Monday, February 28, 2011

Guidelines posted for the Hounds Contest and.... of course, the ST contest too!

I have posted the guidelines for the Horror Hounds Contest and Celebration. Enjoy. We have all the judges now, so writers... get your pens and notepads out!

Now... If you read my blog, you probably have heard about Shock Totem a time or two. Or ten. Or a hundred.

The March Shock Totem Bimonthly Flash Fiction Contest is here again! Sign up for that is here.

There's no reason you can't do both... the Horror Hounds contest is a months long venture this year, so don't forget my buddies at Shock Totem. Their contests are too awesome to miss.

PLEASE! Be SURE you read ALL the guidelines.

Peace & Love
~Effie

Sunday, February 27, 2011

And so... It Begins

Hello everyone.

Some of you might know a little bit about a website called Absolute Write Water Cooler. I may have mentioned it from time to time.

Over there, I hang out, of course, in the horror section. We call ourselves the horror hounds. Last year, I hosted a writing contest for short stories to celebrate my moldy group of friends. The Horror Hounds Celebration and Contest! See, we love horror, love writing it, love reading it. What's not to celebrate? It was a great bit of fun.

Well, guess what? It is time again. I am hosting another contest on Absolute Write in the Horror Section. Rules, theme and criteria will be posted tomorrow in that very horror section. If you are not a member, don't worry. You'll have plenty of time to register at the site and start getting to know the other writers who will be participating before the deadline is up. Because yes, membership of the forum is required.

See, this year.... we aren't focusing on short stories. Short story contests abound. I think a little variety is in order, don't you? Details will be posted on AW in the horror section tomorrow, I promise.

We have some wonderful prizes already lined up and I am working on more. Like I said before... we have time.

This year, also, the contest entries will be judged by a panel. I have two of the three needed lined up. So, if anyone is interested in judging you may contact me through the Absolute Write forums (My username there is EFCollins). Again... you have to be a member and I would prefer to have someone with some experience behind them in writing. I'm hosting so I am not on the panel of judges. Stories will be judged anonymously, just like last year.

Get your pens and pencils and laptops ready people. The fun is about to start.

Peace & Love,
~Effie

Tuesday, February 1, 2011

Now reading... SNM

Submissions! Oh yes, my little fiends, I am reviewing for SNM Horror Magazine now. Fear my red pen.

Steve Marshall called me up one day and asked me how I'd feel about working for the magazine as the selections and reviewing editor. I was agreeable.

Now I'm doing the deed, reading stories and making selections. Today is my first "official" day. I'm just hoping I don't screw up fantabulously.

SNM is a good zine, and if you have something that you think will fit the upcoming themes, send it to us. The deadline is the twentieth of the preceding month (so the deadline for the March Marionettes theme would be February 20th) so spit shine your stories, polish, polish, polish and send it to: snmeditor(at)yahoo(dot)com

Submissions guidelines and monthly themes for the year can be found here.

Whips and Spells,
(And of course, Peace & Love)
~Effie