Page 187 of 433

Posted on

SUNDAY ANNOUNCEMENTS: Calls for Submissions, Contests, and Other Information and News

“I walk through the old yellow sunlight
to get to my kitchen table
the poem about me
lying there with the books
in which I am listed
among the dead and future Dylans”
Leonard Cohen, The Energy of Slaves

CALLS FOR SUBMISSIONS

Opportunity Knocks

THE ASSES OF PARNASSUS, an online collection of “short, witty, formal poems.” Open submissions. Check it out HERE.

ACUMEN, Poetry Prose Reviews (U.K.) is one of the oldest literary journals, founded in 1985 and publishing poetry, articles and features.  Submission guidelines HERE.

ANIMA MAGAZINE, Poems of Soul and Spirit appreciates the works of writers who question the Western materialist paradigm. Watch the site for announcements of the next reading period, Issue 6.

BOMB MAGAZINE publishes fiction and nonfiction. The next reading period is from July 1 – July 31.  Details HERE.  No unsolicited pitches for interviews, portfolios or reviews.

CARTE BLACHE publishes fiction and nonfiction, to poetry and photo essays three-times-a year. The next period is: October 1 – December 31.  Details HERE.

GRANTA is not currently open for poetry submissions but will reopen for fiction sometime late this year.  The editors say: “After long discussions, we have decided to trial a service fee of £3/$4, equivalent to printing and postage, for prose submissions only. We will not be charging for poetry or art and photography submissions.” Details HERE.

HARPER’S MAGAZINE publishes fiction, nonfiction, art, illustration and photography. Query first for fiction and nonfiction. Details HERE.

JOYLAND MAGAZINE publishes short fiction, novel excerpts and essays, selecting stories regionally.  $4 submission fee. Paying market. Details HERE.

MUD SEASON REVIEW is open for submissions of poetry, nonfiction and art through July 1, 2018.  Details HERE.

NEW MADRID, Journal of Contemporary Literature of the Low-residency MFA program at Murray State publishes poetry, fiction, and creative nonfiction. Calls for submissions for the winter issue will open on August 15 and run through October 15. Theme: Total Eclipe. Details HERE.

THE NEW TERRITORY MAGAZINE publishes fiction, poetry, nonfiction, drama, comics and genre-benders relative to the Lower Midwestern U.S.  Submissions are not yet open for the fall/winder issue. Details HERE.

TAHOMA LITERARY REVIEW is open for submissions of short and long prose and short and long poetry through July 31 for its fall/winder publications. Submisssion fees are $4 or $5.  Cash payments: $50 for short works, $125 for longer works. Details HERE.

WTW PRESS BOOKS, “a 501c(3) non-profit, founded and directed by Peg Alford Pursell, that supports the artistic development of writers, fosters a thriving literary community, and inspires a passion for literature…”  is reading through June 30, 2018.  Unpublished manuscripts. Details HERE.

The BeZine

Call for submission for the September issue.

THE BeZINE, Be Inspired, Be Creative, Be Peace, Be. Submissions for the September issue – themed Sustainability – close on August 10 at 11:59 p.m. PDT .

Please send text in the body of the email not as an attachment. Send photographs or illustrations as attachments. No google docs or Dropbox or other such. No rich text. Send submissions to bardogroup@gmail.com.

Publication is September 15th. Poetry, essays, fiction and creative nonfiction, art and photography, music (videos or essays), and whatever lends itself to online presentation is welcome for consideration.

No demographic restrictions.

Please read at least one issue and the Intro/Mission Statement and Submission Guidelines. We DO NOT publish anything that promotes hate, divisiveness or violence or that is scornful or in any way dismissive of “other” peoples. 

  • September 2018 issue, Deadline August 10th, Theme: Human Rights/Social Justice
  • December 2018 issue, Deadline November 10th, Theme: A Life of the Spirit

The BeZine is an entirely volunteer effort, a mission. It is not a paying market but neither does it charge submission or subscription fees.

Previously published work may be submitted IF you hold the copyright. Submissions from beginning and emerging artists as well as pro are encouraged and we have a special interest in getting more submissions of short stores, feature articles, music videos and art for consideration. 

CONTESTS

Opportunity Knocks

THE BOOKSIE 2018 POETRY CONTEST grand prize and two runners-up. $6.95 entry fee. Cash award. Details HERE.

2018 CROSSWINDS ANNUAL POETRY CONTEST: reading period through December 31.  Entry fee: $20. Payment: Contributor copy.  Details HERE.

THE EYELANDS 8TH INTERNATIONAL SHORT STORY CONTEST is open through June 20. Up to 2,500 words. Theme: Luggage. First prize: holiday in Crete.  €10 entry fee. Details HERE.

HIGHLANDS AND ISLANDS SHORT STORY and FLASH FICTION COMPETITIONS: Both have a First Prize of £250; Second Prize: £50; Third Prize: £25. Closes on July 31. Details HERE.

PRAIRE SCHOONER is accepting entries to its Summer Creative Nonfiction Contest – essays up to 5,000 words –  through August 1.  Entry fee: $18. $500 cash award to the winner and publication. Details HERE.  Scroll down.

31 Free [Fiction] Writing Contests: Ligitimate Competitions with Cash Priszes,The Writing Life, Kelly Gurnett

Second Light [UK] Mary MacRae ‘Access to Poetry’ Memorial Fund

The Fund

The Mary MacRae ‘Access to Poetry’ Memorial Fund: many will remember the outstanding poet and Second Light member, Mary MacRae (her books As Birds Do and Inside the Brightness of Red are available from Second Light).

The Fund has been created in her memory, begun with a substantial donation from Mary’s family, with the intention of providing modest grants to enable members on low income, along with a travel companion if they are unable to travel alone, to come to Second Light events.

If anyone would like to make a contribution to the fund in Mary’s memory, all donations, however small, will be most welcome. Donate to the Fund.

– Second Light Network 

Accessible anytime from anywhere in the world:

  • The Poet by Day always available online with poems, poets and writers, news and information.
  • The Poet by Day, Wednesday Writing Prompt, online every week (except for vacation) and all are invited to take part no matter the stage of career or status. Poems related to the challenge of the week (always theme based not form based) will be published here on the following Tuesday.
  • The Poet by Day, Sunday Announcements. Every week (except for vacation) opportunity knocks for poets and writers. Due to other Sunday commitments, this post will often go up late in the day.
  • THE BeZINE, Be Inspired, Be Creative, Be Peace, Be – always online HERE.  
  • Beguine Again, daily inspiration and spiritual practice  – always online HERE.  Beguine Again is the sister site to The BeZine.

WEDNESDAY WRITING PROMPT

Reminder

Response deadline is Monday, June 4th at 8 p.m. PDT. All poems shared on theme will be published on this site on Tuesday, the 5th. Details HERE.

YOUR SUNDAY ANNOUNCEMENTS may be emailed to thepoetbyday@gmail.com. Please do so at least a week in advance.

If you would like me to consider reviewing your book, chapbook, magazine or film, here are some general guidelines:

  • send PDF to jamiededes@gmail.com (Note: I have a backlog of six or seven months, so at this writing I suggest you wait until June 2018 to forward anything.Thank you!)
  • nothing that foments hate or misunderstanding
  • nothing violent or encouraging of violence
  • English only, though Spanish is okay if accompanied by translation
  • your book or other product  should be easy for readers to find through your site or other venues.

TO CONTACT ME WITH ANNOUNCEMENTS AND OTHER INFORMATION FOR THE POET BY DAY: thepoetbyday@gmail.com

TO CONTACT ME REGARDING SUBMISSIONS FOR THE BeZINE: bardogroup@gmail.com

PLEASE do not mix the communications between the two.

Often information is just that–information– and not necessarily recommendation. I haven’t worked with all the publications or other organizations featured in my regular Sunday Announcements or other announcements shared on this site. Awards and contests are often (generally) a means to generate income, publicity and marketing mailing lists for the host organizations, some of which are more reputable than others. I rarely attend events anymore. Caveat Emptor: Please be sure to verify information for yourself before submitting work, buying products, paying fees or attending events et al.

ABOUT

Posted on

Some Woman’s Child, a poem

“I have seen him climbing a tree while she stood beneath him in unutterable anguish; she had to let him climb, for boys must be brave, but I am sure that, as she watched him, she fell from every branch.”  J.M. Barrie, The Little White Bird

they say it was the year that changed a generation
the year they met at Nedick’s ordering orange drinks and hot dogs
fomenting righteous anger and rallying the women:
black, white, asian, and assorted berry-browns like me,
hetero and lesbian and some still trying to figure it out

Hey woman, they said to a worker clearing the counter
but they ignored the young man standing ready to serve,
mouths foaming, do you see, do you see one woman yelled,
but they didn’t, they didn’t see him, some woman’s child,
as he filled orders, poker-faced amid the cacophony

© 2018, Jamie Dedes

ABOUT THE POET BY DAY

Posted on

Whitney Greenaway: A Poet’s Take on Letting Go; Poetry/Writing Contests; Resource on poetry contests with June deadlines

“Come sleep with me: We won’t make Love, Love will make us.” Julio Cortázar

The Cortázar quote is apropos of nothing except that I like his work and thought of that line (so fabulous!) after hearing this last evening on a PBS Brief But Spectacular Take on letting go by the new-to-me poet, Whitney Greenway. Sometimes the mind takes a strange turn on things. I’m getting old.  Anyway … THIS is the only piece of information I found online about her.  I’ll let her piece speak for itself except to say that I like it but have to add that sometimes we women disappoint men as well. The transcript is HERE.

HEADS-UP:

  • This is last-minute but it might work for you if you’re interested and you have something ready to submit: Boston Review’s Annual Poetry Contest closes tonight.  You can submit online or via snail mail, which must be postmarked June 1.  $20 entry fee. $1,500 cash award and publication in Boston Review. Details HERE.
  • THE MASTERS REVIEW, A Platform for Emerging Writers offers a list of fourteen literary magazines and contests with June deadlines HERE.
  • And in from Poet, Editor and Founder of Diaphanous e-Journal, Krysia Jopek. “A mix of news / update: instead of a full-length journal of Diaphanous as in 2017, we are shifting gears to “diaphanous micro”: an e-journal of literary and visual art. Each micro issue will feature the work of one artist, often in more than one genre. Stay tuned! diaphanous 2.1 should be launched within the next two weeks! Thank you for all of those involved. It’s been lovely to collaborate with some of the writers and visual artists to be featured. There will be an interview with the artist included in each issue after their poetry, micro/flash fiction, art; links to all their books and some commentary about the work included. The first artist/writer to be featured is J Karl Bogartte; second, Francine Witte.”  Diaphanous Press facebook page and website.
  • From Kallisto Gaia Press team member, writer/journalist Tony Burnett: “Let’s get busy writing. Two new Summer Writing Contests . Antonio Ruiz-Camacho judges in Fiction. Carrie Fountain judges in Poetry. $1500.00 in prizes!”

RELATED:

Caveat Emptor: Please be sure to verify information for yourself before submitting work, buying products, paying fees or attending events et al.

ABOUT THE POET BY DAY

Posted on

Failure to Protect the Rights of Prisoners to Access Books

PEN America nonprofit logo courtesy of Mltellman – under
CC BY-SA 4.0 license.

“One 2013 study found that people who participate in correctional education programs while incarcerated had a 43 percent lower odds recidivating than those who did not.” To Make Prisons “Safer,” Some Are Banning . . . Books, Tariro Mzezewa, NY Times

Maryland’s statewide policy limiting direct access to books represents a failure to protect the right to read for thousands of incarcerated individuals, PEN America said in a statement on Tuesday.

On May 27, the Washington Post reported that Maryland prison officials recently imposed a new policy prohibiting people in prison from directly receiving books from any source other than two prison-approved vendors, Books & Things and Edward R. Hamilton. The restrictions block people in prison from receiving literature directly from friends or family members or from online retailers. The new restrictions prevent people in prison from buying books that are sold at cheaper prices from other online retailers, or from buying books that are simply not available in the two vendors’ catalogs. There are approximately 20,000 people in Maryland state prisons.

Prison officials reportedly implemented the policy as a measure to reduce the trafficking of drugs, most notably the medication Suboxone (buprenorphine and naloxone, used to treat addition to opioids); however, prison officials were reportedly unable to answer how many strips of seized Suboxone had been found hidden in books in 2017 or 2018.

“While we respect that prison officials have an obligation to keep their prisons drug-free, this policy is misguided and unwise,” said Summer Lopez, Senior Director of Free Expression Programs at PEN America. “As a result of this policy, thousands of people in prison now have their access to reading and educational materials primarily dictated by the offerings of just two companies. Even with the presence of prison libraries, it’s clear that this represents a serious blow to the right to read in Maryland prisons. The policy should be rescinded and a solution found that does not restrict access to books for incarcerated individuals.”

Earlier this year, PEN America joined prison reform and civil liberties groups in voicing opposition to policies in New York State prisons and in federal prisons that similarly aimed to implement an ‘approved-vendor-only’ system for book delivery to prisons. Both policies have since been rescinded.

PEN America has run a national prison writing program for over 40 years, including an annual Prison Writing Contest available to anyone incarcerated in a federal, state, or county prison. Under this policy, PEN America would be barred from directly sending people in prison copies of its Handbook for Writers in Prison, a detailed guide to writing designed specifically for writers in prison.

PEN America stands at the intersection of literature and human rights to protect open expression in the United States and worldwide. The organizaton champions the freedom to write, recognizing the power of the word to transform the world. Its mission is to unite writers and their allies to celebrate creative expression and defend the liberties that make it possible. pen.org

RELATED:

ABOUT