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A Note from Lauran
The economic impact of the pandemic on the nonprofit sector due to cancellations of in-person events has been crippling. In a recent survey conducted by the Nonprofit Finance Fund, 60 percent of the nonprofits interviewed indicated that they were experiencing conditions that risked their long-term sustainability, and 64 percent expected this trend to continue in the months ahead.
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Rest assured, this is not another plea for a donation. Instead, it’s a reminder of a simple and painless way that you can help HRW.
In 2021, HRW earned $327.43 commission income for items bought through the Amazon.com Associates referral link our web page? That is FREE money for HRW that didn’t cost the buyers a penny more than the price of whatever it was that they bought.
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$327.43! That’s a complete conference scholarship!
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If you plan to purchase anything from Amazon.com, you can help us greatly by using the referral link at the bottom of our homepage. Just click on the picture there and you will be taken to Amazon.com. Whatever you buy during that visit will earn HRW a referral fee of anywhere from 1 to 10% of the purchase price of each item. We won’t know who bought what, and we will have absolutely no access to any credit card information.
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Many thanks to all those who already remember to use this link before each trip to Amazon. We appreciate your support.
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Next Zoom Social hour, AKA the Quarantini, is Friday, February 4, from 4:30 - 5:30 PM.
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If you would like the zoom link, please email Rita.
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Traveling Pen Series of Writers Workshops for 2022
Each 2.5-hour workshop costs $20 for HRW members, $30 for non-members, and $10 for middle and high school students and will be held VIA ZOOM until it is safe to meet in the classroom again. Scholarships are available upon request.
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Once payment has been received, you will be emailed the Zoom invitation and instructions on how to access the class.
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When social distancing restrictions have been relaxed, the TPS workshops will resume at the Virginia Beach Tidewater Community College campus, in the Blackwater Building, Room CW-134.
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Check-in at 9:15 AM, workshop runs from 9:30 AM to Noon ET.
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February 19 @ 9:30 am - 12:00 pm EST
Creating and Sustaining the Fictional Dream: Using Solid Limited-Third Person Point of View to Help Readers Live in Your Fictional Dreamworld
Presented by John Robert Mack
In this ZOOM workshop, participants will learn how to create and maintain a vivid and continuous fictional dream. We’ll also discuss how to avoid bumping the reader out of the dream via authorial or narrative intrusion, clumsy writing, deviation in real-time linearity, telling rather than showing, improper internal monologue presentation, and many other things. We will do a few writing exercises that participants may share with the group or not.
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John has been writing stories since the third grade and completed his first “novel” in the fourth grade. He studied writing and theater in college, where he published a short story in the UW-Milwaukee literary journal. He also wrote and produced his first full-length play Whatever Happened… to all the happy endings? under the tutelage of Fred Gaines at Lawrence University and wrote his first “real” novel, Rain-Dance, which was based on a semester he’d spent in London, under the tutelage of Shiela Cunningham.
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Several of his plays were produced in Wisconsin, including Talking with Jacob, which garnered statewide recognition and the cover of several statewide periodicals. He also produced his own adaptation of the Ray Bradbury story, “The Better Part of Wisdom” with Mr. Bradbury’s approval and input.
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He wrote a column for two years in The Dancer’s Guide as well as training manuals for several dance studios in Texas. His teaching ability earned him two articles in Quality in Action, a worldwide educational magazine. More recently, he wrote a column for Out in SA. Currently, he is a writer and photographer for SA Monthly Magazine and has written the cover article for numerous issues, as well as shooting the photos for one. He was also published in Woman.
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From 2012 to 2015, he lived in Virginia Beach to focus on his writing. It was here that he met Lauran Strait, who has been his mentor for ten years. Much of what he will teach in this workshop was learned from her.
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John has taught writing workshops for both the Hampton Roads Writers and the Muse. He also taught 6 workshops for the Hampton Roads Writers conference of 2016. He has written a total of 16 novels and self-published 9 of them so far. In 2020, he published a complete tarot deck.
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March 19 @ 9:30 am - 12:00 pm EDT
Creative Writing in a Nutshell: Everything You Need to Know to Get Started as a Writer
Presented by Frank Milligan
This class will give those new to creative writing or considering beginning creative writing, a brief overview of getting started and establishing a solid foundation whether focused on writing short stories, novels, memoirs, or other creative nonfiction. It ranges from thinking like a writer to basic writing techniques of plot, characterization, scene, setting, dialogue, point of view, pace, and so on, as well as how to edit the work and get it published commercially or by self-publishing. Those who’ve been writing for a while will find the class a useful review of the basics all storytellers need to know to be successful.
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Frank Milligan, holds a bachelor’s in psychology, a master’s in business and public administration, and a Master of Arts in Writing from the Johns Hopkins University. A retired federal agent, law enforcement senior executive, and a former counterintelligence agent, he teaches creative writing at the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute of the College of William and Mary, and has taught at Northern Virginia Community College, the Lorton Workhouse Arts Center, and various other venues and writers’ conferences. His traditionally published book, Time to Write: Discovering the Writer Within After 50, 2007, Quill Driver Books, won a National Mature Media silver award. His short fiction and nonfiction have won local, state, and regional awards. He is a past president of the Chesapeake Bay Writers, and a member of the International Thriller Writers.
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DO YOU KNOW that. . .
- Edith Sitwell reportedly liked to lie in an open coffin before she began her day's writing.
- John Steinbeck used 300 pencils to write East of Eden and was known to use up to 60 pencils in a day.
- Gertrude Stein claimed the water-drinking patterns of her dog, Basket, taught her the difference between sentences and paragraphs in writing.
- Vladimir Nabokov and Gertrude Stein both liked to write while sitting in a parked car.
- Poet Amy Lowell once bought a stash of 10,000 cigars, claiming she needed them to help her write.
- Graham Greene would write 500 words a day and then stop – even in the middle of a sentence.
- Anthony Trollope began his writing day at 5.30 every morning. He would write 250 words every 15 minutes, pacing himself with a watch.
- J. R. R. Tolkien thought there were no new stories but only a ‘Cauldron of Story’ which writers dip into as they write.
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Welcome new members!
Viola Robinson-Boone
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Kudos
to the following HRW Members:
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JAN 10, 2022 was book launch day for Mike's second novel ANGELS FALLING, a twisty and psychological thriller. This novel, published by TouchPoint Press
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is also available on Amazon.com.
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Kelsay Books will publish a collection of Pamela's poems, called The Right Mistakes, later this year.
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His new novel, Frog Flyer, available on Amazon.com, was published January 20, 2022. This is a military thriller.
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His 200-word flash, "The Writ," earned third place in the yearly Writers’ Police Academy (WPA) Golden Donut Short Story Contest. The submissions were required to be 200 words exactly and were based on a photo prompt.
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Her poem "friable" was published this month at Backwards Trajectory.
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Newsletter Editor--Dr. Rita Budrionis. If you'd like to write an article in your area of expertise or have an announcement you'd like to share, please email her.
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Author Spotlight
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PETER STIPE
Peter Stipe brings a collection of talents to writing. Nurtured in early days in elementary schools in Virginia, he spent his later educational and career years in Boston and the New England area. With a degree from Boston University and a Masters from Tufts, he became a high school teacher, then a teacher of another kind in Human Resources and Training for a varied list of businesses.
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A competitive long-distance runner, Peter competed and placed in the top fifty in the Boston Marathon and participated in the 1972 US Olympic Trials.
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Replacement knees have slowed him down a little, but he still travels. He has explored all fifty states and most of the Canadian Provinces. Native American sites are a favorite. His collection of Native art comes from authentic sources.
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Peter’s first book of short stories, Finding Our Way, was published in 2015. The stories blend his interests and locales visited with engaging characters. His first full length novel followed. The Art of Love uses Providence, Rhode Island and its two well-known schools – Rhode Island School of Design and Brown University – to create the tensions and the power of the love story.
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A search of his own family myths led to the writing of his third book, Remember Me. Lots of surprises there! His grandfather’s garden is the setting for a coming-of-age novel, The Fairy Garden. This adult fairy tale is set in Williamsburg, Virginia. His fifth novel, Bennett Falls, will be published this spring.
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Peter and his wife live in Williamsburg where he is President of the Board for the Williamsburg Book Festival (celebrated on the first Saturday of October, if you are interested!). He markets his photographs and books at the Yorktown Farmers Market (beginning in April) with his publisher, Blue Fortune Publishing. His photographs are also available at On the Hill Gallery in Yorktown. Stop by and check out both venues!
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If you are a current member of HRW and would like to be featured in an upcoming Author Spotlight interview, drop us a line.
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THURSDAY, February 3
7:30 PM – 9 PM
The Word: An Open Mic for Poets, Storytellers and Fabulists
The Zeiders American Dream Theater
4509 Commerce Street Virginia Beach, VA 23462
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The Word, a collaboration with Zeiders American Dream Theater, The Muse Writers Center, Hampton Roads Writers, and Tidewater Writers, welcomes diverse voices and fans of poetry, spoken word, and all forms of creative writing. We encourage all ages and backgrounds to come together and share in the mutual adoration of words. The Z provides a platform for writers to share their work while fostering a comfortable, laid-back, and encouraging atmosphere. This is your chance to take the mic! Read your own work or share a favorite.
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Admission is a suggested $5 donation. Those looking to speak/perform may sign up at the door. Please limit your performance to 5 minutes. Limited spots!
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Health & Safety Guidelines: Masks required. Vaccination or Negative Test required. Read details here.
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Join The Muse Writers Center for an amazing slate of online creative writing classes, workshops, and seminars that begin in February and run through May. Featuring introductory classes as well as advanced workshops in Poetry, Fiction, Memoir & Creative Nonfiction, Screenwriting, Comics/Graphic Novels, Songwriting, as well as many great classes for Young Writers and Teens... plus they have a great series of all-new craft, creativity, research, and professional development seminars. Tuition help is always available to those who need it. Learn more at https://the-muse.org/classes-at-a-glance/
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If you haven't already done so, check out our website and register so you can access all things HRW
It's easy & it's FREE
- Click on the log-in/register link at the upper right side of the page
- Enter your user name like this FIRST.LAST
- Then enter your email address
- Make up a password that you can remember (or, if you're like me, write it down and put it in a place you hope you can remember)
- Confirm your password by typing it in again
- Check the box that says: Send these credentials via email
- Click the Register button.
Registering on the website is NOT the same as joining HRW as a member. Registering is free. Becoming a member costs a small, tax-deductible yearly fee that helps us cover some of our operating expenses.
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If you do decide to join HRW you will receive discounts when you sign up for a TPS workshop or for the conference. You'll also have access to your own Public Member Profile as part of the Member Directory. More details are available on the HELP page.
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As a reminder to all HRW members, please add/update your picture and writer bio to your personal member page.
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CALLS FOR SUBMISSION*
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The Anarchist Poetry Project. Genre: Poem Length: 3 poems up to 5 pages total. "The theme of the book is Building Better Worlds. We’re interested in what those better Anarchist worlds and systems look like. Poems that somehow relate to that theme within the context of anarchism will have a better chance of being accepted. In particular, we love speculative literature (scifi, fantasy, hopepunk and other -punk subgenres, magical realism, etc). But even if your poem doesn’t fall into such genres, we still want you to submit it as long as you identify as an anarchist, and your poems are in some way about or related to anarchism and building better worlds." Payment: $30 per poem + contributor copy. Deadline: Open until filled.
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The Bureau Dispatch. Genre: For 2022, we're in the market for 15 to 20 short stories between 500 to 1,500 words. We want your best work. We want fiction that is compelling and beautifully-crafted; narratives that leave the reader breathless and changed. The kind of story that, when all is said and done, elicits a resounding "sh*t, yeah!" We are open to all narratives, but are currently partial to ones that explore the theme of DISPATCH. Payment: $50.
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Ahoy Comics. Genre: Short fiction and social commentary. "We seek smart, weird, funny articles or stories, which run between 500 and 1,500 words." Payment. $200.
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Spring Into SciFi. Genre: Science fiction short stories. Payment: $15. Deadline: February 5, 2022.
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Markaz Review. Genre: "The Markaz Review seeks creative submissions about/from/taking place in/thinking about Los Angeles from afar — TMR will consider art, comics, photography, personal essays, fiction, poetry, music and film for the upcoming LOS ANGELES/TMR 18 issue." Payment: "Honorarium." Deadline: February 5, 2022.
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Havok. Genre: Flash fiction on Theme of BEAUTIFUL & DANGEROUS. Payment: $10 via PayPal for each story published in an Anthology. Deadline: February 6, 2022.
Fantasy Magazine. Genre: Fantasy short stories, flash fiction, poetry. Payment: 8 cents per word for original short stories and flash fiction. $40 per poem. Deadline: February 7, 2022. Opens to submissions on February 1.
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Cossmass Infinities. Genre: Science fiction and fantasy short stories. Payment: $0.08/word for original fiction. Deadline: February 7, 2022.
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Word Balloon Books: Rockets and Robots. Genre: Science fiction adventure stories set on alien worlds, space ships, or the post-21st century future. NO FANTASY! Must be rated G. Payment: $.01 per word advanced against royalties, with a possible bonus based on crowdfunding. Deadline: February 11, 2022.
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Word Balloon Books: Beware the Bugs. Genre: Stories about giant bugs (or, perhaps, normal sized bugs and tiny humans). Fantasy or science fiction are welcome. Must be rated G. Payment: $.01 per word advanced against royalties, with a possible bonus based on crowdfunding. Deadline: February 11, 2022.
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Word Balloon Books: Paradoxical Pets. Genre: Stories about wondrous pets, be they alien, magical, artificial, or common pets with some special power. Fantasy or science fiction are welcome. Must be rated G. Payment: $.01 per word advanced against royalties, with a possible bonus based on crowdfunding. Deadline: February 11, 2022.
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Ofic Magazine. Genre: Fiction, nonfiction, and art up to 12k words. Payment: Small honorarium and a free copy of the issue. Deadline: February 12, 2022.
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Thriller Digest: Hunted. Genre: Suspense. Theme: Hunted. Length: 7,500 to 10,000 words. Payment: Revenue share. Deadline: February 13, 2022.
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Suburban Review. Genre: Fiction, non-fiction, poetry, comics, and art on theme of Juice. Payment: $75- $150. Deadline: February 13, 2022.
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Faces. Genre: Nonfiction, activities for children 9 - 14. Payment: Not specified. Deadline: February 14, 2022. Queries only. See themes.
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London Reader. Genre: Stories featuring people in the city of London, whether living there or visiting. Also poetry and art that feature the city. Payment: Royalties. Deadline: February 14, 2022.
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Parabola. Genre: Original essays and translations, poetry, reviews. Payment: Not specified. Deadline: February 15, 2022. See themes.
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Cobblestone. Genre: Fiction, poetry and nonfiction articles of historical accuracy and lively, original approaches to the themes for children from ages 9–14. Payment: Not specified. Deadline: February 15, 2022. See themes. Queries only.
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Luna Station Quarterly. Restrictions: Open to women writers only. Genre: Speculative fiction. Payment: $5. Deadline: February 15, 2022. Some reprints accepted.
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Muse Magazine. Genre: Nonfiction articles for children on theme of Islands. Payment: Not specified. Deadline: February 15, 2022.
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Run Amok Crime: Jacked. Genre: Crime fiction: short-shorts, novelettes of up to 10,000 words, and everything between. Payment: "Modest." Deadline: February 15, 2022.
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En Bloc. Genre: Fiction, poetry, art and photography. Payment: £35 per side. Deadline: February 15, 2022.
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Orca. Genre: Literary fiction. Payment: $50 for short stories, $25 for flash fiction. Deadline: February 15, 2022. Submit early in the month to avoid submission fees.
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filling station. Genre: Stories, poems, CNF, nonfiction, and art on theme: Play. Payment: $50. Deadline: February 15, 2022.
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Dark Recesses Press. Genre: Horror/dark fiction pieces between 500-5000 words. Payment: 5 cents/word. Deadline: February 15, 2022. Note: Only pays for print magazine.
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Qwerty. Genre: Fractured fairytales, folk retellings, mythical drawings for their upcoming themed issue, FOLKLORE & FAIRYTALES. Payment: $10 (CDN). Deadline: February 15, 2022.
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Fish Eats Lion Redux. Genre: Speculative fiction. Payment: $50 SGD and two (2) contributor copies of the published anthology. Deadline: February 15, 2022.
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Mythulu Magazine: Maps & Biomes. Genre: Submit short stories that feature wildly original biomes or bizarre weather. "Show us settings fundamentally at war with character needs." Short stories: 500 - 2,800 words Non-fiction articles: 200 - 1,200 words. Cartoons or graphic panels also welcome. Payment: $0.06/word or $15/page. Non-fiction pays $0.08/word. Creative works earn $0.04/word, with short stories capped at $75. Deadline: February 16, 2022.
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Metaphysical Times. Genre: Pagan and metaphysical topics, including spirituality, religion, divination, witchcraft, and more. Payment: $0.05 USD per word up to 1200 words after editing. Deadline: February 16th, 2022
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Northwords. Genre: Poetry and prose: 3000 words max. "Writing from people living in or inspired by the Highlands and Islands is given prominence, but we also feature material linked to the wider north. That includes both other parts of Scotland and places around the northern world." Payment: Unspecified. Deadline: February 27, 2022.
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Dragon Soul Press: Beyond Atlantis. Genre: "Unique retellings of Atlantis-like civilizations. Preferably with mermaids, selkies, krakens, or other mythological sea creatures included." Word Count – 5,000-15,000. Payment: Royalties. Deadline: February 28, 2022.
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Epoch Press. Genre: Creative nonfiction submissions of writing, artwork and music on theme of Roots. Payment: £15 per accepted piece. Deadline: February 28, 2022.
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Eerie River. Genre: Horror on theme of Earth. Word count: 1500 - 7000 firm. Payment: ¢1 per word CAD. Deadline: February 28, 2022.
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Southword. Genre: Poetry. Payment: €40 per poem. Deadline: February 28, 2022.
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Stonecrop Review. Genre: Creative Non-Fiction, Fiction, Reader’s Corner, Artwork, Photography on theme of Flora. "From weeds pushing their way up through cracks in the pavement to wildflowers planted along roadsides, from potted plants on your balcony to trees providing shade in the park, plants can shape urban landscapes. They can provide oases of calm in a bustling city; yet their roots can also wreak havoc as they crack open roads or disrupt pipelines." Payment: $20. Deadline: February 28, 2022.
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Queer Weird West Tales. Genre: speculative fiction set in the Old West containing at least one main character belonging to the LGBTQ+ spectrum. Payment: $30. Deadline: February 28, 2022.
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Apparition Lit. Genre: Speculative fiction and poetry. Payment: $30. Deadline: February 28, 2022. Opens February 15. See themes.
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The Rumpus. Genre: Essays. "We strive to be a platform for marginalized voices and writing that might not find a home elsewhere, and to lift up new voices alongside those of more established writers we love. We work to shine a light on stories that build bridges, tear down walls, and speak truth to power." Payment: $300 divided among all contributors. Deadline: February 28, 2022.
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Dragon Soul Press: Surge. Genre: Cyberpunk. "These characters are trying to survive in a dystopia of advanced technologies. Living alongside Artificial Intelligence has its perks, but also many deadly downfalls." Payment: Royalties. Deadline: February 28, 2022. (Deadline extended)
Cricket: Ask Magazine. Genre: Nonfiction articles for children 7–10 years old who are curious about science and the world they live in. Theme: Hair. Payment: Not specified. Deadline: February 28, 2022. Pitches only.
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Blue Mesa Review. Genre: Fiction (up to 6,000 words), Nonfiction (up to 6,000 words), Poetry (up to 3 poems), and Visual Art. Payment: $25. Deadline: February 28, 2022. Submit early in the month.
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Cast of Wonders. Genre: YA Speculative fiction. Podcast. Payment: $.08/word for original fiction of any length (yes, including flash!). For reprints, a $100 flat rate for Short Fiction, and a $20 flat rate for Flash Fiction. Deadline: February 28, 2022. See themes.
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Blood Rites Horror: Death in the Deep. Genre: Stories “about the big open blue. Sharks, whales, dolphins – they all inhabit this vast expanse, but what else is out there? Think isolation, think exposed, think vulnerable… think shark.” Payment: $10. Deadline: February 28, 2022.
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Queer Weird West Anthology. Genre: fiction and narrative submissions for the Queer Weird West Anthology require three elements: Queer: At least one main character belongs to the LGBTQ+ spectrum, defined in whatever way seems natural to them. Weird: The story contains a speculative fiction element, drawing on fantasy, horror, or science fiction. West: The setting is the Old West – or the time and place of any other frontier.” Payment: $30 - $50 USD. Deadline: February 28, 2022.
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Underblong. Genre: Poetry, art. Payment: $20. Deadline: February 28, 2022.
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Reliquiae. Genre: "Reliquiae is a journal of landscape, nature and mythology. Your work must engage with these themes. We are particularly interested in visionary and mythopoeic writing, and in work that embraces ritual practice and esoteric philosophy. We’re also excited by translations, especially if the work has never been translated into English before." Payment: "Small." Deadline: February 28, 2022.
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Flypaper Lit. Genre: Poems, short stories, flash fiction, CNF, and essays. Payment: $10. Deadline: February 28, 2022.
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Her Stories Project. Genre: True stories about middle-aged women and about female friendships during midlife. Word count: 750-1200 words. Payment: $50. Deadline: February 28, 2022.
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Pyre. Genre: Horror, sci-fi, the weird, the macabre, fantasy, and magical realism: Flash fiction, short stories, nonfiction, poetry, art, videos. Payment: $10. Deadline: February 28, 2022.
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Bethlehem Writers Roundtable. Genre: Short stories and poetry. See themes. Payment: 20.00 USD for featured authors, or $10.00 USD for stories published on their &More page and $5.00 USD for poems. Deadline: March 1, 2022.
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Mermaidens. Genre: "All kinds of stories about mermaids." 7,000 words max. Payment: Royalties. Deadline: March 1, 2022.
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The Antihumanist. Genre: Fiction, nonfiction, art - all genres. "We seek to publish the most challenging and thought provoking flash fiction and essays. We believe only by confronting the bare bones of reality we understand our place in the world." Payment: 5 cents/word. Deadline: March 1, 2022.
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Upstreet. Genre: Fiction and nonfiction pieces 5,000 words or less. Payment: $50 - $250 for short stories or essays. Deadline: March 1, 2022.
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Counting Bodies Like Sheep. Genre: Extreme horror. Length: 3,000 words max. Payment: 3 cents per word + 1 Paperback. Deadline: March 1, 2022.
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Teach.Write. Genre: Flash fiction, short stories, poetry, CNF, Write Your Own–writing or poetry inspired by your own writing prompts that you have used successfully in class–up to 2,000 words (prose), 100 lines (poetry). Include 50-250 word prompt and/or explanation of prompt. Payment: $15 for short stories, creative non-fiction, and essays; $10 for all other categories. Deadline: March 1, 2022.
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Thema: To the Pond Genre: Fiction, poetry, and art on theme: To the Pond. Payment: $10-$25 for short fiction and artwork, $10 for poetry. Deadline: March 1, 2022. Accepts reprints.
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Parabola. Genre: Original essays and translations, poetry, reviews. Payment: Not specified. Deadline: March 1, 2022. See themes.
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Shredded: A Body Horror Anthology. Genre: Body horror in sports and fitness. Length: Stories should be between 2,000 and 4,500 words. Payment: 3 cents/word contingent on Kickstarter. Deadline: March 1, 2022. (The extended submission period for women and non-binary writers is April 1st – 7th, 2022.)
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Speculative City. Restrictions: Open to writers who specifically identify as queer AND BIPOC. Genre: Speculative fiction set in the city. Payment: $20-$55 according to the category and length of their submission. Deadline: March 1, 2022.
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On The Premises Short Story Contest. "For this contest, write a creative, compelling, well-crafted story between 1,000 and 5,000 words long in which… IN THE FIRST SENTENCE… one or more characters arrive at a location and find something unexpected." Prize: Winners receive between US$75 and US$250, and publication. Deadline: March 4, 2022.
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Pedestal Magazine. Genre: Poems. Payment: $50 for each poem accepted. Deadline: March 4, 2022.
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* Please let us know if you receive publication success via any of these calls.
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Thanks for reading. See you soon!
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