Archives at Zinester: The Obsessed Writers Group May Mid-month Madness Newsletter. Obsessed Writers Group. Writing

Hi Fellow Obsessed Writers:

So much for the warm, spring days of earlier this month! The temperature in Ontario has dropped to a mere 40 degrees and the cold north wind is keeping the air very crisp. The only good thing about this cold snap is that it is keeping me indoors and I am busy writing. I am still working on my quota although I have found I am slipping a bit lately.

Now that it is official and my publisher has suspended operation, I am actively seeking a new publisher for my children’s picture book, Church Mouse Poor. This time I am a little smarter so I will look for a publisher who is already in some major book retailers. It is going to be a long road again but I will just keep plugging away and pray that my manuscript catches the attention of an editor.

The mother robin that has taken claim to my back patio has been very busy this past week. Three little hairy heads can be seen wobbling around in the nest. Last year, she was the proud mama of five little birds but this year I have only counted three. Regardless, mama and papa bird are busy feeding their offspring and we are enjoying the activity outside our picture window.

I am off on hiatus for a few days at the end of the month. I am looking forward to taking some time to relax. Hopefully, I will return refreshed and renewed and ready to continue to pump out those queries.

This mid-month madness memo includes:

Mid-Month Markets - 5 New Markets
Fre*ebie Zone - 1 Great Fre*ebie
Contests - 2 Contests
Book Section - 4 Great Books for the Writer

Happy Querying!

Christine Cristiano

Editor-In-Chief

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Mid-Month Markets

Weekend Vacations

http://www.wamonline.com/writers.htm

Focus: travel destinations in Western Maryland, Potomac Highlands

of West Virginia, Laurel Highlands of Pennsylvania

Needs: Articles on outdoor adventures, historical places, dining out, getaways, day trips, attractions.

Pays: $50 per article on feature articles (over 1000 words)

Send queries to ideas@wamonline.com

US Airlines Magazine

http://usairwaysmag.com/pdfs/USAWwriterguide.pdf

Focus: air flight magazine

Needs: General interest pieces including pop culture, human interest, technology, science, sports, history, profiles, travel

Pays: $1.00/word for feature stories

Send queries to: edit@usairwaysmag.com

Journey Online

http://www.aaajourney.com/magazine/contact/wguidelines.asp

Focus: For members of AAA Washington

Needs: Articles on lifestyles, travel, automotive

Pays: Up to $1.00/word

Query to: NicoleMeoli@aaawin.com

Alabama Heritage

http://www.alabamaheritage.com/writers.htm

Focus: Quarterly historic publication

Needs: Nonfiction articles on Alabama's regional history, art, literature, language, archeology, music, religion, architecture and natural history

Pays: Paying market but rate not listed.

Submit queries via email to: heritage@bama.ua.edu

Hinduism Today

http://www.hinduismtoday.com/writers.shtml

Focus: For educated English speaking Hindus

Needs: Nonfiction articles of interest to Hindus on news, human interest, profiles, interviews, trend analysis, social issues, lifestyles, cultures, travel

Pays: 8 cents/word

Submit queries to: ar@hindu.org

Holidays, Observances & Commemorative Days

The holidays, observances and commemorative days presented here are listed in advance of the actual event to give you time to submit your work to your prospective market. Some markets required that you submit seasonal pieces well in advance so check the writer's guidelines thoroughly for any information pertaining to seasonal articles.

August 2008 is:

Monthly Observances

Black Business Month

Cataract Awareness Month

Children's Eye Health & Safety Month

Children's Vision & Learning Month

Get Ready for Kindergarten Month

National Immunization Awareness Month

National Inventor's Month

Spinal Muscular Atrophy Awareness Month

Weekly Observances

World Breastfeeding Week: 1-7

Simplify Your Life Week: 1-7

National Clown Week: 3-9

National Fraud Awareness Week: 3-9

Single Working Women's Week: 3-9

Intimate Apparel Market Week: 4-8

Psychic Week: 4-8

Elvis Week: 9-17

Knights of Columbus Family Week: 9-17

National Resurrect Romance Week: 10-16

National Aviation Week: 17-23

National Truck Driver Appreciation Week: 24-30

National Safe at Home Week: 25-29

Waffle Week: 31-9/6

Daily Observances

Girlfriend's Day: 1

US Air Force Day: 1

World Wide Web Day: 1

National Mustard Day: 2

Sister's Day: 3

Friendship Day: 3

Coast Guard Day: 4

National Chocolate Chip Day: 4

Hiroshima Day: 6

National Fresh Breath (Halitosis) Day: 6

Professional Speakers Day: 7

National Garage Sale Day: 9

Eleanor Roosevelt Day: 12

International Youth Day: 12

Vinyl Record Day: 12

National Underwear Day: 13

Best Friends Day: 15

National Men's Grooming Day: 15

National Relaxation Day: 15

Elvis Presley Remembrance Day: 16

National Homeless Animals Day: 16

Poet's Day: 21

(World) Daffodil Day: 22

National Waffle Day: 24

National Dog Day: 26

Women's Equality Day: 26

National Holistic Pet Day: 30

Poetry Pause

This month's poem was submitted by contributor, Kim Klugh . Thanks Kim!

Ever After

Sun still chases moon from the sky

leaves still curl and fall from trees

sparrows still gather at feeders to feast

tulips still thrust themselves upward

gasping for sunlight and breath

lambs frolicking in spring are still

shorn in time

for autumn’s country fairs

by day’s end

my eyes still grow heavy and close

then

dreams of you still sift

through stars pinned

across the velvet cloak of night

~~If you have a poem you would like to see published, please submit it to me at obsessedwriters@ yahoo.ca. Please remember to keep it to maximum 25 lines.

Contests

Literal Latte Short Shorts Award

http://www.literal-latte.com/contest_new.html#poetry

Category: Fiction up to 2000 words

Theme: Open

Prizes: 1st prize $500

Entry Fee: $10 per entry

Deadline: June 7, 2008

Entries via regular postal service. Please see website for address.

Literal Latte Poetry Awards

http://www.literal-latte.com/contest_new.html#poetry

Category: Poetry

Theme: Open

Prizes: 1st $1000, 2nd - $300, 3rd - $200

Entry Fee: $10 (up to 6 poems)

Deadline: July 15, 2008

Entries via regular postal mail. See website for address.

Fre*ebie Zone

Free writing workshops from Gotham Writers Workshop

Workshops held in New York City and vicinity

http://www.writingclasses.com/CommunityEvents/index.php

Great Writing Books

~~SPECIAL BONUS FOR NEWSLETTERS SUBSCRIBERS~ ~

~~RECEIVE A FRE*E CRITIQUE WITH EACH EBOOK ORDERED~~

Obsessed Diary of a Freelance Writer

By Christine Cristiano

Come along for the ride with freelance writer, Christine Cristiano, as she plows her way through the writing world. Experience her trails and tribulations as she experiences rejections and finally, acceptances for her work. Written in a diary format, this book is a must read for writers of all levels. Funny, poignant, honest and full of great tips for the aspiring writer.

Available at www.coolstuff4writers.com

The Shy Writer,

by C. Hope Clark

ISBN: 1-59113-583- 4, $14.95

www.theshywriter. com

Here you receive pointers on how to maneuver in the writing arena without the

social weight around your neck. And you will learn how to manage during times

when you absolutely have to make appearances you cannot dodge. What you

won't receive is a message telling you "to get over it." If you are a writer, are shy,

and don't want to "get over it," this is the book for you.

"Fantastic book!" - Margaret Carr, www.epressonline. com

"This is a book I know I'll read over and over..." - Jenna Glatzer,

www.absolutewrite. com

"It can make all the difference between success and failure in your chosen career!" -Midwest Book Review, www.midwestbookreview.com

*Writing Careers Guidebook*

Author: Nicole Allard

With the help of over twenty freelance writers, the author organizes information about writing careers. With descriptions for twenty-two career fields in writing, you'll also find links to resources and more. Writing Careers Guidebook is a helpful book for beginners wanting to educate themselves on the general definitions of job titles. Available at: http://store. payloadz. com/go?id= 10837

The Writer's Forum

http://store. payloadz.com/go?id= 10838

*The Writer's Forum*

Author: Nicole Allard

Over twenty freelance writers, including the author, share their experiences and advice about first projects, editors, rejections, query letters, common misconceptions, the best resources and more. Anyone interested in freelance writing will discover useful information and thought-provoking advice in this resourceful book.

Available at: http://store. payloadz.com/go?id= 10838

Writer to Writer

Writing Resource Spotlight

Creative Editing Solutions

Two sets of eyes are better than one!

Creative Editing Solutions gives you two editors for

one reasonable rate. Our award-winning team has

more than a decade and 300 manuscripts of experience.

Don’t settle for a third-world spell checker or English major!

Get a reader’s review.

Rates and references at Creative-Editing-Solutions@comcast.net

First Place Bookcase
FR*EE Book Promotion at the First Place Bookcase
www.firstplacebookcase.com
Home of the GIGANTIC virtual bookcase!
Finally! Something new to see on the internet.

Betty Dobson

InkSpotter Publishing
http://inkspotter.com
Quality newsletter and e-book publishing and editorial assistance.

www.CoolStuff4Writers.com

"Stay In Your Write Mind With Our Cool Stuff!"
Books, Articles, Interviews, Monthly Writing Challenges,
Merchandise, and the CoolNewsletter4Writ ers.

Janet Darbey is a freelance writer, editor , reviewer and researcher based in Greece. She writes short stories and articles, novels and reports. She writes on all subjects from travel to vegetarian cookery, children's stories to business copy. She is currently looking for paid writing work and challenging projects. You can read some of her work at her website at www.freewebs.com/corfuwriter

Read about her latest book "How to get started in writing" at

www.lulu.com/ JanetDarbey

Janet can be contacted via email: jjdarbey@hotmail.com

Writers Advice

www.writersadvice. com

Read author interviews, market information, and much more in WriterAdvice, www.writeradvice. com. Like what you see? To receive WriterAdvice notices INCLUDING REQUESTS FOR SUBMISSIONS, e-mail LGood67334@aol. com and put subscribe in the subject box.

Web Mystery Magazine

Rosalie Stafford is founding publisher of Web Mystery Magazine (http://lifeloom. com/webmysteryma gazine.htm), an on-line quarterly dedicated to investigating the mysterious genre in print, in film, and in real-life. Web Mystery Magazine (ISSN: 1547-9609) welcomes well-researched, well-written articles, reviews, and mystery fiction.

Cynthia Brian, Author

"Media coach, radio personality, speaker, and NY Times best selling author, Cynthia Brian, just returned from Bermuda where she was the enrichment lecturer on board Radisson Seven Seas Cruise Line. She will be the featured speaker along with her daughter, Heather Brittany, at Red Mountain Spa and Resort in Utah for Thanksgiving week of November 22-27. Your Life! Magazine just appointed Cynthia as the editor of their new feature, Your Woman of the Month. Cynthia will interview innovative women.Candidate submissions should go to Pamela LaGioia, the editor-in-chief, at her E-mail address: pam@yourlifemagazin e.com. Tune into Cynthia's radio show and find out more at www.star-style. com

Calling all writers! Do you have a writing related service, advertise it here! Our rates are very affordable. Please email obsessedwriters@ yahoo.ca for advertising rates.

Legal Stuff

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