My Top 5 Gift Subscriptions For Every Writer

December 8, 2015October 21, 2016 / Sheila McIntrye Good, Author / 1 Comment

It’s that time of year when we’re all trying to figure out the perfect gift for friends and loved ones. And, gifts for the writer in our circle is one of the hardest to find. Here are my top five recommendations to make your shopping easier. Enjoy.

1. Writer’s Digest – An excellent resource for writers at all levels. Covering all genres, this magazine is your go-to-resource on writing. Available in print or digital, a year’s subscription will cost $19.96 (8 issues).

2. Glimmer Train Stories – One of the best magazines in print, this magazine loves to showcase emerging and new writer’s. Forty percent of stories last years was from first time authors. Represented in the Pushcart Prize: Best of the Small Presses, Henry Prize Stories, New Stories from the South, and Best American Short Stories. A year’s subscription will cost you $35.00.

3. Crazyhorse – This College of Charleston literary magazine, located the beautiful coastal city in South Carolina has published the works of established and emerging writers for the last 50 years. Work from the journal’s pages has been reprinted in the Best American Poetry, Best American Short Stories, Best American Nonrequired Reading and The Pushcart Prize annual anthologies. Issues and stories are available online and in print. Offering 25% off a one year subscription – $15.00 USD, $25.50 USD; ends 12/31/2015.

4. American Short Fiction – Publishes work from both emerging and new writers. Stories published by American Short Fiction are anthologized in Best American Short Stories, Best American Non-Required Reading, The O. Henry Prize Stories, and The Pushcart Prize: Best of the Small Presses, and elsewhere. A year’s subscription will cost $25.00. Current issues and back issues available for $7.00 – $10.00.

5. Fifth Wednesday Journal– An independent print literary magazine published twice a year. Focusing on contemporary literary and photographic arts, this magazine accepts contributions of short fiction, poetry, essays, interviews, book reviews, and black and white photography. A one-year-subscription will cost you $20.00 per year. Individual issues, $11.00 each.

Happy shopping!

I’d love to hear your comments. Let’s have a conversation. Talk to me. Tell me your story. And as always, you can follow me on Facebook at SheilaMGood, Pinterest, Bloglovin, Twitter@sheilagood, and Contently.

37 Flavors of Rejection

December 7, 2015October 21, 2016 / Sheila McIntrye Good, Author / Leave a comment

We all hate rejections, but I must say Christina gives rejection a whole new flavor and I admit, it tickled my fancy! Thanks Christina!

Stories to Share

December 7, 2015October 21, 2016 / Sheila McIntrye Good, Author / 4 Comments

Photo courtesy of :
theeducatedprocastinator.com

I may not have gotten much writing done this month, but I’ve had plenty of time to read. There are so many wonderful books and stories available, it’s difficult to choose, but here are three I’d like to pass on.

The Williams Women by Rosemary Jarrell – The first place winner of WOW’s 2015 Winter Flash Fiction Contest.

The Church Meeting by Jeannie Waldridge – Second place winner of WOW’s 2015 Winter Flash Fiction Contest.

Hot Springs by David Guterson – Narrative Magazine, story of the week.

Every author wants to know people are enjoying their stories. So, if you’ve read a particular engaging story, share it and pass it on.

I’d love to hear your comments. Talk to me. Let’s have a conversation. Tell me your story. And as always, you can follow me on Facebook at SheilaMGood, Pinterest, Bloglovin, Twitter@sheilagood, and Contently.

Well, Hells Bells

December 6, 2015October 21, 2016 / Sheila McIntrye Good, Author / 14 Comments

If you’ve noticed I haven’t been as active in the Cow Pasture the last few weeks and the only excuse I can give you is, it’s been one heck of a month.

October arrived and my muse took a hike. Halloween brought enough candy to put my whole street in a sugar coma. And, right before I spent three straight days cooking a Thanksgiving meal, for twenty plus people, I broke my toe.

I gotta tell you, lugging around a big black orthopedic boot is a pain (no pun intended). It’ll throw your hip outta whack in a skinny minute! Not to mention screw with your holiday attire. There’s just no way to look sexy wearing a one-legged, open-toed, platform, orthopedic, boot.

This time of year brings no rest for the wicked, infirmed, or plain ole’ tired and writing always takes a hit. Whoever decided to have #NaNoWriMo during the month of November, is as crazy as the people camping out for 12 hours, in the cold, at Toys r’ Us on Black Thursday. I mean, really?

For the record, I didn’t take part in the Black Thursday-Friday madness. Limping around in an orthopedic boot in a mass of crazed shoppers was as appealing as water torture.

Something’s gotta be wrong with people leaving a table spread with goodies to join a bunch of crazy shoppers. What’s wrong with staying home, lingering at the table (with a glass of wine or two) and engaging in conversation with each other? There’s a novel thought.

Of course, I’ll admit it’s easy for me to say this year; I’m ahead of the curve. Every last Christmas present is purchased and ready to go under the tree. Ebates and Amazon are my new best friends. As they say, every cloud has a silver lining. In this case, a broken toe leads to online shopping. I may never step foot into a store, again. But, seriously can’t we slow down this speeding train of time and just talk? The world might be a better place if we did.

But, who am I kidding? The art of conversation has gone out the window with bell bottom jeans and hippy hair. Talking? What’s that?

Speaking of which, I sent my daughter a lovely message the other night (yeah, via text). Conversing is too taxing for her. The holidays sometimes put me in a reflective mood. So, I sent her a note expressing my love and pride for all she’s accomplished.

Her response? “Is this a suicide text? Well, it’s rude to send a suicide letter via text. Handwritten is preferred.”

The world has gone crazy, indeed.

Perhaps, the best I can do this year is to be thankful for the little things in life – a good laugh, orthopedic boots, and my iPhone.

I’d love to hear your comments. Talk to me. Tell me your story. And as always, you can follow me on Facebook at SheilaMGood, Pinterest, Bloglovin, Twitter@sheilagood, and Contently.