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Conclave Journal Accepting Submissions

2008-04-27T13:30:43Z

Conclave: A Journal of Character is accepting submissions for its inaugural issue, Fall 2008.
We will accept submissions from April 1-July 1, 2008.
www.conclavejournal.com

Conclave is an annual print journal that focuses on character-driven writing in short stories, flash fiction, creative nonfiction, poetry, and prose poems; we also print black and white photographs, and excerpts from plays: monologues, scenes, single acts, or one-act plays.

Conclave seeks writing that centers around well-crafted characters—complex and authentic: like Leopold Bloom, Huckleberry Finn, Anna Karenina, Hamlet, Miss Havisham, Hannibal Lecter, Hester Prynne, and others. Whether you love them or hate them, these characters are unforgettable and infuse their stories with life beyond the page. Those are the kinds of enduring characters we'd like to have populate the artfully crafted stories in Conclave.

For more information, see submission guidelines on our Web site.

Thank you.
Valya Dudycz Lupescu, Editor

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WOW! Writer's 500 Word Contest

2008-04-25T20:39:45Z

Here's another 500 word contest on WOW! Women on Writing. Again, the fee is $5 entry or $10 if you want a professional critique. The deadline is May 31.

http://www.wow-womenonwriting.com/contest.php

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Time Travel Speed Space. "Evolution" A short story by Madmark

2008-04-25T19:49:26Z

Evolution. (A Short (Dancing)Story)

"Evolution"

By: Mark Stegman

A dark neon light illuminated the warehouse emanating from the movement of the dancer. Red and blue photons shoot outward like a self contained disco-ball from the kicking dancing form of the short black hooded creature; who is literally spinning and jumping off of the air. His feet only tapping the dance floor for minute seconds before propelling him back into elevation; he jumps off from an invisible carbolic structure that seemingly surrounds him, and lands a back flip. Shouts of “Oh Yeah!” & “Damn” were heard coming from the dancing crowd. Even the grinning D.J. is watching in awe unbelievingly witnessing the scene he’s scratching at. As The Kid lands the back flip the last bell of the last verse chimes, the bell resonates in a dissolving echoe; he jumps straight up from the floor, timed with the first opening note of a quickening rhythm of low bass fast paced bullets that increase in number as they decrease in wavelength. The crowd watches him appear to grasp an invisible bar above his head, lifting his body off the ground, spinning as fast as an ice skater in full rotation; faster, and faster his rotation quickens, while floating three feet in the air.

The crowd has come from all over the planet to reach this tribe of mental matter philosophy student practitioners; The Kid is the underground prodigy of the dance movement. The colorful tribe dance and pulse in universally shared rhythms and unshared individual interpretations.

The tribe of dancing ninjas, or whom educated intellectuals call “ la Fuga College” which two Italian words closely translate “escape, connect”, numbers are few but each member is accomplished and world renown. The ninja themselves use a name with no known pronunciation, they use a form of telepathic pathway communication that they demonstrate twice a year for the scientific community; they train in the arts of quickness and stillness. Their name that they called themselves is a secret only privy to those initiated in the practice of the art of movement and time. The mass of people just refer to them as dancing ninja’s rather than explain their own attempt of interpretation of such an eclectic group.

The crowd pumped to the rhythms surrounded by miracles and overcoming their own barriers to their speeds, they rejoiced. The crowd was witnessing The Kid in first person account, those of whom for the first time now believers of the impossible stories told of his incredible physical feats. It was a weekday morning and this crowd had dedicated their lives to the mindfull art of movement, music, and dancing.

The oldest man in the crowd stood hidden and silent; still and attentive watching the young man spinning and tricking in front of the stage. Maverick’s black hood shields his eyes from the colorful lights jettisoning from the dancing prodigy; his black muscle shirt and Asian black wide pants make him invisible to almost everyone. He watches quietly as an exhaled breath from the shadows. His dark eyes, tuned into various electrical impulses, have a fractal pattern on his iris that make up the space between the pure dark soul hole in the center and the pure white; his eyes alone are enough to make people curious to what he sees and thinks. He is the teacher.

For his entire existence Maverick has been at the helm of every social group he has been a part of. He was a child prodigy quickly breaking the limits of what the teachers of the day thought was possible; but he came smack into a wall of self and ego that he has spent most of his life in quite prayer and meditation keeping in check. He has amazing powers of strength and speed, although it is rare to witness him using his full skill set, other than at the demonstrations. Most only see him appear and reappear standing motionless and calm, a serene smile aglow on his black face. He is the kind of caring that only is created in the fertile muck of scar tissue, from a past that remains a mystery to everyone save the teacher himself.

The dance hall is dark; the lights illuminated from the dancing creature in front of the stage. Light shot out of his heart, his throat, and his forehead like lightning bolts of northern lights; the walls and ceiling lit in flashes of blues and reds. The ground under him was aglow in a ghostly yellow white illumination that grew brighter as he built speed and energy in his whirling elevated rotation. Colorfully painted and costumed humans of all fashions and forms surrounded the incredibly fast paced dancer; they danced at a human speed watching the demonstration of un-human speed and creativity with wide eyes and ear to ear grins. Their faces reflected the blue and red flashes emanating from the child dancer.

Maverick could see clearly in the dark dancehall. He watched sharply from the shadows, his lips parted in a slight smile. The room was jumping yet his trained eye could see six stalwart statues blended into darkness and almost hidden in their stillness. He could see their eyes, he watched their faces attuned like giant cats waiting to pounce, enthralled by motion, watching the slightest discrepancies of movements in The Kids fluent spins and jumps. Through nods and certain looks and unity in reality the seven ninjas telepathically talked between themselves.

They all agreed, never had any one move so fast. The Kid is so aware of the moment that he adds many slight rhythmical movements to the sound of 64 and 128 beats inside of themselves. Maverick imagined what The Kid must be feeling in his trancelike dance. Everything the kid did was intentional. Not one of the ninjas saw his face, not one of the dancing throng saw the black clad ninja disappear from their presence except for The Kid, who felt the seven ninjas appear above and behind the stage in the hidden temple. The D.J., stationed along with several skinny girls break dancing on the stage, continued to pour rhythms and momentum from the sharp crystal speakers leading the pulsating beat of the dancing crowd.

The kid disappeared in mid air right before their awed eyes. The throng of dancers cheered as if they just witnessed a miracle and the most immense astrological sky event in the history of the earth. The crowd roared with laughter and “oh yeahs!” The D.J. and band being on the scene long enough to have witness the speed of a ninja more than most kicked back into rhythm, the packed warehouse let go into magic movements attuning their bodies to horns and full on keyboard blasts inspired by the movements and speeds the young kid had just demonstrated.

Now everything is possible.

The break dancers on the stage were spinning on their backs and up onto their hands at ultra intense speeds, several people pulled off front and back flips in the crowd, a group of whirling dervishes spun in the corner of the room with peaceful smiles plastered on their faces; their white robes flowing a continuation of the moment.

The kid appeared before the ninjas in the upstairs room of sage and darkness; smiling a child’s grin he knew he wowed the elders. His sandy blonde hair exposed from underneath the front of his black hood, he was not breathing hard or even sweating. There isn’t a word to describe the level of quickness The Kid prodigy had reached, as if any of them talked anyway. The ninjas sat in silence and allowed the event to process in their minds. After a moment The Kid sat and slowed his thoughts to find and allow the true constant speed of reality; the blessed gravity level that all atoms spin at and stick to on this plane of time and space. They sat in a silent circle, each of them buzzing and humming with electricity, and beamed their intense happiness and light outward into the metaphysical universe of their minds. If one was close and telepathically imbibed they would here a sound of a high pitch ohm constant and continual, like angel’s harmonies through outer space, emanating from the motion less ninjas.

“Your brother is amazing!” The slim dancing girl yelled to the broad chested, twenty something, everyone calls Chester; the unnamed keeper of physical peace and known as one of the kindest kids to know.

“I am one of the oldest dancers in this room, or space ship, or submarine, or whatever the shape this places is taking; because we are definitely time traveling through space!” His eyes continually scanning the surface of the dancers, like a man standing on a beach before the expanse of a green ocean, watching and witnessing life before his very eyes, he smiled.

“That’s the same thing.” The girl tried to say as scientifically pleasing and “un-cute” as possible. “Any time you’re moving your time traveling, as such, any time your time traveling your moving. Even when you’re standing still you’re moving.” The girl said standing at Chester’s chest trying to get to know his knowledge of speed and the ninjas; he keeps it very chill.

“Life is good no matter where, or when, you’re at.” He said, smiling at her as she floated around him like a fluttering butterfly. He thought she was cute and knew her to be amazingly grounded for as many complex dual realities she has shown to express. “You are coming along in your understanding.” He said to the girl standing a foot taller than her. She smiled brightly radiating an angelic light.

Chester’s smile was the green light for the entire scene; if Chester is standing guard over the dance, then all is safe and O.K.

“Well it’s a blessing to be coming up with your brother. You know he has impressed the elders, and quite possibly drawn the attention of the king and queen of neighboring dimensions?” She said suddenly seriously.

“No, I was unaware of this development of those dimensional neighbors of ours. If you see them, tell them Chester said sorry for the loud music.” He eyed the crowd acting as if he did not care if the young girl wanted to be a ninja or whatever.

“It’s very real Chester!” The young girl scolded. “We don’t joke about these kinds of velocities.” She was definitely seriously now but quickly realized that she was talking to someone who has light years upon her. “Guess you get enough of it at home, huh.” She said softly.

Chester smiled at her understanding, and looked her in the eye one last time. ”Yup, taking care of The Kid is a full time job.” Showing her a taste of his aptitude he suddenly vanished, leaving her alone, smiling and impressed.

Upstairs in the temple, clad in plaid spinning in front of the seven sitting elders, The Kid had reached such a fast speed spinning that time around him had become aware of itself and slowed down, gelled, liquefied, slowed; the dancing practitioners sitting in a large circle around the spinning prodigy could feel the sloping pull of gravity lean and slope inwards on the rotating dancer.

The Kid spoke to all in the room, his face invisible in the whirl that has become him. He spoke to each of the fellow students in a voice made for each of their own personal understanding, “During the phenomenon of sustained high speeds, eventually the mind gets used too and accepts the up-tempo reality as the normal rate of consciousness; thus, allowing the mind to recognize the fast rate of speed as a starting point in the continually occurring moment. Once this is achieved the ninja can then jump from the spinning speed with a new and fresh body that feels like its standing still even though it’s moving very fast already.”

By now the plaid lit ninja only hit the floor for a split second in ten, his spinning body unable to be seen inside of his shape. This demonstration was for ninjas only in the temple of the warehouse, but has become the host spot for high-energy gatherings that bring the elite mind movers from all around the planet.

“Time is space and space is time.” The tattoo read in Sumerian on all of the feet of the dancing ninja. Quoting the first realization many ninja claim begins the long, and short, never-ending journey to enlightenment. The seven elders were very impressed with The Kid’s progress and the feats that he was able to pull off physically. But at his age, they were all in agreement and nodded; that to understand too much to fast could be detrimental to the development of the true sage The Kid was destined to become. They told him, as the night grew late, to take some time in meditation before he danced again; continue forward to stillness as well as forward to continued speed. The elders tried to instruct him of the importance of understanding the continuation of the speed of this dimension, the sacred forces of the gravity pull that keep all atoms in sync with each other here; able to understand each other and differentiate from each other.

The kid agreed to take three days of meditation at home before he would return to the temple.

All ninja spent the rest of the night in practice of absolute speed and sudden stillness, learning from the shape and features their bodies took when they stopped suddenly amid high-speed dance, instantaneously becoming motionless.

The ninja called upon The Kids closest friend, Pablo, immediately after The Kid had left the temple. Pablo is the entire temples little brother, they all like him and are certain he will make a good dancer one day. Having had become The Kids friend and dedicated sidekick The Kid opened up to him, and that is what they both needed most, a friend. Slightly overweight, the round Pablo is always smiling, laughing, or telling a joke. Always in it though, he was always in the know, he had probably the deepest sense of what warehouses like this are about; he just doesn’t communicate it yet. Pablo had become the sidekick little brother of everyone in the entire scene and was the youngest allowed around.

They conveyed in words to Pablo, watching his facial features for reflections of flickering and twitches that might signify that his mind truly does here the telepathic song; for the symbol of a brother (a sympathizer) is expressed best by the color gold. Is he using his correct eyes?

He is told to help The Kid in any way, to visit him so that he doesn’t feel separated from the family in his time away; most importantly to get The Kid outdoors as much as possible. Pablo nodded, waiting momentarily to be sure the teachers are finished speaking, and then he quickly was out the door.

It was three days later the ninja family saw Pablo. The elder ninja’s were crossed legged in a circle in the temple above the stage. The air filled with ohm chants and sage, bells chimed from nowhere. Pablo entered the room. No one moved but everyone noticed his disturbance; when an un-situated youth enters the space of the bells its like a fat kid doing a cannonball into a still pool or, in this case, a sacred hot spring. The sudden glass smoothness of the water reflecting the universe and all that IS shattered into patterns familiar and associable to each of the elder’s childhood pasts. They sat in contemplation, as every moment is an opportunity to learn, see, understand, contemplate, test, create, shine, and now, they watched the new bending surfaces. The ninjas gently watched the energies reshuffle and sort out in miniature entropy until they could adequately see the young boy’s constant pulsating emmitances. They triangulated his position and quickly became aware of a higher than natural sounding pitch resonating from him. He was in a state of alarm and sweating.

Pablo’s entrance interrupted the elder’s meditations as they had convened to locate the change in resonance each of them had been sensing in the universe but could not put their finger on. Something was happening in the cosmic wind. Something was new and they were in the midst of calculating and feeling it out. Possibly a comet turning into the trajectory aligning itself with the path of the Earth, possibly dimensions away a young ninja has been hit with the wind of ideas and one of them he interpreted how to propel his evolved race through space safely at speeds of light; whatever it is, it is greater than the constant fluctuation of energies from solar winds and microwaves that occur naturally.

The ninja facing Pablo opened a communication link with his eyes testing to see the boy’s telepathic prowess. It was a good sign that the young boy allowed the link to open. The young Pablo was unsure if he had the capabilities to communicate with the ninja. Knowing the ninjas rarely talk, and hearing rumors of the powers of telepathy, he tried to quiet his mind. His young untrained brain filled with all its loudness, movements and noise; multiple voices and echoes asked him the same question in unison. “What could it be that the ninja is concerned with you right now?” He heard repeating in his own head, unsure if the sound was also outside his ears. The same voices finished his own thought, “He’s inquiring to your presence and your troubled heart.” The calm voices echoed and repeated in his mind blending into themselves. Suddenly all sound in his head went quiet. The sudden silence sounded as if he was suddenly dunked under water in the middle of a giant dance hall. He was floating through quiet space with stars and universes surrounding him in all directions. The teacher Maverick enveloped the young boy in a dimension of his creation; in awe Pablo heard a soft stern voice surround him so gently it warmed his body and almost made him fall asleep. His eyes fluttered but he knew what the voice had said

“Very good young Pablo.” The sound of his name and the compliment made him smile and reality awoke him from the dream trance bringing his eyes back into focus. He was in a direct vision tunnel with Maverick; whose soft eyes and smiling black face glowed bright from the tunnels end and calmed his heart. “What then brings such turmoil to your troubled heart young Pablo?”

Pablo was hearing telepathic communication for the first time. All of his prior daydreams of what it would be like were quiet and disappeared in the very weight of ecstasy overwhelming anything but the connection with the Master Maverick; the most admired and still ninja on earth. Pablo tried to put into words the words he had heard that morning. “It is something The Kid said to me today.” He spoke through his lips and could hear telepathically first his message, then, after traveling through space and air, he heard his voice. “He, you know, is resting, trying to slow down, like you said for him to do, slow down. But he was in a very quiet sort this morning when I visited him. His eyes were so calm and placid; they were even green instead of his bright blue. He was super still and super calmed out. He wouldn’t talk. He just looked at me funny, but I couldn’t get him to talk until finally he spoke. He said something weird.

“What did he say” Mavericks words were deep baritone and calming to the anxious youth. Pablo took a breath then continued.

“He said, It’s all still, nothing moves, it’s all connected and nothing is moving. That’s what he said and then he sort of froze up like he became … “

The ninja’s eyes flew open like vampires who had just had a wooden stake driven through their heart. They were on their feet seemingly without moving and outside before Pablo even knew how he or any of them were even moving. He finally realized he was on the back of the ninja known as Tadpole. He was telepathically being asked how long it’s been since he saw the Kid. He could not answer; the speed of how quickly the seven were moving was stunning him into silence. They were not running or even flying yet the world was changing around them, adjusting scenes to the will of the powerful ninjas. He heard all of them in his brain gathering his memories, reliving and reviewing his relationship with the young prodigy for the past several days as he was told to keep an eye on him.

“Could it be?” They asked each other. He heard random words of their high-speed telepathic discussions. “Infinity, early enlightenment, connection, and death” were the only words he could make out. One of the ninjas shot him a message to calm his nerves answering his questions about their movements that he hadn’t even had the time to verbalize.

“Imagine a floating magnet in a field of energy,” the calm voice instructed of him, “tweak the electric inputs, thus changing the magnetic field,” he heard this transmission clearly and when the speaker spoke all of the other chatter went silent like a walkie talkie button being pressed. “What happens to the magnet?”

Young Pablo wasn’t sure who was speaking to him but he visualized the scenario. “It moves.” He nodded in enlightenment. He visualized the image of a small meteorite magnet zipping around a magnetic field as masters tuned the controls, the meteorite seeming to appear, then reappear in a different location. He felt the presence of a teacher, pictured in his mind’s eye, who thus was standing next to the table with the magnetic field contraption on it. It was Tadpole, the elder ninja whose back he was attached to.

Tadpole spoke from inside Pablo’s mental image, standing beside the table wearing a white lab coat, he spoke without moving his mouth. “An object suspended by properties such as a magnet in a magnetic field must be in the location the settings of the field around it determine. The magnet will be affected by forces until it reaches its point of equilibrium, the stable location balanced amongst the various forces pushing and pulling upon it.”

Young Pablo tried to grasp the entire scene while holding on tight to the elder ninja. The elder ninja said a quick prayer of concentration to be able to convey a pure message and image into the young ones mind. Their feet were well off the ground.

They were suddenly moving up the familiar stairs of Pablo’s best friend’s house, where he just was earlier that morning. The ninja quickly moved past the still life of Chester, The Kids older brother, standing frozen at the doorway with a grin plastered on his face like a man battling with a thing that they understand, yet can not defeat. He stood frozen and motionless, like time had stopped, Pablo only heard him telepathically say two frightening words, “He’s gone”.

The room suddenly went still. All seven of the black clad ninjas were now frozen afloat in space, time was slowed to stillness. The young prodigy sat erect as a bronze statue in the center of the room. His eyes are open and staring forward at nothing, his legs crossed, a slight peaceful smile graced his lips, his back straight in meditative pose; he reminding the young Pablo of a Buddha statue. Pablo’s thoughts were the only thing moving in him, even moving his eyes slightly took a long time and a lot of concentration. He saw from the doorway, were he was frozen beside the still life of Chester, the seven ninjas break the frozen stillness and fall out of the air landing softly on their feet. They circled the kid cautiously and in awe inspected him from all angles. A loud pulsating rhythm, that Pablo thought could only be the synced heart rate of everyone in the vicinity beating in unison, thumped loud as if the seven ninjas also beat a giant drum together with pond fronds.

The ninjas were back in Pablo’s head reviewing the memories of The Kid telling him that all was still. Maverick began to cry. They were happy tears as the hair on everyone’s skin stood over goose bumps. The Kids older brother Chester stood still in the doorway unable to move but telepathically told the seven what he knew and what time the air began to still.

“What is going on?” Chester asked in thoughts.

Maverick responded coolly, ‘This is what we are to achieve, this is what we live for; he has attained such high speeds, that he has now connected all of the separate individual aspects of matter in the space around him. It is as if he is moving so fast he has become connected to all things and thus, a part of all things. He is now the pulse of infinity, the song of the universe, the ohm of our dimension.”

In the soft universal voice the ninjas recited in unison an ancient prophecy they all new by heart. “The child will go beyond the boundaries of gravity and see the truth of time and matter, the atom link to atom outward and inward infinitely. All things are connected. All matter in time holds a place for the fastest vessel were all time, and all matter, is still.” The ninjas recited the prophecy in shock. They never suspected they would repeat the eternal prophetic phrase in their lifetimes; none of the temple saw this coming. In the learning of mental flight, from wings, to light, to instant connections there are many incarnations and obstacles that one must understand and overcome before they can achieve the proper observation of infinity. “How fast is The Kid?” The ninja thought

Pablo and Chester were in awe of the sacred ninjas being in awe. Still unable to move Pablo asked in thought, “Is he alive?”

Without hesitation Maverick’s voice could be heard teaching all other ninjas and those fortunate to be witnessing the cosmic event,

“He is very much alive. If we could truly understand reality this would happen to us, stillness. When the body and mind can move fast enough it reaches a speed beyond that of gravity and atomic separation bringing “The One” of all matter into view; now, The Kid is in the dimension of The One. Instead of moving through time/space, he is so fast, that he has connected to it all at once. He is moving but much to fast for us to see. He has gone, and might not come back. We can never know what he is witness too in his present state. The view of the shape of many dimensions, the view of dimensional history and future are privy only to him. We can only hope to learn one day. Stories as ancient as movement itself speak of ninjas who reach this state disappearing after three days. No one who has reached the eternal stillness, has ever decided to come back to tell of what they have seen. This, my friends, is the objective all ninja aspire to achieve.”

The seven ninja took each other hand in hand and, sitting in a circle surrounding the bronze statue of the kid, began to chant “Ohmmmm”. Their sounds vibrated the still hanging older brother and young Pablo who were still caught frozen in time and space, hanging, watching, and bearing witness to an event that has only been recorded three previous times since the beginning. No one wanted to blink as to not miss a moment, no one blinked. The energy of the room was charged with a vibrancy that made everyone glow with a soft white light; there was a certain sadness tucked behind the profoundly fascinating moment as it dawned on Chester that he might lose his little brother.

The chanting continued.

Outside the water molecules of a nearby stream ran over stilled salmon, a frog hung in mid leap; its swooping eagle predator held still in midair. For three days, the ninja prayed and meditated around the still bronze statue of The Kid. During the sunrise of the third day The Kid vanished, disappearing before the witness of the elder ninja’s unblinking open eyes. Pablo fell to the ground. A striking eagle swooped up a frog. The salmon ran.

Mark Stegman May 9, 2007

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Writer's Contest - 500 Word

2008-04-17T18:33:34Z

I'm busy on the 26th, but in case any of you are interested: http://www.writersweekly.com/misc/contest.php
It's $5 and through Angela Hoy's Writers Weekly site.

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Publishing Children's Literature

2008-04-06T06:58:06Z

One of the students in my workshop has written some great children's stories, but I'm clueless about publishing in this genre. Is anyone familiar with it? Or know of some good resources?

posted in Writing Fiction - 1 reply

Hello, everyone

2008-04-04T17:28:16Z

I joined this tribe a moment ago. Looks like a cool spot. I wanted to introduce myself, and tell you that I look forward to seeing a lot of good people and information here.

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Amazon getting too big for their britches

2008-04-01T16:25:36Z

check out what Amazon is doing, this is for real:

Dear Author,

PublishAmerica is intensifying its ties with BarnesandNoble.com as its primary online vendor. At the same time, we are devaluating our relationship with Amazon.com. Unfortunately, we are doing this under pressure.

Amazon has informed us a few days ago that they are insisting on printing every PublishAmerica book they sell, in their own recently bought in-house digital printing facility. We have been given just over two weeks to comply. Their ultimatum implies that PublishAmerica must submit almost 60,000 separate book files (text and cover), and redo every single one of them so they conform to the complicated technical specs that Amazon's in-house press requires.

They also demand a huge increase of their own profit-per-book, which would lead to dramatically lower royalty payments for our authors on all books sold through Amazon.com. Amazon's threat: if you do not play ball, we will disable the "Buy" button for your books.

Not surprisingly, PublishAmerica refuses to be swayed by anyone's strong-arming tactics, big name or otherwise, especially given the fact that budging would mean an additional expense on the publisher's side of tens of thousands of dollars, on top of the unacceptable royalty losses for our authors.

When they tried to force our hand in the past, Amazon representatives have suggested that PublishAmerica should simply pass on its Amazon-caused expenses to its authors. Of course we have refused this. PublishAmerica never charges its authors as much as a single penny, ever. We are not going to change this winning policy under the threat of anyone's intimidation, nor are we willing to involuntarily accept any royalty cuts on behalf of our authors.

PublishAmerica's almost 30,000 titles remain available to Amazon, and we will continue to also make all future titles available to them. Amazon continues to be able to access our books the same way they, as well as all other retailers, have always accessed them, through at least four separate venues. One of those venues is LightningSource, a daughter company of the world's largest book wholesaler Ingram, which prints our books for retailers. (Amazon was attempting to take away a portion of this printing volume from Lightning Source until we prevented it.) If they want to obtain any PublishAmerica title, they can at all times, as they always have.

PublishAmerica's books will furthermore continue to be available to just about every other book retail venue as well, including all Barnes and Noble, Borders, Waldenbooks, Books-a-Million and many other chain and independent bookstores, and to online outlets such as BarnesandNoble.com.

Barnes and Noble remains PublishAmerica's number one customer: more of our books have always been sold through Barnes and Noble and that company's online store than through any other vendor. Given the new circumstances, we now fully anticipate significant sales increases through BarnesandNoble.com and other places.

Thank you for your support. If you feel inclined to let Amazon.com know what you think of their actions, we encourage you to contact them at cust.service@amazon.com or call them at 206-266-1000 or 1-866-216-1072.

Thank you,
PublishAmerica Author Support Team

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"Tom Rainmaker" A short story

2008-03-28T02:19:25Z

Tom Rainmaker had a wonderful life, a long life that now, in the cool afternoon fall was coming to an end. His wife sits beside the medical bed set up in his room caressing his grey thin hair; her smile sad but filled with happiness of a life of great memories. Three fully grown children stand underneath the window outside amongst scrambling children talking nodding crying. The sound of the children rising up into the air wafting through the window and into Toms dying ears mixed with the magic smell of decaying leaves sparking memories of his own childhood life. His minds eye raced, he heard his mother calling him at this same house, she stood at the door with a dish rag in her hand wearing a golden sundress sparkling in the summer sun. He wiped his boyish hands on his muddy overalls and stuffed the frog into his breast pocket “coming,” he mumbled as is eyes fluttered in dream. His wife’s eyes filled with the ocean. Tom felt her tear on his cheek. Beneath the fluttering eyelids he stood in the drenching rain calling out to her, His muddy overalls changed for a dripping brown military uniform and black shoes. He screamed at the old farmhouse until the lights started on. His huge grin revealed his perfect white teeth. The rain fell around him, Her dad appeared on the porch, she appeared in the window. I love you” he screamed through the pouring rain. “I love you and I will marry you”. I can not die! and will not die over there! I will be back and ill marry you.” Her tears were the same as she waved from her bedroom window sad, sweet buetiful tears that fell now at his deathbed. His mind moved onto the vivid memory of the war and the scars that forever changed his entire understanding of life. His back against the dirt berm of the bunker, explosions all around his friend John from Omaha dead’s eyes staring at him, his body torn off at the waist. Awake for twenty four hours the cammand came, charge!! This is it! Run straight into the wall of bullets and cannons. As he turned to jump out of the bunker into the face of hell he didn’t think of the Charlie horse in his thigh, or the cuts all over his body, All he thought of and all he saw was her. He ran toward her. His uniform pristine and starched now black shoes polished hit the train station platform running through a glorious celebration of the survivors he dropped his bag and swooped her up in his arms spinning her around shedding all the horror right there in the train yard seeing only his wife crying shrieking as he held her caressing her head now as she sweated. “Push now! Push now! Almost there!” the doctors voice bled into the sound of the crying baby and the silence of the struggling mother. He looked at his lover you did it baby it’s a boy you did it, I love you. “
She caressed his head now looking down at her lover grey and accomplished. Their children came in the room together sorrounding their beloved father’s bed. They took his hand and their mothers hand. “Remember my fourteenth birthday when dad slipped bringing in the cake with all the candles lit singing happy birthday and the glowing confection went flying through the air splatting right on the table. They all laughed with non focused eyes, lost in the sharp smell of memories. Yeah dad laughed and laughed and stuck a couple more candles in it and lit em and started singing again, happy birthday to you… that was too funny. We ate that cake right off the table. It was alright. They all laughed. Remember the time dad went sleepwalking
Toms eyes fluttred slower and separate, then they opened to see his buetiful wife above him and his three children around his bed all crying and smiling holding on to each other and holding on to him. He took a deep breath and smiling his infamous grin reached out for his wife’s face. Touching her face caressing her cheek he looked her in the eyes solomley and said “That was fun” . his words trailed off into a whisper, his arm fell to his side and his last breath exhaled. He was dead.
Tyler opened his eyes and the blur and disorientation began to wear off he came into focus. Coming back into reality he knew his friends he had grown up with were around him, he couldn’t here them yet though, he remembered taking a huge pull of smoke from a long pipe his friend Kevin made from tuotulin tusk. He began to hear their laughter. His vision came into focus, their they were, his friends he knew so well that they were made up partially of himself. “But how, what the Holy Shit.” His friends rolled with laughter around him. “You were out man, totally fucked up by the elhorn root, I tolled you that it’s a life altering trip man.’ ‘What? A trip?” What an unreal trip. He thought. “So real. M, M , My name was Tom Rainmaker, I had a famly, I was in a war!”
“Yeah, Yeah! heavy huh!”
“I was in a war too, I lived in a place called Germany. HEAVY trip man.”
Tyler looked at his friends, he knew they were real, Kevin, Tim, and Monica all watched him smiling at him. They had all went first on this new powder root given to them by a tribe elder. “How long was I out, the last thing I remember was hitting the tusk,?”
About twenty five minutes, you hit the pipe said something about your mom and fell back into the pillows that monica kindly set up for you. We told you that it is a doozy, you never done anything like elroot. Tell us about it. What happened to you.
Well, my name was Tom Rainmaker, I had a wife and three kids......

madmark

posted in Writing Fiction - 2 replies

RIP Gary Gygax, Co-creator of Dungeons & Dragons (X-posted)

2008-03-09T18:37:12Z

If it weren't for the creative guys at Tactical Studies Rules (TSR) I doubt we'd have the extensive fantasy- and mythology-based literature and games which are so popular and financially successful today.

Rest well, Gary.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gary_Gygax

Feiruz, a second-generation "gamer"

posted in Writing Fiction - 1 reply

Short Story Up

2008-03-03T21:49:28Z

Pen Noir (www.pennoir.org) has decided to put up a short story and some poems of mine on their website. Take a look if you're interested: http://www.pennoir.org/rachelolivier.html

They accept submissions year round.

Cross posted in SF/Fantasy Writers and Short Stories.

posted in Writing Fiction - 2 replies

Which how-to books have actually helped you?

2008-03-01T23:02:30Z

If you're like me, you've read dozens of them. But how many really helped? The five below have done the most good for me. I'd like to know which have done the most good for you.
Stein on Writing and
How to Grow a Novel by Sol Stein
Scene and Structure by Jack Bickham
Writing for Story by Jon Franklin
Elements of Style, Strunk & White

posted in Writing Fiction - 57 replies

BLACK MAGIC WOMAN

2008-02-09T21:29:27Z

It gives me immense pleasure to announce the publication of my urban fantasy novel, BLACK MAGIC WOMAN.

It’s in most bookstores, and available online from Amazon and other dealers.

Here are 13 things you didn’t know about BLACK MAGIC WOMAN -- both the plot and the book itself.

1. The hero (well, one of them), Quincey Morris, is the great-great-grandson of the
Texan who died at the end of the original DRACULA. Contending with
supernatural evil has become something of a Morris family tradition.

2. The book was released in the UK and Australia on January 8th. The North
American release date was pushed back to January 29th because of a problem at
the North American printer.

3. African “muti” magic sometimes involves the use of human organs – which must be “harvested” while the victim is still alive.

4. "White" witch Libby Chastain, Quincey's partner in the investigation, is
bisexual, and a devout practitioner of what she calls "serial monogamy."

5. Jim Butcher, author of the "Dresden Files" novels, was kind enough to read
the manuscript pre-publication. As quoted on the book's cover, he calls BLACK
MAGIC WOMAN "the best manuscript I've ever been asked to read."

6. Quincey Morris is terrified of snakes, having almost died from
snakebite as a young boy. If only he knew….

7. Simon R. Green, author of the John Taylor 'Nightside" novels, was sent an
advance reading copy of BLACK MAGIC WOMAN and said, "This is a novel that's packed with story and engaging characters, and I can't wait to read the next one."

8. "White" magic cannot be used to do harm to somebody -- which doesn't mean
that you can't use it sometimes to kick somebody’s ass, as Libby Chastain knows full well.

9. Waterstones, the largest UK bookstore chain, has designated BLACK MAGIC
WOMAN as its featured SF/Fantasy title of the month. It's got its own display
in each of their 300-some stores. And if that ain’t freakin’ awesome, I don’t know what is.

10. It’s possible to drive off a bunch of zombies without having to “kill” them. All you need is the right magic – and a skilled magician to use it.

11. The South African national police really does have an Occult Crimes
Investigation Unit, although my character, Garth Van Dreenan, is not based on any
real person.

12. Vampires really do hate sunlight. A lot.

13. When you make a deal with the devil, the notes come due in brimstone.

Thanks for indulging me, everybody. I hope I've piqued your interest and that
you'll take a look at my novel. I'm kinda proud of it.

Justin
www.justingustainis.com

posted in Writing Fiction - 1 reply

WRITERS WANTED...

2008-02-08T10:18:25Z

Poets, novelists, essayists, short story writers, playwrights, journalists...If you write and have a site that you would like to like to mine, then I would like to hear from you. A reciprocal link will seal the deal...PLUS you will also have access to my new blog, where you will be expected to post your excerpts and related material on a regular basis. Oh, wow! He’s got to be kidding! All of that FREE publicity and exposure!

Ayup...I have my reasons. But I’m also very interested in helping to promote my peers whenever and however possible. And my current project just worked out that way. So, if you interested, please get back to me ASAP. There will be limited space!

The 2 sites in question are as follows:

The Portfolio: http://rdklove.googlepages.com- (Your link will be on a separate page, called “Artistic Links”, created especially for this purpose.)

The Portfolio Blog: http://rdkpf.blogspot.com/ (Note: Although brand-spanking new, this blog has been highly syndicated, promulgated, listed and advertized in about as many ways as I know how and is already getting “unsolicited hits” from visitors from everywhere. Witness the “Recent Visitors” button on the right-hand side tab and the number of directories/syndicators listed there, as well, which are only a fraction of the actual total; which is to say: if you post something here, it will be getting national and, quite likely, worldwide exposure. Also, please note that links back to your sites and/or storefronts will not only be allowed, but also encouraged. This is a win/win, folks!)

Serious inquiries only, please.

RD Kennedy

For those of you who are NOT writers but enjoy quality literature, this also applies to you, because ALL visitors/readers WILL be allowed to post comments on the work they read. You may also know happen to know some writers, who are always looking for another place to promote their work and gain additional exposure. (We’re almost as bad as musicians!) Be SURE to spread the word and ask them to check this opportunity out, as well. You know how it works...

rdk1421@hotmail.com

(Please mention WRITERS WANTED in subject line!)

posted in Writing Fiction - 0 replies

Pen Noir Accepting Submissions

2008-02-05T20:28:22Z

Pen Noir is currently accepting submissions.
We publish poetry, short fiction, and creative nonfiction with a shadowy edge. This does not mean that your work should feature mass murder, S&M or suicide (though if that's what you write about, by all means, submit it). We're looking for work permeated by a dark aesthetic or sensibility. Traditional and experimental forms are welcome.

Length for prose: 8,000 words maximum.
For poetry: Submit between 1-4 poems.
No previously published work.

Submissions are read year-round. Our editorial staff is composed of volunteers, so please allow up to 6 months for a response. Once you are notified that your work has been accepted, it will appear on the webzine for one month. Simultaneous submissions are accepted, but notify us immediately if your work is accepted elsewhere. We wish we could offer payment, but cannot at this time.

Art Submissions are greatly encouraged. Please submit art via e-mail in .jpeg form.

All submissions must be submitted in the body of an e-mail to:

pen_noir@yahoo.com
www.pennoir.org

posted in Writing Fiction - 1 reply

editing services

2008-01-31T00:07:40Z

We all have friends who don't mind reading our work and giving some feedback, but when you really want to get a piece ready to "go out," who do you turn to? Anyone with any really great editing recommends?

I've personally used editingportal.com with great results. Rob's a friend of mine, so I'll admit to a certain bias, but I have yet to meet a sharper mind for grammar, punctuation, character and plot. His vocabulary is insane and, as a writer himself, he knows how to talk to writers.

Anyone else?

posted in Writing Fiction - 8 replies

Writer selected as Amazon ABNA Semifinalist needs your reviews/votes!

2008-01-28T15:23:15Z

My novel manuscript, THE SILENCE OF TREES, has been selected as a Semifinalist in the Amazon Breakthrough Novel Award. It's one of 836 excerpts chosen out of 5000 entries that were announced on January 15th.

My novel is set in Ukraine during World War II, as well as in Chicago in the present day. It draws upon the Slavic folklore and pre-Christian traditions of Eastern Europe.

This contest has been called the American Idol for Writers. Your review counts! So far, I'm in the lead but the other Semifinalists are quickly gaining. If you have a few moments, please visit the site and read and review my 14-page excerpt from THE SILENCE OF TREES.

The link is:
www.amazon.com/dp/B0011ZCAJC

The next stage of the competition asks Amazon customers to download, read, and review excerpts. Each review essentially counts as a vote, and the votes will be used in determining the top 100 Finalists, which will be announced on February 19.

Plus there are incentive prizes for reviewers!

For more information, you can also visit my website at www.thesilenceoftrees.com

I appreciate your review, as well as the reviews of anyone else you can forward this message on to.

Warm Regards,
Valya

posted in Writing Fiction - 0 replies

Dissonance Theory

2007-11-10T13:55:12Z

I wrote a story that was turned into a screenplay
for the apple insomnia festival
below is a link to the video
and the original story
i would like it if you guys saw both
and told me what you thought about them

http://edcommunity.apple.com/insomnia_fall07/item.php?itemID=545

http://blog.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=blog&Mytoken=71BEDB11-2F67-4455-A6425DFCF9463D5B9946567

posted in Writing Fiction - 3 replies

Nature Writers?

2007-10-19T05:27:09Z

essays, poems, prose, fiction, sci-fi, other?

are there any nature writers out there today in e-space?

deadline for the november issue of Why Vandalism?
October 29th, 2007

www.whyvandalism.com/
submissions page:
http://whyvandalism.com/submissions.html

posted in Writing Fiction - 0 replies

Apple Insomnia Film Festival

2007-10-14T22:12:08Z

did anyone else participate in this?
I would like to watch their results

posted in Writing Fiction - 0 replies

Fun Contest

2007-09-23T18:20:27Z

Friend of mine passed this on to me. You all might enjoy it. Write a werewolf story in 1000-2500 words by October 31. No entry fee. Could be fun......

http://www.darkrecesses.com/contest.htm

xposted on Scfi/fantasy writers tribe.

posted in Writing Fiction - 0 replies

thisisby.us

2007-09-23T13:41:10Z

hey i don't know if someone else posted about this site elsewhere on here, but...this is really cool for writers:

www.thisisby.us

posted in Writing Fiction - 1 reply

Print On Demand Type Publishers

2007-09-20T17:23:42Z

I have noticed that many authors, both new as well as established authors, have begun exploring and using print on demand type publishers. Lulu comes to my mind first but there are others. Does this trend seem like a viable avenue to get your words out there? Do writers that have used this format find that self promotion or their work to be a difficult task?
I am eager to hear opinions on this subject.

posted in Writing Fiction - 15 replies

Reviewers

2007-09-18T10:42:54Z

Hi everyone,

I've recently published a novel, A Divine War. It's about a fictional pantheon of gods who, having caused one of the worst droughts in history, are made to come to earth to sort the mess they've created. But things don't go quite to plan... I'm not overkeen on pigeon-holes but I guess this falls into fantasy/satire/comedy. Or just plain contemporary fiction. Anyway, I'm looking for reviewers. If anyone thinks they might be interested in reading, please let me know and I will send you a copy.
There are more details on my website www.lisaselvidge.com
Thanks,
Lisa

posted in Writing Fiction - 0 replies

fictional character's temporary insanity?

2007-09-03T16:35:24Z

I'm looking for a first person character in contemporary fiction who encounters temporary insanity (ideally episodic) in which they question reality itself. When they are not crazy, they are normal and solid. Any leads?

posted in Writing Fiction - 1 reply

How to Write Like Tom Robbins

2007-09-03T14:01:19Z

http://www.occultforums.com/bbs/showthread.php?t=9841

I was fascinated by this article posted in a TR tribe. I do a lot of free flow writing for first drafts with many revisions. That works pretty well for me. But trying to write a longer piece I do kind of struggle between the need to structure the work and the need to go with inspiration.

TR's approach interests me because I paint that way. In fact, I can't stand not to paint that way. Even though everything I've ever learned says to sketch out the basic outline, etc. I have this really weird quirk where I have to start in one place and work out from there or the piece feels fractured to me.

It never occurred to me to try writing this way. So, I think I'm going to try it out.

What do you think of it? Is it intriguing at all? Or does it just sound mad?

posted in Writing Fiction - 11 replies

Thanks

2007-09-03T06:20:07Z

I just want to thank you all for some of the good advice I've received in this forum. When I think about what I've learned about writing as well as getting my writing out there and about some of the advice I'm now giving to others, it's a lot like the advice I got from writers here on tribe. I didn't always listen to the advice I got here and had to learn it the hard way, but here is where I got a lot of it, nonetheless. Thanks for taking the time to answer naive questions. It's helped a lot.

posted in Writing Fiction - 0 replies

Sites for publishing Erotica??

2007-08-24T05:19:41Z

This question most likely has been asked before and if so, please forgive me.

What are some suggestions concerning good sites for publishing erotic?

1.) Articles?
2.) Sort Stories?
3.) Novels?
4.) Letters?

a.) Online addresses?

b.) What about books and/or Magazines?

posted in Writing Fiction - 18 replies

Collaborative Writing Experiment

2007-08-12T21:04:35Z

Hello! I'm the new guy hereabouts; Jett is the name. I'm looking for writers, even bad writers (...hell, especially bad writers) for an experiment I'm conducting. Nothing serious, just a wee bit o' fun.

Years back, when I was a young buck, I attended a weekend-long Writers Workshop. There was a cash bar. I guess the event planners weren't thinking too clearly about the consequences of having 50-odd creative types all in the same place and drunker than skunks. Anyway, one of the exercises we participated in was a collaborative writing thing; one person—in this case, it was one of the guest writers, a fairly well-known University of Texas professor with a few published books under his belt—started a story with a few paragraphs using any writing style and any genre they wished. At leisure, the other attendees could come up and add a few paragraphs, or a whole page (no more than that), to the 'starter', again with the stipulation that it could be any writing style and any genre. As they day wore on, and we got progressively more loose and/or intoxicated, the tale really began to take on a life of it's own.

At the end of the day, we had a rambling story that ranged from well-written and sensitive, to blank verse, to to shabby and inexplicable. It started off as an 'English period drama' type piece and slowly morphed into sci-fi, hard-boiled detective, erotica, fantasy, western, philosophical, religious...even children's lit with cute, fluffy animals. Characters came and went, the protagonist was killed off (and later resurrected), and the story changed locations as often as it changed genres. The end result was absolutely, side-splittingly hilarious.

That's what I'm shooting for. I found this free service called Writeboard that allows users to post written work on the 'net that can be added to and/or edited by anyone with the right password...kind of a big, virtual chalkboard.

If you want to participate, drop me a line, and I'll give you the link and password. After that, just add in whatever you want in the form of a comment (I'll edit it into the story as time permits). No rules on content; just keep it reasonably short(-ish), maintain some loose sort of continuity, and have fun. Altered consciousness not necessary, but welcomed.

posted in Writing Fiction - 0 replies

Sample Script/Novel Writing Workshop - YouTube video

2007-07-28T17:27:00Z

Hi All,
There is this free 90 minute video story engine I found that the author is putting up online as a sample from her new video workshop "Writing A Great Script Fast." This thing is a 20 hour DVD class that walks you through ALL the steps you need to think about when writing a script for a film or a story for a novel.

Check out the sample YouTube files online it looks pretty cool:

http://www.mindseyemedia.com/Steps/step1intro.html

Just thought I would share the information as a great resource. Walks you through a simple version the 20 hour workshop.

I'm lovin' it!

D

posted in Writing Fiction - 0 replies

The long lost secret of the Incas

2007-07-06T16:09:45Z

In his book "Bambi vs. Godzilla: On the Nature, Purpose, and Practice of the Movie Business," playwright and movie director David Mamet offers the following three questions as "the long lost secret of the Incas."

1) Who wants what from whom?
2) What happens if they don't get it?
3) Why now?

For every successful scene, a writer must know the answer to these three questions (and convey it to the audience.)

Submitted for your approval...

posted in Writing Fiction - 0 replies

Online fiction writing class offered this fall ... $78

2007-07-02T20:21:27Z

Viscount John Morley called creative writing the “most seductive, the most deceiving, the most dangerous of professions.”

Find out what all the fuss is about.

Writing Short Fiction: a fully ONLINE course offered through Ohlone College
begins the last week in August 2007
16 weeks of stimulating instruction for only $78!

We’ll write until our fingers are numb, taking inspiration from contemporary writers such as Lorrie Moore, George Saunders, and T.C. Boyle.

For more information, or to enroll, email the instructor at jhurley@ohlone.edu

Jennifer Hurley is an assistant professor of English at Ohlone College in Fremont, CA. Her writing has appeared in various literary journals, including The Mississippi Review, The Green Hills Literary Lantern, and Natural Bridge. She spent the month of January as a writer-in-residence at OBRAS in Portugal, where she communed with wild pigs, doused herself in red wine, and started writing her first novel.

posted in Writing Fiction - 0 replies

San Francisco Writer's Group (Forming?)

2007-06-12T17:44:27Z

I am considering either forming or joing an already established fiction writing group here in San Francisco. I have been searching CL and Googling writing groups and classes and find there to be a real shortage of peer groups...I wonder why?

The idea (inchoate as all my ideas) is to find a small group...5-10 people...who are willing to meet/read/provide feedback either at various coffee shops around the city or people's homes if they are willing to host etc. I would love it if we could have a some experienced writers of fiction to join. I am a published journalist with a load of unfinished fiction that I would like to (need to) expand and develop into short stories and hopefully, eventually a novel or three.

I am very open to thoughts and ideas about how all this should work and I would like some balance as to the gender, ethnic and racial composition of the group.

Before I start rambling (or have I already begun?)...

posted in Writing Fiction - 1 reply

Anyone in Alameda, CA?

2007-05-30T21:49:06Z

Anyone on the island of Alameda, CA that is aware of the existence of a writing group already here that would welcome another writer or that would be interested in helping to form such a group?

Thanks.

A.

posted in Writing Fiction - 3 replies

Screenwriting, etc

2007-05-30T20:52:09Z

I have no idea how the screenwriting world functions or script writing or treatments or how any of it works, but at the end of this month my cousin, who's trying to get started in this business, is going to see what he can do here in California. Any ideas of where to go and how to get started? He went to film school and has done extensive writing for radio, and treatments, etc where he's from. But now he's trying to see if he can turn in that iron ring for a gold one.

Any suggestions on where to get started or how I might be able to help him?

posted in Writing Fiction - 2 replies

Writers Social Network Site

2007-05-30T20:50:35Z

Okay, tripped over this site today: http://www.writerscafe.org/

Haven't signed up on it. But it looks interesting. Just going through it. Thought I would post it here in case anyone one a) has ever seen it and knows about it and b) in case anyone else might find it interesting.

posted in Writing Fiction - 1 reply

'can you make a crackpipe out of...?'

2007-05-23T07:29:01Z

http://badmovie.tribe.net/thread/7ebf1b10-2738-45eb-8ad9-f78e32a80990

posted in Writing Fiction - 0 replies

Social Sampler - a new social networking event

2007-05-20T02:28:58Z

Social Sampler
meet other people who like to talk about writing fiction. we have a conversation table for like minded fiction writers...

http://www.SocialSampler.com

Try something new... Meet someone new...
28 activities 7 rooms 6 hours 300 chairs 10,000 square feet
6 pm to 12 midnight Saturday May 26
$12 general - $6 Students with ID
each Fourth Saturday of the Month
Oakland Veterans Hall
200 Grand Avenue, Oakland CA 94610
info Scott (650) 326-6265
scottFNW@pway.com
Light refreshments. Large parking lot. Casual comfortable attire. All ages.
Average age 30. Average attendance 150 - 250.
A non alcohol event. Join, watch, or wander activities. several helpful hosts

CONVERSATION TABLES: Movies, Books, Relationships, Culture, Tech, Dining, Humor, Random Chat, Artists, Networking, Writers, Harry Potter, Pets, Weather, Vacations; DANCING: Waltz, Swing, Latin SOCIAL : Board games, Card games, Social games, Sing alongs, Script Read alouds, Costumers club, Toys, Food sampler

Conversation Tables
Each Conversation table has a different theme such as Movies, Books, Relationships, Culture, Tech, Dining, Humor, Random Chat, Artists, Networking, Writers, Harry Potter, Pets, Weather, and Vacations.

Each table has a deck of cards with a different topic on each card. Each card is turned over one at a time. People talk about the topic as they wish until everyone who wants to talk is finished. Then the next card is turned over. For example, for the Movie Table, topic cards include “Your favorite movie?” “Your favorite actor?” “Your worst movie experience?” “Your favorite theatre” “Your favorite movie snack?”. Similar topic cards decks are set on each conversation table. You may participate or just listen. You may join or leave any table at any time. There is a host at each table to answer questions.
Movies Table May 26 -a table each for Spiderman III, Shrek III, Pan's Labyrinth, movies in general.
Books Table Recent book discussion, writing, literature, business of authorship
Relationships Table Romance and Relationships discussion
Culture Table Symphony-dance-opera-ballet-theatre
Technology Table Technology, computers and science fiction
Dining Table cooking, fine dining, restaurant, food, cooking experiences
Humor Table Read Jokes, write cartoon captions
Random Chat Table There are 100 cards: "What was the oddest thing you have ever seen?""What is your worst hair day?" “What was your worst job experience?" "Most embarassing moment?"
Artists Exchange Table Exchange techniques, shows, art
Networking Table Business Networking: startups, marketing strategy, IPO, financing
The Writers Exchange Table mutual help for new writers and authors
Harry Potter Table movies, books and trivia
Pets Table cute pet stories, pet health
Vacations Table favorite vacations, budget vacations, dream vacations
Weather stories Table Everyone has interesting stories about weather. Blizzards, hurricanes, earthquakes, hail

Dancing
Waltz Dancing Dj music for Waltz, Polka, Congress of Vienna, Bohemian National Polka
Swing Dancing Dj music for Lindy, East Coast Swing, West Coast Swing, Shag, Balboa, Blues dances
Latin Dancing Dj music for Salsa, cha cha, samba, mambo, bachata, cumbia dances

Games Room
Social games including charades, acronamatic, the question game, story time, WHAT IF? There are social board games in the room: pick up a social board game, select a table, and invite other to play with you. You may leave any game at any time. All games stop after 30 minutes so that everyone can try other games.

Board games including cranium, outburst, monopoly, Pictionary. There are social board games in the room: pick up a board game, select a table, and invite other to play with you. You may leave any game at any time. All games stop after 30 minutes so that everyone can try other games

Card games including Hearts, Holmes Card Game, Magic: Mamma Mia, other. There are many decks of cards and many specialty card decks. Pick out a game, select a table, invite others to join. You may leave any game at any time. All games stop after 30 minutes so that everyone can try other games.

Social Rooms

Toys
Legos, Tinker Toys, K’nex, Erector sets, modeling clay, group jigsaw puzzles, crossword puzzle. You are welcome to play with the toys and invite others to join you.

Script read-alouds
reading aloud scripts from TV, plays, movies, such as the Simpsons, Seinfeld, Friends, Mash, All in the Family, Hamlet, Shakespeare in Love,Buffy, Coupling, American Beauty. There are many scripts on the table. Pick one that you would like to read aloud. Select a table, invite others to join in. Everyone selects a character, and start reading aloud.

Food Sampler There is a different food sampler each Social Sampler. Some food sampler themes are ice creams, chocolates, coffees, potato chips, cookies. Odd Ice Creams with be sampled for May 26: Avacado, Buko (Baby Coconut), Ginger, Green Tea, Halo Halo (Buko, Langka, Ube, Pineapple, Mongo &Sweet Beans), Langka (also known as Jackfruit, a relative of the Fig), Lychee, Mango, Thai Tea, Sweet Coconut, and Ube (purple Yam).

Costumers Club activities include swap or sell fabric, clothing, or costumes' sewing circle talk; or meet potential new clients about new costumes, tuxes, or gowns; or finish a costume in a 'stitch and bitch' session. This is a group for costumers and seamstresses who make costumes, gowns, wedding dresses, and clothing for such events as Renaissance Faire, Dickens Faire, Science Fiction costume masquerade balls, Halloween balls and events, Sea of Dreams NYE, Anon Salon events, Costume cons, Belly Dancers outfits, Greater Bay Area Costume Group events, Art Deco's Gatsby picnic, Newport Week, San Francisco Waltzing Society, Friday Night Waltz New Year's Eve formal Waltz Balls, Peers and Gaskells formal balls.

Sing alongs
Sea Shanteys are songs traditionally sung by sailors to accompany and set the rhythm for certain kinds of heavy, repetitive work on board ship—raising and trimming the sails, raising the anchor, and working the pumps.

Musicals are the songs from musical plays and movies, such as Sound of Music, Grease, Singing in the Rain, Brigadoon, Hair, My Fair Lady, Oklahoma, Guys and Dolls.

Folk songs are just that: traditional folk songs

posted in Writing Fiction - 1 reply

Fiction writers, you might be interested in

2007-05-11T18:23:06Z

Hi,

Some of you might be interested in a new site I was involved in setting up

www.portrayl.com

It's basically a writing site where writers can post and showcase their works (fiction included!) with a cool little twist: other people can add onto the stories creating new stories going in a different direction.

The site is completely for writers (I do try my best, and have also posted some chapters on the site as nshah, but I'm no writer), so if you have and suggestions for the site or if there is anything you would like to see on the site, please reply to this post or let us know directly. It's for you, so you should be able to enjoy using it.

Thanks for reading everyone
Neeraj

posted in Writing Fiction - 0 replies

MFA programs

2007-04-26T20:40:17Z

That's where I'm at right now --

Here's what I'm looking at (note to self...)
http://tinyurl.com/2mdpnn

posted in Writing Fiction - 0 replies

always accepting submissions

2007-03-24T15:30:13Z

always accepting submissions
why vandalism? is an online arts journal currently accepting submissions from visual artists and writers of poetry, fiction, and gonzo. We also publish original art/film reviews and essays.

www.whyvandalism.com/

posted in Writing Fiction - 0 replies

My 1st Contest

2007-03-22T16:57:10Z

If you read my first chapter and join gather.com to vote on my Burning Man Inspired Manuscript it just might make it to the next round.

www.gather.com/viewArticle.jsp

The winner gets published. This is their first competition, hopefully more will come.

Thanks,

Clear

posted in Writing Fiction - 1 reply

PODCASTING YOUR WRITING FOR FUN AND PROFIT

2007-03-18T02:58:16Z

Are you aware that you can podcast (talkcast, MP3) your writing on www.talkshoe.com and be paid every time someone listens to your talkcast? I'm podcasting a murder mystery GATHERING TERROR, chapter by chapter. It's all FREE whether you create a talkcast or just listen. Click link (or paste into the URL box) for a sample. Easier still, log on to www.talkshoe.com and type Dick Harrison in the Search box to listen to any talkcast.

GATHERING TERROR A spine-tingling murder mystery about a serial killer who taunts police and leaves limericks containing clues at each crime scene.
http://www.talkshoe.com/talkshoe/web/audioPop.jsp?episodeId=9220

GATHERING TERROR - Chapter II This podcast continues the story of the limerick writing serial killer - another murder more horrible than the first, and another taunting rhyme!
http://www.talkshoe.com/talkshoe/web/audioPop.jsp?episodeId=9619

GATHERING TERROR – Chapter III In this spine-tingling podcast, Detective Ed Lear receives a very threatening message from the limerick writing serial killer in an unusual way, in an unusual location. It made the hair on the back of his neck stand up - yours, too.
http://www.talkshoe.com/talkshoe/web/audioPop.jsp?episodeId=10428

GATHERING TERROR – Chapter IV In this spine-tingling podcast, Detective Lear makes a startling discovery when an employee from the city dump calls about finding a "rubber lady." http://www.talkshoe.com/talkshoe/web/audioPop.jsp?episodeId=11556

If you are member of www.Gather.com, you can leave a comment to the mystery and you may become part of the story:

posted in Writing Fiction - 1 reply

Pen Noir ~ Web Zine Call for Submissions

2007-03-16T01:53:07Z

Pen Noir is currently accepting submissions.

We publish poetry, short fiction, and creative nonfiction with a shadowy edge. This does not mean that your work should feature mass murder, S&M or suicide (though if that’s what you write about, by all means, submit it). We’re looking for work permeated by a dark aesthetic or sensibility. Traditional and experimental forms are welcome.

Length for prose: 8,000 words maximum.
For poetry: Submit between 1-4 poems.
No previously published work.

Submissions are read year-round. Our editorial staff is composed of volunteers, so please allow up to 6 months for a response. Once you are notified that your work has been accepted, it will appear on the webzine for three months. Simultaneous submissions are accepted, but notify us immediately if your work is accepted elsewhere.

All submissions must be electronically submitted to:

pen_noir@yahoo.com

www.pennoir.org
www.myspace.com/pen_noir

posted in Writing Fiction - 1 reply

Plugging Shamelessy and Cross Posting

2007-03-16T01:50:59Z

The writer's group I belong to is trying to get more members so we can become chartered. We're in Mid-Wilshire (there's another branch in Venice that is trying to become chartered there if you're interested in that one instead). We're part of the California Writer's Club (www.calwriters.org) and meet once a month to discuss topics of interest to writers like contract signing, copyrights, ebook publishing, etc. If you're interested, our next meeting is March 3, 2007 3-5 pm at the Fairfax Branch Library on Gardner near 3rd. Not sure when the Venice branch meets, but I could find out the info for you if you're interested. We'll also have a booth up at the LA Book Festival in April, I believe.

So, come join us if you're interested.

posted in Writing Fiction - 1 reply

Anti-heroes

2007-02-28T01:38:58Z

There are several degrees and permutations of anti-heroes, ranging from villains to off-beat, not by-the-book archetypes. I find one type particularly fascinating: the one who saves the day, doesn't want too--resists doing so--but recognizes that there is no one else to do the job. Can anyone recommend stories centered around such a character?

posted in Writing Fiction - 2 replies

Enfusemagazine Seeking Shorts

2007-02-27T05:55:32Z

Hiya Peeps,

Another quick note that Enfuse Magazine is always interested in your work. 70,000 + hits/month. Soon to be paying. Great place to publish.

Email Doc formats to editor@enfusemagazine.com

--Siveya Ethersmith
Editor of Literature
www.enfusemagazine.com

posted in Writing Fiction - 1 reply

POETS/WRITERS NEEDED to publish

2007-02-27T05:54:39Z

I AM AN AUTHOR/PUBLISHER
IN CANADA [WinePress]

I am re-publishing my first children's book:
"Tails from the Truthfairy"
poems, fables, lore, and stories ... a labor of love.
I am looking for story-writers, poets. and fairy-illustrators to collaborate with me on this project, want to make it a community effort, so writers can associate/network/and come together in a spirit of cooperation.

ISBN 0-9731363-6-7
© 2007 WinePress

In Canada you © your work free with an ISBN
Don’t know if it’s free in the states!
Books have a CIP and are registered with the Govt. Archives.
If you send me work the mere fact you sent it [save email records] is a good copyright.
I might not like it ... this is the danger. It has to sell !
I’m picky ...
U might get angry if I reject it, and even worse, not know what I have done with it, or if I stole it.
......... These are the risks. But rejections will be documented also by email records.

I would however like to find people to put into this with me, if you are savvy you can protect yourself, you can PM me, then we can connect via email, the work I need has to be at par in quality with Dr, Zeus, Aesop's Fables, Red-Riding-Hood, Legends, Folk-Tales, and stories with real value.

Profits will shared according to what goes in comes out, [don’t expect a lot!] ... I arrange, edit, publish, format, print, promote, distribute, and sell the work though channels I have developed over the years, as well as new ones I find along the way.
So my cut reflects this but I do not want to take bread from someone else’s table.
I currently write for 1 magazine, have over 50 published newspaper articles on current affairs, over 20 published poems, and 2 books published

Below is the kind of copyrighting and cataloging information you should expect.

All rights reserved, no part of this book may be reproduced,
stored in a database or other retrieval system, or transmitted
in any form by any means, including mechanical, electronic, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the written permission of the publisher.

Published in Canada by WinePress

PRINTING HISTORY

Originally published under the title “Tales from the Truthfairy”
By Sacred Wine Press Duncan Canada © 2006
Duncan British Columbia © 2006

“Tails from the Truthfairy”
Copyright © 2nd Edition 2007
WinePress All Rights Reserved

Back cover Photograph © WinePress
Front Cover Art by Howard David Johnson
Inside Illustrations from clip art /local artists
Typesetting & indexing by
WinePress Publishing
Duncan British Columbia Canada

PRINTED IN CANADA

Library and Archives Canada Cataloguing in Publication
Dxxxe, Jxxxs, 1957-
I. Title. Tails from the Truthfairy / A collection of Children’s Stories & Poems / Volume 1 / by Jxxxs Dxxxe. – 1st ed.
ISBN 0-9731363-6-7 1. Poetry. 2. Children’s Stories. 3. Children. 4. Fables.

posted in Writing Fiction - 1 reply

New tribe for discussion on ezine and newsletter publishing

2007-02-15T18:23:00Z

Hi peeps,

We have a new tribe for anyone already publishing an ezine or newsletter or people that want to learn how.

This is a place to share ideas, ask questions, get answers or anything else to help our community evolve in ezine and online newsletter publishing tactics.

Please come join us at http://tribes.tribe.net/ezines

Peace,
Jopa
~~~~~~`

posted in Writing Fiction - 0 replies

Any advice on longer pieces?

2007-02-05T23:33:17Z

I'm currently working on a piece larger than I normally write. While still maintaining making every word count, like in the short stories, I'm finding myself perplexed when expanding. What I've done is to expand the details without going on a descriptive tangent, like Anne Rice does, and keep the sentences clean. How much detail to include, what is trivial fluff etc., these are the kind of things I’m dwelling on.

Are there any other good devices when writing in long form to remember? Any sound principles to use as a guide concerning filler?

posted in Writing Fiction - 6 replies

Writing goals for 2007?

2007-01-29T16:18:45Z

What are your writing goals for 2007?

I working to finalize a non-fiction book proposal I'm working on (I actually HAVE an agent for it already), and then get that book written. Then I want to finish up my current novel-in-progress. I'm currently working on an Adobe Classroom in a Book for InDesign for the upcoming new version. And that is due mid-March, so I have plenty of butt-kicking happening on that already.

What about you?

posted in Writing Fiction - 16 replies

Rewriting

2007-01-24T17:08:13Z

When you rewrite, how do you organize it? Do you make changes to the original or make a second draft with revisions? I'm starting to get feedback on my novel manuscript. It is my first one, so I don't have any system in place. Any ideas?

posted in Writing Fiction - 15 replies

old friends

2007-01-24T00:50:54Z

I've often made mention of my old Underwood and how I miss it. True the PC and Word Processor have been a Godsend, but I can't help romanticizing typewriters. Anyway, I found this site and thought to share with those having the same penchant for the antiquated.

http://www.typewritermuseum.org/index.html

posted in Writing Fiction - 8 replies

How to submit a manuscript (x-posted)

2007-01-23T20:13:53Z

This is just too funny...

http://www.sfwa.org/writing/howto.htm

posted in Writing Fiction - 1 reply

Can anyone tell me...

2007-01-21T05:46:27Z

I'm trying to figure out how many pages of standard type go into filling a standard paperback page. I'd guess quite a bit less but really have no idea and I'd like to know so I can estimate how many short stories it will take to do the job of filling a book. The publisher usually fills about 250 pages in his own books and says anywhere between 150 and that is what I should shoot for. So, what does that roughly translate to, any guesses?

posted in Writing Fiction - 17 replies

Cross-post-I need to get out more

2007-01-17T16:01:45Z

I just realized that I have two manuscripts I am working on, one novel and one short story series, and in both I have the main character going to see a concert!

I am a little stuck about creative ways to write about being an audience member at a show. It doesn't have to be lengthy, but it is a part of the story.

This kinda cracks me up that I would get writer's block at the same place on two totally different stories.

Any thoughts! I need to get out more? This IS an area where I need to fill the well a bit, I think!

posted in Writing Fiction - 5 replies

Gather Correspondent Corps

2007-01-03T15:27:21Z

Here's an interesting opportunity recently posted at:

http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.jsp?articleId=281474976870966

Introducing the Gather Correspondent Corps
by Gather Bureau Chief
December 27, 2006 04:39 PM EST (Updated: December 27, 2006 05:02 PM EST)

Are you the world's biggest politics buff or movie maven? How about news junkie or travel lover?

We are thrilled to announce that we are currently seeking great writers -- on a variety of topics -- to become members of the Gather "Correspondent Corps" for the upcoming launch of our nine new content Channels. Gather is now recruiting excellent writers who are passionate about a particular topic area and looking to engage with a national audience. We will only be selecting 70 writers nationally to cover the following Channels:

Books & Writing (8 Corps Members)

Food (6 Corps Members)

Health (8 Corps Members)

Money & Business (4 Corps Members)

Movies & Film (8 Corps Members)

Music (8 Corps Members)

News (10 Corps Members)

Politics (10 Corps Members)

Travel (8 Corps Members)

Selected Gather Correspondents will be responsible for publishing two articles each month in their assigned Channel. By becoming a member of Gather's Correspondent Corps you will regularly have your articles featured within your content channel and will earn significant exposure for your work across Gather's community of thought leaders. Corps members will earn cash as part of Gather's Earnings Program, and will additionally receive a $100 monthly expense stipend toward the cost of attending any events, buying books, products, etc. The best writers will also have the opportunity to earn quarterly bonuses and additional promotional support from Gather.

Interested candidates will find writing sample submission guidelines at:

Http://Bookcorps.gather.com

Http://Foodcorps.gather.com

Http://Healthcorps.gather.com

Http://Moneycorps.gather.com

Http://Filmcorps.gather.com

Http://Musiccorps.gather.com

Http://Newscorps.gather.com

Http://Politicscorps.gather.com

Http://Travelcorps.gather.com

All Finalists selected by Gather will be interviewed in person by a Gather representative visiting your city.

We hope that you'll submit a writing sample to join the Gather Correspondent Corps. Only 70 people from across the country will be accepted into the program across all nine Content Channels on Gather. This is a tremendous opportunity to achieve national recognition within one of the fastest growing social media communities.

We look forward to hearing from you,

The Gather Bureau Chief

posted in Writing Fiction - 0 replies

my ass is a ten-ton anvil

2007-01-02T06:04:12Z

...thats why I'm DRAGGIN' it.

What helps motivate you guys? I just can't seem to get my write on these days. The mere thought of actually sitting down to write makes me want to punch someone, but I'll gladly sit here and surf the net for hours. Poo! Poo on me!

Advice?

posted in Writing Fiction - 29 replies

Where to post my writing for critique?

2006-12-27T01:37:08Z

I am new to tribe.net so please forgive me if I am asking a question that have been asked many times before. Where may I post my writings so I may receive an honest critique from fellow writers?

posted in Writing Fiction - 1 reply