#IWSG Guide To Writing For Profit Still Open For Submissions

The IWSG Guide to Writing for Profit 

 

This will be a non-fiction book like our Guide to Publishing and Beyond. 

 

What to write: Share experiences about making a profit as an author, what it takes to become a successful writer, the many skills a writer needs to learn other than writing, share the experience going from hobby writer to published author (without making it a self-promotion piece), the fallacies behind writing for profit, the little known facts learned along the way, what you wished you knew when you first started writing, or marketing tips based on experience of what has worked and what hasn't.

If you gave any questions, email us at admin AT insecurewriterssupportgroup.com 

 

Word limit: 500-1000 words.

 

Submission eligibility: All members of the IWSG Blog Hop, IWSG Facebook group and/or members of our IWSG Goodreads Book Club. It's free to join any of these groups and a great benefit to be a part of these communities.

Deadline: July 31, 2017

Send your piece to admin AT insecurewriterssupportgroup.com as an attached Word document and note which IWSG group you belong to. Please include your name, a one line bio, and one website link.

***The BEST 100 articles will be included in the book!***

 

And don't forget the Twitter Pitch Party on July 27th!

Click on the image below for more info.

 

Friday Five for August 21, 2015

1. I've had an awesome week of writing. I finished the second novelette in my newest series and I'm a few chapters in to the third and final. This trilogy came together in a flash and it's been so much fun to write. Two of my critique partners have read the first book and loved it. Yes!

2. I had one short story rejection this week and submitted two more elsewhere. I keep a record of my submissions in a little notebook, but I think maybe I should keep a spreadsheet on the computer. That poor notebook is looking a mess!

3. My Google searches this week have included what does it feel like to be possessed by a good spirit (for my current project) and the Inuit god of icebergs and glaciers named Nootaikok (for a future project). Sometimes it's dangerous to do searches on these things because they can be so fascinating that I end up reading more and more pages rather than writing.

4. With my son now in public school, I worry about all the germs and such he can pick up. Ours is also one of the states that have been warned to be on the look-out for mutated head lice. Mutant lice. My brain is coming up with all sorts of disturbing images! There's got to be a story in there somewhere.

5. The weather has cooled down and I'm getting excited at the approach of autumn. It'll be time to go to the apple orchard and then the pumpkin patch. I love those fall trips! This weekend, we'll hopefully get out for a walk in the woods. Have a great weekend!

Friday Five for July 24, 2015

1. A few more short story rejections came my way this week, but one with an offer to send something else. My local critique group liked my horror flash piece. I'll be sending that out today. This year has been a much better one for me writing and submitting short stories. I'm still working on longer tales, but I feel good that I'm practicing the craft and getting myself out there.

2. This week was rough in some aspects, and I settled my soul by watching a bunch of B rated movies. Zombeavers gave me exactly what I expected from a low budget horror flick about zombie beavers. Sharknado 3, well, I watched the whole thing, but it's my least favorite of that series. I laughed, but I groaned far more. The top one which I highly recommend to B movie fans is Dead Snow: Red vs. Dead. It's a ridiculous idea (zombie Nazis) taken over the top and done incredibly well. Much better than the first film. I also saw Inside Out with my son this week. Thumbs up!

3. Two reviewers responded to my queries. There are a lot more that I haven't heard from, but two is far more than the zero I had in response to my queries last December. It's like pulling teeth trying to get stories reviewed.

4. I was over at the Untethered Realms blog this week talking about the joy of listening to stories. Click on over and tell us about listening to your favorite storyteller.

5. As I'm sitting here, the light keeps flickering. Just now, accompanied by absolute silence, it went out. Only the lights. Not the computer. I know it's probably just the light bulb, but what a great ambiance for the ghost story I'm working on!

Have a wonderful weekend.

Friday Five for September 12, 2014

1. My bone is healing nicely, but I've been sleeping a lot. Mending bones takes a toll on a body. I never knew how much. I also find it difficult to focus on things. No writing has gotten done, even one-handed. I hope that changes very soon. (And nope, it's not the pain killers. I only take one at night before I go to bed.)

2.I finally have my contracts completed! Yay! Pop in next Wednesday for my BIG news. If you haven't signed up for my newsletter yet, the widget is to the right on the sidebar. Subscribers will get a sneak preview!

3. No word on any of my submissions. It's been over three months since I submitted my urban fantasy novel. Time to nudge the publisher?

4. No plans for the weekend except resting some more. The weekend after is going to be very busy, so I hope I have the energy for it!

5. Don't forget the Shelfie Blog Hop!

 When: From Now until October 6th, 2014

What: Take a picture of your favorite book(s), your bookshelves, or you with your favorite book(s). We understand if you're shy and don't want to be in the picture, but you get bonus points if you are. Then share it on your blog, Facebook, or Twitter. It's as quick and easy as that!

I'm excited to co-host this blog hop with seven amazing authors: Tara Tyler, Heather Gardner, CD Coffelt, M.J. Fifield, Elizabeth Seckman, Rena Rocford, and Vikki Biram. We'll be offering prizes for various categories. The grand prize winner will win $40! I'll be giving away a digital copy of The 13th Floor Complete Collection for the geekiest Shelfie.

For inspiration, here's Tawa posing with all the books I've a story in.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Friday Five for August 22, 2014

1. This week, my son went back to preschool and he's loving it. I'm loving the fact I get to spend my mornings writing. I promised myself only to write and not surf around on the internet. It's blissful. I missed regular writing time over the summer. I'm in a better mood and feeling more like myself again.

2. I'm still waiting for the okay to share my news, but my newsletter subscribers were let in on the secret. If you haven't signed up for my newsletter yet, just pop your email address into the little widget on the right side of my blog. My subscribers get all the good news first!

3. I have my local writers critique group meeting tomorrow. This time I sent in a contemporary flash piece that I hope to create two very different emotions with. I do wonder if I succeeded.

4. I've submitted a few horror short stories this past week. It's that time of year when venues are looking to fill up October slots. I have one that is a twist on the Sleepy Hollow tale told from the horseman's point of view. He's not really that bad of a guy. Well, okay, maybe he is, but it's fun to get his side of the story!

5. I cut my finger on the saw of my tinfoil box the other night. It bled a lot. As I was nursing it, I wondered how I managed not to do that before. I'm often lost in my head, so I tend to get bumps and cuts, but never on the tinfoil saw which seemed really weird to me in the moment. What's the strangest thing you've ever cut yourself on or bumped into?

Have a wonderful weekend!

Friday Five for June 13, 2014

1. Last week I hadn't heard about any of my submissions, but then I received three short story rejections in one day. One is difficult, but three? Not a good day. I have since sent on the stories to other venues. Never give up!

2.Then, to add to those ones, another publisher rejected my novel. I immediately sent it out to the last venue on my list. I shall know by the end of the summer if my book will be accepted or if I'm self-publishing it.

3. As the rejections piled on, I received one email that blew them all away. Very soon I'll have awesome news to share with you about the novella I submitted eight weeks ago. One acceptance makes the dozens of rejections fade away. One step closer to my goal of becoming a hybrid author.

4. Next week I'll be visiting with family. I have two great reviews and a promo scheduled while I'm gone. Pop in and make sure the gremlins haven't fiddle with my blog! Also, click on over to Jeff Chapman's blog. He featured my short story "Ladgarda" as story of the week. Thanks again, Jeff!

5. Have a great weekend and week, folks! Don't forget there are still two amazing giveaways going on at Untethered Realms.

SFWA approved markets

The Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America (SFWA) is one of the most well known and well respected of the world's writers organizations. This year, it has been one of my goals to get a story accepted by a SFWA approved venue. I haven't had any luck yet, but I'm going to keep trying. Once I have one story accepted, I qualify to be an Associate Member. Three sales grant you Active membership.

I currently have one short story with an approved venue and I'm waiting on the verdict. Plus, I've written my story for this month and I'll be sending it out to another one. I'll keep trying even if I don't make it this year. Even if I earn Active membership, I'll keep submitting!

Here are some SFWA approved short story markets in case you're looking to join the SFWA too. Good luck in all your writing endeavors!

• AE (guidelines)  – NEW
• Analog Science Fiction and Fact (guidelines)
• Apex (starting with June 2008 issue) (guidelines)
• Asimov’s Science Fiction (guidelines)
• Beneath Ceaseless Skies (guidelines)
• Brutarian (guidelines)
• Bull Spec (guidelines)
• Cemetery Dance (guidelines)
• Chizine (guidelines)
• Cicada (guidelines)
• Clarkesworld Magazine (guidelines)
• Cosmos (guidelines (PDF))
• Cricket (guidelines)
• Daily Science Fiction (guidelines)
• Dragon (guidelines)
• EscapePod (guidelines) — NEW
• Flash Fiction Online (guidelines)
• Grantville Gazette (starting with May 2007 issue) (guidelines)
• Highlights — (guidelines)
• Lightspeed Magazine — (guidelines)
• The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction (guidelines)
• Nature (guidelines)
• Odyssey (guidelines)
• Orson Scott Card’s InterGalactic Medicine Show (guidelines)
• The Pedestal Magazine (guidelines)
• Redstone Science Fiction (guidelines)
• Strange Horizons (guidelines)
• Subterranean Magazine (no guidelines available; no unsolicited subs)
• Tor.com (guidelines)

June anthologies, awards, and stuff

A big thank you to the awesome Chris Fries for the Stylish blogger Award and the Versatile Blogger Award. The Versatile one has been going around a lot lately. I'll not bore you with more random facts about myself. I've never gotten the Stylish blogger award before, though. For this one, I have to share the last time I dressed up.

I hate dressing up. I'm a jeans and t-shirt woman. I own only one black skirt I use for interviews, weddings, and funerals. The last time I donned the skirt was for our friends' wedding nearly 3 years ago. I was pregnant, but we hadn't told anyone yet. I hadn't gained any weight at that point, so the skirt still fit. I don't wear heels either. Flats for me. First off, I'm tall. It feels weird if I'm taller than my husband who's only two inches taller than me. Second, I'm a klutz. I sometimes can't keep my balance if I'm bare footed, never mind putting me in heels! That's a broken ankle waiting to happen.

Yup, I have no dressy style or grace. I happily pass off this award to five of you that do:

1. Trish

2. Amy

3. Theresa

4. Clare

5. Joshua (a shout-out to a fellow geek who loves t-shirts more than I do!)

I need to get started on writing a short story for June. I'm going the fantasy route this month. Here are a few anthologies seeking submissions that interested me:

AIRSHIPS & AUTOMATONS - 1-time print/eBook (White Cat Publications); steampunk (fic). Pay: 5¢/word +copy. Words: 4k-6k. RT: varies. Reprints: yes (1¢/word +copy). E-subs: ONLY. Charles P. Zaglanis, Editor. Deadline: when filled.

ONCE UPON AN APOCALYPSE - 1-time print/eAntho (Chaosium); h (fic). Pay: 3¢/word. Words: 2k-4k. RT: 2-3 months. Reprints: no. E-subs: ONLY. Rachel Kenley & Scott T. Goudsward, Editors. Deadline: July 31st.

THE DARK SIDE OF THE WOMB: From Their Cradle to Your Grave - 1-time POD/eAntho (Cruentus Libri Press); h (fic). Pay: shared royalty. Words: 2½k-7½k. RT: receipt=<1 week; final=<1 week after DL. Reprints: yes. E-subs: ONLY. Kevin G. Bufton, Editor. Deadline: August 31st. (You could totally write one for this, Lily!)

SWORDS FOR SALE: An Anthology of Fantastic Mercenary Fiction - 1-time POD/eAntho (Sorcerous Press); mercenary f (fic). Pay: $20. Words: <10k. RT: <1 month. Reprints: query. E-subs: ONLY. Robert Lewis, Editor. Deadline: June 15th.

Finally, Writer's Digest is having a fun contest here: Your Story contest on Writer's Digest. Write the first sentence for the picture below (25 words or less). It's free and simple. I already entered!

Squish the big ideas

It's been a productive week despite everything that has happened. I researched queries and tweaked one of mine for my paranormal romance trilogy. The query had gotten some attention and I thought I couldn't fix it up any more. I surprised myself that I managed to do so. I sent it out to an agent earlier this week. I hope it looks even more professional and, more importantly, nabs the attention of the agent.

I submitted a horror story to an anthology yesterday. An old one about a horrific fever that I edited for the anthology.

I've also been working on my new dark fantasy short story. I hoped to finish it this week, but it's turning out bigger than I planned. My muse has big ideas. She creates great worlds. Yet sometimes they're too big. It's up to me to rein her in and squish her big ideas into a smaller space. It's tough work for me, but it's also good for me. I want to write novels, but short stories are an excellent way to learn the craft of writing.

My son's hands are healing well. It's driving us both bonkers to be stuck in the house and unable to do everything we usually do, but we're surviving. We're going to get together with friends this weekend to do something even if it's just playing at a park. It will be a quiet long weekend, but that's fine. Five weeks until Gen Con.

Happy Canada Day! And Happy Fourth of July!

Number 59

The cold is sticking around. It dug itself a trench and is defending its territory. My son has been throwing up again. My nose is red. Ruby red. It's embarrassing, really. I hope I don't feel this horrible when I go to my first writer's group meeting on Saturday.

I've edited and submitted two short stories this week. One to a zombie anthology and a second to a fantasy magazine. I'm trying to get my story published in a SFWA certified publication. It's hard. Incredibly hard. I was rejected for the fantasy story this morning. I submitted it to another magazine. I love the submission status checker. I can be obsessive checking it. I'm 59 in the queue. It will likely be a longer wait with this one.

I want to start editing my latest manuscript, but it seems my son doesn't want to nap. I need to go blow my nose again, too.