Upcoming haiku deadlines & FanStory deadlines

Below are some upcoming deadlines for haiku magazines, thanks to Old Pond Comics.  (All of these are nonpaying markets, except for Modern Haiku which pays $1 per haiku.)

- The Heron's Nest: Sept. 15th, for the December issue
- Notes from the Gean: Nov. 1st, for the December issue (Unfortunately, Notes from the Gean has ceased publication. Thanks Julie for the update!)
- Frogpond: Nov. 15th, for the winter issue
- Modern Haiku: Nov. 15th, for the next issue

If you're a member of FanStory, there are some contests ending soon that may be of interest:

- Horror Story Writing Contest: ends 9/19/12, $100 cash prize
- Vampire Story Contest: ends 10/1/12, $100 cash prize
- Tales of the Undead Contest: ends 10/1/12, 70-90 member dollars prize
- Tanka Poetry Contest: ends 1/1/13, $100 cash prize

odds & ends

Haven't had much time to post lately, but here are just a few things going on and a few things to check out.

The new issue of Niteblade is up, and with the new format, you can post comments on each individual piece.

Minnow is a new online haiku journal, now open to submissions. You can find their full guidelines on the submissions page. (Thanks to Deborah Kolodji for passing along the information.)

If you plan on entering the Wergle Flomp Poetry Contest, hurry up... the deadline is April 1st.

With tax time approaching, many people are taking stock of their finances. If you are planning to donate some money and are looking for a worthy charity, consider Modern Haiku. A nonprofit organization, Modern Haiku not only puts out a great haiku magazine, but also operates the Modern Haiku Gift Fund, which covers "the cost of anonymous gift subscriptions to deserving and needy haiku poets worldwide."

Lastly, Flash Me Magazine will be reading for an all-fantasy issue between April 30th and August 31st. The editors will be on the lookout for fantasy stories under 1,000 words. Reprints will be considered (with acknowledgement).

An Interesting Contest

Here's a new take on a contest (at least, new to me). Professional novelist Charles Gramlich is sponsoring a web-based "pay it forward" contest regarding your favorite title for a story or poem. Read all the contest details here. It closes on April 6th and it's free to enter, so get thinking.

Another looming contest is sponsored by the Southern Illinois Writers Guild. There are three categories -- fiction, nonfiction, and poetry -- and prizes of $100, $50, and $25 in each category. Entries must be mailed, along with a $5 entry fee (per entry) by May 1st.

In case you haven't checked out the new horror mag The Ashen Eye yet, now's a good time to do so. The editors are in the process of compiling their first issue, and for some reason they chose to include one of my poems. (In spite of that, it looks to be a good first issue.) You can read another of my poems, "Bats," on their website, along with poems and excerpts from the other contributors, including Alexis Child and David Byron.

I'm also proud to report I've got a few more acceptances recently, including Modern Haiku, Hummingbird, and New York Quarterly (who even gave me my own web page).

Now, if you'll excuse me, I've got to try to remember my favorite story or poem title.

Story Up at Whispers

Whispers of Wickedness just posted a new batch of stories to their website, including my short, "Confession." Check 'em all out. And the latest issue of the magazine, #15 for those of you who are counting, is now available. You can see the cover and table of contents here.

For haiku enthusiasts, here are a few more haiku magazines you might be interested in:

- Modern Haiku
- Tundra
- White Lotus