October News, Events, & Links

PPW Events

This month, we're delighted to present two Write Brains, both free, as usual! We request you RSVP to each (RSVP is mandatory for the online only in order for us to send you the link to the online venue). Please put the date or topic in the subject line so we know which one you're RSVP'ing to (or both, if you'd like to RSVP to both). RSVP to rsvp@pikespeakwriters.com.

October 8 will be the bonus Write Brain, thanks to our partnership with Delve Writing. Presented by Chris Mandeville, NaNo What? Everything You Need to Know About NaNoWriMo will be online only from 6:30 PM to 8:30 PM. Since 1999 writers have been hunkering down for the month of November to attempt the monumental task of writing start-to-finish a 50,000 word novel in only thirty days: National Novel Writing Month, known affectionately as NaNoWriMo, or just "NaNo for short. November is just weeks away--find out now what NaNo is, what it can do for you, what you're "allowed" to do under the official NaNo rules, what NaNo "pirates" do, and how to have a successful NaNo experience whatever you do. Whether you're new to NaNo or a seasoned "WriMo," join us for tips and tricks that can help you be an uber-productive writer any month of the year.

In addition, we will be announcing the plan for NaNoTryMo at this bonus Write Brain! NaNoTryMo is the Pikes Peak Writers version of NaNoWriMo meant to encourage you, whether you're following the NaNoWriMo track or setting your own version. We'll be partnering with Delve Writing to bring a new twist to NaNoTryMo.

On Tuesday, October 15, we're pleased to welcome Jeanne Stein and Mario Acevedo at the Business of Arts Center in Manitou Springs. In conjunction with the Business of Arts Center and the Second Biennial Cross-Creations city-wide Gods & Monsters collaboration, they'll present Writing Monsters With Depth: Making Your Monsters Human. Vampires, werewolves, witches, fae—all traditional monsters that have become the heroes of their own stories. How does  a writer make a “monster” sympathetic, and who really is the villain when it’s a showdown between a mortal and a monster? Mario Acevedo and Jeanne Stein will bring their expertise on writing monsters with a depth of humanity to help you learn to do the same. The monsters aren't always the bad guys these days, and it's necessary to write them in a way that readers can identify with them.
More information available on the PPW Events tab above.

The September Write Brain, Advanced Plotting with Chris Eboch, can be found HERE. It will be transitioning to a password protected file soon, but we'll put that information on the website and the blog tab above.

Writer's Night will be Monday, October 28, 6:30 to 8:30 P.M., in the Principal's Office at Ivywild School, 1604 S. Cascade Ave.

PPW Open Critique will occur on Wednesday, October 16, 6:00 to 8:30 PM, at the Cottonwood Center for the Arts. The first 8 to RSVP may bring 8 pages of their manuscript to critique. More information on the Events tab.

Other "Local" Events

Rocky Mountain Fiction Writers has two online classes this month, in addition to their monthly free programming Saturday, October 26, 1:00 to 3:00 PM. Diving In, Characterization and Motivation will be presented by Courtney Koschel.

Colorado Springs Fiction Writers has various meetings throughout at the month at different locations. Visitors are welcome. 

Pikes Peak Romance Writers will welcome Terry O'Dell on Sunday, October 13, at the BAC in Manitou Springs. She'll present "What is Voice?"

Pikes Peak Pen Women will feature Kerstian Lieff, who will talk about the memoir she wrote of her mother's life. October 19, 11:30 AM to 1:30 PM, Blue Sage Café. $23 for non-members. RSVP required at info@ppb-nlapw.org.

The Rocky Mountain Chapter of Mystery Writers of America will have Dr. Jane Bock speaking about forensic botany and the Casey Anthony trial Thursday, October 10. $20 for the presentation and dinner.

KRCC/Radio Colorado College 91.5 FM welcomes Ira Glass of "This American Life" to the Pikes Peak Center October 12. Performance is at 8PM, doors open at 7PM. "This American Life" is an award-winning public radio program that "creatively documents the complexities and absurdities of life in contemporary America." Glass will talk about the program, what makes a creative story, and more, combining live narration on stage with pre-taped quotes and music.


Publications Open for Submissions and Contests:
Please note: Inclusion of links in this post does not equal sponsorship by Pikes Peak Writers or a relationship between the two entities.  Please always be sure to pursue due diligence before submitting anything to a publication or contest.

Pulp Empire and Metahuman Press have announced a set of ongoing anthologies accepting submissions. They're open until filled, except the Doc Claus Christmas anthology, which has a deadline of October 15. 10-15% of profits go to authors as royalties.

Vagabundo Magazine is seeking bloggers/columnists to write about adventure travel. You will not be paid as a blogger, but you will get dibs on writing columns, which do pay. They also expect photos with your stories.

Long Count Press is putting together an anthology with the subject of dying earth sword and sorcery fantasy. Deadline is October 31. Pays $20, plus e-book copy, plus royalties.

Kraken Press is seeking submissions for their 50's themed horror and dark fantasy anthology, American Nightmare. Short stories only. Deadline October 31. Pays in pro rata share of 15% of list price, plus one contributor copy.

Cease, Cows is holding a flash fiction contest. Guest judge is Stephen Graham Jones. Cost is $5 to enter. 1000 words or less. Prizes will be awarded as a percentage of the money brought in for the contest (details on the website). Deadline October 15.

Kazka Press holds a monthly flash fiction contest entitled 713 Flash. The October deadline is October 20, with a theme of Out of Time. Pays $15 per accepted story.

Bad Day Books is holding their 2013 Assent Publishing Rogue Writing Contest. Novella and novel submissions in horror, thriller, suspense, and apocalyptic. Deadline October 31. The prize pack is pretty phenomenal, including a publishing contract, marketing, author marketing coaching, etc. Aside from the contest, they are also open for regular submissions for publication in those same genres.

Mystery and Horror, LLC is seeking short stories for their Mardi Gras Murder anthology. They'd like mystery short stories set during Mardi Gras. Open submission period is October 21 to January 5. Pays a contributor copy, $5 advance on royalties, and discount on additional book purchases.

Contrary Magazine's winter issue deadline is December 1. They accept fiction, poetry, commentary, etc. Pays $20 per piece.

Pseudopod takes horror submissions of short stories for their podcasts. They also take flash, but prefer short. They pay $100 per story and your story is performed in audio format for their podcast. Flash fiction pays $20. They're always open for submissions.

PodCastle is the same as above, but takes fantasy stories. Same pay and open submission period.

Quirk Books is holding their Looking for Love Fiction Contest. Entries should be novel-length unconventional romance. First prize is $10,000 and publication.

Submission and Contest links originally posted on The Warrior Muse.

About the Author:  After years of letting her writing fall by the wayside, Shannon Lawrence has recently thrown herself back into it. Her main focus is fantasy and horror and she has just finished a Young Adult Fantasy novel. She has a flash fiction piece featured in the anthology Sunday Snaps: The Stories, and her short horror story "The Blue Mist" will be in the March 2014 issue of Nightfall Magazine. She has also discovered a love of photography and enjoys photographing the breathtaking Colorado scenery and wildlife, as well as her children. She blogs about reading, writing and photography at www.thewarriormuse.com.