Tid-Bits from Around the Web

Patti Abbott has announced her newest flash challenge with the theme "A Day at the Zoo". Stories up to 1200 words with a posting date of April 2. You can find the details and sign up here http://pattinase.blogspot.com/2012/02/flash-fiction-challenge-day-at-zoo.html

From David Cranmer comes news that Beat to a Pulp is back to posting new stories for 2012. http://www.beattoapulp.com/

While most of you have probably seen the TOC for the first issue of Grift http://griftmagazine.com Needle Magazine has also posted their TOC for issue six http://needlemag.wordpress.com Both magazines will be available for purchase soon.

And Spinetingler is hosting a tournament of 2011 Crime Fiction Ebooks. Head on over and vote for your favorites http://www.spinetinglermag.com

Fantasy Contests

The British Fantasy Society's short story competition for 2012 opens on March 1 and is open for subs up to 5000 words until June 30. There are cash prizes. The contest is free to society members but there is 5pound free to all others. You can check out the details here http://www.britishfantasysociety.co.uk/the-bfs-short-story-competition-2012/

And the Jersey Devil Press is having a novella contest. They're looking for novellas of 10,000 to 20,000 words in the fantasy genre. Deadline is March 31 and the prize is publication in the August issue of JDP. You can find the details here http://www.jerseydevilpress.com/?p=2170

And a late addition: Canadian magazine, "On Spec", is open for regular submissions from March 1 to April 31. But they're also hosting a contest, which is only open to Canadian writers. "All Things Doom: Or How I Stopped Worrying and Learned to Love the Apocalypse". 3000 to 6000 words with a March 31 deadline. First prize is $300 and the story will be the lead story in the Fall issue. http://www.onspec.ca/submissions/

Friending Salt

Yes, I've been missing in action here on the blog for a couple of days. And it all started with the box of salt I bought. I was putting it in the cupboard when I noticed the Facebook symbol. My salt wanted me to be friends. Now, I don't know about you, but I don't want to be friends with my salt. I want the salt to set quietly in its shaker until I need to season my food.

Is social media getting out of hand? And do you really want to read all that advertising that's passing itself off as friends? I only have this blog and a few Yahoo groups but I just had to step back for a minute and wonder where in the world we're all heading. Because everywhere I look, someone is trying to sell me something. From salt to Viagra to penis enlargments. The whole thing just kind of tires me out.

Now I like reading about new stories and new books that are being published, but do we really need to make friends with our salt?

New Issues

Western zine, Fires on the Plain, launched today with "The Serpent Box" by Jake Hinkson. A new story will be posted every Friday and if this first one is any indication we're in for some very fine reading. http://firesontheplain.com

And the Winter issue of Mysterical-e has hit the virtual streets with thirteen new short stories by authors like Albert Tucher, John M. Floyd and Peter Swanson to name just a few. You can check it out here http://www.mystericale.com

e-pubbing shorts

David B. Coe takes a look at e-publishing and short stories. Of course, he's talking about the sci-fi market which has more paying markets than crime fiction but he makes some interesting points. http://www.sfnovelists.com/2012/02/23/e-publishing-and-the-short-story-writer/

To Write or Not to Write

Graham Edwards had a bit of fun with this list of 10 reasons for writing. http://grahamedwardsonline.wordpress.com/2012/02/22/ten-reasons-for-writing/ While you're there be sure to click on the 10 reasons not to write link at the top of the essay.

Unwritten Rules

There's been a bit of chatter on the 'net today about certain unwritten rules of writing. One young lady wanted to know what the rules were as she didn't know. Huh? I thought everyone knew that killing animals and children in a story was taboo. Not because it doesn't happen in real life, but because it makes readers uncomfortable. It makes writers uncomfortable, too, but sometimes a story requires that we squirm in our seats. The problem lies in the fact that the harder we squirm the more unlikely the story is to find a good home. So we have to choose between selling our story and telling the truth.

For those who don't know the unwritten rule: It's okay to kill, rape, and maim twenty or thirty women in a novel, but don't hurt the dog or the kids. After all, women are a disposable commodity.

And yes, I'm tired and a bit cranky and will probably regret that last sentence in the morning. But for tonight, that's what I'm thinking.