Sips Card Spring 2013 Deadline March 8

From their website:

Who does Sips Card do?

Sips Card puts short fiction and poetry into local coffee shop venues around the country (and in Scotland). We are a publication run by artists, for artists. Each card contains a QR code, loaded with a short story, or set of poems, from a writer meant to last as long as a cup of coffee. The cards include the issue’s author, story title, and website/e-mail.

What is a Sips Card?

- A business card linked to media. This media is free and accessible with a barcode reader on any smart-type device for your personal enjoyment.

What is a QR Code?

A QR code is a square barcode that can be scanned by a variety of devices to access free media that has been assigned to the unique code.

Devices that scan QR codes

-Smartphone

-iPods and iPads equipped with cameras

Barcode scanning software

-KaywaReader is free to download and install on your device. Click HERE to download the reader and be sure to rate their reader in the app store.

http://sipscard.com

Scribus Video Tutorial - Part 1

If you cannot afford Pagemaker, Quark, or Indesign, consider learning to use open source, free, software - Scribus.

This through video deals with  basic introduction and setting preferences.

http://youtu.be/3sEoYZGABQM

Avoiding Bad Desktop Publishing Part 1

"The first part of a presentation at the Nagoya International Personal Computer Club on how to avoid bad desktop publishing, both in print and on the web. This part included what is bad desktop publishing and why it should be avoided, and the first two rules to avoid it."

http://youtu.be/N1PxU4k9iHY

“What is Flash Fiction?”: Imagine You Were Born to Answer It

Want to read a wonderful explanation?

Go here.

http://www.everydayfiction.com/flashfictionblog/what-is-flash-fiction-imagine-you-were-born-to-answer-it/

Winner Takes $55 Writing 55 Words Or Less

Austin Briggs sponsors the 55 Words Or Less Flash Fiction contest.

He explains the contest:

"Join us and write in a new flash fiction topic while competing for votes from your peers. Bring your very best brief work here – you’ll garner feedback, acknowledgment, and even acclaim from others. If you’re brilliant, you’ll sure get quality traffic to your website, and sell more books.

Each month, you can also WIN 55 Dollars from my personal treasure chest, payable to your Paypal email address.

 

The judgement criteria:

• How awesome your story is in my view

• Helped (but not defined) by voting from other readers

We’re here to help, to encourage, and to enjoy friendly competition with other writers. Vote for the stories your peers have written and give them your ideas on how to improve their writing style, their plot twists, and their characters.

Here, everyone gets to be a part of creating brilliant fiction in a supportive community of peers – all of whom love a good story as much as you do.

Join the community and bring your best writing to the game.

All rights remain with the author, even for the winning entries. I don’t intend to ever claim any rights for the flash fiction stories published here.

The rules are simple:

1. Fifty-five words or less (non-negotiable), excluding the title.
2. A setting
3. One or more characters
4. Some conflict
5. A resolution (Not limited to moral of the story).
6. The title is not part of the overall word count, but it can’t exceed seven words."

http://austinbriggs.com/flash-stories/about-this-contest/

100 Resources For Writers

Suess's Pieces list her 100 resources for writers.

http://blog.emilysuess.com/category/writing-freelance/100-resources-writers/

Authorhouse

Another self publishing company for your review is AuthorHouse.

Their definition:

"AuthorHouse, an Author Solutions brand and book publishing company, is the leading provider of self publishing and book marketing services for authors around the globe. Committed to providing the highest level of customer service in book publishing, AuthorHouse assigns each author a personal publishing consultant, who provides guidance throughout the self publishing process. AuthorHouse also provides a broad array of tools and services to allow authors to make their own self publishing decisions. Headquartered in Bloomington, Ind., AuthorHouse has released more than 60,000 titles since its inception in 1997."

http://www.authorhouse.com/

Autharium

Discovering great writers and publishing their work, that is what Autharium does.

http://www.autharium.com/Default.aspx