Thursday, February 24, 2011

Ploughshares contest

I will return to more regular posting after I get well. The illness I successfully staved off a couple of times got me this week. Ugh!

But, good news, I received this reminder email from Ploughshares today and I'm passing it along. (I already sent in my submission! Fingers crossed.)

Have you heard about Ploughshares' Emerging Fiction Writers' Contest? Win $500 and get published.
Since 1971, Ploughshares has been committed to promoting the work of up-and-coming writers. In the spirit of the magazine’s founding mission, the Ploughshares Emerging Writers Contest will recognize a story by an emerging fiction writer.
The deadline for this contest is March 15, 2011. To enter, and to read the full contest rules, visit the contest page on our website, pshares.org.
This is your chance to break out -- don't miss this opportunity to get published!
Sincerely,
Andrea Drygas
Managing Editor
Ploughshares Literary Magazine
PS: Here's a direct link to the contest page in case it isn't showing up correctly above: http://www.pshares.org/submit/Emerging-Fiction-Writers-Contest.cfm

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Sunday, February 20, 2011

Tricycle's Daily Dharma: 2/20/11

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"Live Lightly"

We have to cultivate contentment with what we have. We really don't need much. When you know this, the mind settles down. Cultivate generosity. Delight in giving. Learn to live lightly. In this way, we can begin to transform what is negative into what is positive. This is how we start to grow up.

Jetsunma Tenzin Palmo, "No Excuses"
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Wednesday, February 16, 2011

Space

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Feeling spacey versus feeling spacious.
Feeling coherent versus feeling excited.

An exploration. Perhaps they are the same - no, not the same. Perhaps one is being mistaken for the other and perhaps that's okay. It's a matter of learning and growing. Of sorting.

A process of knowing what is a truth. Not *the* truth - but a truth.
Of being present and recognizing what is.
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Spaciousness in writing.
Spaciousness in walking.
Spaciousness in creating.
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Open the door and let me breathe.
I think I'm tired of the constraints.
I know I'm tired of looking out before checking within.

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Breath.
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Body.
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Wholeness.
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Monday, February 14, 2011

Ariel Gore updates

Ariel Gore has a new book coming out fairly soon. And she has openings in a couple of her spring workshops (hurry, quick! the workshops fill up quickly and may have by the time you read this).

From Ariel:
upcoming book: ALL THE PRETTY PEOPLE

Good news – Thanks to the 70+ patrons who backed the project, my new novella, All the Pretty People: Tales of Carob, Shame, and Barbie-Envy illustrated by the lovely Summer Pierre is finally at the printer!

I should have your copy ready to send to your mailbox in just a few short weeks.

If you didn’t get a chance to back the project through Kickstarter, it’s not too late to get a signed copy hot off the press. Pre-order it at http://arielgore.com/


SPRING WRITING WORKSHOPS

Also – I’ve got six spots left in my spring online workshop that starts March 26 and a few spots left in the Santa Fe workshop that starts March 12th. Join us for writing inspiration & storytelling love. (And you know a workshop makes a great gift – for yourself or for your Valentine).


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Sunday, February 13, 2011

Tricycle's Daily Dharma for 2/13/11

Tricycle Daily Dharma
 
The Bodhisattva Vow: Activism 101

Activism is part of Buddhist mind. The Bodhisattva Vow is Activism 101! You work to alleviate the suffering of other human beings, right? Isn’t that the point? Obviously you need to get your own trip together first, and there’s the rub. We have this precious human birth and freedom, and yet with so many of us who are privileged in this way, there seems to be an incapacity to get beyond our minor aches and pains.

—Anne Waldman, “Radical Presence”

Friday, February 11, 2011

notes from the Edge - though not the Razor's Edge today

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That old saying : "the best laid plans....."

Yes, again.

But it's different this time. Yes, at the present moment I have too much going on in terms of commitments and not enough time. I guess that's obvious - the two seem to go hand in hand (another old gem of a saying).

Overall, it's not bad things that are happening - just a few too many.

Teaching feels like it's going well. What started as a little rough and the struggle to find placements for interns and practicum students was frustrating - some people finally came through. Much later than I would like; much later than optimal or what is in the best interest of the students. But there was nothing more I could do about it except keep asking and searching. And now we hope for the best - that things work out for those who need to complete the hours this term (moving out of the country; getting back to work; etc) and a couple of them are happy to simply add their short hours onto their second internship. It will work out.

I also had a good meeting with the new co-director of the program I teach in last week. We discussed some important topics, found some areas where we agree, discussed some history of the program and some changes she'd like to see or is already starting the wheels toward change. It felt positive and I think it's going to work well. I felt a good connection with her - which I needed. Which the program's students need. And I have hopes for the program's continuance.

I'm still writing. A lot. Especially a lot considering everything else that's happening. Every week I am still writing at least two sessions of two to four hours - sometimes three - plus some other short spurts here and there. I've had to cancel one of my writing sessions with friends each of the last two weeks and two of them next week. But after that, I will have much more time and can return to writing as scheduled.

Tonight I read over some of my writing at the beginning of the one memoir which I started in 2007. Whew! My writing has changed - improved. I'm having to look through it for nuggets I like, but otherwise it needs major cuts and revisions, sometimes flipping the whole section on its head.

I stepped in to sub for an interpreter on a play last month. And then, again, this month. I didn't have the space for extensive preparation for the plays, since they were unexpected. But I made some time and my teams have been awesome about working around my schedule and doing a little more electronically than normal. I like interpreting the plays - and they take a lot of time. I will have a break from interpreting plays for a couple months; then I am the understudy for a show.

The one thing I'm still behind on is walking and swimming. The car accident in December did cause some physical issues. Mostly they have resolved, except for some pain and stiffness at the base of my skull, which can go into my neck on the left and down to my shoulder blade. It is a lot better - but not gone. I wish it were over; the appointments to deal with that are also taking up time. A couple weeks ago due to scheduling and to feeling pretty good, I went almost two weeks without any care. And I was sore & stiff and taking ibuprofen every day to get through. I'm glad it's limited to that one area; and I've had enough. But things like driving - where I have to turn my head to the left to change lanes, check for traffic, park, etc - doesn't help, and so on. Walking is okay, but can trigger my neck a little, especially if I'm with friends and I'm - ooops - on the right end. Or signing through the play and my interpreting partner is - ooops - on my left side. Ouch. But it's better.  Sunday I'll try swimming again. Last time I did that, it triggered my neck, too - but that was a month ago. I'll not do the thing that set it off last time and will breathe more to my right than my left. I am getting a little bit more walking in, but the issue is time, not surprisingly. But I am - even if it's 30 minutes here and there, 10 minute walks in the hall on my VRS breaks.

So, things are good.

Busy.

And mid-March my two local writing friends and I are going to the beach for 3 nights to write and write and write. A mini writing retreat.

A reward for a couple of intense months.

And I've sent out three more pieces of writing to be judged appropriate or not for publication.

Keepin' on.
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Wednesday, February 9, 2011

submissions wanted

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Writers Read – Stage & Studio

Stage & Studio is looking for writers IMMEDIATELY as part of its 2011 development into a regional arts show. Writers and musicians are requested to submit their work for a curatorial process. All entries will be considered for technical and editorial review.
Writers Read – Stage & Studio, hosted/produced by Dmae Roberts, will begin a regular Writers Read segment starting in February featuring Northwest writers exclusively. Poetry and prose segments must be no longer than 1-2 minutes. Writers are asked to identify themselves and their city/town and the title of their work before reading their piece.

iPhone users may use a numerous audio apps including Audioboo (which also allows you record online), iTalk and even memo apps as long as recordings have no distortion, p-popping or handling sound. Video recordings are also accepted if close miked in quiet room and can be uploaded on YouTube or Vimeo.

Writers will receive on-air and online credit with links to author sites. Any genre or style of writing is acceptable but must adhere to FCC guidelines, (PG-13).
For complete submission guidelines visit this link:

http://stagenstudio.com/2011/01/writers-and-musicians-wanted/

Pointed Circle
Portland Community College's annual literary magazine, Pointed Circle is seeking submissions for its 2011 issue. We publish poetry, fiction, creative non-fiction and artwork. Please email Lutgarda Cowan to receive a submission form with all guidelines. Manuscripts will not be accepted without a submission form attached. Deadline is March 11, 2011.
Lutgarda Cowan
Dept. of English
Portland Community College/Cascade
lutgarda.cowan@pcc.edu

Sunday, February 6, 2011

moving forward

The whirlwind of work and teaching - which is one of the forms of work I do, I realize - and theatrical interpreting preparation - another type of work I do, but unique - have all collided, again. Collision of commitments and desires and needs.

But this time I'm keeping my awareness and not hiding from the knowledge that it's a little hard right now to keep everything going and to keep some care of myself. And I'm not giving up.

This is progress.

This includes not giving up on my writing. I've been keeping up fairly well with the online class/workshop. Until now. When I have a story due tomorrow. Make that due today, by the end of the day - and I've barely started. I have some notes and some ideas which don't really follow the assignment but that's okay. But I haven't written it yet. And now I'm tired and need to get some sleep. Because tomorrow I work.

But after the rehearsal which was after a 90 minute nap in my car which was after a very early and long job I came home and - voila - I did some editing. Then I submitted two pieces of writing to two publications.

And now I must go to bed. I'm tired. But in a good way.

I'm maintaining consciousness in a time of high activity and I'm maintaining my writing. Even if I got a little blocked up on this week's assignment. And even if this week's assignment should have been easy. But I did also get some drafts done of job descriptions and contracts for review for a theater where I work; that was writing, even if it's not quite as creative.

Moving forward!

Tuesday, February 1, 2011

note to self: Tricycle's Daily Dharma

Tricycle Daily Dharma
2/1/11

Learn to Do Less

Too often we mistakenly believe that doing less makes us lazy and results in a lack of productivity. Instead, doing less helps us savor what we do accomplish. We learn to do less of what is extraneous and engage in fewer self-defeating behaviors, so we craft a productive life that we truly feel good about.

- Marc Lesser, "Do Less, Accomplish More"
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