Submit your story

Published on May 5, 2014May 6, 2014 by Jean M. Cogdell2 Comments

Dust off your keyboard and submit all those great stories you slaved over all winter long.

This is May and it is National Short Story Month and the opportunities abound.

Let me know about any contests I’ve missed. There must be a zillion more out there.

Who are you submitting to? Leave me a comment and add your favorite to the list.

Get ready!

Get set!

Select and…

Good Luck!

Publications Accepting Submissions:

Six Words Stories
Don’t Do It Ezine
NANO short story 31 writing prompts
Storm Cellar Quarterly Accepts submissions year round.

Contests Open for Submissions:

Glimmer Train: 1st: $1,500 May 31, 2014 deadline
NANO: contest The sixth-annual NANO Prize $500, 300 words max, Deadline: September 1, 2014
DECISIONS, DECISIONS This contest offers free critiques.
53 Press:
Writing Maps Journal: See website for details.
Writers Village: The top 50 contestants, whether they win a cash prize or not, will also gain a brief personal critique of their stories.
Short Story Competition: Cash prize Closing date: 31 July 2014
Narrative Magazine: Cash prize Deadline June 15.
Flavor Wire: Cash Prize.
HHA short story: See website for more details.
Jotters United Deadline May 31, 2014 See website for details.
Poetry: Poetry Anthology –Submissions open until June 30, 2014
TIFERET Writing Contest $1200 in prizes, $15 fee per entry, June 1, 2014 is the Deadline.
Flash Fiction: Blue Earth Review Flash Fiction Contest Deadline August 1, 2014, $500 1^st place, 2nd-$250, 3rd-$100. Winners will be published in Fall issue. Other admirable submissions may be published. $2 fee Submit here https://blueearthreview.submittable.com/submit/24696
Crazy Horse Deadline July 31, 2014 $1000 prize, All entries will be considered by our editors for publication, and the $15 entry fee includes a one-year subscription

Please check websites for additional rules and details.

Getting Creative

Published on August 28, 2013 by Jean M. Cogdell

Summer is almost over but you’d never know it here in Texas. The heat is still in the triple digits and I have the summer blues. My brain feels like it’s been cooked and turned to molasses. I must not be alone. Seems as if every other email today was regarding a must read book on how to get back to your writing muse. Well I’ve too many books, too little time now and did I mention it’s too damn hot.

Me, I’m all into short cuts. Easier the better. Now don’t go writing to me how nothing worthwhile in life is easy… Did I mention how hot it is here in Dallas?

Now where was I? Oh yeah. While I was reading yet another email, about another great book, I wondered if there might be an easier way to achieve the same results. Oh dear me, see my mind is mush. That was a terrible sentence. Anyway… the book this blogger ask me to consider was a book of prompts. So as my daughter is so fond of saying, I Googled it. And voila! I found quite a few.

But I’m not going to bombard you with them, it’s too damn hot. Here are a couple I liked and I found to be fun. Check them out. Creativity Games.net http://creativitygames.net/creative-writing-prompts, or http://stiobhard.tripod.com/html/javascript/words/writing_prompt_generator.html. Of course you could just Google Writing Prompt Generator and find a different one to your liking.

Here is the four word prompt I used from Creativity Games.net and the results. Have fun and find your Muse.

barrel
pyjamas
clown
decay

I slipped a coat on over my pyjamas and went outside. Some clown had left the barn door open. At the opening I wrinkled my nose at the stench of decay. No one had mucked the stalls in days. The smell grew worse as I neared a large barrel at the back of the barn.

Top Ten Prompts to Inspire Creative Writing (writingthefire.wordpress.com)
When Copying Is Good For Your Career (elabreywriter.wordpress.com)
Karavansara’s Friday Prompts (karavansara.wordpress.com)
Jumpstart Your Poetry with Over 1000 Prompts (thestarvingwriterblog.wordpress.com)
What I tell myself when I don’t feel ready when inspiration strikes (sophia-greene.com)
5 Things To Do If You Lose Your Muse (jeanfischer.wordpress.com)

String of Lies

Published on May 28, 2013 by Jean M. Cogdell1 Comment

Sting of Lies

Blinking I watched as small watermarks formed smearing the ink. There’s always a sting in the talewoven by his lies. Today is no different. I don’t need nor want to see them written on a piece of white paper, no matter how pretty the script. Not after he’s carved the lies in my broken heart with a tongue that cuts sharper than any knife. As the saying goes, Karma’s a bitch. Well so am I. In time, I’ll heal, butI will not forget. In time, he will wish I had.

by Jean M Cogdell written for

100 Word Challenge Week #91

Calling all writers! (seriouslywritingwoman.wordpress.com)
Prompts for the Promptless (diabeticredemption.com)
The Uncategorised: Daily Prompt | Say Your Name (thetrashbash.wordpress.com)
Writing Prompt 1 (ramanda429.wordpress.com)
The Daily Prompt: May 28th (thepoetryquestion.com)
Imagine It! Prompts 16 (vastimaginations.wordpress.com)
Writing Prompt 2 (ramanda429.wordpress.com)

Lover of Wine

Published on May 5, 2013May 5, 2013 by Jean M. Cogdell1 Comment

We drove up a long imposing drive and parked among silver Benz and extended limos. Then we walked past the main house toward a large barn and the Beaujolais Festival. I’d thought it a strange idea, to pair French wine and Texas. Since I prefered a bottle of Miller Lite rather than glass of wine; it was my daughter idea to attend the magical night at South Fork Ranch. The evening wore on, and I left on the arm of a handsome man wearing boots, a lover of wine.