimarron Review is now accepting both electronic and postal submissions. Please read these guidelines before submitting. The link to the online system appears at the end of these guidelines. Cimarron Review accepts submissions year-round in poetry, fiction, and art. Artists and photographers interested in having their work appear on an upcoming cover of the Cimarron Review should query by E-mail at cimarronreview@okstate.edu. If our editors are interested, we’ll reply and request to see more work. Marlene’s Musings: I don’t know what “modern realist tradition” means. Do you? If yes, post the answer here. . . educate us!
Have you been wanting to write?
Have you been wanting to write? Perhaps this is the summer for your writing. How about this. . . let’s all (me, too) take the month of July to write 15-20 minutes a day. If you have more time, write longer. But let’s commit to a minimum of 15-20 minutes every day. What to write about? Whatever is on your mind. Need some ideas . . . some prompts to get started? Click on Prompts . . . Choose a prompt. Set your timer and Just Write! Ready? Set? Let’s go. Photo by Kent Sorensen
The Blotter wants yer pieces. Now!
The Blotter wants yer pieces. Now! Send “short prose (stories and nonacademic essays), Poetry, Photojournalism/-essay, Journalism and monthly columns that go beyond or beneath the pabulum you’re expected to enjoy, Comix, and Fine art that would reproduce well on newsprint. We’d like you to try to send stuff that is somehow resonant with what we have already published, but frankly, sometimes you know better than we do what we want. We do endeavor to be apolitical — bear that in mind.” Marlene’s Musings; It sounds like The Blotter is ready and waiting for YOUR writing. If you have something ready to go . . . send now. If you don’t . . . whatcha waitin’ for? I’ll be posting literary journals as places to submit for the next few posts. So get your work lined up and get ready to submit.
Just Write Magic Carpet Ride
For inspiration to Just Write: Click on a topic below and you will arrive at a (hopefully) inspirational post. Just like being on a magic carpet ride! The following are from the 2013 Just Write Posts Gorgeous Writing by Melanie Thorne Fabulous Character Sketch, Elizabeth Berg Natalie Goldberg talks about writing practice Twelve Steps to Successful Writing by Marlene Cullen Amy Zhang and Your Scraps of Writing How to get in the mood to write by Marlene Cullen Don’t think. Don’t Plan. Just Write. Marlene Cullen Natalie Goldberg’s Six Rules of Writing Get Started. How to use prompts. Marlene Cullen Pass On The Dream And Tell Its Truth – Natalie Goldberg Elizabeth Berg demystifies how to describe characters Debbie Macomber had so many rejections . . . Writing about place, August Kleinzahler Three top Pointers About Writing Personal Essay by Kelly Caldwell One way to learn how to write, get…
The Blue Moon Literary & Art Review is ready for you
The Blue Moon Literary & Art Review publishes poetry and fiction of all genres, including literary fiction and murder mystery. They are especially interested in short stories and excerpts from novels in progress. Click Submission Guidelines for complete instructions. Something Unique with Blue Moon: Ever wonder why your piece wasn’t selected? Blue Moon offers a Critique Service: If (and only if) you would like a written critique of your work, include a $10.00 Critique Fee with your mailed submission. What a deal!
Every day I fail.
“I’m a novelist. Every day I fail. My drafts — when I complete them, which is not often —are inevitably shadows of what I had hoped they would be.” — Anthony Doerr Sound familiar? Writers often experience failure. . . whether it’s receiving rejection notices or failing to complete writing projects. But . . . to not try, really, is to fail. So, if you have unfinished short stories, plays, poems, manuscripts. . . dig them out, blow off the dust and see if you can get back into this project. If not. . . move on to a new piece of writing. Anthony Doerr was awarded the 2015 Pulitzer Prize for fiction. And yet, he has doubts about his writing, just like the rest of us. “I can’t ever fully execute the glorious and inarticulable dreams in my head. Even on my best days, I just manage to cobble…
Why should you submit to literary journals?
Why should you submit to literary journals? June 2015 issue of The Writer magazine answers: “Even though many don’t offer payment, literary journals are a great way to get your writing’s foot in the editor’s door. Some writers may overlook smaller publications to concentrate on bigger projects, but doing so could be a mistake. Whether you’re looking to apply to an MFA program or want to build your publishing portfolio, publication in a literary magazine or journal can be a useful first step toward your dream career.” For the next few Saturdays, I’ll post information about literary journals as places you can submit your writing. I welcome your comments and suggestions. ~Marlene