After reading this week’s article, let us know what your thoughts and questions are on indexing. Also, how many of you have writing related jobs we might not think of too often–do tell!

AARP is publishing six-word themed memoirs in the tradition Ernest Hemmingway started (”For sale: baby shoes, never worn.”) when he was asked to tell a story in only six words.

For info on the ongoing contests and themes visit http://sixwordmemoirs.aarpmagazine.org/

http://bulletin.aarp.org/yourmoney/work/articles/earn_extra_cash_by_selling_what_you_know.html?cmp=NLC-WBLTR-CTRL-62609-F2a

Upcoming anthology, Motherhood and Domestic Violence (working title), will explore the complexities of mothering in a violent home through stories, essays, and poems written by survivors.
Essays or poems must be postmarked on or before November 1, 2009. The final selection process will begin then.
• Address your submissions to: Mary Zelinka, PO Box 3047, Albany, Oregon 97321-0700; or email to
Possible topics might include:
Your reactions to your children witnessing your abuse.
Losing or giving up custody of your children.0
Making decisions about the abusive relationship based on what you thought was best for your children.
What do you wish you had done differently?
What do you think you did well?

Writing can be wonderfully therapeutic and a lot of distressing feelings can come up in the process. We recommend that the writers be out of their domestic violence relationship and have successfully moved through the trauma stage. They should have a strong support system.
Guidelines:
• Good writing skills are helpful, but not necessary – we will work closely with contributors to polish their writings. Or, if writing your story seems too daunting, send us a tape. Mostly we are looking for the heart and wisdom of our story-tellers.
• We prefer submissions to be typed and double-spaced, but if you don’t type, please print clearly.
• Be sure to include your name, address, phone number and email address. (If you wish to remain anonymous, let us know and we won’t include your name in the book.)
• Send your submission by either mail or email: <motherhooddv(at)yahoo.com> (replace (at) with @)
Mary Zelinka, PO Box 3047, Albany, OR 97321-0700
• Include a stamped, self-addressed envelope

http://galleryofwriting.org/

Submit an essay.

The National Gallery of Writing includes three types of display spaces where writing can be found:

1. The Gallery of the National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE) represents a broad cross-section of writing hosted by the National Council of Teachers of English.
2. National Partner Galleries include writing that corresponds to a theme or purpose identified by one of the National Partners participating in this initiative.
3. Local Partner Galleries include works from writers in a classroom, school, club, workplace, city, or other local entity.

Open for viewing/reading from the National Day on Writing (October 20, 2009) through June 1, 2010. The Gallery will provide a lively reading experience and an opportunity for writers to share their craft and find a broad and diverse audience. And, everyone who visits the Gallery of NCTE can find useful tips and guidelines for writers from the National Council of Teachers of English.

“Thanksgiving to Christmas ~ A Patchwork of Stories”

Deadline extended to July 31, 2009
http://www.DixonHearne.com/dh_anthology.htm
Call for submissions for a new anthology of holiday stories – fiction and memoir – to be released in Fall 2009.

http://writersdigest.com/article/101-websites-2009

http://newportreview.org/?contests.html
The 2009 Flash Fiction Contest is open for entries as of June 1, 2009. Stories will be considered from June through the postmark deadline of September 1, 2009. This year’s guest judge will be fiction writer Hester Kaplan, author of The Edge of Marriage and Kinship Theory. We are looking for works that are short in length but linger long in memory: small stories that pack a big emotional punch and make creative use of language. Please note that this year, we are accepting slightly longer stories, up to a maximum of 1,000 words.
Deadline: Postmarked by September 1, 2009
Word Count: Short-short stories up to 1,000 words
Entry fee: $7 per story, 3 for $20

Mail manuscripts w/check or money order (made out to Newport Review) to: Newport Review Flash Fiction Contest, P.O. Box 65, Warren, RI 02885

Manuscripts should include writer’s name and complete contact information, including email and phone. Winners will be notified and posted on our blog and web site. Include a business-size SASE if you wish individual notification of contest results.

Writers may submit a total of six entries. The contest is open to all writers, published and unpublished, except writers who have close personal affiliations with Newport Review, its editorial staff or advisory board. Past contest winners and those who have been published in the print edition of Newport Review are eligible to enter.
First Prize: $150 and publication
Second Prize: $100 and publication
Third Prize: $50 and publication
Honorable Mention: Publication and Newport Review bumper sticker
Other stories may also be considered for publication.

This week’s article is an essay from Linda C. Wisniewski’s essay collection Off Kilter: A Woman’s Journey to Peace with Scoliosis, Her Mother and Her Polish Heritage. Please let us know how the details and images in the story affect you and how you take some inspiration for your own writing, especially writing about childhood events.

A note from Stacey Krone-Battat at www.kiwipublishing.com:

As we are receiving many beautiful writer blog subscriptions, and a portion have been directed from the Writing it Real writing blog, you are among the first we are contacting to notify your writers that we have extended the writing contest deadline by 15 days.  Thin Threads® - Real Stories of Life Changing Moments will be posting the extension tomorrow and the contest will be extended from June 30th to July 15th. We hope to receive many more compelling and emotionally evocative pieces of writing from your wonderful audience!   www.thinthreads.com <http://www.thinthreads.com>