National Novel Writing Month (NaNo)

It is November and it is that time again to for the annual NaNo Write!

Permission to forward from Latinadad
Helping Latino writers get published,
Marcela Landres
marcelalandres@yahoo.com
http://www.marcelalandres.com/

Saludos
The very idea behind NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month)—namely,
writing an entire novel in 30 days—may seem wacky. But wackiness is
exactly what some writers need to finally get their novels out of their
heads and onto paper. Not convinced? Consider this: Kathy Cano Murillo
wrote the first draft of her novel "Love Shine" as a NaNoWriMo participant
and landed a two book deal with Grand Central Publishing. (You might
recall I interviewed Kathy in the February 2006 issue of Latinidad.) If
you're tired of talking about your novel and want to actually write it,
read on.


Recommendation
Don't be fooled by the facetious title—"No Plot? No Problem!: A Low-Stress,
High-Velocity Guide to Writing a Novel in 30 Days" is a seriously smart
writing guide. Author Chris Baty, founder of National Novel Writing Month,
stuffs the slim volume with solid advice, notably his concept of "exuberant
imperfection." For the skeptics out there who think it isn't possible to write
a good novel in a month—you're right. The objective of NaNoWriMo isn't to
create a great novel or even a decent one but to simply push out the first
draft. Lani Diane Rich, a NaNoWriMo participant who, like Kathy Cano
Murillo, got a two book deal with a major publisher, says it best: "Crap you
can edit. A blank page will never be anything but."

Baty includes a helpful chart to keep track of your daily word count,
pointers on how to manage friends, family, and work during a month of
unapologetic neglect, and tried and true tips such as "stockpile chocolate
in all its mouth-watering forms." "No Plot? No Problem!" is intended to
accompany those who plunge headfirst into NaNoWriMo which starts
November 1st. If the idea appeals but this November is too soon for you,
use the book for support and inspiration during a month of your choosing.
Alternatively, if you're raring to participate in NaNoWriMo and don't have
time to read the book, everything you need to get going is on their web
site: http://www.nanowrimo.org/.

Writing Opportunities - OCT. 2007

October is here with a cornicopia of scary good opportunitues for writers

From Editor John Parsley and everyone at LOST http://www.lostmag.com/

Boo! It's October and officially fall, and in this month's LOST Magazine, you'll find Dracula, Bela Lugosi, World Series baseball, headstone carvings, and more, including a photo essay of New York City faces (just right for Halloween), a short play, and essays about a family loss and the capital of Assyria. It's LOST No. 18, and it's all new.

You'll also find the third and final short story selected by our current Guest Fiction Editor, Michelle Wildgen, a terrific piece by Albert E. Martinez.

Come visit us; come revisit our store and pick up a mug or a T-shirt; and get LOST again.

We're reading fiction and nonfiction submissions now. Send your work; submission details on the site!

If you're on MySpace, become a F.O.L at www.myspace.com/lostmag



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From Latinidad http://www.marcelalandres.com/
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CHICAGO REVIEW PRESS SEEKS LATINO WRITERS
Lawrence Hill Books, an imprint of Chicago Review Press, seeks authors
to expand its Latino nonfiction list. Chicago Review Press is a dynamic
midsize company with a list of national and international interest, and
Lawrence Hill Books publishes mostly nonfiction on topics of African
American and Latino interest, progressive politics, civil and human rights,
and feminism. Unagented, first-time authors are welcome to submit
their proposals. Contact Susan Betz at sbetz@chicagoreviewpress.com
for more information.
*****
WRITEGIRL SEEKS VOLUNTEERS
Deadline: October 20
WriteGirl, a creative writing and mentoring organization for teen girls,
is seeking volunteers for our new season to help with everything from
event planning to public relations to mentoring and more. With more
than 30 events annually and a membership of more than 200, joining
WriteGirl means joining a dynamic community of women and girls. In
addition to women writers, we welcome professionals in all fields to
contribute talent and time to this vital program for girls. For an
application and more information, visit http://www.writegirl.org/.
*****
ROBERT OLEN BUTLER FICTION PRIZE
Deadline: November 1
A prize of $1000 is given annually for a short story. The winning entry
and all the finalists will be published in an anthology by Del Sol Press.
For more information, visit http://www.webdelsol.com/.
*****
POETS OUT LOUD PRIZE
Deadline: November 15
A prize of $2000 and publication by Fordham University Press is
given annually for a book-length collection of poetry. The winner
will also be invited to give a reading at the Fordham-Lincoln Center
Campus. For more information, visit http://www.fordham.edu/pol
*****
EXPATRIATE TRAVEL WRITING CONTEST
Deadline: November 30
Transitionsabroad.com invites professionals, freelancers and aspiring
writers to submit articles which provide in-depth practical descriptions
of moving and living abroad, including discussions of immigration,
personal and family life abroad, and potential prejudices encountered.
For more information, visit http://www.transitionsabroad.com/ and
click on "Submit Articles."
*****
ANNIE DILLARD AWARD FOR CREATIVE NONFICTION
Deadline: March 15, 2008
First prize is $1000 and publication in the Bellingham Review. Second
and third place winners and finalist may be considered for
publication. For more information, visit
http://www.ac.wwu.edu/~bhreview/.
*****
THE SCHOLASTIC ART & WRITING AWARDS
The Scholastic Art & Writing Awards offer early recognition of creative
teenagers and scholarship opportunities for graduating high-school
seniors. Participants create and submit their best works in any of the
following categories: Journalism, Novel, Personal Essay/Memoir,
Poetry, Science Fiction/Fantasy, etc. For more information, visit
http://www.scholastic.com/artandwritingawards/enter.htm
*****
READING WITH LAS COMADRES
The Association of American Publishers and Las Comadres have joined
forces to launch Reading With Las Comadres. Members of Las Comadres
will read a book a month, with the selected authors featured in
teleconferences so that readers can learn more about the inspiration
behind their works. Las Comadres is an informal Internet-based group
that meets monthly in more than 50 US cities to build connections and
community among Latinas. Exact times and dates for the
teleconferences can be found on http://www.lascomadres.org/.
*****
JUST PUBLISHED: SPIRIT OF THE GANG
A. A. Delgado announces the release of "Spirit of the Gang," an urban
novel he wrote after helping one of his own students get out of a gang.
Delgado is a teacher in upstate N.Y whose Brother to Brother program
focuses on helping "at-risk" students. The book is being adopted by
schools and is garnering great reviews:
* "Riveting and poetic, it is not only an important book for Latinos but
an important book for the world today."
--Jeff Rivera, author of Forever My Lady
* " `Spirit of the Gang' will have an impact that will carry far beyond
any bookstore or book report."
--Kevin Lucia, Press and Sun Bulletin Review
* "He makes the smallest moments real. . . . His prose is fresh and
alive, with a Latino flavor and zing."
--Liz Rosenberg, Boston Globe Columnist
Visit http://www.myspace.com/ask_mr_d to order a copy.
*****
UNIVERSITY OF ARIZONA SEEKS PROFESSORS
The Creative Writing Program of the Department of English at the
University of Arizona seeks two tenure-track assistant professors,
one in creative nonfiction and one in fiction, to start August 2008.
Welcome, but not required, is secondary expertise in poetry and/or
an ability to contribute to a college-wide initiative in border studies.
For full details and online application, visit
https://www.uacareertrack.com (cite job #39165 for creative
nonfiction, #39113 for fiction). For more information on the
department and program, visit http://english.arizona.edu/.
*****

Manga Fiction Contest

SHOMI Fiction Creative Writing Contest



Imagine being an author of a book that is so unique, so innovative that it manages to honor the traditions set forth by novels as diverse as Ray Bradbury's The Butterfly Effect, Neal Stephenson’s Snow Crash, and Philip K. Dick's Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?, while mixing in romantic elements to ensure a powerful emotional connection…



There you have SHOMI, a ground-breaking line of speculative fiction that combines the very best elements of all genres. Publishers Weekly hailed the imprint as “worth watching,” proclaiming that it “should catch an audience quickly.” Destined to strike a chord with devotees of Romance, Fantasy, Science Fiction, Thrillers, and Manga, its target audience is the fan of Blade Runner, The Matrix, Resident Evil, Alias, Underworld, and La Femme Nikita.


http://www.shomifiction.com/contests.html