Accents Publishing 2011 Poetry Book Contest

Accents Publishing is happy to announce its 2011 International Poetry Book Contest.

Two winners will be selected – one by an independent judge, Lisa Williams, and one by the Senior Editor and founder of Accents Publishing, Katerina Stoykova-Klemer. Each winner will have his/her submission published and will receive a $500 cash prize. Additionally, the winners will be invited for a featured reading at a book premiere celebration event. All contest entries will be considered for regular publication with Accents Publishing, as well.

The entry fee is $20.00. Multiple submissions are allowed, as long as each one is accompanied by a separate entry fee and submission form. Winning books may be pre-ordered at the time of submission for $10.00 each.

A complete submission should include the following:
• A completed submission form
• Your manuscript, including
          o An acknowledgement page, if necessary 
          o Two title pages – one with name and contact information, one without 
• Your biography or CV 
• A check or a confirmation of payment via Paypal covering the $20 entry fee, plus any optional book preorders 

Please do not include a SASE, as notification will be made by email only.

We will accept submissions between February 1st and July 31st. Winners will be announced in August. The contest is open to any poet writing in English. Employees of Accents or family members of judges are ineligible to participate. Simultaneous submissions will be accepted, but please notify us immediately if your manuscript is accepted for publication elsewhere. 

Manuscripts should conform to the following guidelines:
• 60 to 120 pages of poetry
• Table of contents 
• Single spaced 
• Numbered pages  
• 11 pt font minimum  

Your name should not appear anywhere within the manuscript. Please do not send your only copy of your work, as manuscripts will be recycled. 

Entries should be mailed to: 
Accents Publishing 
Attn: Katerina Stoykova-Klemer 
P.O. Box 910456 
Lexington, KY 40591-0456 
USA

Accents Publishing is an independent press for brilliant voices. For more information, or to download the submission form, please visit us at http://www.accents-publishing.com/.

grad level writing classes open for audit

Pine Manor College invites local writers to audit

graduate-level creative writing classes 

Pine Manor College is pleased to announce that a select number of graduate-level creative writing courses will be open to the public for auditing during the summer residency of its Solstice MFA Program, scheduled from July 8–July 17, 2011. 

Classes are open to serious writers working at all levels; auditors are encouraged to complete the advance preparation requirements for any MFA class they wish to attend. The registration fee is $25 per course for Solstice graduates/$35 per course for the general public; the deadline for enrolling as an auditor for the summer 2011 Residency is July 1, 2011.  

For course descriptions, our audit policy, and a downloadable registration form, visit http://www.pmc.edu/mfa-classes-for-audit 

Summer 2011 MFA classes that are open to the public include:

Fiction:
• The Political Novel
• The R&R Moment: Recognition & Reversal
• Point Of View in Fiction
• The Slant-Wise Mirror: Creating Speculative Fiction Images That Reflect Reality

Creative Nonfiction:
• The Experimental Essay: A Class for All Genres
• The Travel Essay as Gateway To Sacred Space

Persona - Across Genre:
• The Multiple Selves Within Me: Narrator As Persona In Literary Nonfiction
• Persona: Writing About Someone Other Than Yourself (Poetry & Fiction)

Poetry:
• Be Bold! Revise!
• Introduction to Prosody
• About the Music Inside Your Lines

Special Guest Q&A:
• Q&A with three-time Newbery Honor Winner Jacqueline Woodson

Need more info? 
Contact: Tanya Whiton, Assistant Director
whitontanya@pmc.edu 
(617) 731-7697 
http://www.pmc.edu/mfa

new low-res MFA: Arcadia University

Have you discovered one of the latest additions to the low-res MFA family? The Arcadia University Creative Writing MFA program is the only program of its kind in the Philadelphia area and the first residency launches later this summer!

In addition to providing attentive online learning, the program will take students abroad to Edinburgh, Scotland for a unique learning experience. 

There is still time to apply for the July 22 deadline in order to attend the residency and begin the program this year.

For more info on the MFA program, visit Arcadia’s website: http://www.arcadia.edu/mfa-creative-writing.htm

Want to know something else very cool? Arcadia hosts The Creative Writing Institute on campus July 8-10--and the credit can be applied to the MFA program. This institute is for intermediate to advanced creative writers who want to hone their skills over four weeks of discussion and workshops. Students will get personal feedback from Arcadia’s Creative Writing faculty and their peers during both the weekend on campus and four weeks of online workshops.

More info on The Creative Writing Institute: http://www.arcadia.edu/creative-writing-institute.htm

On Facebook? “Like” Arcadia University Creative Writing MFA here: http://www.facebook.com/arcadia.creativewriting 

For more info, contact MFA Coordinator Joshua Isard, M.Sc., M.A., Adjunct Professor of English, or visit: http://www.arcadia.edu/mfa-creative-writing.htm

new articles in The Writer

Wow. I have not one, but two articles in the current issues of The Writer. Have you picked up your copies of the June and July issues yet? Get a sneak peak of the table of contents below, beneath the descriptions of my latest articles. 

In the June issue of The Writer:
"Bypass obstacles to traditional publishing"
Self-publishing is increasingly offering ways to proactively take control of your writing.
In this article, I interview authors Betsy Warland, Tung-Hui Hu, Becky Wolsk, and Richard Nash.
June table of contents

In the July issue of The Writer:
"Find new readers by presenting at conferences"
Where to look for speaking opportunities, and how to pitch the show organizers.
In this piece, I interview Dr. Susan L. Roberson, Carol Dorf, and Loreen Niewenhuis.
July table of contents 


If you’re not a subscriber to The Writer, you can pick up a copy at your local bookshop. Or, go on, cave in and be a regular. Subscribe to The Writer here.  Happy reading!

riding radio waves & other roller coasters

It’s been a hectic/chaotic spring (now summer?), but it’s about time I get some updating done around here. I have much to share…

I’m honored that the lovely Katerina Stoykova-Klemer interviewed me recently for Accents - A Radio Show for Literature, Art and Culture on WRFL 88.1 FM, Lexington KY. It seems the MP3 recording of the interview is now uploaded and archived online so you can listen for free! Visit Katerina’s log list to hear some incredible interviews with writers like Molly Peacock, Jared Smith, Silas House, and so many wonderful talents; you’ll see my interview listed on March 25, 2011: http://www.katerinaklemer.com/radio

While admittedly delayed in reporting this, I’m thrilled to share this lovely interview I did with Karin Gillespie over at the Girlfriends Book Club. Karin asked some really great questions and prodded me to talk a bit more about The Low-Residency MFA Handbook, my poetry, and general writing questions. I hope you’ll check it out.

Hey, did you know I have a poem, “The Boat House,” in New Mirage Journal? Really. It’s right here. 

While there are a few other bits of news to update as far as magazine articles and publications, I’ll save those for next time. Right now I just want to take a moment to express my appreciation for my regular blog readers and those that pop by even occasionally. As I mentioned, it’s been a crazy past few months and I really didn’t think I’d slip away for such a time but I certainly appreciate you coming back to see what’s new. 

I do have some unfortunate news to share. Sadly, time and resources have come to an indefinite end for me regarding Poets’ Quarterly. I know this poetry review journal has held a special place for many of you and I don’t think I could have had any more dedicated contributors than what came my way with PQ. If you’re a writer who’s been around long enough to submit to a few places, you have undoubtedly encountered it before: a web zine is born with good intentions and a full load of steam, but time/money/resources dry up and it’s so hard to sustain and keep up the momentum, even when you have a dedicated readership.  

I’d like to think Poets’ Quarterly will make a comeback some day. I’d like to think the great contributors PQ worked with will be back on board and that the ever-supportive readers will come back, too. For now, though, I’d like to just express my humble thanks to all who made PQ work for the time it did. I’d also like to encourage you to read and submit to those amazing journals that can keep it happening, issue after issue. Editing and producing a journal is a full-time, often unpaid job. It’s worth it; we do it because we love it and it’s important to play a role in the larger lit community. But, sometimes something just have to give. Sadly. Just be sure to share your love and support for those journals you admire. It may just keep them afloat a little bit longer. 

Until next time… 
L.