Thus far in my writing career, I have been the lucky victor of four writing contests, earning a grand total of $155 ($50 of which was in Amazon gift cards, one of which was never delivered). None of these were fee-based contests. I haven't entered a lot of fee-based contests, but I know I'm 0 … Continue reading Are Writing Contests Worth Entering
As a writer, I've written hundreds of stories and sent out thousands of submissions. I've been fortunate enough to have over two hundred stories published, but part of this fortune is the result of hard work and a thorough understanding of the submission process. When I was a new writer, I didn't have a clue … Continue reading How to Submit Your Writing to Literary Magazines
One of the many challenges of being a writer is finding the right places to send completed work. Luckily, there are many resources available. Unfortunately, not all of these resources are free. At the end of 2012, I posted a three-part series evaluating what I thought were the three main components of Duotrope's Digest. The … Continue reading Dear Duotrope: It’s Not You, It’s Me
The other day, our campus security guard watched me enter a room wearing a shirt and tie only to emerge moments later in running clothes. He said something about Superman as I ran by him. I waved and laughed at the idea. The truth is, I do live a secret life. My coworkers don't know. … Continue reading The Secret Lives of Writers
As a writer of fiction, it may seem easy to escape from reality, to hide behind the characters and the plots we imagine. For me especially, with my tendency to write absurd and bizarre and surreal stories. Surely there's no truth, no personal element, in a story about a boy born with hands made out … Continue reading Writing from the Heart
For many writers, the editing process produces mixed feelings. Okay, perhaps that was an understatement. Editing is often a tedious chore that takes us away from accomplishing other things (like writing more stories). On the other hand, this necessary chore can often be an enjoyable experience. It allows us to relive the story, to experience … Continue reading 7 Editing Tips to Make Your Stories Better
A few days ago, thanks to a post on the Write 1 Sub 1 page, I learned of a great new resource for writers called The Grinder. The (Submission) Grinder, as it is more properly called, carries the slogan "Milling your submissions into something useful," and it follows in the footsteps of the acclaimed Duotrope's … Continue reading Grinding It Out: Nathaniel Tower Interviews the Masterminds Behind The (Submission) Grinder
Today I have the pleasure of uncovering some details about one of my favorite writers. CS DeWildt has been on my reading list ever since he first submitted "The Bull" to Bartleby Snopes a little over three years ago. After reading his novella Candy and Cigarettes (Vagabond Press, 2011), I was hooked and had to … Continue reading Unmasking a Liar: Nathaniel Tower Interviews CS DeWildt
Whenever I think of grammar and the English language, I picture John Goodman's character from The Big Lebowski shouting, "Am I the only one around here who gives a shit about the rules?" Now, I'm not one to threaten someone with a gun over a little mistake, but I do have my fair share of … Continue reading Grammar and Language Problems Every Writer Should Avoid
If you have much familiarity with the business of writing and submitting, you know that Duotrope's Digest, one of the most popular resources for writers, recently switched to a paid subscription model for most of its services. I recently had the pleasure of chatting with the Duotrope staff regarding the success of this shift, as … Continue reading Subscription Success! An Interview with Duotrope’s Digest
