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DirtyMartini

Over 90 days ago

United States

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9 Mar 2014

WOMAN'S DAY
https://www.facebook.com/womansdaymagazine

--- Carries a straightforward tone that helps the publication's devotees (mainly women) live fuller, more informed lives without draining their time in the process. Woman's Day has taken on a new flavor in the last 4-5 years, so look hard at current issues. A writer's best entryway onto the pages of the mag is a front-of-book section called "Embrace the Day," focused on community and giving to others. It's a special place in the hearts of Woman's Day readers. Woman's Day doesn't have a features well. Instead, each section hosts its own feature, so pitch accordingly. No beauty, fashion or home pieces. Pay rate ranges from $1.50 to $2 a word, depending on writer's experience.

3 Mar 2014

I noticed last night I have a new Badge for my prolificness, or is it prolificosity...well, for having over 50 stories apparently...and some other SS peeps got it as well...

Author 50 Badge
http://www.storiesspace.com/badges/author50.aspx

Just want to note that we have a select few of extra busy Stories Space Cadets who been burning the midnight oil, or whatever...churning them out...burning and churning...

Anyway...yeah, we got a bunch of members here with over a hundred stories on this fine site known as Stories Space...

Author 100 Badge
http://www.storiesspace.com/badges/author100.aspx

Congrats to all those hard working Stories Spacians here...keep 'em coming... happy8

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27 Feb 2014

This article may also seem fairly basic to some...but, after you do get published, you need to promote your work, like it or not...and this article does make some good points...check it out my published friends... happy8

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How To Promote Your Poetry Without Paying A Penny
http://www.authorspublish.com/how-to-promote-your-poetry-without-paying-a-penny/

And again, I'd like to point out that although "Poetry" is used in the title, these things pretty much apply to any form of published work...open mic tends to be poetry specific, but otherwise, the other tips can be applied to any form of writing...

27 Feb 2014

Oh wow...I'm not going to be able to go to sleep tonight just thinking about this one...

21 Feb 2014

For the most part, this is pretty basic, but might be of interest to some...most of it really applies to other forms of publishing, not just poetry btw...

Kevin Larimer is the editor of Poets & Writers Magazine btw...here's a short interview with him that may be of interest...

Interview with Editor Kevin Larimer, Poets & Writers Magazine
http://freelancewrite.about.com/od/editorsandagents/a/poetsint.htm[/size]

21 Feb 2014

Might be of interest to some "Listen to free audio books and poetry recordings! This library of audio books and poetry features digital recordings and MP3's from the Naropa Poetics Audio Archive, LibriVox, Project Gutenberg, Maria Lectrix, and Internet Archive users."...check it out my friends... happy8

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Internet Archive - Welcome to Audio Books & Poetry
https://archive.org/details/audio_bookspoetry[/size]

20 Feb 2014

Interesting...

CETE
https://cete.submittable.com/submit

--- CETE is currently looking for writers to submit quality poetry and prose to be considered for use on state assessments. CETE is accepting poetry, fiction, and nonfiction texts for use on reading assessments for grades 3 – 12. Buys exclusive assessment rights and non-exclusive other rights. Pays $250 upon acceptance. Previously published work is acceptable, but author must hold the copyright and must include prior publication information when submitting.

20 Feb 2014

CHICKEN SOUP The Power of Forgiveness: 101 Stories about How to Let Go and Change Your Life
http://www.chickensoup.com

--- For the "New Year New You" 2015 season we plan to publish a book about the power of forgiveness. Have you ever noticed how forgiving someone frees you to move on with your life? We are looking for stories that will show our readers how forgiving someone or being forgiven by someone changed your life in a positive way. Were you able to reestablish a relationship after forgiving or being forgiven? Did letting go of your hurt feelings heal you and bring you a sense of peace? Help others find the same resolution by sharing your story. Pays $200 and 10 copies of the book. Limit 1,200 words.

15 Feb 2014

Here's a list of book bloggers that may be of interest to a few friends here...it was compiled by another author from a conference she attended...or something like that...this is a pretty amazing list actually, and a great resource my friends...

Blogger List (Party)
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/ccc?key=0AimyDNlKuUOadE14OW1oOWwxQUR4N243enVid1Z5TGc&usp=sharing#gid=0[/size]

10 Feb 2014

Here's a post by David that's rather short and to the point, and something I've told people many a time...basically, you really don't have to be a great writer, you just need a great story that will get people talking...

Getting Great “Word of Mouth” Advertising
http://www.thepassivevoice.com/02/2014/getting-great-word-of-mouth-advertising/

3 Feb 2014

CHICKEN SOUP - MY GUARDIAN ANGEL
http://www.chickensoup.com
---
If you have had a miraculous, personal experience with an angel, please submit your story. We are looking for stories of true wonder and awe from people who have directly encountered or received help from angels. How did your angel protect you or someone you know? How did your angel help you or someone you know, or even change your life? How did your angel manifest himself or herself? This book is for everyone who has a story, whether religious or non-religious. Please note that we are not looking for stories about people who are "angels" because they do nice things, and also please do not submit eulogies about a loved one who has died and is now an "angel." If your story is chosen, you will be a published author and your bio will be printed in the book if you so choose. You will also receive a check for $200 and 10 free copies of your book, which lists at $14.95. You will retain the copyright for your story and you will retain the right to resell it. Deadline March 31, 2014. Limit 1,200 words.

2 Feb 2014

Oh yeah...this might be of interest to some here..."101 Ways to Blog as a Book Author - Updated Again"...check it out my blogging author friends... happy8

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101 Ways to Blog as a Book Author - Updated Again
http://blog.bookmarket.com/2011/06/101-ways-to-blog-as-book-author-plus.html[/size]

30 Jan 2014

Alright, Preditors & Editors has a list of writing contests...and we have to assume that if they're listed here, they won't rip you off too badly...just sayin'

P&E: Writing Contests
http://pred-ed.com/pubctst.htm[/size]

30 Jan 2014

Quote by gypsy
Or to put in the bottom of puppy cages, and so on.

Don't you feel so much better knowing that your story will get put to use no matter what? I find it heartwarming just to think about it...

28 Jan 2014

Quote by ladysharon

I have this list as well and emailed it to my journalism professor. She responded positively to it and asked me to compile a list of writing sites I use to help in writing and self-editing.

Yeah, if she gives you an "A" don't forget to mention where you found the list...if she gives you a "D" or something, just blame it on Larry...he won't mind...and don't tell him I said that btw...

And yeah, don't forget to include this fine site on your list...this actually is a good site, and I'm not just saying that because I sort of work here...it really does have a lot of features, and useful information...and it's not overwhelmingly large that you're stuff will get lost among the thousands of other stories and posts...and it is fairly organized here in the forum...

Yeah, this really is a nice site...if I say so myself...

27 Jan 2014

As most of you are probably aware by now, a few years back I wrote what has since become the most widely used 9/11 poem in the world...it went rather viral since I first posted it on the internet back on September 30, 2011...if not, this list of highlights from the tenth anniversary of that tragic event, and the first 9/11 my poem was out, should give you a clue...

My 9-11 Tribute poem has been "in print" at least fourteen times in 2011...
http://www.storiesspace.com/forum/yaf_postst538_uBj4QscCGvgULv35

Anyway, although it gets read every year at ceremonies around the world, this is the first actual footage of anyone reading it that I have come across...someone tipped me off that this ceremony, which took place in Los Angeles County in California, was broadcast on Time Warner Cable...

Here's the link to a newspaper article about the event...notice the active link to my poem over on the poetry site Hello Poetry btw...

Local tribute marks 9/11 anniversary
http://theavtimes.com/2013/09/11/local-tribute-marks-911-anniversary/

The ceremony takes place at the Fallen Heroes Memorial, which is actually right outside the mall...apparently the mall helped fund it, and there's controversy about that which I won't get into...anyway, if you want to know more about the memorial, this article will help with that btw...

Antelope Valley Fallen Heroes Memorial
http://www.patriciakshaw.com/Fallen_Heroes_Memorial.html

My poem was read by Captain Pat Nelson of the Lancaster Valley Sheriff's Station...his picture and bio are on the upper right here...

Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department - Lancaster Valley Sheriff's Station
http://shq.lasdnews.net/pages/patrolstation.aspx?id=lan

Anyway...here is the video...my poem starts right around 27:00 min...he starts by saying "I've been asked to read a poem by Alan Jankowski"...apparently he must have lost a bet...

The thing I find interesting about this reading, and yes...this is the first actual reading that I've seen footage of...is that he changes one of the lines in the poem...the fifth stanza of the poem goes like this...

Men who bravely gave their lives,
Whose orphaned kids and widowed wives,
Can proudly look back on their dad,
Who gave this country all they had.

He actually read the third line of that stanza as "Can proudly look back on their moms and dads."...

It's interesting to me, because I actually had thought about that..I'm rather confronted by this poem on a fairly regular basis, as I will continue to be for the rest of my life, no doubt...

Many years ago, I read an interview with Bob Dylan, and one of the things he said that stuck with me was "Don't ever create anything, because it will follow you around for the rest of your life."...

I had no idea what he meant at the time, but now I certainly do...some day in the future, some student will write a term paper discussing how out of touch Alan Jankowski was for a 21st Century author...and the teacher will no doubt give them an "A"...just sayin'

27 Jan 2014

This is just plain cruel...I know...

19 Jan 2014

Alrighty here...looks like I ended up with a cool looking bronze badge...can't really complain...not sure that I actually get anything other than bragging rights, but hey...I'll take it... happy8

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2013 Book Cover Contest Results
Inbox
x

AUTHORSdb Information
6:55 AM (13 hours ago)

to me
Congratulations on your placement in the 2013 Book Cover Contest at Authorsdb.com Attached is your branded badge for you to use in your own promotions. Over the next few days, we will be adding these badges to your listings in our Author Database and on the winning books listings. The promotions of the gold, silver and bronze winners will be ongoing, so take advantage of the extra exposure.

We'd like to thank all who have participated in this extensive promotion, including our four live independent judges who spent countless hours scoring your cover—helping authors promote their masterpieces. You'll get a chance to meet them on Authorsdb.com and to find out more about how the judging was scored, please go to http://authorsdb.com/author-publicity/book-cover-contest

Please let us know if you would like your cover to be entered into the 2014 contest.

May you sell-out of books in 2014!

Best regards,
The Authorsdb.com Team

19 Jan 2014

Quote by magnificent1rascal

It isn't very common these days to come across any contest or publication that doesn't accept electronic submissions.

You are right, it is not very common...I can only recall once where I actually submitted something by snail mail...gave me a real feel for how they did it back in the old days btw...I really should have typed out my submission on a manual typewriter...

But yeah...there are still some publications out there that won't accept electronic submissions...the Paris Review being one of most famous...

Submissions - Paris Review
http://www.theparisreview.org/about/submissions[/size]

18 Jan 2014

Quote by Circle_Something

Did you not see the joint vending machine? It's just over yonder hill. I only caught a peek of it when I stumbled in, ironically when I was stoned.

Oh yeah...that's got to be popular these days...judging by the subject matter of some of the poems posted lately...just sayin'

18 Jan 2014

Quote by magnificent1rascal
After seeing my statements from Amazon and Smashwords, I realized that the exposure a free book would get was likely to be more valuable in the long run than the pocket change in royalties.

Yeah, there's something to be said for getting your name out there in the long run...I seem to do that mostly through my poems...and don't underestimate the ability of poems to get your name out there btw...

And nice to see we have a Bestselling Author here on the Stories Space staff now...maybe you can talk Yas and Gav into creating a new badge for that... happy8

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12 Jan 2014

A lawyer runs a stop sign and gets pulled over by a sheriff. He thinks he's smarter being a big shot lawyer from New York and has a better education than an sheriff from West Virginia. The sheriff asks for license and registration. The lawyer asks, "What for?" The sheriff responds, "You didn't come to a complete stop at the stop sign." The lawyer says, "I slowed down and no one was coming." "You still didn't come to a complete stop. License and registration please," say the sheriff impatiently. The lawyer says, "If you can show me the legal difference between slow down and stop, I'll give you my license and registration and you can give me the ticket. If not, you let me go and don't give me the ticket." The sheriff says, "That sounds fair, please exit your vehicle." The lawyer steps out and the sheriff takes out his nightstick and starts beating the lawyer with it. The sheriff says, "Do you want me to stop or just slow down?"

11 Jan 2014

Flash Fiction Online pays a cool $50.00 for flash fiction stories 500 to 1k words...looks like they accept all genres as well...check it out my flash friends... happy8

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Submittable - Flash Fiction Online
https://ffo.submittable.com/submit#![/size]

11 Jan 2014

Quote by Dreamcatcher
I'm jubilant that you posted this.. it is a superb and brilliant effort at effort at helping us feeble and conservative authors.. now I'm ravenous..

Lol...thanks Larry, your your ravenous jubilation is practically contagious...I just hope there's a cure...

Anyway, someone else here pointed out that it's a bit inspirational...and I tend to agree...it's a nice little chart to keep handy when you're trying to conjur up words that go outside the norm...or something like that...I think you get the idea...

9 Jan 2014

Figured I'd bump this thread with the addition of a very important chart... happy8

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7 Jan 2014

Quote by Circle_Something
Wouldn't it be cool to have the ability to think of food and then it appears before you.

How about the ability to think of a drink, and then have it appear before you? I think that would be pretty darn cool...just sayin'

5 Jan 2014

Alright...moving up yet again...got this in the morning...moving up to Finalist...let's see if I can go all the way to the home stretch... happy8

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AUTHORSdB (@AUTHORSdB) mentioned you on Twitter!
Inbox
x

AUTHORSdB (via Twitter) < >
6:52 AM (0 minutes ago)

to me
@Exakta66 #author BOOK COVER FINALIST Congratulations! Download Badge #covercontest pls RT - @AUTHORSdB

Alan W. Jankowski,
You were mentioned in a Tweet! Alan W. Jankowski

AUTHORSdB
@AUTHORSdB

@Exakta66 #author BOOK COVER FINALIST Congratulations! authorsdb.com/author-publici… Download Badge #covercontest pls RT

11:52 AM - 05 Jan 14

4 Jan 2014

My book I Often Wonder: a collection of poetry and prose made it into hands of military personnel thanks to author S Blue Remy, and her husband Josh who is stationed at an Air Force base in Kuwait. Blue organized a program to keep deployed soldiers at the base stocked with books...here's the Facebook page btw...

Blue Remy's Books For Troops
https://www.facebook.com/blueremysbooksfortroops

She had her first event a couple of months back where she invited authors to send her signed copies of their books, which she shipped over to her husband for distribution. I sent her three books, all signed with something like "Thank you for serving our country" or something to that effect, along with my signature and date. Here are some pictures from the base in Kuwait...

I'm quite certain these guys are looking for my book...

Now...if she were to look down at the table, slightly to her right, she would indeed spot my literary classic...apparently she's been distracted by some, ahem..."lesser" book...

Ah yes...there we are, in rather plain sight...middle row, second from the right...

Here's another picture of the table...again, middle row...this time, fourth from the left...

Here's the cover of my book, for those who may have forgot what this beauty looks like...

It's somewhat fitting that my book got sent to an Air Force base, as the Air Force has used my 9-11 Tribute poem in their 9/11 ceremonies on multiple occasions. A couple that I'm aware of, this note was sent to me in 2012...

Poem on USA Patriotism!
Inbox
x

DIRKS, BELLE A 2Lt USAF AFSPC 721 CS/SCP < >
8/30/12

to me
Good afternoon Mr. Jankowski,

I am putting together a 9/11 Remembrance Ceremony. We would be honored to
have your "We Shall Never Forget" poem in our program. The few who have read
your poem in our office have really loved it. May we please have your
permission to use your poem? If allowed to use your poem, our program would
look like the one attached.

v/r,

BELLE A. DIRKS, 2Lt, USAF
721st Communications Squadron
Cheyenne Mountain AFS, CO

2 Attachments

This is the attachments they are referring to, sent for my approval...and for the record, the Air Force does not always ask for my approval before they do stuff. They sent me a physical copy of this program as well btw...

Some of you peeps here may recall me posting the link to this Air Force base's 9/11 ceremony program in the forum on SS...this is from Shindand AFB in Afghanistan, September 11, 2011...see page 6 btw...

Logfire Ledger - 9/11 10th Anniversary Special Edition
http://static.dvidshub.net/media/pubs/pdf_9363.pdf

It was originally posted by me over in this thread btw...

My 9-11 Tribute poem has been "in print" at least fourteen times in 2011..
http://www.storiesspace.com/forum/yaf_postst538_nul9sFrS3RTpl8Ft

Anyway...for anyone here who is a published author, and wishes to contribute to the program...contact Remy through the Facebook page...if you're not on FB, and interested...let me know, and I'll let her know...it is a good cause, and it's a cool thing to do... happy8

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Cheers,
Alan.
occasion5

occasion5

2 Jan 2014

"One Teen Story is a literary magazine for young adult readers of every age. Each issue will feature one amazing short story about the teen experience."...they pay $500.00 for a short story...not bad my friends, and yes...it should say 2014, and not 2013 here...wrote them to confirm that btw...

One Teen Story < >
9:49 AM (5 hours ago)

to me
Dear Alan,

Yes, it should be 2014. Thank you for your interest!

Happy New Year,
Adina Talve-Goodman
Managing Editor

One Teen Story - Submit
http://www.oneteenstory.com/index.php?page=submit[/size]

30 Dec 2013

Interesting little no-fee weekly contest for people 40 to 65 years of age...check it out my middle aged writing friends... happy8

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MIDLIFE COLLAGE
http://midlifecollage.com/submissions/

--- Submissions must be your own true, nonfiction short story occurring during your 40's – 60's. Suggested length of submission is 250 to 800 words. Prizes: $50. Deadline: Weekly.