3 NO FEE Submission calls and interview – Lunch Ticket, DEADLINE: Oct. 31, 2017

Trish Hopkinson

Those of you who have been following my submission call posts for a while know how much I appreciate the staff at Lunch Ticket. They are kind, responsive, and organized. They are currently open for all writing genres and visual art, including specific calls for young adults (13+) and for translation of fiction, poetry, and nonfiction. Check out the details below and my interview with lovely person and past Editor-in-Chief Arielle Silver. Make sure to check out the new masthead for this Summer/Fall 2017, including Editor-in-Chief Katelyn Keating.

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HOPKINSON: Tell me a little bit about Lunch Ticket.

SILVER: Lunch Ticket is the online literary and art journal published by the students of Antioch University Los Angeles’s low residency MFA program. We publish full issues twice yearly, along with weekly content in our Amuse-Bouche and Blog sections. Our Amuse-Bouche: Spotlight series features a single literary or visual artist every other week…

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Chronic Pain Awareness Short Story Contest

What it Takes to Be a “Real” Writer

Kristen Lamb's Blog

Since we are only a couple weeks away from NaNoWriMo, I thought this would be a great topic to discuss. If you don’t know what NaNoWriMo is? You aren’t a real writer. Kidding! Calm down 😛 .

November is National Novel Writing Month and it’s a fun challenge to see if we have what it takes to write a novel (50,000 words) in one month. Though the challenge is geared toward newer writers, I can attest that writers of all levels join in and it is my favorite time of year. Even though I have written millions of words and five books, I love being part of the challenge because of the creative energy new people bring to the table.

Countless folks will join the challenge just to try and see if they have what it takes to seriously pursue the dream of going pro. Fifty thousand words isn’t…

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Melody, Three

just beautiful

Linda G. Hill

Dear Diary,

Today was my twenty-second birthday. It was also our wedding day. Marvin was fabulous as usual. He became proficient at sign language, just for me, even though he knows I can speak. He remained the only one who knew for eight whole years until today.

My first words out loud to anyone but him were, “I do.”

Mom and Dad think Marvin is responsible for a miracle. Only my husband (my husband! It’s going to take a while to get used to it!) knows my secret. He vowed today, privately during our first dance, to keep it to the grave, along with his everlasting love for me.

The end.

Our challenge at Story A Day September was to write in the first person.

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Why Your Author Blog is Stuck & What To DO

Kristen Lamb's Blog

Image via Flickr Creative Commons, courtesy of Mike Licht

Ah the blog. Some of you might perk up at the word. Others? Blog sounds like some radioactive creature that hatched from a meteor and is only there to feed. Feed on your energy, your hopes and your dreams.

Many writers start the blog with high hopes, then a few months in? You can’t bear to go to your computer because the screen is a reminder of that shiny blog you started…then abandoned to the spam bots.

A blog done properly is one of the most powerful tools in our social media arsenal.

Twitter could flitter and Facebook could face plant, but the blog will remain. In fact, blogs have been going strong since the 90s and have taken over much of what used to be the sole territory of traditional media outlets. Additionally, blogging is the only form of social…

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Making Fiction Come Alive! Using the Senses for Maximum Impact

very interesting

Kristen Lamb's Blog

Image by Rob Nunn/Flickr CC

Today’s post once again is by my Writer-in-Residence Alex Limberg. After 10 posts, I’m slowly running out of witty introductions for him. But hey, if you haven’t checked out his free ebook yet, definitely go ahead and do it now. It will equip you with ‘44 test questions’ to examine your story and make it all-around tight and intriguing. This time, Alex shows us how to describe senses, so your reader feels like he is in the middle of your story. Go, Alex!

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Do you know 5D-cinemas?

I mean these movie theatres that make your chair bump harshly, whip your ankles, and when somebody on the screen sneezes, it sprinkles your face… Yeah, they are basically legal torture chambers people pay entry for.

Why are they such a fun experience for many?

It’s because these theatres feel more real than your ordinary cinema. And…

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75029 (FFfAW Challenge – Week of 09-01-2015)

This entry is for Flash Fiction for Aspiring Writers thank you Priceless Joy  for hosting.

The photo prompt is provided by Louise with The Storyteller’s Abode. thank you. my entry :

“Are you sure this is the right train, Stewart?” Alfred asked, jumping into the  wagon.

“Yes, it’s the 75029 as you said.”

“The blame will be all on you if we don’t fill those bags with grains” the old mouse said.

“ Grandpa trust me, just this once.”

The doors closed, the train started to move. the two mice started to search for the crops in the dark.

“Excuse me, are you looking for something?” a gruff voice made them tremble.

Alfred snatched Stewart from his hand and whisper “it’s should be empty. Write the train number in my hand. I should’ve known, you’re not good with numbers.”

“STEWART I told you to look for 75029 not 75026. Now thanks to you dump, we are heading in the opposite direction.” Alfred shouted.

“Sorry, but who spoke grandpa?” Stewart asked.

“I’m Felix the lion, you are in a circus train. And you?” The voice replied.

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words count :153

Thank you for reading 🙂

for reading other entries:

Together( second version)

“Get behind this wall, nobody will think that two slaves can hide here.” Atilius said.

“Are you sure it will be safe? the guards are not allowed in this temple, right?” Marcus asked looking around.

“I don’t know, but we need to find a way out soon.” Atilius stopped scrutinizing the wall and continued “do you here that?”

“What? “Marcus shook his head.

“Soldiers Marcus.”

Marcus leaned against the wall and slipped to the floor, tears in his eyes. “No I can’t do this anymore Atilius. Why? Just because we refused to follow order and kill.”

Atilius went down and caught him by the shoulder. “Marcus, get hold of yourself.” Marcus stared at him “What Marcus? Why are you looking at me like this?”

“No you can’t be thinking…” Atilius turned the other way but Marcus held his head.

“You do know what kind of torture is waiting for us.” Marcus said, Atilius changed of colour and his eyes became wider and asked “But how?”

“Let’s jump here.” Marcus pointed to a well.

“But this is small it will only get us injured.”

Marcus noticed Atilius waist belt then proceed “We can…. Hmm… we can use these.” Pointing to the daggers. They stood silent for a while and Marcus continued, “Here in the neck, we stab each other. It will be painless and immediate.”

“Fine.” Atilius took a deep breath.

“Lets’ do it.” Marcus said.

They hugged each other for the last time.

The guards finally found them, they were already dead. Their master was angry, he wanted to make them an example to other slaves.

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the first version : click HERE

Thank you for reading 🙂

 

The devil kingdom

this entry is for Mondays Finish the Story

© 2015,Thank you  Barbara W. Beacham for the photo.

my entry :

“The cemetery spread along the area known as Devils Abode.” The villagers warned them in that spring day, but they submitted to their son insistence to visit it. The big grave allured the curious boy, especially the mysterious writing in the stone.

“Probably, it’s an ancient language.” Eric explained, examining it.

“Let’s go. It’s starting to thunder.” the wife stated, looking to the gloomy sky, but her husband was absorbed by the shinning letters.

He wanted to stand but his hand was glued to the stone.

“ Did you hear that?” He asked, but his family refuted.

The voice became louder “kill them, kill them.” it said.

As the rain fell, he fainted.

“ERIC” his wife shouted and went down to him but he was already awake.

“You scared me.” she said, checking his red eyes.

“ Sorry to scare you, let go home.” He smirked.

At the end of the road, Eric stopped after a while the tomb illuminated.

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word count ( first sentence excluded) : 148

thank you for reading 🙂

if you want to read other entries :

Together (Sunday Photo Fiction – August 30th 2015)

this entry is for sunday photo fiction

my entry :

“Let hide behind this wall.” Atilius suggested, grabbing Marcus arm.

“What are we going to do now?” Marcus asked.

“Silence. They are coming.”

“Soldiers?” Marcus murmured. “But they aren’t allowed inside the temple Atilius.”

“It doesn’t matter.” Atilius scrutinized the walls hoping to find an escape.

“All of that, just because we refused to kill him.” Marcus collapsed.

“Marcus, calm down.” Atilius lifted him.

“ They’ll be here soon. All the torture we will endure Atilius.” Sobbing, Marcus held his friend face.

“Why are you looking at me like this Marcus?”

“I don’t want to suffer anymore.” Marcus acknowledged. “Let’s jump in this well.” he pointed to a hole.

“This will only get us injured but not killed.” Atilius replied.

“Then.” Marcus hesitated for a moment then continued. “Let stab each other with these daggers. In the neck better, we will die instantly.” They snatched the knifes from their respective waist belts.

“Are you having second thoughts?” Marcus asked, but Atilius refuted. “Then close your eyes and do it.” They hugged each other for the last time.

“Sir, we find the slaves. They are both dead.” A soldier said.

“Dam I wanted to make them a lesson to the other slaves” the noble man shouted.

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Word count: 204

Thank you for reading 🙂

If you want to read other entries :