Writing Perfect Scenes

Posted on July 15, 2009 by teacherwriter

I’ve just spent most of the summer perfecting my scene and sequel skills. Now I think I can finally say, I’ve got it! After intensively writing for so long now, I’ve reached a vantage point where I can look over a scene, target what is wonderful about it or where it needs improvement. The scene is one of the most important parts that drive the story forward. You can learn how to build tension and suspense by reading How to Write a Novel with Perfect Scenes.

Happy writing!

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List of Teacher Supplies to Buy for the Beginning of the School Year

Posted on July 14, 2009 by teacherwriter

Last Tuesday, the TeacherWriter blog was about getting your classroom organized.  Today, it’s time to start your shopping list. Many of the things on this list may already be in your classroom. If so, wonderful. Many schools allow the teachers to give the students a supply list to purchase before school starts. If that’s your school, terrific. The less money you need to spend, the better.

 

Use this Teacher School Supply Checklist to ensure you have all the things you need.

 

Don’t forget bigger ticket items as well. My classroom CD player broke last year, so I need a new one. You may need a DVD player, as some schools still have VCRs in the rooms. Try to get the school to buy them. If they won’t purchase them for you, because of the current budget climate, you can choose to do without, buy it yourself, or ask for parent donations of these items. Many parents that are unable to help out in the classroom are happy to donate items.

 

Last tip: Wait for the teacher sales. Typically, in July and August, school supplies are at an annual low price. Teachers even get special sale rates beyond that. You just have to watch the ads for them, or call the store managers to find out when the teacher sales are happening.

 

Next Tuesday, I’ll have 5 articles on classroom management for you. You can subscribe to my RSS feed, or follow me on Twitter so you don’t miss any of the teaching tips.

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Writing on Walls III Writing Contest

Posted on July 10, 2009 by teacherwriter

Entry Fee: $15

Deadline: August 1, 2009

Guidelines: http://www.storyteller1.upcsites.org/page/page/4382383.htm

This is another contest sponsored by Storyteller Magazine. Winners receive cash prizes ranging from $200 to $75. All contributors receive a free copy of the anthology once it is published. The guidelines are sparse; stories up to 3,000 words are accepted in any genre.

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Silver Quill 2009 Contest

Posted on July 9, 2009 by teacherwriter

Entry Fee: $5

Deadline: September 25, 2009

Guidelines: http://www.storyteller1.upcsites.org/page/page/3773128.htm

This is the second year of this writing contest and it is open to any genre. Winners are published in an anthology, sold on the website. Cash prizes range from $50 for first prize to $10 for honorable mention.

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Discovering New Mysteries Contest

Posted on July 8, 2009 by teacherwriter

Entry Fee: FREE

Deadline: August 30, 2009

Guidelines: http://www.newmysteries.org/submission_guidelines/

 

            Do you love to write mysteries, cozies, adventures, who-dunnits, or thrillers? The International Mystery Writers Festival, has sponsored this contest since 2007. Awards are given to the winners at the annual festival in Owensboro, Kentucky. There are over $20,000 in prizes, with $5,000 allotted for the “Most Promising New Writer” category. The prizes are provided through sponsorship by the Kentucky Arts Council, Barnes and Noble, the Kentucky Department of Tourism, and many more agencies.

            The prestigious Angie Awards, which are named in honor of Angela Lansbury, star of the Murder She Wrote television and book series, are given to the winners in addition to the cash prizes. Attendance at the festival is open to anyone, so you may want to consider it if you live near Owensboro, or if you’re planning a trip near there.

There is no word limit for the mysteries. Instead, the contest imposes a time limit. The story or play must be able to be read or performed in under an hour. Many well established writers compete for prizes, as well as new writers competing in their own category.

All submissions and author information should be mailed to:

“Discovering New Mysteries” at RiverPark
Attn: Kimberly Johnson,
Festival Coordinator
101 Daviess Street
Owensboro, KY 42302

 

Do not include your name on your manuscript, as the submissions are judged blind. Put your author information on a separate page and include it in the submission envelope. Competition is fierce, so send your best work.

Never miss a contest announcement. Subscribe to TeacherWriter by RSS feed or follow me on Twitter.

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Organize Your Classroom for the School Year

Posted on July 7, 2009 by teacherwriter

During the month of July and August, I’ll be focusing on how to set up a classroom. Teachers start thinking about classroom organization and classroom management long before the bell rings on the first day of school. Each Tuesday, I’ll post the links to my most popular and widely read classroom and teaching articles both on the TeacherWriter blog and on Suite101.com. If you want to read the articles all at once, fill your mind with classroom organizing tips, plan your teaching strategy for the year, just click on the category Teaching Tips on the left hand side of this blog. You can also click on my Suite101 profile on the right hand side of this blog and get a complete listing of my articles there. I’ll have more teaching and organizing articles appearing on Suite101.

 

Today’s Theme: Organize Your Class With Color

 

There are many ways to organize a classroom, but I have found that color systems work the best for most teachers. You can help students get organized with color as well.

 

Organize Your Class With Color

 

Organizing Tips That Teach Students Study Skills

 

How to Get Students Into Groups

 

Now that you know what to do to and how to plan for classroom organization, next Tuesday I’ll give you a teacher list of supplies to buy for the beginning of the year. You can subscribe by RSS or follow me on Twitter if you don’t want to miss a single article.

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Cheerios Children’s Writing Contest

Posted on July 2, 2009 by teacherwriter

Contest: Cheerios Spoonful of Stories Children’s Contest

 

Entry Fee: FREE

 

Deadline: July 15, 2009

 

Guidelines: http://www.spoonfulsofstoriescontest.com/registration_form/

 

Cheerios is sponsoring the third annual contest for writers of children’s fiction. Winners receive $5,000 and publication of their books by Simon and Schuster. The winning story of the 2007 contest, “The Great Dog Wash” is available at bookstores and in specially marked boxes of Cheerios. Stories should be submitted through the online submission form.

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Electric Dragon Café Short Story Writing Contest

Posted on June 30, 2009 by teacherwriter

Contest: Electric Dragon Café Short Story Writing Contest

Entry Fee: FREE

Deadline: July 31, 2009

Guidelines: http://www.electricdragoncafe.com/submit/contest.php?/

What would you do if the world had an apocalypse and you were one of the few survivors? The Electric Dragon Café wants to know. They offer contests on a quarterly basis with a themed prompt. This contest’s theme has to do with global catastrophe and the survivor’s plans for rebuilding society. The topic sounds serious, but keep in mind that the editors of the site have a very droll sense of humor. They love to read entertaining, surprising, original speculative fiction stories that are slightly quirky and offbeat. Winners of the contest receive a $25 gift certificate to Borders or Barnes and Noble bookstores. If you have another science fiction story with a different theme, they accept online submissions. So go ahead. Tell Electric Dragon Café how you plan to handle the end of civilization. They may elect you the leader of a new society.

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2009 Linda Flowers Literary Award

Posted on June 25, 2009 by teacherwriter

Entry Fee: FREE

Deadline: August 15, 2009

Guidelines:

http://www.nchumanities.org/documents/MicrosoftWord-LFLADetails2009.pdf

Linda Flowers served on the North Carolina Humanities Council from 1992 to 1998, whose mission is to preserve the culture and heritage of North Carolina. Linda Flowers left behind a legacy that includes this literary writing contest.

According to the guidelines, “Submissions should detail examinations of intimate, provocative, and inspiring portraiture of North Carolina, its people and cultures, bringing to light real men and women having to make their way in the face of change, loss, triumph, and disappointments.”

You do not need to be a resident of North Carolina to enter. Entries may be fiction or nonfiction, up to 2,500 words. Only one entry is accepted per writer, so make it spectacular! The winner will be published in North Carolina Conversations, receive $500, and a stipend to a writer’s residency at the Weymouth Center for the Arts and Humanities in Southern Pines, North Carolina.

Take a few moments to relax by reading some of the intriguing winning stories before you submit your own winning entry.

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Seasons of Romance Winter Love Anthology

Posted on June 24, 2009 by teacherwriter

Contest: Seasons of Romance Winter Love Anthology

Entry Fee: FREE

Deadline: July 15, 2009

Guidelines: http://www.newconcordpress.com/sundropbooks/seaons1.html

SunDrop, a new fiction imprint of New Concord Press, is looking for stories to publish in two upcoming anthologies. The theme is “Seasons of Romance: Winter Love.” If you have a romantic story that is between 11,000 and 12,000 words, this may be a viable market for you. Payment for selected stories is low, $25.00, plus one copy of the book. However, if you’ve been trying to break into print, this may be one way to do it. They accept all subgenres of romance except Young Adult and Erotic. They also require a query letter and synopsis, so this is a chance to practice and sharpen those skills.

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