Seeking Submissions from U.S. Women Writers for 3 Proposed Books*
Guidelines also on: http://www.encirclepub.com/poetry/aurorean/announcements (bottom of page)
1. Writing, Publishing, and Teaching Tips from Contemporary American Women Poets
Foreword by Robin Merrill, Maine Poets Society President 2006-2007. M.F.A. Stonecoast. With hundreds of poems published, some from her chapbook Laundry & Stories (Moon Pie Press) were featured on Garrison Keillor’s “Writers’ Almanac.” http://www.robinmerrill.com
Afterword by the editors of Iris Magazine, an award-winning publication of 27 years celebrating and empowering young women through provocative articles, essays, and fiction pieces that are uplifting, inclusive, and literate. http://womenscenter.virginia.edu/coreprograms/iris.html
Markets for women, why women write, time management, using life experience, women’s magazines, critique groups, networking, blogs, unique issues women must overcome, lesbian and bisexual writing, formal education, queries and proposals, conference participation, family scheduling, feminist writing, self-publishing, teaching tips, are just a few areas women poets are interested.
Practical, concise, how-to articles with bullets/headings have proven the most helpful. Please avoid writing about “me” and concentrate on what will most help the reader. A question and answer format for interviews may be used.
2. Contemporary American Women: Our Defining Passages
Foreword by Carolyn Lesser, Webster University, St. Louis, MO, nonfiction writing faculty; natural science children’s books published by Harcourt, Alfred A. Knopf; essayist, poet, photographer, keynote speaker, artist.
Afterword by Dr. Loriene Roy, 2007-2008 President of the American Library Association. Professor, University of Texas at Austin, founder of “If I Can Read, I Can Do Anything,” a national reading club for Native American children.
Please consider sharing the important milestones, life changing events, transitions in your life–material that would broadly fit the “Women’s Studies” genre that is highly readable, moving and relatable. There are the passages that occur to us (for example, losing a loved one, having to relocate) and then the passages we choose (such as getting a degree in mid-life, adopting a child). Please focus on those pivotal moments and why they were important passages for you.
This book celebrates our passages as women, from one moment into another, from one door to the next. Often it is after the navigation, that in reflection, we see that some of the most difficult are the ones we have learned the most and have had lasting effects as well on those around us.
Guidelines for Writing, Publishing, and Teaching Tips from Contemporary American Women Poets and/or Contemporary American Women: Our Defining Passages:
Step 1: send your proposed topics before writing articles to avoid duplication; proposed topics must be accompanied by a 65-70 word bio with your present position, location, relevant publications, career highlights for the contributor page; please use POETS or PASSAGES/your name on the subject line to brackett-vincent@encirclepub.com.
Step 2:(if your topics are approved): deadline for submissions (by e-mail only) is July 30, 2008. Again, please use POETS or PASSAGES in the subject line; send to Cynthia at brackett-vincent@encirclepub.com in a Word document (.doc format only) using 12-point font.
Article specifics: word total for 1-2 articles based on your experience: 1,900 minimum; maximum 2,100. Two articles preferred. If submitting two articles, please break them up fairly evenly in word count.
No previously published or simultaneously submitted material. Contributors must be reside in the U.S. Books such as this can typically take up to a year to compile. Contributors receive a complimentary copy and contributor’s discount on additional copies.
Co-editor Cynthia Brackett-Vincent is publisher/editor of the esteemed Aurorean poetry journal; poetry instructor; award-winning poet; author of The 95 Poems chapbook (2005) and contributor to Educators as Writers: Publishing for Personal and Professional Development. In 2007, her poems received a citation, honorable mention and second place in the National Federation of State Poetry Societies, New England Writers and Maine Poets Society competitions. View Cynthia at http://www.encirclepub.com/poetry/aurorean/editor
Co-editor, Carol Smallwood has written, co-authored, and edited 19 books such as Educators as Writers for Scarecrow, Libraries Unlimited. An award-winning writer, her work has appeared in English Journal, Clackamas Literary Review, Iris, and several others including anthologies; chapbook, Pudding House 2008; Educators as Writers, Peter Lang 2006;
and http://www.mcfarlandpub.com/book-2.php?id=978-0-7864-3575-3
3. U.S. Women on Family: Writing, Publishing, and Teaching Tips
Foreword: Robbi Hess, Journalist, co-author, Complete Idiot’s Guide to 30,000 Baby Names (Penguin Books); Editor, Byline Magazine
Afterword: Suzanne Bunkers, Professor of English, Minnesota State University, editor of Diaries of Girls and Women: a Midwestern American Sampler (University of Wisconsin Press)
This is a book not just on writing but tips for women writing about family. Possible subject areas you might address include: markets; why women write about family; using life experience; networking; blogs; unique issues women must overcome; formal education; queries and proposals; conference participation; family scheduling; self-publishing; teaching tips; family in creative nonfiction, poetry, short stories, novels.
Practical, concise, how-to articles with bullets/headings have proven the most helpful to readers. Please avoid writing about “me” and concentrate on what will help the reader. A question and answer format for interviews may be used.
Word total for 1-2 articles based on your experience: 1,900 minimum; maximum 2,100. Two articles preferred broken up fairly evenly in word count. No previously published or simultaneously submitted material; no co-authors.
Deadline: July 30, 2008
Contributors receive a complimentary copy and discounts on additional copies. It is common for compilation of an anthology to take upwards of a year.
Editor: Carol Smallwood has written, co-authored, and edited 19 books such as Educators as Writers (Peter Lang, 2006); chapbook, (Pudding House 2008); The Published Librarian (American Library Association, forthcoming). Her work has appeared in English Journal, Clackamas Literary Review, Iris, The Detroit News, several others including anthologies; Words and Images of Belonging co-edited with the editor of the Aurorean is with an agent; a recent book is http://www.mcfarlandpub.com/book-2.php?id=978-0-7864-3575-3
Please send topics for consideration with a 65-70 word bio. Place FAMILY/your name on the subject line to: smallwood@tm.net
Sample bio:
Suzanne Doe has appeared in Bellingham Review, Beloit Poetry Journal, Passages North. Her M.F.A.’s from the Stonecoast Program/University of Southern Maine and she teaches creative writing at Central Michigan University. Her recent books include: The Mystery Woman (Random House, 2006); Midwest Ski Slopes (Michigan State University, forthcoming). She received the Kitty Maize Fiction Award, 2008. An avid skier, Suzanne organizes writing workshops for Pine Arts Council.
Most publishers return rights to contributors after publication. Contributors will be asked to sign a release from the publisher and therefore may agree to the details of the contract or withdraw.
