Tag Archives: emerging writer

July 11, 2014 · 1:08 am

Calls for submission, emerging writers and Three by Five

Thanks for surfing by and visiting. I’ve been on a bit of a break and am gearing back up writing. Please note the calls for submission and if one or more speak to you, I hope you will send in some work for consideration. Three by Five, the author and other interesting people interview series is looking for the next interviewee – so do get in contact if you’d like to be the featured interviewee during an upcoming month. The San Francisco Writers Conference is approaching in about 6 months – and this year I’ll be sponsoring the 8th annual emerging writer prize that provides one emerging writer with registration to attend the conference. If you qualify, please enter between September 8 and December 1.

More to follow –

Regards,

Vicki

Leave a comment

Filed under writing life

Tagged as 3x5, author interview, emerging writer, SFWC, writing life

February 25, 2014 · 10:51 am

Campaign to Support the Emerging Writer Prize

This year was the 7^th Victoria A. Hudson Emerging Writer Prize. This program started in 2008 as a scholarship for Master of Fine Arts students and was broadened to any emerging writer in 2011. Originally, one writer from each genre of poetry, fiction and nonfiction was selected. In 2012, the scholarship transitioned to recognizing one writer, regardless of genre. In 2013, the competition became completely electronic with all submissions via submittable. Also in 2013, the competition was listed on Duotrope as a means to widen the availability of information about the Victoria A. Hudson Emerging Writer Prize. The average number of entries over the past few years has been approximately 30 each year. This makes the odds of winning very good.

I’ve personally funded the scholarship every year, committed to a no fee competition. My commitment to that remains, however, I’m reaching out to the indie publishing and writing community at large to help fund this scholarship. My goal is to raise enough funds to support the emerging writer prize over the next ten years. I pledge that no more than 12% will go to the administrative costs for the scholarship. These include costs associated with the electronic submission process, competition promotional advertisements, recognition items for the winners, etc..

Help me keep the Emerging Writer Prize going strong. Over the course of this year, I’ll check back in on some of the previous winners to find out how they’re doing and what they are writing now. Stay tuned.

Please visit the Emerging Writer Go Fund Me site, your contribution is appreciated and please, share this site throughout your social media networks. Thank you very much.

Leave a comment

Filed under writing life

Tagged as emerging writer, fiction, indie author, nonfiction, poet, poetry, self publishing, SFWC, vicki hudson, Victoria A. Hudson Emerging Writer Prize, writing

January 4, 2014 · 7:42 pm

Indie Author = Publishing Professional

This site is more than just my author website – here you will find information about upcoming events, the Three by Five Interview Series where traditional and indie authors give some back story on themselves, an opportunity to highlight a work in progress with Author First Look and occasional book reviews or trailers. On the Submission Guidelines page find anthology projects open for submissions and the guidelines to submit. Each year I sponsor an Emerging Writer to attend the San Francisco Writers Conference, watch the counter for when submissions will open. The blog space provides a place for my own musings about writing and the writing life, but it also serves as clearinghouse for other good resources out there – all to help the indie author and emerging writer reach that gold standard of professionalism where they produce and publish something as good as or better than what comes out of the traditional houses.

One of my favorite things to post here are when I find kick butt blog posts from someone else that really speak to issues in or for the indie community at large or might be a good resource for some individuals that take the time to visit the site. I’ve got one coming up at the end of this post that is right on target with some of the distractions in the indie author community. Stay tuned.

First though –

Three by Five is always looking for more writers, authors and interesting writing community people to interview. Message, email or tweet me for more information. First Look will post your bio and synopsis of your work in progress first chapter with a link back to where you have the chapter posted. Let me know if you want to participate. This year for National Poetry Month, I’m looking for poets to interview about their favorite poem they’ve written and I’ll post the interview and poem during poetry month. There are several call for submissions still open, take a look and please submit for consideration. Submissions for the annual emerging writer prize will open in September – read the results and what has won in the past. Submit your response to the prompt. Maybe you will win your registration to the San Francisco Writers Conference in 2015. Got a book? I’m happy to read and review a copy. And if you’d like a grab bag of literary magazines sent your way and live in the United States, I’ll send you a few free or for a small donation to cover postage.

Can’t say this enough – if you are an indie author, you are in the publishing business. You are a publishing professional. If you have a book that you’ve written, published and are selling – make sure that book was ready when it went out the door or across cyberspace. Meet the standard of the big house published books. Invest in an artist to design your cover. Know the difference between a beta reader, copy editor and proofreader AND EMPLOY them on your book. If you commit to attend an event, attend it! Urban fantasy and paranormal romance author J. M. Gregorie has posted a direct and right on point blog posting on actions that negatively impact the indie author community and degrade our ability to be taken seriously as writing professionals. Read her Open Letter to Indie Authors.

Leave a comment

Filed under writing life

Tagged as emerging writer, fiction, indie author, nonfiction, poem, poet, self publishing, SFWC, vicki hudson, writing, writing life

December 24, 2013 · 4:12 pm

No Red Pen Helps Fund Emerging Writer Prize

Since No Red Pen: Writers, Writing Groups & Critique released in 2012, the Ebook has been a free download. I’m still firmly committed to ensuring this book is easily accessible especially to students and low-income emerging writers. I’m also committed to keeping the Victoria A. Hudson Emerging Writer Prize going for many years to come. No Red Pen will increase to $1.99 at all Smashwords outlets and will continue as a Kindle $2.99 on Amazon. (This is due to how Amazon prices.) About half the net proceeds will benefit the emerging writer prize fund, in order to keep the fund going.

Additionally, there is a gofundme campaign to raise funds for the annual emerging writer prize. The campaign will continue to run until I’ve raised enough funds to ensure the annual scholarship is awarded for many years to come.

Leave a comment

Filed under writing life

Tagged as emerging writer, No Red Pen, SFWC, writing

December 6, 2013 · 11:36 am

2014 Emerging Writer Liz Hansen!

The Victoria A. Hudson Emerging Writer Prize goes to Liz Hansen. She submitted an original presentation to the writing prompt Why I write with a poem rather than the standard essay format. This was a risky move on her part but taking risk is part of becoming an excellent writer. The two other finalists also submitted original presentations creating a three-way tie. When a tie develops, the writing samples are then evaluated and Liz’s narrative nonfiction piece Passing the Grid moved her entry into first place. Liz’s response upon notification? ” I can’t tell you how honored I am to have been chosen by someone with your background. It means more to me than you will even know…”

Liz receives her registration for the 2014 San Francisco Writers Conference, in San Francisco, February 13 – 16, 2014. In additional, she’ll receive a book publishing package courtesy of Bookbaby, and a signed copy of No Red Pen: Writers, Writing Groups & Critique.

The other finalists also receive a copy of No Red Pen: Writers, Writing Groups & Critique.

All who entered and do not win are welcome to enter again. Just don’t submit the same entry as a preceding year. The judges have long memories.

For the 2015 Emerging Writer Prize, submissions will open on September 1st, 2014 until December 2nd, 2014. The 2015 Prize will be the 8th year of the scholarship! Please help keep the scholarship going with a donation.

Leave a comment

Filed under writing life

Tagged as emerging writer, Liz Hansen, SFWC, Victoria A. Hudson Emerging Writer Prize

December 5, 2013 · 4:22 pm

Emerging Writer Prize Finalists

The two finalists/runner ups for the 2014 Victoria A. Hudson Emerging Writer Prize are Gretchen Hayduk Wroblewski and Merriam Saunders. Both wrote outstanding responses to the Why I Write prompt. In the next few days, their essays will be posted here. Both were original in presentation and exceptional in quality. Each finalist will receive signed copy of No Red Pen: Writers, Writing Groups & Critique.

Tomorrow, the 2014 Emerging Writer Prize Winner!

Leave a comment

Filed under writing life

Tagged as emerging writer, SFWC, vicki hudson, writing life

December 4, 2013 · 9:16 pm

Emerging Writer Prize Honorable Mention

This year there were 26 entries for the Emerging Writer Prize. This is about half from previous years. Hopefully, next year entries will pick back up. The three finalists have been selected. Their responses to the writing prompt Why I write as well as their writing samples are undergoing evaluation. There are a few honorable mentions: Kristina Tong, Rosie Sorenson, and Denise Larson all made it through several rounds of evaluation.

There are still a couple other SFWC scholarship competitions open for another week or two. All those who were not selected are encouraged to attempt some of the other competitions.

Next year’s competition opens September 1st. I hope this year’s entrants will try again. Just a word of advice. If you do enter again, make sure you send new, original work. Someone who entered last year entered again, and what was exceptional last year was just stale this year.

Leave a comment

Filed under writing life

Tagged as Denise Larson, emerging writer, Kristina Tong, Rosie Sorenson, SFWC

December 3, 2013 · 2:28 pm

Breadcrumbs to Blogs

There is so much to read on the web! Think of these as breadcrumbs, leading to a banquet of selections for your plate of experiences here in the wild internet.

First up – Molly Greene: Writer.

Molly has two previous books and launching now, her latest mystery novel Rapunzel. Find out more about her books on her site. She blogs on writing and the writing life several times a week. Check out her post Self-Publishing: 6 Valuable Lessons I Learned Between Book #1 & #2 for some helpful hints post publishing that first book. The one that really stood out for me? Number 3 – “Confidence and experience strengthened my personal filter.” The key take away: There is a great deal of information out there, use other opinions on what to do as a guide but do what is best for you as long as you cover the basics – “You must have a well-written, well-edited, well-proofed and well-formatted book with a professional-looking cover.”

Second – O-Dark-Thirty.

O-Dark-Thirty is the literary journal for the Veterans Writing Project. The Veterans Writing Project provides no cost writing workshops and conferences for veterans, service members and military family members. Combining both print (O Dark Thirty) and online (The Report), the site offers opportunity for members of the military community to publish their work and for those without military experience to gain insight and perspective on what our service members and their families go through. The print journal publishes 4 times a year. The Report updates often with new work. Make this one of your must read stops when surfing the net and order a print subscription. For a sample read, Kevin Neirbo’s Later explores a Marine’s coming of age.

Third – Beyond The Margins.

Truly a smorgasbord of writerly edification options. “Think literary magazine run amok,” is how the site describes itself. A dozen contributing writers plus guest posters present diverse voices and experiences on the craft of writing and business of publishing. A recent post by Randy Sue Myers entitled Manners for Writers has some useful hints about writer behavior in the literary community. A key point not enough bloggers and tweeters understand – “Most readers…don’t want to hear complaints about how tired you are, how much you hate writing, and what a grind it is to revise. It’s better not to show how the sausage is made.” Yep, and I’ve done this too, it’s easy when it’s time to log on and make a new post to fall back to what isn’t working. I see more than a few updates that are complaints and there is nothing in a complaint that encourages me to keep writing. If you can take that complaint and turn it into a useful piece of reflection, well, that’s another story.

Three breadcrumbs to follow, and each will lead you to other resources and readings. Enjoy.

Leave a comment

Filed under writing life

Tagged as emerging writer, experience, fiction, military, nonfiction, poem, poetry, publishing, self publishing, writer, writing life

November 30, 2013 · 12:00 am

Poet Mildred Achoch – Interview Part IV

Three by Five with a Glimpse into the Writing Life of Poet Mildred Achoch

Mildred Achoch writes poems and screenplays and has two blogs – Kenya Rock Film Festival Journal and Lost in Cyberspace and Other Found Poems. In 2013, she was a participating poet with the Found Poetry Review’s Pulitzer Remix Project. Welcome back to this last installment with Poet Mildred Achoch.

VAH: Any thoughts on the Master of Fine Arts for writing?
MA: I don’t have an MFA in writing but I do have a Bachelor’s degree in International Business Administration. I wouldn’t mind getting an MFA.

VAH: Do you have a favorite inspiring quote?

MA: I love this quote by Pearl Buck because it is a near perfect portrait of me. “The truly creative mind in any field is no more than this: A human creature born abnormally, inhumanely sensitive. To them… a touch is a blow, a sound is a noise, a misfortune is a tragedy, a joy is an ecstasy, a friend is a lover, a lover is a god, and failure is death. Add to this cruelly delicate organism the overpowering necessity to create, create, create — so that without the creating of music or poetry or books or buildings or something of meaning, their very breath is cut off… They must create, must pour out creation. By some strange, unknown, inward urgency they are not really alive unless they are creating.”

VAH: An excellent statement about the powerful drive to create that inhabits the artist. Would you share some less than creative insights now. What are three random not related to writing facts about you?
MA: a) I am a born again Christian b) I can play any song on the piano by ear. c) I am short sighted.

VAH: And one more fact that might amaze or amuse?
MA: I can sing jazz, opera and the blues.

VAH: If you had to choose a last meal – what would you want?
MA: French fries. They are my favorite and for a last meal, what better food than your favorite?

VAH: So true. Thank you Mildred for taking part in this interview series.

Thank you for stopping in at Three by Five, a way station on the information highway with a glimpse into the writing life.

Three by Five is on hiatus in December and January. Return February 3rd for the next interview of an emerging writer, independent author or just an interesting person in the writing community.

Leave a comment

Filed under writing life

Tagged as 3x5, author interview, emerging writer, found poem, Mildred Achoch, Pulitzer Remix, vicki hudson, women, writing, writing life

November 20, 2013 · 11:19 am

Poet Mildred Achoch – Interview Parts II and III

Three by Five with a Glimpse into the Writing Life of Poet Mildred Achoch

Three by Five returns today with a late Part II and in penance for that, combined with Part III.

VAH: When did you begin to see yourself as a Writer?
MA: When I wrote my first novel when I was sixteen. I began writing it during the school holidays then took it with me to (boarding) school and has my classmates read it as I completed writing it. It was their comments that helped me to see that I was good at writing. But more importantly, it was the fact that I immensely enjoyed reading my own writing!

VAH: What’s your best advice for emerging writers?

MA: Best advice for emerging writers? DON’T EMERGE! Just stay in your closet. In fact, give up writing! Don’t even think of making it your career! Get a nice, safe, 9 to 5 job! However, if all the above words went in one eye and came out your other eye, then congratulations! You are a writer. And nothing anyone tells you will make you quit!

VAH: “A nice, safe, 9 – 5 job!” That’s a great way to sum up what writing is not for so many of us. Now, the writing community – do you have a favorite writing conference or retreat?
MA: I haven’t had a chance to attend any conferences or writing retreats/seminars but I have attended several workshops on screenwriting. I would love to attend a screenwriting conference or retreat.

VAH: Mildred, you’re a full time writer, if not writing, what would you be doing?
MA: Yes, I am a full time writer, to the horror and great disappointment of those near and dear to me! If I wasn’t a writer, I would be the lead singer/songwriter of a rock ‘n’ roll band.

VAH: Certainly still an expression of your creativity. When reading for yourself, what type of books do you most enjoy reading?
MA: I LOVE paranormal romances. I also enjoy science fiction.

VAH: Rock star or Author, who would play you in the Life and Times of Mildred Achoch?

MA: I don’t know who would play me but the theme song would be “Beautiful Day” by U2 because it’s such an uplifting song and I can’t get enough of it!

VAH: You suddenly gained a super power – what is yours?
MA: Speed. So that I could write and type faster!

VAH: Writers read, what kind of reader are you?
MA: I’m the kind of reader who can read three books at a go. One day, I may be in the mood for paranormal romance. So I wold begin to read that kind of book. Then the next day I could be in the mood for science fiction, so I would begin reading a science fiction book. The next day a biography. [Reading] just depends on my mood. And sometimes the location. I would carry the biography with me and read it “on the go” but the paranormal romance and science fiction novels I would prefer to read in the comfort of my home.

VAH: Writing every day as your paying job, what gets you over writer’s block?
MA: The rent being due!

VAH: Accounts due certainly have a way to motivate. Thank you Mildred Achoch for the glimpse into your writing life. The final installment with Mildred will post on November 30th.

Thanks for joining us Mildred. We’ll be back later in the month with more from this young writer.