Foreign Encounters

For the third year running, Writers Abroad will be calling for submissions for their annual anthology. This years is entitled 'Foreign Encounters' and we're looking for stories, non-fiction articles and poems about  relationships around the world. It can encompass people, animals and places. An encounter or alliance, a connection or kinship, love or liaison, written from an ex-pat view point.

We opened the doors three weeks ago and have had 25 submissions already, which is great news on one hand. However, some entries have had to be declined because they don't meet the specified word count (1700 for short stories, 1000 for non-fiction and 30 lines for poetry). Now, the first thing I ever learned about being writer was to follow the submission guidelines to the 'T'. They are there for a purpose and certainly word counts are critical to the final productions. So if we've asked for 30 lines don't give us 120, because sorry, it won't get read.

Secondly, the theme is critical to our Anthology. If you look at our previous Anthologies, they've all been ex-pat focused and had a general theme to write around. Last years was food, drink and cooking around the world, this year it's relationships. So make sure that your piece fits the theme. It maybe that you have one in your 'needs a home' file which is great but please edit, rewrite and polish so it meets our particular needs.
Finally, you've still got plenty of time! The deadline is the midnight on the 31st July 2012 and entries must be via the link on the Writers Abroad page for Foreign Encounters Submissions.
We look forward to receiving and reading some great stuff!

Oh, and if you are selected you'll be pleased to know you'll be helping others in return. All proceeds from the sale of the Anthology will be going to Books Abroad, a very worthy charity I'm sure you'll agree. And what to you get? The glory of publication my fellow writers :)
Until Later...

Critiques and Revamps

I've been drowning in a sea of critiques and feedback. All constructive I might add but I must confess to a bit of a colly wabble at the beginning of the week. I've joined an historical critique group where I'm feeding chapters that have gone through the mill on Writers Abroad. Now because my lovely pals over at WA are so brill at critiquing the story line for The Duke's Shadow is shaping nicely and most of the technical/proofing errors have been spotted by eagle eyes. They also do comment on historical facts and seek meaning.

Because I was concerned about the historical accuracy of my writing, I thought a group with experts in that particular genre (and many of them published I might add) would be a useful place to be. And it is. But also quite scary. I became a little overwhelmed with the attention to detail and fact but it's exactly what is needed.

What I now need to do is sift through some of these observations, rewrite where necessary, check out facts and ensure that I maintain the story whilst being as historically placed as possible. So, my task today (and probably much of the weekend) is to tackle chapter 3 for submission to WA and make notes for further research before revising for the historical lot.

And talking of revamping, I've changed the design of my blog. Dynamic, blogger calls it. Not sure about that, but it looks 'clean'...

Until Later...

Call For Submissions - Foreign Encounters

Foreign Encounters Anthology

Call for Submissions - Short Stories, Non-Fiction Articles and Poetry.

Organised by expat writers group - Writers Abroad

Writers Abroad will be publishing their third Anthology entitled ‘Foreign Encounters’.

We are seeking submissions of short stories and non-fiction pieces and poetry on the general theme of relationships around the world. The anthology will be print published and later available as an e-book.

This year Writers Abroad will be donating all profits made to charity, Books Abroad.  Books Abroad believes that education is required to solve the world's problems and is therefore helping educate school children worldwide by providing free, carefully chosen school books. Books Abroad is currently working in 84 countries and serving 977 educational establishments. This includes Africa, Asia, Central & Southern America, the Middle East and Eastern Europe.

Author, Julia Gregson, whose best-selling novel 'East of the Sun' won the prestigious Prince Maurice Prize, will be writing the foreword.

To see our previous Anthologies (2010 & 2011) please visit Writers Abroad

Title: Foreign Encounters (Genre: Short Stories and Non-Fiction and Poetry)

Theme:  Relationships around the world. Your short story, non-fiction piece or poem can encompass people, animals and places. An encounter or alliance, a connection or kinship, love or liaison written from an ex-pat view point.

Contributions: Expat or former ex-pat writers, or those writers who are living outside the country of their birth.

Word Count: Fiction – up to 1700 words (flash fiction is welcome) Non-Fiction – up to 1000 words. Maximum of 30 lines for poetry.

Submission and Entry Rules - please read carefully as submissions may be rejected if they don't comply

• All submissions must be previously unpublished either in print or on-line.
• Submissions from ex-pats or former ex-pats only.
• Submissions should be received by midnight July 31st 2012.
• Submissions must be in English
• References to pornography or racism will not be accepted
• Manuscripts must be submitted via the link to Submittable at Writers Abroad
• The approximate word count should be inserted at the end of the submission
• Author name and title of the story or non-fiction piece should be placed in the left header of the document and page numbers in the right footer
• Manuscripts should be presented with double spacing and Times New Roman Font size 12.
• Queries only can be made via the contact button on the Submissions page
• Entries are free, only one entry per author, plus a short bio of 30 words at the end of each submission would be appreciated.
• Successful authors will be informed within two weeks after the closing date
• It will not be possible to provide feedback on submissions but successful stories may be edited and authors may be required to undertake minor changes for publication purposes
• Copyright will remain with the author and the stories will be published in an anthology in a number of formats.
• All proceeds from publication will be donated to the chosen charity.
• All entrants must be over 18.