Sample of the Absolute Markets - Free Edition below.

Finding the Bacon 
By Meg Weaver

Hello everybody,

A name is a name is a...NOT!

Our researcher, Ginny McCracken, who pulls interesting magazines out of the Wooden Horse Magazines Database for this column, is having fun with us this time.

As you have heard me rant before, study a magazine - beyond reading its name. In the five publications below, only three have anything to do with animals, although they all have one in their names. Turkey & Turkey Hunting, Saltwater Fly Fishing and Marlin Magazine are indeed about what they sound like. But The Elks Magazine is mailed to members of the charitable organization and wants articles on topics such as technology, science, sports and history. And, the Bear Deluxe "celebrates the big tent theory of literary arts, including investigative reporting, fiction, essay, poetry, news, creative opinion, reviews and interviews."

So, look beyond the obvious - there are many hidden opportunities in editorial calendars, writer's guidelines and found just by paging through a couple of issues in the library.

Keep writing!

*******************************

TURKEY & TURKEY HUNTING
Krause Publications
700 E State Street
Iola, WI 54990-0001

Phone: (715) 445-2214
Fax: (715) 445-4087

Website: http://www.turkeyandturkeyhunting.com

E-queries: No. Mail a query letter

Contact: Jim Schlender

Writers guidelines online: No

Pays: $0.10 to $0.15 per word

Photos: $25-$300 per photo depending on placement and size.

Rights: First North American Serial Rights

Description: This magazine covers turkey hunting.

Circulation: 46,000

Notes: "Query letter giving brief description of subject being considered by the author are preferred to blind manuscript submissions." This magazine does not provide writer's guidelines but the editor writes: "Feature articles dealing with biology or behavior should be documented by scientific research (the author's or that of others) instead of personal observations."

*******************************

SALTWATER FLY FISHING
Abenaki Publishers Inc.
PO Box 4100
Bennington, VT 05201-4100

Phone: (802) 447-1518
Fax: (802) 447-2471

Website: http://www.flyfishingmagazines.com 

E-queries: No, mail a query letter.

Contact: Art Scheck

Writers' guidelines online: No; For writer's and photographer's guidelines
please send a SASE to: Abenaki Publishers, Inc., ATTN: Editorial Dept. Not
available by e-mail.

Pays: $0.20 to $0.30 per word

Photos: Cover $450; spread opener $250; full page $150; half page $75; quarter page or less $50.

Rights: All Rights

Description: Saltwater Fly Fishing is devoted exclusively to coastal and
offshore fly fishing.

Circulation: 64,000

Notes: "An article submitted to Saltwater Fly Fishing should present useful information that will increase our readers' enjoyment of the sport and proficiency as anglers. Please be aware that we schedule most of our content well in advance of an issue date."

*******************************

MARLIN MAGAZINE
World Publications Inc.
PO Box 8500
Winter Park, FL 32790

Phone: (407) 628-4802
Fax: (407) 628-7061

Website: http://www.marlinmag.com

E-queries: No, mail a query letter

Contact: Dave Ferrell

Writers' guidelines online: No

Pays: $0.17 to $0.31 per word

Photos: $50 - $1,000 depending on size and placement.

Rights: First North American Serial Rights

Description: This magazine covers the sport of big game fishing.

Circulation: 50,000

Notes: Marlin accepts freelance-written articles on a query basis for both features and departments. Please send written queries for any articles you may have to Marlin with your name, address, phone number, social security number and an SASE.

*******************************

THE ELKS MAGAZINE
Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks
425 W Diversey
Chicago, IL60614-6196
Phone: (773) 755-4740

Website: http://www.elks.org/elksmag

E-queries: No, mail a complete manuscript

Contact: Anna Idol

Writers' guidelines online: http://www.elks.org/elksmag/writersguidelines.cfm

Pays: $0.15 to $0.20 per word

Photos: $25 per photo

Rights: First North American Serial Rights

Description: This is the membership magazine of the Elks organization.

Circulation: 1,100,000

Notes: "The Elks Magazine is published 10 times a year for the 1.1 million members of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks. In addition to our mission of being 'the voice of the Elks,' we carry features of general interest. Articles should be fresh, provocative, thought provoking, well researched, and well documented. Each year we buy 20 to 30 articles. We're looking for informative, upbeat, entertaining writing on a variety of subjects, including technology, science, sports, history, and seasonal items. Articles should be authoritative (please include sources) and geared toward the lay person. Do not send computer disks nor e-mails with attachments, as we are sensitive to viruses. Please include your telephone number or the best method to contact you."

*******************************

THE BEAR DELUXE MAGAZINE
Orlo
P.O. Box 10342
Portland, OR 97210

Phone: (503) 242-1047
Fax: (503) 243-2645

Website: http://www.orlo.org

E-queries: No, mail a query letter

Contact: Tom Webb

Writers guidelines online: http://www.orlo.org/sub.html

Pays: $0.05 per word

Rights: First Rights

Description: This is an environmental arts publication.

Circulation: 19,000

Notes: Published quarterly, the magazine "celebrates the big tent theory of literary arts, including investigative reporting, fiction, essay, poetry, news, creative opinion, reviews and interviews in each issue. Unsolicited submissions and query letters are encouraged. Unsolicited nonfiction manuscripts are considered, but it is less common that they find a home in The Bear Deluxe. More often, nonfiction writers approach editors with a story idea or are asked to write on ideas generated by the magazine. Specific ideas should be presented in a query letter format and accompanied by writing samples and suggestions for artwork. Given its limited travel budget, the magazine is working to develop relationships with free-lance writers who can take assignments and offer story ideas from their home areas."

These markets are brought to you by Wooden Horse Publishing - a news and resource site for article writers at http:// www.woodenhorsepub.com. Check it out for the latest magazine news and markets, markets, markets.

Air Mail Markets
By Amy Brozio-Andrews

Hello again and welcome to the latest issue of Air Mail Markets. 

While the three markets included in this week's column are Canadian, that's about all they have in common. From chivalry to feminism and the wide prairie in between, nonfiction writers will find these to be fascinating magazines as well as markets that consider freelance queries. Templar History Magazine publishes articles on any subject related to the Knights Templar, including speculative history. Herizons seeks to empower women through the advocacy of feminist principles in everyday life. NewWest Review is a quarterly journal of commentary on western Canadian culture, literature and art. 

Bonne chance!

************************

Templar History Magazine
c/o Stephen A. Dafoe Publishing
PO Box 5063
Hinton Alberta
Canada T7V 1X3

Website: http://www.templarhistory.com/magazine/ 
Editor: Alan Butler
Email: submissions@templarhistory.com 

Snapshot: Templar History Magazine is a quarterly publication dedicated to the Knights Templar. Articles include history, theory, speculative history, culture, profiles of famous Knights Templar, interviews with experts, academics and authors. 

Writers' Guidelines Online: Yes, at http://www.templarhistory.com/magazine/writers.html 

E-Queries: Accepts (full manuscripts accepted for consideration)

Payment: $.03 - .05 (USD$.01-.03) per word, upon publication

Rights: First North American and European Serial and electronic media rights

Notes: No simultaneous submissions or reprints will be considered. Include a SASE with your submission if you would like your material returned. Allow up to six weeks before inquiring with the editor regarding your submission. Regular readers of Templar History magazine will be best suited to submit queries.

************************

Herizons
PO Box 128
Winnipeg, Manitoba 
Canada R3C 2G1 

Website: http://www.herizons.ca 
Tel: (204) 774-6225
Fax: (204) 786-8038
Email: editor@herizons.ca 

Snapshot: Herizons is a Canadian quarterly magazine with a focus on empowering women in their relationships, work, culture, health, social justice, spirituality and family by incorporating current research and feminist theory in articles, essays and interviews that inspire, inform and engage readers. 

Writers' Guidelines Online: Yes, at http://www.herizons.ca/writers.html 

E-Queries: No

Payment: $200 (USD$130) per 1000 words, following publication

Rights: Non-exclusive First North American Serial, including the right to save material to CD-ROM, including distribution and sale in CD-ROM format for two years. Reprint fees are negotiated through Herizons, with the magazine and author sharing the money equally.

Notes: Allow three months for a response to your query. Herizons does not publish fiction or poetry.

************************

NewWest Review 
Box 394 RPO University 
Saskatoon, SK 
Canada S7N 4J8

Website: http://www.lights.com/writers/submissions.html 
Tel: (306) 934-1444
Editor: Allison Muri
Email: allison.muri@home.com 

Snapshot: NewWest Review is a western Canadian quarterly publishing articles, essays, profiles, reviews, satire, fiction, poetry and interviews related to Canadian culture, particularly the arts, literature and culture of the Canadian prairie. 

Writers' Guidelines Online: Yes, at http://www.lights.com/writers/submissions.html 
E-Queries: No
Payment: Not specified
Rights: First publication

Notes: Submissions that do not conform to the specifications included in the writer's guidelines may be returned unread. NewWest Review does consider reprints. 

Amy Brozio-Andrews is a freelance writer living in New York; she writes on a variety of topics for print and online publications, and is hard at work on her first novel. Please feel free to check out her website at www.penpadandpixel.com, and e-mail her at amy@penpadandpixel.com. 

Contests Corner
By Moira Richards

It must be contest season, I found so many from which to choose this month. I've picked out a varied baker's dozen, including some anthology calls for submission and copied extracts from their sites to tempt your muse. Go write, write, write!

Cheers, Moira

*******************************

Awards for Best New Fiction, Memoir, and Poetry

The Florida Review offers awards in best new fiction, memoir, and poetry. 

"Fiction and Memoir: 10,000 words maximum. Novel and book chapters are ineligible. 
Poetry: 40 lines maximum per poem, maximum five poems per entry."

PRIZE: $1000 
ENTRY FEE: $15
DEADLINE: April 2, 2003 
URL: http://www.flreview.com 

*******************************

Weekly Haiku Contest

"The best topical haiku received will be posted on the site and included in Guardian Unlimited's 'Informer' email.

"want to win a prize? 
encapsulate news events 
in three simple lines 
paint a word picture
in seventeen syllables
five-seven-five form 
a haiku headline
snapshot of the world today
elucidation "

PRIZE: £20 worth of Penguin Classics 
ENTRY FEE: None
DEADLINE: Ongoing 
URL: http://books.guardian.co.uk/games/haiku/0,5917,124810,00.html 

*******************************

The Weekender Challenge

"WriteLink is throwing down the gauntlet to fiction writers! Do you think that you can write a short story in a weekend without knowing in advance either the word count or the theme? Only 100 entries will be accepted!

"On receipt of registration fee you will receive an email acknowledgement. One week before the competition begins you will receive another email containing an exclusive url to a website that will be posted with the theme and word count of the competition. Although you can visit the site, the theme and word count WILL NOT be posted until the start of the competition!

"The competition will begin on Saturday, 12th April at 9.00 a.m. UK time. The contest will end on Sunday, 13th April at 9.00 p.m. UK time. Non-UK entrants are more than welcome! You will start the competition 9.00 a.m. YOUR TIME. Only email entries will be accepted. Full submission instructions will be emailed and posted on the site at the commencement of the competition. Read the Ajudicator's report and the 3 winning entries of the last Weekender Challenge on our website."

PRIZE: £50, £25 & £25 and more
ENTRY FEE: £4 
DEADLINE: April 12-13, 2003 
URL: http:// www.writelink.co.uk 

*******************************

Anthology of Historically Based Erotica

"History is dull. Dry. A real yawn. At least some people think so. As editor, I hope to change this misconception by offering up a collection of erotic stories based in history. Real life historical events, or a fictionalised version of history, or simply a historical setting - you decide. What did Napoleon and Josephine really get up to? Was Cleopatra as hot as everyone says? What went on backstage with the Bard and his actors? Were the Roaring Twenties really roaring? Okay, you get the picture. You've got thousands of years to work with, so get cracking! 

"Explicitness is fine; crudeness is not. No underage or non-consensual encounters. 
Stories may be of any sexual orientation. All stylisations are welcome. Give your tale a twist! And please, get your historical facts right!

"Mitzi Szereto is author of "Erotic Fairy Tales, A Romp Through the Classics," the novella "highway" and editor of the "Erotic Travel Tales" anthology series. She is also known as M. S. Valentine, author of several best-selling erotic novels."

PRIZE: Payment not specified, upon publication
ENTRY FEE: None
DEADLINE: June 1, 2003 
MORE INFO: MitziSzereto@yahoo.com 

*******************************

Anthology on Mid-life and Menopause

"Yitta Halberstam, co-author of the best-selling 'Small Miracles' series, is now working on a new anthology of essays and stories about mid-life and menopause for Adams Media, publishers of the Small Miracles series. Stories should be true, positive, inspiring and upbeat, and help women feel that mid-life and menopause is a positive time for growth, change and new directions."

PRIZE: $100- $200 
ENTRY FEE: None
DEADLINE: None specified 
MORE INFO: YMYE@aol.com 

*******************************

The Mona Schreiber Prize for Humorous Fiction and Non-Fiction

"Writers of comedic essays, articles, short stories, poetry, shopping lists and other forms are invited to submit. Mona founded the Foster City (CA) Writers Contest, taught creative writing and published humorous work in newspapers and magazines. Her son Brad has founded the Prize and is judging the submissions. 

"Humor is subjective. Uniqueness is suggested. Weirdness is encouraged. The 1st, 2nd and 3rd place entries are up on the Web site."

PRIZE: $500, $250, $100 
ENTRY FEE: $5
DEADLINE: December 1, 2003 
URL: http://home.pcmagic.net/brashcyber/mona.htm

*******************************

PEEKS & valleys Flash Fiction Contest

750 words max

PRIZE: Books, critiques, publication etc.
ENTRY FEE: None
DEADLINE: March 1, 2003 
URL: http://www.peeksandvalleys.com/ 

*******************************

KnitLit Too: Stories from Sheep to Shawl

"We are looking for original writing about knitting. If you have a great knitting story to tell - and we know there are many out there - we'd like to consider it for the book.

"The pieces themselves should be lively and attractive, ranging from the hilarious to the thoughtful, from the practical to the poetic, and from the spiritual to the wickedly mischievous. Stories you'd tell to a group of knitting friends sitting around a table. Lively, grounded, meaningful to you, inspirational, humorous, true.

"We found, in putting together KnitLit, that 'story of my knitting life' pieces don't, on the whole, work very well. Specific anecdotes are better. It helps a piece enormously to have a definite focus -- some central point. Sometimes the central point focuses on knitting itself or on a specific project. Surprisingly often, however, it focuses on something else: a relationship, an insight, a problem; knitting becomes the doorway into something more important. Both types of points work well.

"The other thing that made a huge difference was the approach. Humor rocks, when you're writing about knitting -- that's what made the 'Disasters' second in KnitLit such a joy. A strongly focused approach works better than a discursive one (with exceptions). Also good: a mischievous in-yer-face tone, a joie-de-vivre that completely confounds the traditional, demure, ladylike image of knitting. (Perhaps it's the contrast between the two that works?) Some of the best pieces in KnitLit are the most outrageous. Others (in contrast) are thoughtful, serene or melancholy, but above all meditative -- and any knitter knows that knitting is meditative. That approach, too, works well, especially when it's coupled with a good focal point.

"Avoid the passive voice like the plague ('climbing upon the stool, the milkshake was drunk by the girl'). Don't try to get too cute or clever in writing; simple is always best. If your piece gets chosen, it will be edited, but lovingly, and by someone who's a very, very good editor (Molly), so don't fret too much about grammar: we can always fix that. You will be given a chance to see your edited piece before it heads off to the publisher."

PRIZE: Small honorarium plus a copy of the book
ENTRY FEE: None
DEADLINE: April 30, 2003 
URL: http://www.knitlit.com/too.htm 

*******************************

Conversely 2003 ANTIDOTE Essay Contest

"Our essay contest is being held in order to promote writing for our Antidote section. Contest entries should conform to Conversely's general submission guidelines, and particularly to the Antidote essay guidelines. Read our Antidote archives for samples of the types of essay we are looking for, including last year's winner. Entries must be original and never-before published.

"Conversely reserves the right to publish the winning essays, with no further payment or compensation to the author than the above prize money. If a winning entry is selected for publication, the author cedes to Conversely the following rights: exclusive electronic rights for 90 days, and non-exclusive thereafter; non-exclusive print anthology rights. For further details on rights ceded, see our standard contract. Winners will be required to sign a contract."

PRIZE: $250, $125
ENTRY FEE: $5
DEADLINE: June 30, 2003 
URL: http://www.conversely.com/Masth/conte.shtml

*******************************

The Writing Parent Best Humor Contest

"Think you're funny? Prove it. Enter and show us just how funny you really are! Open to all writers, any age. Send us your funniest stuff, 1000 words or less and UNpublished, and you could be our winner. All topics are open, but we will not consider erotic, pornographic or foul language entries, as the winning entry will be published in our zine and on our Web site." 

PRIZE: $50, $15
ENTRY FEE: None
DEADLINE: March 10, 2003 
URL: http://www.thewritingparent.com/contest.shtml

*******************************

Writers at Work Fellowship Competition 

"In addition to conference events, W@W offers an annual Fellowship Competition for emerging writers in the fiction, nonfiction, and poetry genres. Best-selling authors Rick Bass and Pamela Houston were among early fellowship award recipients. Winners are honored with cash prizes, publication opportunities, etc, and in many instances, the attention of agents and publishers attending the annual conference in search of new talent.

"Any writer who has not yet published a book-length volume of original work in the genre in which they submit a manuscript. Unpublished work only. Previous winners are not eligible in the genre in which they have won."

PRIZE: $1500 and more
ENTRY FEE: $15
DEADLINE: March 1, 2003 
URL: http://www.writersatwork.org/

*******************************

Draco Award in Science Fiction, Fantasy and Horror 

"Will be awarded to the authors of an unpublished or self-published title in each genre as judged by a panel of 10 Preliminary Judges composed of authors and editors, and three Finalist Judges who have proven excellence in their field. The winner in each genre will receive the Draco Award as well as a 5 year hard cover and eBook contract for the winning work with Double Dragon Publishing. In addition all entries will receive their score sheet that will include valuable comments from the Preliminary and Finalist Judges.

"Winning authors are not obligated to accept the Hard Cover or eBook contract. All copyrights (all entries & finalists) remain with the author, DDP only requires distribution rights of the winning entries. 

"The Finalist Judges:
Piers Anthony - Fantasy
Mike Resnick - Science Fiction
Mike Arnzen - Horror"

PRIZE: Book Contract
ENTRY FEE: $25
DEADLINE: November 30, 2003 
URL: http://www.double-dragon-ebooks.com

*******************************

The Kaplan/Newsweek "My Turn" Essay Competition

"Open to any citizen and or resident of the United States (and its territories and possessions) who, as of January 1, 2003, is a high- school student intending to attend a college or university following high school. 

"Essays must be original and factually accurate, and must not infringe upon any material protected by copyright.. Essays will be judged on the following criteria: (1) effectiveness, insightfulness, creativity, and completeness (33 1/3%); (2) organization and development of the ideas expressed, with clear and appropriate examples to support them (33 1/3%); and (3) consistency in the use of language, variety in sentence structure and range of vocabulary, use of proper grammar, spelling, and punctuation (33 1/3%).

"All essays and all rights to their publication become the property of Kaplan and/or Newsweek, which may use, edit, and excerpt these entries for promotional or any other purpose, including placing them online (e.g., on Newsweek.MSNBC.com) without attribution or compensation, additional or otherwise."

Visit the website to read a short article on Writing a Personal Essay

PRIZE: $5000, $2000, $1000 and others
ENTRY FEE: None mentioned
DEADLINE: March 1, 2003 
URL: http://www.kaptest.com/essay/index.jhtml 

*******************************

I have been an accountant for a very long time, but I always wanted to be a writer when I grew up. I realised a year or so back that there's not that many decades left for me get grown up, and so I'm working part time at learning how to be a writer. Besides my column here, I write a weekly article on Women Abuse for Suite101.com - not a pretty subject, but if you have the stomach, check it out at http://www.suite101.com/welcome.cfm/women_abuse - and have recently been promoted by them to Managing Editor (Food). 


Masthead

.