A Little Spice in Life

Some of the things about January are change, starting over, and clearing out. After the autumn’s pitching and sorting event here, there should not be anything left to toss. But that is not true. Still closets are full and drawers groan when shut. The one place that is down some is the kitchen cabinet because we have eaten the holiday food and are reaching in the back for cans of hominy, bags of beans and such.

I hate to admit this but one whole cabinet in my kitchen is devoted to mostly spices, salts,  and baking things. A few weeks ago I needed some Mexican Oregano…couldn’t find it. Found Turkish Oregano and my sister-in-law’s home dried oregano, but no Mexican. I knew I needed to sort and organize. So, like other January’s, I faced the chore of the spice cabinet today. I gathered some new ones from the utility room and few from another storage place and began to read dates, empty together small amounts, and even toss some. Still I have too much I know!

My writing mind can be like my spice cabinet. It can have shelves of peppery ideas, stores of tasty words, and some real zesty stories. But until I sort them out and really start cooking with them, they just sit there taking up space. So January is also the month for me to gather the sticky notes, make a master list and start creating something. This I have already done too by entering contests and submitting. I still have a few ideas to bake up this winter! 

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Below are a few interesting writing ops if you writers need some new writing spots.

Subject: CFS: Wild Women Poetry Anthology

DEADLINE: APRIL 1, 2015

Accents Publishing seeks submissions for Circe’s Lament: An Anthology of Wild Women. Edited by Bianca Spriggs and Katerina Stoykova-Klemer, we welcome poems by authors of all genders about goddesses, gun-slingers, shape-shifters, blues-singers, oracles, and scandalous divorcees, or any wild woman you know, including yourself. Email 1-3 poems to: circeslamentATgmailDOTcom 

************************

The Boiler Flash Essay Contest judged by Daniel Nester

·        Submission Deadline: January 15, 2015
The Boiler challenges you to submit flash essays under 600 words. We’re open to hybrid forms of poetry, essay, and memoir. The only things that matters are whether you can sustain our attention and craft a well-written, sleek, beautiful little thing. Two winners will receive $600 and publication in our spring issue. Finalists will be considered for publication in our spring issue and other prizes. Submissions open October 31st and close January 15th. We will announce the winner in the spring of 2015. To get an idea of what we like, read magazines like Brevity, Sweet, or other flash journals. www.theboilerjournal.com

 **************

 Short Story Contest: 2015 Bethlehem Writers Roundtable Short Story Awardhttp://bwgwritersroundtable.com/

Once again we are accepting submissions (2000 words or fewer) on the theme of "Food Stories" for the Bethlehem Writers Roundtable Short Story Award.

In addition to a $200 prize, the first place winner's story will be considered for print publication in the Bethlehem Writers Group, LLC's next anthology or as a featured story in Bethlehem Writers Roundtable.
Honorable Mentions may also be published in the BWG Writers Roundtable on-line literary magazine in a month selected by the editors.

All stories must be submitted by January 31, 2015.