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DirtyMartini

Over 90 days ago

United States

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27 Aug 2011

Quote by ladysharon
I might be putting this in the wrong spot, but here goes.

I just got a letter in the mail that states that one of my poems is going to be put in an anthology of sorts. It's also up for a prize and if I want the book, I have to pay for it. Sounds like a scam to me. If your poem is picked to be in something, shouldn't they give it to you?

I got that same letter, I realized today...it is from these people...
http://www.storiesspace.com/forum/yaf_postst348_World-Poetry-Movement-free-poetry-contestcash-prizes.aspx

There's a ton of stuff in there...stuff to sign and all...I have to read it through carefully, but my initial thought is if they will publish it in print without me having to buy the book...I will say "yes"...

I think the only real "scam" is they count on the fact that most people who have a poem in the book will buy it, at the relatively steep price...

But, if I can get a poem "in print" and it doesn't cost me anything...I will go for it... happy8

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I really have to spend some time reading every line of everything they've sent me in the next few days...

27 Aug 2011

Quote by Lisa
Did you check out the image gallery? Imagine how much work you could get done in those surroundings. It looks like Heaven for writers.

It's like 13,000 acres or something too...they only take 8 people at a time on the ranch, and only two writers of the eight...there was another similar program I saw today that takes 52 people at a time...

There's actually quite a few of these, all over...I have to start filling out applications... happy8

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27 Aug 2011

Mississippi Fred McDowell was actually born in 1904 in Rossville, TN but later settled in Mississippi when he got a job picking cotton...legend has it he started playing slide guitar using a pocket knife and a beef rib bone...here he shows us a few things he learned along the way in this 1966 video... happy8

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27 Aug 2011

Anyone know what you got to say to get into one of these residency programs? This one looks nice... happy8

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According to the quick facts pdf, it says..."selection process : A rotating blind jury of arts professionals will rank work samples with the final decision made by director." but not much more...

Check out the link...there are actually a whole bunch of similar residency programs for writers that seem to be basically paid vacations for writers, with varying eligibility requirements...just a thought...

Bush Creek Ranch Foundation For The Arts
http://www.brushcreekranch.com/ranch/artsfoundation.php

27 Aug 2011

Here we go, the Family Circle Fiction Contest...2500 word limit, $750 first prize...and you can submit two entries, by mail btw...go for it... happy8

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2011 Family Circle Fiction Contest Rules
http://www.familycircle.com/family-fun/fiction/2011-family-circle-fiction-contest-rules/

26 Aug 2011

Anyway...here is the group that truly put the funk in funky back in 1968...and anyone over a certain age remembers this one... happy8

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26 Aug 2011

Diane mentioned The Yardbirds the other day...good enough excuse for me to post this one... happy8

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26 Aug 2011

I don't there's a few gardeners out there...though I'm not sure this magazine is really interested in what my friends grow...anyway "Publishes one poem per issue - pays $20. Articles pay up to $150. Fiction and articles accepted up to 2,000 words."...have fun, and happy gardening... flower

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Contributor Guidelines - GreenPrints
http://www.greenprints.com/en/content/16-contributor-guidelines

26 Aug 2011

Oh yeah...a little something for the more, um, "mature" crowd...notice I didn't say "old farts"...Good Old Days Magazine wants your stories about growing up between 1935-1960..."Seeks real stories. Humor is always a plus. Pays up to $100. Articles are 500 to 1,200 words. Departments are around 500 words."...go for it my older Stories Space friends...if you can remember... happy8

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Contributor Guidelines | Good Old Days Magazine | The Magazine That Remembers The Best
http://www.goodolddaysmagazine.com/contributor_guidelines.php

26 Aug 2011

Oh, here we go...another contest that gets points for the name alone...The Beautiful Britain Family Travel Writing Competition wants to hear about your family holiday over in the ever sunny U.K....first prize £200 and a few other goodies...go for it my U.K. Stories Space friends... happy8

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The Beautiful Britain family travel writing competition
http://havealovelytime.com/2011/07/the-beautiful-britain-family-travel-writing-competition.html

26 Aug 2011

This is a really cool video, but I've always had a fondness for the Cosmos Factory album...it was one of the first albums I ever owned...definitely one of the first five... happy8

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25 Aug 2011

A nice Janis video...apparently from a NYC club in 1967... happy8

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24 Aug 2011

Talk about short fiction contests...I think this one might certainly meet that definition...my latest LinkedIn connection, Salvatore W. Delle Palme runs this site and sent me this link to a contest he's running...first prize is a clock, so if someone asks you "Do you know what time it is?" you can answer "Yes, as matter of fact I do"...good luck here people... happy8

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Zouch Magazine’s LIT BITS Fiction Contest - ZOUCH
http://zouchmagazine.com/zouch-magazines-lit-bits-fiction-contest/

Zouch normally accepts essays, poetry, flash fiction, short fiction and "not so short fiction"...and they accept previously published work...my type of publication, if I say so myself...

I'll have to make a note to send some stuff their way and see if they bite... icon_smile

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24 Aug 2011

Quote by Rumple_deWriter
While I read a lot, the last novel to turn my crank was Jonathan Frazen's, Freedom. Highly recommended. Series-wise, Terry Pratchett's Discworld series always improves my mood.

:eyeglasses8:

I thought for sure you were going to say DirtyMartini...who let you on this site anyway?

Btw, your eyeglass smiley isn't working here...but, I'll look into that for you...I'm a moderator over here, so I have the power...

And no jokes about me being in a position of authority...I think I've heard them all in the last week...jeez, give a poor guy a break... happy8

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24 Aug 2011

Nugget...

24 Aug 2011

Song...

24 Aug 2011

Plants...

24 Aug 2011

There is actually two different videos of this performance by The Rosenberg Trio and David Reinhardt...but, this one filmed from onstage has a better view of David's guitar solo...I'd certainly say... happy8

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23 Aug 2011

Quote by Sherzahd
The Seventh Deadly Sin of Writing: Head Hopping

Firstly, allow me to apologise for my tardiness in wrapping this up.

Well...I think you should apologize...in fact, I think you should more than apologize, maybe even buy us all ice cream... happy8

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Quote by Sherzahd

Have you ever read a story written in the first person, then without warning the author reveals the thoughts of a different character? And you’re thinking, “Whoa! Did I misunderstand?”

No...actually, I can't recall this, though I'd think it would be pretty bad...I've seen people go from first person to second person in a short story...sort of go into this "you do, I do" thing, and that can be annoying...
I've also seen people put two POV's in the same paragraph...and that's just wrong...

22 Aug 2011

Quote by Louise
I'm going to use a pen name for my more adult pieces which I plan to self -publish soon,.It's a play on words on my mother's maiden name and my second name. I will use my real name for my other writing.

Yeah, that's about the same as I have in mind...except the part about self-publishing...I really don't recommend self-publishing to anyone, unless you are already an established author with a following, or some sort of celebrity...again with a significant following...if you don't believe me, ask some people who have self-published how many books they have sold...

I know it's easy these days, and tempting...but, there are a lot of publishers out there that specialize in more "adult" stuff, and are looking for new authors...

Check out the Erotic Readers & Writers Association website for a start...they have a significant list...
http://www.erotica-readers.com/ERA/AR/Erotica_Authors_Resources.htm

Legitimate established publishers have websites that people visit looking for new titles, they also get titles reviewed, post new releases in trade publications, send out lists of new titles to people on their mailing lists, and other assorted marketing-type stuff...after all, they have a vested interest in selling your book, that's how they make money...you're not going to compete on your own...

And if every one of those listed on that page should happen to turn you down, which I tend to doubt actually...send me a PM and I'll send you links to more... happy8

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22 Aug 2011

The British Red Cross has launched a creative writing competition to commemorate people who have gone missing throughout the world in situations of violence and armed conflict...The winning entry will receive a £50 cash prize and a £50 book voucher...hurry up though...only have till the end of the month... happy8

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British Red Cross launches creative writing competition to mark International Day of the Disappeared
http://www.redcross.org.uk/About-us/Media-centre/Press-releases/2011/August/BRCSlaunchescreativewritingcompetitionInternationalDayofDisappeared

21 Aug 2011

Quote by magnificent1rascal
What excellent news about the new-old Dr. Seuss stories being published!

Oh btw...just thought I'd mention...I was in the dentist office a couple of days ago, and they had a copy of Green Eggs And Ham...so, of course, I read it...

So, if anyone asks me the last book I read... happy8

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21 Aug 2011

Quote by Sherzahd
[
PS: Yes, I do know that this isn't one word, but he started it.....

Hey, hey...I put my one word in bold type...

Now I have another one word...wet...just started raining again over here, and I had to run out to the store...

And yes, I happen to love storms myself...when I'm inside and dry... happy8

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21 Aug 2011

Quote by Sherzahd
Sleepy

Lol...I'm actually fairly awake today...but, I know the feeling...the last few days here had been rainy and nasty...and I'm very sensitive to weather...

I have a terrible time waking up if the weather is nasty...

20 Aug 2011

I've been noticing a fair number of discussions concerning pen names in blogs and writing groups lately...issues like picking one, protecting that name, getting paid under that name, getting that name out there...that sort of thing...

The first, most obvious issue is picking one...this is something I really need to address myself, btw...I started writing in April, 2009 on another site and chose the name Exakta66 because I happen to collect Exakta cameras, and had always used that name for anything I did on the internet, including my e-mail account. I had been using it since about the year 2000, when everyone in the Exakta collectors group I belonged to picked Exakta related names for their e-mail addresses, so it seemed only natural to use it for writing stories...

Only one minor little problem...I found out in late 2010 that the Exakta name is an active registered trademark of Jos. Schneider in West Germany, and since I started submitting stories to paying sites in September, 2010 I realized I had to change the name I was using, and fast...my girlfriend suggested the name DirtyMartini, since she's a fan of the drink (and turned me onto them, but that's another story)...that seemed like a good idea, since I happen to write erotic stories as well...and DirtyMartini has a hint of "dirtiness" without really being "dirty"...if you know what I mean...it is, after all, a drink...

So...in October, 2010 when I joined Stories Space, I joined using the name DirtyMartini...and the first time I used that name was here, btw...and it seemed all well and good...and I started using it on other sites I post stories on, including sites of a more "adult" nature...

And then one day, a few months back, I got a message from Morgan Hawke, who is a professional writer if you don't know...and she told me that I should really choose a real name, and not a "handle" as she called it...I don't think she used the phrase "dumb ass" in her note, but I got her drift... happy8

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I have to say, I've been writing now for over two years...and I have to honestly say, I have really learned quite a bit in that time...about both writing and publishing...but, sometimes things happen to remind me just how little I know, and how much more I have to learn...

So...if you don't want to look like some flighty, unbalanced individual who changes their name every year for the heck of it, you may want to consider picking a real human pen name...and stick with it...if you do have any ambitions whatsoever of taking your writing "to the next level" you are going to have to pick a name you like, and can live with...and build some sort of brand identity around it...

In the meantime, you may want to read this article on picking a pen name...I know I have to read it myself...
http://www.authorscene.com/index.php?id=34&option=com_content&task=view

On another related note...some questions that I have seen lately, complete with actual answers...and yes, I do know the answers to these...

No wise-ass comments, thank you... happy8

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Q. Can you copyright a pen name?
A. No, you cannot...

Q. Can you trademark a pen name?
A. Yes, you can...but, you have to show that the name has some value in the marketplace first and is not normally recommended...even writers like Stephen King don't have their name trademarked...which answers the question "Could I call myself Stephen King?"...but it's not a good idea for various reasons I won't get into here...for one thing, any time someone says they read a good story by "Stephen King"...people are probably not going to think it's by you...

Finally...
Q. I don't want my publisher to know my real name...can I get my royalty checks made out to my pen name?
A. Yes, you can...you can set it up legally...something like "Alan W. Jankowski, dba. DirtyMartini"...but, that involves a significant expense, attorneys, that sort of thing...for most authors, they would never make enough to cover the attorney fees...get your first novel on the New York Times bestseller list, and then worry about that...

Anyway...that is our lesson for today...good luck... happy8

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20 Aug 2011

Quote by AutumnWriter

3. Branding: I don't agree with this at all. I think what is suggested leads to repetition and cliches, which tend to debase the quality of the writing effort and are limiting at the same time.

Interesting...I had to go read it again, and I tend to agree with you here...in particular, this sentence in the article I think is wrong...

"sprinkle your work liberally with your own little stamps of distinction."

I think branding is something that should come natural to an author, if you have to make a conscious effort to "sprinkle" in catch phrases into your work, something is amiss...but, like Lisa said, there are authors whose work is instantly recognizable because of their writing style...and not because they copied and pasted in catch phrases...

20 Aug 2011

Quote by ladysharon
I think the kidnapping of a modern-day princess will be sufficient enough.

I think that would work fine...just realize they don't want anything previously published...

20 Aug 2011

Quote by Sherzahd
Vanilla ice cream with bits of pecan nuts and a drizzle of choc sauce...

Hmmm...you have any of that left for your Stories Space friends? Didn't think so... happy8

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I have my coffee with Coffee-mate French vanilla creamer...as usual, I might add...I'm a creature of habit... coffee

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20 Aug 2011

Amethyst Arsenic is open to all forms of poetry and art...for coming Winter issue...‎"Deadline November 1, 2011. Amethyst Arsenic is open to all forms of poetry and art. Pays $5 per poem and artwork. Pays $50 for poems they nominate for Pushcart Prize, Best of the Web, and Best of the Net awards."...did you get that? Good... happy8

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Amethyst Arsenic Submission Manager
http://amethystarsenic.submishmash.com/submit

Btw, they mention the Pushcart Prize...do they actually give you a real pushcart, does anyone know?

Just curious...

20 Aug 2011

OK, we have an erotic story submission call..."Kingdoms of Desire: Erotic Tales of Fantasy is a place where lust and legend abound, and adventure, passion and danger entwine."...hmmm, it says "One-time payment in the range of USD $50-70 (payable on publication) and 2 copies of the anthology."...OK, so is it $50 or $70? Go figure, and good luck with this one... happy8

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Writers Call for Short Story Submissions | Errant Ramblings: Mitzi Szereto's Weblog
http://mitziszereto.com/blog/writers-call-for-short-story-submissions/