FanStory.com, and why we need weekends.

Up until now I haven't bothered to join writer's websites that charge a premium. After all, I've been so busy chasing down leads and pitching queries to markets gleaned from free newsletters and websites that I don't have time to mess around with pay sites as well.

Then I discovered the incredible charge of motivation I can get from being in the same room with other writers... more on that later. If attending one meeting of the local writer's guild was such a charge, could I duplicate the experience -- or at least find a pale shadow of it -- online?

Enter FanStory. It was an unlikely target at first; after all, I'd long considered "social writing sites" to be a waste of my time. Must... pitch... to... paying... markets! But once I reasoned the $6.95/month membership away as an entry fee to the numerous paying contests FanStory features, once I decided that inspiration and having a chance to play with writing again instead of just working at it -- as I've done every single stinkin' day since I quit my day job back in June -- were well worth the cost, I took my first step into a brave new world.

Yes, that's right. Not only did I start playing with my writing, entering contests in subjects and forms that I normally wouldn't have bothered with, I also started reading other peoples' writing and reviewing it. And you know what? It's fun.

Contaminated by this "fun bug", I then did something unthinkable. I took a day off. I purposefully neglected e-mails and edits that were awaiting my response. I put every single client on hold for 24 hours. I curled up in the rocker and watched one DVD after another. I completed craft projects I'd been hoping to give as Christmas gifts.

That day was yesterday. Truth be told I was a little bit worried that, when exposed to the concept of leisure, my discipline would crumble and I'd never work another hour ago. Welcome to the self-employed poorhouse, lady. But today I had to hold myself back from entering the home office. "No, not yet!" I told myself. "Take another day off!"

I lost the battle an hour ago and have been frenziedly pecking at the keyboard ever since. So this is what inspiration feels like! This is why I wanted so badly, for so very long, to be a writer! I had honestly forgotten. But now I remember...

...this is what weekends are for!

SpecFicMe

Are you a SpecFic writer? Defining this genre can be a real struggle, but finding markets is not thanks to the SpecFicMe market database and monthly newsletter.

I don't typically post resources that cost, but this one offers a 30-day free trial and promises that you can cancel and pay nothing. So if this is your genre, check SpecFicMe out for free -- you might decide it's worth paying for!

Firstwriter.com

Here is a frequently updated listing of writing contests. As of this posting it contains 164 poetry, fiction, nonfiction and script contests.

UK Writing Contests

Here is a frequently updated list of UK Writing Competitions. Quite a variety!

The Practicing Writer

I'm always pleasantly surprised when I receive The Practicing Writer newsletter. At just once monthly, it's easy to forget about it in the pile of other newsletters arriving daily or weekly, but every time it comes I take the time to read it, even when I'm working on deadline. It usually includes contests that haven't shown up in the other newsletters I read, and information about submissions that matter to me.

You can also check out the Practicing Writing Blog for additional information several times weekly.

Arts Journal

While the Arts Journal - "the daily digest of arts, journals and ideas" - is not strictly about writing, it does sometimes contain contest leads or other worthwhile writing information, as well as a plethora of blog listings and other media links. Best of all, you can sign up for a daily or weekly summary of information delivered straight to your e-mail inbox to be scanned or discarded at your leisure.

CoolStuff4Writers

First up in the spotlight is CoolStuff4Writers. They offer a monthly contest, interviews, merchandise, articles and the CoolNewsletter4Writers.

The monthly newsletter features a nice blend of content. They have a little bit of everything - a short editorial, a helpful writing-related article or two, and a slew of announcements that include writing markets, author news, and contests. Past issues of the newsletter are archived online back to June 2005, and announcements can be viewed directly from the website via the 'Cool Announcements' link. Articles and interviews are also accessible directly from the website via links on the left-hand side of the page.

The contest features a new prompt and word count every month; winner receives a small cash prize. One of the things I love about recurring contests like this is that the prompts can get pretty creative. Even if you don't win the contest, you might be inspired to write a piece that sells.

All of this (except the merchandise) is free, and the website is simple and easy to navigate. That's pretty cool! (Sorry, couldn't resist.)