Weird Circular #12 September

The September Weird Circular

September's Weird Circular is live with submission ideas, prompts, and more!

Welcome to the Weird Circular

Dear Fellow Writers of the Weird:

This last week I evacuated Seabrook for Austin in advance of Hurricane Harvey. I won't go into too many details other than to say we are safe back home now and that we are fine. But many in our community are not.

While I was in Austin, I had a lot of September 1 deadlines I needed to make. Poetry submissions, awards voting, and promises to friends. At one point my husband had to tell me to just put off some of them, because they were stressing me out too much. It was hard for me to make that choice. 

Sometimes writing is about more than just getting words on paper. It's about experiencing the world that we live in, this planet we are on, the people we love. Instead of stressing myself out by trying to meet my deadlines in the midst of disorder, I put my energy into my community. Sometimes it's okay to let yourself not write. Sometimes, you need to write about the thing you didn't want to write about. 

This week I hope things are getting back to normal for those of you in Houston and Texas. I hope you're taking care of yourself. Next month I plan on getting back to normal, but for now, take a break if you need it. 

- Holly 

Submission Calls

PseudoPod's Flash Fiction Contest, Deadline Sept. 15: 500 words or less, horror. Stories will be voted on by the Escape Artist online forum community members. Winner receives publication and $30 pro payment from this SFWA market. 

Other Upcoming Submission Windows: 

Need more submission ideas? Check the

newest markets,

, Duotrope's

,

, or Literary Mama's

.

YOU SHOULD BE WRITING

Prompt #1: Sometimes the most helpful tool for writer's block is to write about something ELSE. Maybe you've been focused on one project and you know you need to get it done, but you can't wrap your brain around it. Maybe you just need a break from that. For this exercise, choose a subject you know nothing about and write about it. Use Wikipedia or whatever helpful resource you can find, maybe go to a book store and pick up a book on the subject. Or else write about a new idea and why it's pulling you away from the current project at hand. Bonus Round: Come back to those thoughts the next day. What did you learn? Did you find a new idea or glimmer in the new subject you wrote about? Or perhaps you felt compelled to go back to the project you set down. Either way, get in the habit of allowing yourself to have multiple things going at once. You can use a notebook or bullet journal to track your ideas in progress if that helps. It can feel like you are going multiple directions at once, but it might break you out of your rut. 

Prompt #2: When I'm feeling exhausted by writing, I often find it easiest to just pick up a new book. Reading can often help me process my own writing. For this prompt, pick up a new book or short story. Maybe a literary journal you've been meaning to read. Read for a while, then write some notes on the book/story. What do you like so far? What do you dislike? Bonus Round: Write a review of the book/story on Goodreads or Amazon. Now think about those notes you made. How can you apply them to your own writing? Do you use too much dialogue or not enough? Do you feel inspired to write more setting or description? Make a list of notes of things you'd like to do more in your own writing and why you want to improve that piece of your craft. 

Prompt #1:

Think about your community. Do you have other writers who you rely on for critique, support, or networking? Consider giving back this month. Reach out to a writer friend and ask them how their writing is going. Maybe there's an article you can write about your community, local nonprofit, or favorite literary hangout to help them gain more exposure. What does your writing community look like and how can you better support them? 

Bonus Round:

Now look at your own work. What do you need to better support yourself? Do you need a break? A snack? A critique partner? A better writing location? An editor? Perhaps a mental health vacation? Try to give yourself an hour a week of simply sitting at your desk, thinking of nothing but your own wants, needs, desires, and goals. If it's helpful, make a list of these things. Then, pick ONE thing to do for yourself. Go to the mall and buy something small for yourself if you can, or simply schedule a time to go walking outside. Meet a friend you haven't seen in weeks. It's okay to take a break once in a while. 

Editing tip of the month: Print out your current in-progress manuscripts. Lay them all down on a kitchen table or a floor. Touch them, flip through them, read them. Do you have too many things in progress? Do you need to focus on one thing for a few weeks? Or perhaps is there a story that needs your attention you've forgotten about? Don't get distracted by revising right away, just let yourself look at your work and think about it. This can help open up the mind, remind it of what it needs, and give you a little boost: Look at all you've accomplished!

Inspiration from the Ether

♛ Weird Story of the Month: Blow the Moon Out ♛

➳ Craft Article of the Month:Self-Care for Writers ➳

☢ Weird Inspiration from the Real World Scientists Detect Mysterious Radio Signals From Deep Space ☢

News From Your Corporeal Host

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