Weird Circular #35 August

The August Weird Circular

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

Welcome to the Weird Circular

Dear Fellow Weird Writers,

This month's Weird Circular is Mary Shelley themed. We wish a happy birthday to the creator of the original creature horror classic, Frankenstein, which is 201 years old this year! Mary Shelley is the original feminist horror writer. I've always loved her story and reading about her life. I think she has a lot to teach us, even in today's world, where women who write "dark" things are still considered a bit weird. 

This month's mission: Write weird, embrace your inner monster.

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:

Mary Shelley got the idea for

Frankenstein

in a waking dream in which "I saw the pale student of unhallowed arts kneeling beside the thing he had put together. I saw the hideous phantasm of a man stretched out, and then, on the working of some powerful engine, show signs of life, and stir with an uneasy, half vital motion." For this exercise, sit quietly in a calm space, outside or at your desk. Close your eyes and let your mind wander. Try to put yourself into a "waking dream." Write down whatever comes to mind. 

Bonus Round:

If you need a word to meditate on, think about the word "monster" and all its connotations.

Prompt #2:

 Where does your creativity come from? Write a bit of "meta writing" on the topic of invention. Are you creating out of the void, or out of chaos?

Bonus Round:

 I find these "writing about writing" exercises helpful in focusing my goals as a writer. What projects are you working on that matter the most to you right now? Are you prioritizing what you want to accomplish, or are you struggling to find time for your work? Knowing your struggles is half the battle towards finding a way out of them.

Prompt #3:

 Mary Shelley was also a fantastic short story writer.

from one of her stories to inspire your next project.

Bonus Round:

Bonus points if you can write a cento poem using lines from Shelley's work. Go ahead, I'll wait. 

Editing tip of the month: Sometimes, you just need to give yourself permission to make notes on your project. Not all "writing" is words on the page. Sit down this month and write out these three things: 1. How do I want my reader to feel when they read this? 2. Who would my dream market for this be? 3. Is the length/genre/pov/voice of this project serving it best?

Inspiration from the Ether

♛ Weird Story of the Month: Lights that Shine by Aimee Ogden  ♛

➳ Craft article of the month: Stay for the Romance, Write Along Podcast  ➳

♫ This month's writing music is from MegaDrive ♫

News From Your Corporeal Host

Join the conversation

or to participate.