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How to Make Dialogue Tags Work for Your Story
By Margo Dill
In this article, Margo shows you how to use dialogue tags to set a scene--so you can keep the action moving and give readers a sense of place. She also shows you how to incorporate dialogue tags to reveal a character's appearance, to tell who is talking and what he or she is doing, and to share inner thoughts. READ MORE>>
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Fresh News Daily From The Muffin |  |
Tuesdays are contest winner interview days! Learn from other flash fiction writers and find out what inspires their stories. Visit The Muffin for daily writing inspiration.
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The Contest Conundrum: What Are Flash Fiction Contest Judges Looking For?
By LuAnn Schindler
If you've ever entered one of our contests or are thinking about entering, this article takes you behind the scenes of a flash fiction critique. With the permission of a flash fiction writer, we share a sample story and walk you through the critique process. You'll see how judges score entries, examine content components such as universal story pattern, and what they look for in technical aspects. Learn by example from this article, and then get to work crafting your flash fiction! READ MORE>>
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| Featured Class |  |
Fiction Writing Workshop: Literary DevicesInstructor: Gila Green Start Date: Monday, September 5, 2011 Duration: 8 Weeks In this course we will go beyond the simile and metaphor and learn how to layer our writing with literary devices. Through short readings and in-class assignments, you will learn how to create suspense, tension, change the pace, deepen and control your writing through the use of devices from repetition to personification. This class is suitable for anyone working on a novel, short story, memoir, essay or life story. Limit: 8-10 Students View Full Course Description HERE>>
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How to Get the Right Literary Agent for Your ManuscriptInstructor: Annette Fix Start Date: Monday, August 22, 2011 Duration: 4 Weeks By the end of this course, you will know how to target the rightagent for your material and leave with a list of agents who are signing and selling in your genre. You will develop your "elevator pitch" and learn valuable in-person pitching techniques. You will complete the course with a query letter that showcases your voice and the tone of your book, and lifts your query out of the slush pile. Limit: 10 Students View Full Course Description HERE>>
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| Featured Article |  | How to Cut Your Flash Fiction Contest Entry Down to Size
By Mandy Vicsai
Mark Twain said "I didn't have time to write a short letter, so I wrote a long one instead." This is especially true for stories of 500 words. Yet shorter stories can be punchier, more focused and as a writer more fulfilling because of the challenge they present.
This article gives you seven practical ways to cull your words to the required count. It's based on my story Strange Doin's, winner of WOW!'s Fall 2006 Competition.
READ MORE>>
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| Spring '11 Contest Winners | |
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Writing a Strong Story: Beginnings, Middles, and Ends A great novel is one that grabs your attention at the beginning and keeps a firm hold on you until the very last word.
Kerrie Flanagan interviews successful authors--Debbie Dadey, Cricket MacRae, Laura Resau, Jeanne DuPrau, Amy Kathleen Ryan, Kathryn Cushman, Jodi Picoult, and Jonathan Kellerman--who share how they work through the challenges of writing a strong story, hopefully giving you new techniques and strategies to add to your writing toolbox. READ MORE>>
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The results are in!
SPRING 2011 FLASH FICTION CONTEST WINNERS |
Greetings!
We hope you're having a wonderful summer and setting some time aside for writing fiction, too!
Summer is a great time to get creative, and one way to do that is by entering writing contests that inspire your muse. We've listed some contests that you may be interested in, as well as our own quarterly flash fiction contest, which closes at the end of this month. You'll find more details on that below, as well as a Q&A on what to look for when researching contests and an article on writing successful flash fiction. But in the meantime, we're pleased to announce the results of the Spring 2011 Flash Fiction Contest!
What a pleasure it's been to read the stories of so many talented writers. Our guest judges did not have an easy time. The diversity of the entries in style, genre, and content led to careful deliberation.
A big thank you goes to our guest judge, literary agent Sarah Lapolla of the Curtis Brown Agency, for her time and effort spent choosing this season's top winners.
So, without further ado, let's read the winning stories! Visit the Spring 2011 Flash Fiction Contest Winners' Page.
[And don't forget: our Summer 2011 Flash Fiction Contest ends this month, August 31st. So dig out those stories and send them on in!]
Enjoy!
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Spring 2011 Flash Fiction Contest Winners Announced!
Drum roll...
Congratulations goes to everyone who entered the Spring '11 Flash Fiction Contest. All of your entries were incredible this round, and our esteemed guest judge, literary agent Sarah Lapolla, did not have an easy job! But with her expertise, she dutifully picked the winners.
All of the stories this season were phenomenal! I know you've all been waiting patiently, so here's the results!
- 1st Place Winner: Stress Fracture by Michael Throne, Ashburn, Virgina
- 2nd Place Winner: Leave by Holly Bauer-Ping, Chicago, Illinois
- 3rd Place Winner: The Universe's Weird Sense of Humor by Lauri Griffin, Colorado Springs, Colorado
7 Runners Up (in no particular order):
- Lucille's Shoes by Susan DuMond, Ashland, Oregon
- Love in a Snow Globe by Jacinda Little, Spring Grove, Pennsylvania
- Destiny Darjeeling by Cheryl Fines, Brandon, Manitoba CANADA
- Slave Hands by Jody Rathgeb, Richmond, Virginia
- Sunday in the Dark with Dad by Victoria Wright, Housatonic, Massachusetts
- The Little Red Riding Hood Complex by Philip Murray-Lawson, Paris, FRANCE
- Smoke Rings by Liz Tucker, Truckee, California
Read the Top 10 Winners' stories in our contest feature!
10 Honorable Mentions (in no particular order):
- 100 Words: Death in West Texas by Deborah Brock, Oakland, California
- Soft Noises by Nancy Luisi, Poinciana, Florida
- Aunt Eva's Diary by Shirley Valencia, Dayton, Ohio
- The Committee by Natalie Bright, Canyon, Texas
- Bookshop Confessions by Kara Parlin, Enfield, Connecticut
- Ghost Girl by Lisa Frischhertz, Metairie, Louisiana
- Salvation by Marlene Moss, Penrose, Colorado
- Breakfast by Bryan Mooney, Timonium, Maryland
- The Butterfly House by Nancy Elizabeth, Stettler, Alberta, CANADA
- A Love Letter by Peggy Saunders, Portsmouth, Virginia
Congratulations to all the winners! And congratulations to everyone who hit the send button. We know it's not easy, but each season provides a rebirth of opportunity!
Note: A record has been set this season. This is the very first time, since the inception of WOW's flash fiction contest in 2006, that we've had a guy win 1st place. Congratulations, Michael, for breaking the record!
So, go on already! Read the stories here.
Critiques: If you purchased a critique for the Spring '11 contest, you should have already received your critique via e-mail, attached as a Microsoft Word .doc. If for some reason you haven't received it (spring contestants only), contact Anne: anne@wow-womenonwriting.com. Please make sure you check your bulk mail folder first.
Prizes: All prizes this season are digital, so we will be sending gift cards, e-books, and cash prizes electronically over the course of a week. Thank you!
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Creating Successful Flash Fiction
By Louise Dop
Creating flash fiction is like  concocting a rich sauce. The basic ingredients of character, action, and setting are reduced down until only the essence of the story remains. However brief, this story must have a plot with a beginning a middle and an end. Merely writing an anecdote or reflection is not sufficient. Like a short, sharp shock, good flash fiction should pack an emotional punch, leaving it with the reader long after it is finished. Despite the imposed restrictions, a cleverly written work leaves plenty of room for implication, a suggestion of a much bigger story beyond the immediate snapshot.
There are a number of basic techniques which can be applied to the process of creating successful flash fiction.
Hit the Ground Running
The basic rule of short story writing is to start with a strong opening and it certainly applies here. There is no room for preamble so your story needs to begin at the start of the action or, better still, right in the middle of it. Any back-story must be implied by the right choice of words. As he returned the warm gun to his pocket, he felt for his warrant card. This sentence immediately implies that we are dealing with a policeman who has possibly just shot somebody.
Allude to the Outside World
A neat way to get back story into your work is to root it in a world already familiar to your audience. You could use historical figures, well-known fictional characters or set your story at a famous moment in time. For example, place your lead character on H.M.S. Victory or call him Dr. Jekyll and readers will make inferences based on their own knowledge.
Focus on Your Subject
When looking for ideas, go for the small details. A murder mystery novel has room for an intricate plot with complex characters and motives. A traditional short story might concentrate on the execution of the crime or its impact on the victim's family. For flash fiction, zoom in further still--a murderer trying to remove a bloodstain from his clothes or a relative identifying the body.
Set the Scene
Flash fiction works best when contained within a well-defined physical space. Put your characters in the supermarket isle or on top of Everest and straight away the story falls into context.
Make Them Talk
As in all fiction, characters can be defined by what they say. One approach to flash fiction is to use dialogue only. Choose your characters' words carefully and they will tell the story for you with no need for exposition.
Do the Twist
A twist ending is by no means essential, but does work well for this type of writing. As much of the plot is inferred, it is relatively easy to mislead the reader into drawing the wrong conclusions. The surprise ending also provides the emotional impact indicative of this format. Another powerful strategy is a slightly ambiguous ending that leaves the reader thinking, but not to the extent that they feel cheated.
Rewrite Your Rewrites
The easiest way to start a very short story is to forget about word count and get it written. Only then start paring away all the superfluous words. If you are struggling to keep within word limits, have you tried some of the techniques outlined above? Finally, analyze every word carefully. Once you have deemed a word necessary, consider whether there is an even better word for the job. This editing process is fundamental and once mastered will benefit all areas of your writing.
Practice Makes Perfect
Contests and workshops dedicated to this popular form are now appearing on the Internet. They provide opportunities to practice flash fiction in the company of other writers. Challenges are often set against the clock and critiqued by independent judges or fellow contributors.
 Look to the Experts
See how the likes of John Updike, Margaret Atwood and Raymond Carver do it in
Flash Fiction: 72 Very Short Stories, published by W.W. Norton.
Or their sequel, Flash Fiction Forward: 80 Very Short Stories, published by W.W. Norton.
[And make sure you check out WOW's contest winners' stories for even more excellent examples of flash fiction!] |
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Q: How can I tell if a contest is legitimate or not?
"I'm working on a novel, but I am willing to compose short stories for competition requirements. I want to be recognized so that I can build up some momentum for the publication of my novel. A nice monetary gain wouldn't be bad either. But how can I tell if a contest is legitimate or not? I want to be recognized nationally."
A: I think it's great that you want to build some recognition for your novel, but keep in mind, winning a writing contest is not easy. That said, here are some things to consider when deciding whether or not to enter a particular contest:
- Judges: Look for contests with reputable judges such as agents, editors, or authors. Study their bios to find out about their qualifications and see if they write and/or accept submissions in your genre. If they do, bonus!
- Previous Winners: There should be published stories to view or, at minimum, a list of names and story titles. Take a look at the types of stories that have won in the past to see if they are well written and fit your writing style.
- Publication: If you're looking for national exposure, take a look at where your story and/or name will be published. If it's online, make sure the site has a lot of traffic and is well known in its niche. If it's published in a magazine, is it national or regional? Who is the publication's audience?
- Rights: Make sure you check what rights they are acquiring, if any. Steer clear of contests that acquire all rights. Ideally, you want to retain the rights to your work.
- Number of Stories Accepted: Before you enter you need to know how many stories are accepted so you know what your odds are if you're serious about winning.
- Entry Fees: Entry fees are fine and make for serious competition (when you're paying, you will put your best foot forward), but anything over $25 or so seems excessive. Typical fees range from $5-$25, and are used to pay for prizes, administration, and contest promotion. You can also find contests that do not charge an entry fee.
- Prizes: What are the prizes? Cash? Publication? Find contests that fit your needs. Make sure that the entry fee isn't high compared to the pay out of cash and prizes, and number of entries accepted.
If you're ever in doubt if a contest is reputable, do a search and see what other writers are saying about it. You should also make sure you can easily find their contact info and even e-mail them a question just to see if you receive a reply.
Make sure you check for all the items mentioned above before you enter. Even if you don't win, entering contests is good practice and keeps you writing and submitting. Good luck!
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Fiction Writing Contests Around the Web
We're certainly not the only ones who hold a writing contest. We found some other little gems you may enjoy. As always, check their guidelines before entering to decide if they're right for you. Listed by deadline.
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Still: The Journal 2011 Literary Contests in Fiction, Poetry and Nonfiction
Deadline: August 31, 2011
Entry Fee: $8
Prizes: $150 for first-prize winners in fiction, poetry and nonfiction and publication in the Fall 2011 issue.
Guidelines: Must be unpublished. Electronic submission preferred. Contest entries should be in keeping with our submission philosophy which states: "Our emphasis is on the literature of the Southern Appalachian region, and we are committed to publishing excellent writing that does not rely on cliches and stereotypes. We want to feature writing that exemplifies the Mountain South or that is written by an author with an established connection to the region."
Details: www.stilljournal.net/contest.php
Gemini Magazine Third Annual Flash Fiction Contest
Deadline: August 31, 2011
Entry Fee: $4
Prizes: $1,000, $100, four honorable mentions. All six finalists will be published online in the October 2011 issue of Gemini.
Guidelines: Maximum length 1,000 words. Must be previously unpublished; no restrictions on content, style or genre.
Details: www.gemini-magazine.com/contest.html
Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley Prize For Imaginative Fiction
Deadline: September 1, 2011
Entry Fee: $10
Prizes: $1,000, 4 runners-up receive $100. All winning pieces published in Rosebud.
Guidelines: Original works of fantasy, science fiction, mystery, or horror; 4000 words or less. Rosebud acquires first rights for the five winning entries.
Details: www.rsbd.net
Bartleby Snopes Third Annual Dialogue Only Contest
Deadline: September 12, 2011
Entry Fee: $10
Prizes: Minimum $250 for first place, at least $10 to four honorable mentions; plus publication.
Guidelines: Compose a short story entirely of dialogue; under 2000 words.
Details: www.bartlebysnopes.com/contests.htm
100 Words or Fewer Writing Contest, Number Eight
Deadline: September 18, 2011
Entry Fee: $15; plus checkmark evaluation: $23; plus critique: $55.
Prizes: $500, $150, $100, $50.
Guidelines: Original and complete fiction of not more than 100 words. This is not easy, but we receive stories that match great novels for characters, plots, and endings! Open theme. See the website for examples of winning stories, checkmark evaluations, and critiques.
Details: www.100wordsorfewerwritingcontest.com
Fault Zone: Stepping Up to the Edge Short Story Contest
Deadline: September 30, 2011
Entry Fee: $15
Prizes: $300 and publication in anthology, $100, $50.
Guidelines: Previously published work will be considered. Novel excerpts must stand on their own. Story must relate to the anthology's theme in some way. Maximum 2,500 words.
Details: http://www.carmel.com/fault-zone-writing-contest-e1285992
2011 Newport Review Flash Fiction Contest
Deadline: October 1, 2011
Entry Fee: $8 for one story; 3 for $21.
Prizes: $250, $150, $100 and publication in Newport Review. Honorable Mention: Publication in Newport Review. All stories considered for publication.
Guidelines: Original, unpublished flash fiction stories, including prose poetry and experimental forms; 1,000 words maximum.
Details: http://newportreview.org/?contests.html
2011 The Wilda Hearne Flash Fiction Contest
Deadline: October 1, 2011
Entry Fee: $10
Prizes: $300 and publication in Big Muddy: A Journal of the Mississippi River Valley.
Guidelines: Open theme; maximum of 500 words; work must not be previously published.
Details: http://www6.semo.edu/universitypress/hearne.htm
15th Annual Zoetrope: All-Story Short Fiction Contest
Deadline: October 3, 2011
Entry Fee: $15
Prizes: $1,000, $500, $250 plus 7 honorable mentions; all winners will be considered for representation by several agencies.
Guidelines: All genres of literary fiction. Entries must be unpublished; strictly 5,000 words or less.
Details: www.all-story.com/contests.cgi
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Summer 2011 Flash Fiction Contest
 Deadline: August 31, 2011 (Midnight, Pacific Time)
Guest Judge: Literary Agent Kim Lionetti
About Kim: After eight years at Berkley Publishing, Kim Lionetti left her position as Senior Editor to join BookEnds in March 2004. In her editorial work, Kim enjoyed overseeing an eclectic list comprised of romances, westerns, young adult, mysteries, nonfiction, and general fiction. While she enjoys bringing some of that variety to her agenting life, she primarily represents authors in the areas of young adult fiction, women's fiction,mystery, true crime, pop science, pop culture, and romance.
A member of AAR, Kim is currently focused on growing her young adult, women's fiction, and romance lists and is only accepting submissions in those categories. Most important, she is looking for fresh voices and compelling storytelling. Given her extensive editorial background, she enjoys helping authors shape their work into more marketable products and seeing their writing as part of the "bigger picture."
Originally from Pennsylvania, Kim currently resides in New Jersey with her husband, son and daughter, and cat, Winston.
Find out more about BookEnds literary agency by visiting their website http://www.bookends-inc.com, and their blog http://bookendslitagency.blogspot.com/
Read Kim's 20 Questions interview on WOW! Women On Writing: http://www.wow-womenonwriting.com/35-20questions-KimLionetti.html
Prompt: Open Prompt
Word Count: 750 Max; 250 Min
Limit: 300 Entries
Prizes:
1st Place: $300 cash prize; $25 Amazon Gift Certificate; Published on WOW!; e-Book Gift Pack; 1 Year Premium Membership to Automated Editing ($360 value); Interview on The Muffin
2nd Place: $200 cash prize; $25 Amazon Gift Certificate; Published on WOW!; e-Book Gift Pack; 1 Year Standard Membership to Automated Editing ($240 value); Interview on The Muffin
3rd Place: $100 cash prize; $25 Amazon Gift Certificate; Published on WOW!; e-Book Gift Pack; 1 Year Standard Membership to Automated Editing ($240 value); Interview on The Muffin
7 Runners Up: $25 Amazon Gift Certificate; Published on WOW!; e-Book Gift Pack; Interview on The Muffin
10 Honorable Mentions: $20 Amazon Gift Certificate; Name and title of story published on WOW!; e-Book Gift Pack
Don't wait until the last minute! Enter today. Deadline: August 31, 2011. Visit the Contest Page and download the terms & conditions ebook (PDF). Good luck!
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We hope you enjoy reading all the wonderful stories that these ladies put their hearts into writing. Congratulations goes out to each and every one of you. Whatever you do, never give up. Follow your dreams, and go for the writing gold! 
Write on!
Angela, Anne & Team WOW!
WOW! Women On Writing
Writer's Digest 101 Best Sites for Writers 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011 |
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