Maternal Spark is now accepting Flash Fiction submissions. Pieces should be no more than 500 words and must be a complete story from beginning to end with characters and a plot. Please note that while Maternal Spark is all about Creative Motherhood - your flash fiction can be about whatever topic you like. In fact, I encourage you to write about something other than Motherhood.
Please copy and paste your flash into the body of an email and send it to: heddy.e[at]gmail[dot]com
Include: Name, email address, link to your blog or website and short, 50 word bio.
Use the subject line "Flash Fiction".
At this time, Maternal Spark is only accepting the writing of Moms. If you are not a mom (or pregnant) - I'm sorry you'll have to try again later.
You will receive a response to your submission within 30 days. Please don't worry about technical details too much. I'm really just looking for great stories.
I look forward to reading your work. Submit away!
Showing posts with label flash fiction. Show all posts
Showing posts with label flash fiction. Show all posts
Feb 10, 2009
Feb 9, 2009
Monday's Muse - the Blog Meme for Creative Moms
Read about the Meme
Today's post is a bit of an announcement but I'm posting it for Monday's Muse because I'm just so freaking excited that it's put a creative bounce in my step. Beginning now, Maternal Spark will take flash fiction submissions.
I've got some work to do in writing up some submission guidelines but if you have something to submit go ahead and send it in anytime. Just email me at heddy.e[at]gmail[dot]com with "Flash" in the subject line.
So what's going on with you guys? What's got your creative thoughts jumping? A project? A goal? Post about it and leave your link below so we can all see what you're up to!
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Feb 4, 2009
Throwing it out here - what do you think?
I've been toying with the idea of accepting fiction submissions here at Maternal Spark. I'm thinking about flash fiction pieces which are no more than 500 words. I love the short format of flash fiction and it can be really creative and even busy Creative Moms can manage to complete a piece.
I would like to read pieces written by moms - not necessarily about motherhood although I'd consider those as well.
So, what do you think? Would you read them? Look forward to them? Submit them? Let me know eh?
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I would like to read pieces written by moms - not necessarily about motherhood although I'd consider those as well.
So, what do you think? Would you read them? Look forward to them? Submit them? Let me know eh?
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Dec 8, 2008
Monday's Muse - the Meme for Creative Moms
Image via Wikipedia Read about the Meme.
It's quiet in the insulated way the snow brings. I know it's out there before I even rise and make my way to the window. Parting the curtains reveals a white and foreign landscape. It's fresh. Clean.Today a piece of writing was inspired by the snow. I don't really know what it is, it's sort of 'stream of consciousness' I guess. Just a little bit that trickled down from my mind and though my fingers to the keys. An observation about how when everything seems pure, there is always a touch of the sinister around. Did you know squirrels sometimes eat baby birds?
The icy sheath hides the dirt and dead plants away, hides anything that isn't pure.
All is white but one black squirrel in the center of it all.
The squirrel is digging frantically down to the grass and then through to the earth. It's burying treasure while the dirt will still move. Down goes the bits stolen from bird feeders and brazenly pilfered from outside cat dishes. Peanuts, sunflower seeds and kibble become packed into a musty treasure chest, ready for a later meal.
He works to conceal these pockets of nourishment. He plans for enough to last through to when the snow becomes damp, and the buds form on the trees, and the grass begins to sprout. He plans for enough to last until the nests are filled with eggs and sweet, tender chicks. Until then, he remains busy. Until then, thievery and frozen cat food will have to do and he sits, punctuation in the white, until his job is done.
The snow was my muse, what's yours? Leave your link below to share.
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Apr 23, 2008
On taking my own advice
Two days ago I had a weird dream, something about a car breaking down. It's all gotten fuzzy now and I can hardly remember the feel of it, never mind the details. That morning while brushing my teeth I thought about my dream and fleshed it out into a story idea. It was an idea for my flash fiction series on emotions. The idea was perfect for the Fear piece I'd been meaning to write for sometime now. I finished up in the washroom and then it was time to feed little H her baby oatmeal and fruit. I hollered to hubby as I ran down the hall into the bedroom to 'hang on just a moment, I'd be right there'. I rummaged in the bedside table for the notepad and pen I had stashed in there. I had to write down my idea, because the day was planned and I had not planned to write. I didn't want to lose my thoughts on the piece.
Fast forward to today. I planned to write during little H's nap time. I figured she would sleep for about an hour and a half. I wasn't ready to jump to writing when I put her down. I needed to eat lunch so I did that, then I put in some laundry, blah blah blah, I only managed to write 100 words before she woke up. Not good.
For her afternoon nap, I made sure I had my poop in a group. All I had to do was get on the computer and write. I managed to get the majority of the story written. Now I'll let it marinade for a bit before I go back and edit and write a little more. I also managed to make a Halo. I was pleased not only that I plowed through these things but that I had the right frame of mind create two things I was pleased with. I thought clearly and deliberately about each word I wrote and each ribbon I glued. The afternoon session was much better in that because I was organized, I was able to focus and produce product that flowed out of me easily. And that is great, because feeling forced to create is never a good thing. When I knew my time was limited during my morning session, I did have that forced feeling and the words just didn't come as easily.
For me, balancing my creative life with my mommy life is all about planning. Every mom knows you can't plan everything with a baby around but do what you can, and you'll be able to take advantage of those times when things go smoothly.
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Fast forward to today. I planned to write during little H's nap time. I figured she would sleep for about an hour and a half. I wasn't ready to jump to writing when I put her down. I needed to eat lunch so I did that, then I put in some laundry, blah blah blah, I only managed to write 100 words before she woke up. Not good.
For her afternoon nap, I made sure I had my poop in a group. All I had to do was get on the computer and write. I managed to get the majority of the story written. Now I'll let it marinade for a bit before I go back and edit and write a little more. I also managed to make a Halo. I was pleased not only that I plowed through these things but that I had the right frame of mind create two things I was pleased with. I thought clearly and deliberately about each word I wrote and each ribbon I glued. The afternoon session was much better in that because I was organized, I was able to focus and produce product that flowed out of me easily. And that is great, because feeling forced to create is never a good thing. When I knew my time was limited during my morning session, I did have that forced feeling and the words just didn't come as easily.
For me, balancing my creative life with my mommy life is all about planning. Every mom knows you can't plan everything with a baby around but do what you can, and you'll be able to take advantage of those times when things go smoothly.
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Mar 19, 2008
Fear
I've just finished two more flash pieces in my Emotion series. They were about empathy. I'm not the type to easily feel sorry for people so this was a bit of an eye opener and challenge for me. Up next I'm working on fear. The fiction piece will be much fun. I plan to write a bit of horror. I see something gritty and grainy and old fashioned. I see some type of monster with tension holding it all together. I'm excited to get working on it, just a bit more mental grease is needed before it all spews out my fingers to the keyboard.
Now, the non-fiction piece will be about little H. There is no way on this planet that I can think of a time I was scared and not think of the day she stopped breathing. It is the only time in my life when I felt real fear. Sure, there were times when my breath caught in my throat if our car swerved on icy roads. When thunder clapped overhead when I was young. When the big kids told the bloody hook story over a campfire at girl guide camp. But now, that I've had this experience with little H, I know that those other times were just thrills. Thrills like riding a roller coaster or playing 'Bloody Mary' in a dark closet while five little girls laughed right outside with their ears pressed to the door. I'm not looking forward to writing it but I have to.
Now, the non-fiction piece will be about little H. There is no way on this planet that I can think of a time I was scared and not think of the day she stopped breathing. It is the only time in my life when I felt real fear. Sure, there were times when my breath caught in my throat if our car swerved on icy roads. When thunder clapped overhead when I was young. When the big kids told the bloody hook story over a campfire at girl guide camp. But now, that I've had this experience with little H, I know that those other times were just thrills. Thrills like riding a roller coaster or playing 'Bloody Mary' in a dark closet while five little girls laughed right outside with their ears pressed to the door. I'm not looking forward to writing it but I have to.
Mar 10, 2008
Emotionally afloat
Flash fiction is one of the forms of story telling that I absolutely adore. I love writing it, and, because it is short, it fits in with my schedule or lack thereof as of late. Right now I am working on a series of flash fiction pieces where the subject matter revolves around emotions. Empathy, Love, Fear, Anxiety, Anger, Joy.
Now that I am a mother, all these emotions seem heightened and writing about them in a context other than revolving around baby is difficult. It made me wonder if moms who work in mediums other than the written word have the same difficulty. Painters? Do you find your preferred subject to be your little ones? How about sculptors? Certainly you photographers snap endless pictures of your children. I know that our poor cat Boo, who used to be the star of our albums, has only had his photo taken once in the last nine months. Every other image in our digital camera is of little H.
I'm willing to bet that the recent scrapbook craze came about because of children, and textile artists create for their kids too. But do they struggle as I do to round out their work?
Back to my flash pieces, I never really knew most of these emotions until I had little H. Empathy for when she got her vaccinations. Love since the moment I knew she was about to arrive. Fear when she stopped breathing momentarily on her third day of life. Anxiety during every moment of every day.....oh, she's gonna bonk her head again I just know it! Anger at the thought of going back to work and leaving her behind, and Joy. Joy is most prevalent when I'm watching her learn new things...which means everyday I feel Joy.
Wish me luck. I will speak more on these flash pieces as I work on them. I hope to have about a dozen or so by the time I'm finished. Anyone who wishes to comment on their experiences are welcome to do so!
Now that I am a mother, all these emotions seem heightened and writing about them in a context other than revolving around baby is difficult. It made me wonder if moms who work in mediums other than the written word have the same difficulty. Painters? Do you find your preferred subject to be your little ones? How about sculptors? Certainly you photographers snap endless pictures of your children. I know that our poor cat Boo, who used to be the star of our albums, has only had his photo taken once in the last nine months. Every other image in our digital camera is of little H.
I'm willing to bet that the recent scrapbook craze came about because of children, and textile artists create for their kids too. But do they struggle as I do to round out their work?
Back to my flash pieces, I never really knew most of these emotions until I had little H. Empathy for when she got her vaccinations. Love since the moment I knew she was about to arrive. Fear when she stopped breathing momentarily on her third day of life. Anxiety during every moment of every day.....oh, she's gonna bonk her head again I just know it! Anger at the thought of going back to work and leaving her behind, and Joy. Joy is most prevalent when I'm watching her learn new things...which means everyday I feel Joy.
Wish me luck. I will speak more on these flash pieces as I work on them. I hope to have about a dozen or so by the time I'm finished. Anyone who wishes to comment on their experiences are welcome to do so!
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