Weird Circular #18 (March)

The March Weird Circular

March 01, 2018

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

Welcome to the Weird Circular

Dear Fellow Writers of the Weird:

The past month has been full of good writing things for me, but if you're a writer you know that good things often come with a lot of work. I'm revamping my website so that I can feature some of my past stories in an easier format including audio versions, as well as commissioned, unique, beautiful illustrations by emerging artists (heck yes!). I just had a new story out in

. I launched a subscriber-only campaign at

And I have a new poetry project which I hope to be able to announce as soon as contracts are finalized.

Writers often discount the need for self-promotion. I myself hate it. It's so hard to toe the line between "listen to my good news!" and opening yourself up to the world. Let's face it, sometimes the world doesn't respond how we'd like. It's easy to become exhausted, bitter, and feel drowned out in the sea of voices. It's scary.

But the truth is, every writer's process is wholly unique. The truest thing you can do is believe in yourself. This month even though I am tired, I am also grateful for those voices who keep me going. The writing community is full of love and kindness. And that rejuvenates me. 

Thanks for listening, subscribing, and following along. 

- Holly 

P.S. Our prompts this month are purposefully bare-bones and only consist of questions and images. I hope these serve as little guidestones for you to try and open your writing up to the unknown. 

Submission Calls

 deadline March 15. Poetry. Edited by me, your corporeal host! 

This issue of the

Eye to the Telescope

explores the theme of “Time.” The editor seeks poems about time travel, time machines, time lords, history-hopping, alternate timelines, clocks, white rabbits, the quotidian, and odes to years past and future. Send poems that cover a single life in a few lines, broad interpretations of the theme such as characters who have little time or eternity to live, or quantum theory and continuums. Any genre or form, writers of all backgrounds encouraged to submit.

Other Upcoming Submission Windows: 

Need more submission ideas? Check the

newest markets,

, Duotrope's

,

, or Literary Mama's

.

YOU SHOULD BE WRITING

Prompt #1: What does the sign say?

Bonus Round: Where have all the real people gone?

Prompt #2: What does the mountain dream about?

Bonus Round: How does the sky begin?

Prompt #3: How do you get out of this gallery?

Bonus Round: What does a frame hold in?

Editing tip of the month: Ask yourself this when revising a piece: Where do I get bored? Where do I get excited? Then imagine your perfect reader. How would they feel about the piece? If there's anywhere you're bored, rewrite it until it excites you. I do believe it is possible to get bored of your own work from too much revision. If working on something doesn't get you excited anymore, it's probably time to send it out or put it in a drawer. 

Inspiration from the Ether

♛ Weird Story of the Month: A Mystery Portrait in Massachusetts ♛

☢ Weird Inspiration from the Real World: Search for Buried Treasure Linked To Illinois Man's Death At Yellowstone ☢

News From Your Corporeal Host

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