Daily Archives: 01/06/2010

Absolute X-Press Publishing’s Quarterly Flash Fiction Challenge

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– The Quarter One Flash Fiction Challenge is Open –

See below for details.

Are you up for a challenge?

Homer was able to write about the Trojan War in ten epic novels, The Iliad being one of them. He covered it all: religion, love, war, fantasy, myth, and horror. Now it’s your turn to carry on the tradition and create your own epic story; but there’s a catch… It must be done in 1,000 words or less. That’s roughly 2 pages, which is 3/1000 of the size of the entire Homeric collection!

All the entries will be reviewed blind (no author names are on the review copies) by a panel of reviewers and the very best will be selected for publication in the next Flash Fiction Challenge anthology. Multiple entries are allowed.

 

The Current Challenge: Thieves and Scoundrels

Would your characters try to swindle a dragon out of his treasure? Perhaps they’d try to steal the fastest spaceship in the galaxy? Or are they after something a little more sinister that’s in need of taking? Where ever and when ever they take place, the stories of these Thieves and Scoundrels will take hold of your imagination and ransom it back to you.

NOTE: all stories submitted to the Flash Fiction Challenge must fit within the genres of Science Fiction, Fantasy or Horror.

 

The Schedule:

Submissions will be accepted up to midnight PST on the closing date of the challenge.

  • Quarter One opens on December 1st  and closes on January 15 (for a late-February release).
  • Quarter Two opens on March 1st and closes on April 15 (for a late-May release).
  • Quarter Three opens on June 1st and closes on July 15 (for a late-August release).
  • Quarter Four opens on September 1st and closes on October 15 (for a late-November release).

Link, and information on how to submit work, here: http://absolute-x-press.com/flash-fiction-challenge/

Another writers’ conference, in Southern California

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From the conference organizers – I’ve never attended this one, but a member of an offshoot writers’ group I host forwarded me the announcement.
Greetings:
We are pleased to announce that the fifth annual Antelope Valley Christian Writers’ Conference has been scheduled for May 14-15, 2010. The word is getting out, and our springtime gathering is quickly becoming the destination of choice for aspiring writers in Southern California. Whether you’re an absolute beginner – a seasoned professional – or somewhere in-between, this may be for you.

What is it that inspires you to write? Is it history, or romance, or theology, or mystery? Do you enjoy writing sci-fi, or fantasy? Don’t be misled by the name of our conference: We are believers who write, but most of us don’t write about religious themes. If you’d like to learn how the publishing business works, you are welcome to attend.Our instructors are among the finest and most experienced in the business. You can attend workshops in a wide array of creative categories. Meet fellow writers who share your calling – your zeal – and perhaps your frustrations as well. Together, we can help you take your storytelling to the next level, the best it can be.

Pitch your ideas to our literary agents, or to editors from major publishing houses. Enter a contest with cash prizes. Receive a personalized professional critique on your latest writing project. Bring your laptop computer and take advantage of our wireless Internet connection.

Still not convinced? A special reduced price is offered for teens, age 12-18. Volume discounts are available for any church or school sending ten or more. A handful of partial scholarships will be available. If you have a special need, let us know.

We hope you will seize this opportunity to gain fresh inspiration for your writing, and perhaps a little encouragement for yourself as well.

Please check out our website, at www.avwriters.com