Weird Circular #33 June

The June Weird Circular

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

Welcome to the Weird Circular

Dear Fellow Weird Writers,

I recently read this speech by Kelly Link at the

. It made me think about how we talk about writing like it's dental work. But the truth is, there are beautiful, surprising, mind-blowing moments of writing that we don't talk about enough. Those times when everything is easy and seems to be working. 

This month, I think we should celebrate the fact that we are lucky to be here. We are lucky to have so many great writing events and mentors out there. We're lucky to live in a world that loves books. When writing gets hard, we have to remember why we do it. It's not for money, fame, or because it's easy. It's for love. 

Your corporeal host,

Holly 

Submission Calls

Upcoming Submission Windows: 

Need more submission ideas? Check the

newest markets,

, Duotrope's

,

, or Literary Mama's

.

YOU SHOULD BE WRITING

Prompt #1:

Dream up your perfect reader. Make a list of attributes they have. Maybe they are a young adult or someone later in their life journey. What do they love? What do they hate? How can your story/poem/book fulfill those needs? Give them a name and a life story if it helps.

Bonus Round:

Write something tailored to that imaginary reader. It might just be a scene you think they'd love. For example, if your reader loves romance, you might imagine a series of meet-cutes. 

Prompt #2: Write down 10 interesting settings for a story/poem/essay. Try to be as imaginative as you can be.

Bonus Round: Pick a setting and write 500 words about that place. Make sure to use the five senses: Touch, sight, smell, sound, taste.

Prompt #3:

Pick up a classic book from your bookshelf or pull one up on your Kindle. Go to a random page. Write down the first line that catches your eye. Make that the title of your next piece.  

Bonus Round:

If you're a poet, you can choose a series of lines and make a found poem. If you're writing a short story, try working the line into a bit of dialogue. Make sure it feels natural to the story you're writing. If you're an essayist, you can use this as an intro point to research. 

Editing tip of the month: When you're editing a book-length project, it's good to get feedback. Find a beta-reader by posting in Facebook groups or on Twitter. Or else go to a local writers' meetup and meet other writers. When you do receive feedback, try to look at the one thing that seems easiest to address. Start there in revising.

Inspiration from the Ether

♛ Weird Story of the Month: A Thousand Butterflies by Chelsea Voulgares ♛

➳ Craft Article of the Month: What Silent Film Taught Me About Storytelling ➳

♫ This month's writing music is from https://www.calmsound.com/♫

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