Novellas. Those odd little monsters that I never quite know what to do with. I have a couple in rough draft form, and they sit all discouraged and mad at me for not finishing and sending them out. But I got discouraged, not knowing where to send something of that length unless I get a deal for a collection. But I found this today in the market listings in The Writers Chronicle.
Quarterly West Biennial Novella Competition
Two Winners will receive $600 and publication of their novellas in an upcoming issue of Quarterly West. Manuscripts should be 50-125 pages in length, authors name(s) on separate title page only. All entries must include a postcard for notification of receipt, and SASE for notification of results and a $25 reading fee. Deadline: Dec 31. Mail entries to Quarterly West, Dept. of English/LNCO 3500, 255 S. Central Campus Drive, Salt Lake City, UT 84112-9109
I've never read an issue of Quarterly West, so I don't have any clue what kind of fiction they like. It may change depending on the judge for the contest. But it's a rare possibility to dust off that novella and give it the life it deserves. Time to get editing.
Excelsior.
4 comments:
Thanks for this. I used to try Quarterly West but haven't in a long time (like, maybe even ten years). I happen to have (as I've mentioned ad nauseum) several unpublished novellas lying around. One of which is about St. Mary's, home of your Godiah Spray plantation. You're familiar with that area of Maryland? As I mentioned on my blog, I went to college there.
Anyway, I fear the novella is unmarketable. I had a lot going on in it... a lot of weird stuff interthreading. Maybe I should work on it again and try (again) to get it published. Hmm...
I've been to the St. Mary's area once, on a weekend trip. So I'm only vaguely familiar with it.
My novellas are also pretty fractured, and not as good as I had them built up in my mind. There are some pieces, though, that might be able to scavenge for other things if I can't get the novellas to work.
LadyLitBlitz- That's cool you went to St. Mary's. My crazy exec director taught American History there at some point or the other. Beautiful area. Godiah Spray is my favorite living history character (and we do a lot of living history where I work). I loved how he ascended the interior of the Tobacco House. Very Spidey.
-L
Hebdomeros, St. Mary's is a very interesting place, as rural and quiet as it may seem. It's fascinating, really, other than the fact that people go insane there. I have my theories. ;) Which of course, having my theories is how I came to have that novella!
Anon L - wow, crazy exec director huh? As I said above, "crazy" goes along well with that region. Hee hee. Seriously, it is a very neat place, with hidden charms, too. And it is very beautiful, once you get to the historic area, on the waterfront. Tobacco was indeed big down there, too.
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