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The fact is, writing, deserves much more accolade than it receives. But this is not the time to place blames. This is the moment when we need to echo our voices together into a thunderstorm and break the world into syllables where stronger, healthier and better words can be coined. And this is what we're doing. Right here! Right now!

'This is Nigeria' is our own way of telling the world we're not blind even when our voices seem subdued. Our portrait of showing the corrupt leaders, though we are down, we are not out. This is our chance of ringing it to their ears that we're are not part of the ruin process, we clamour for a reverse engineering, where all things fall into place, so that one day, we would sit back into our couch & tell our children how we fought in making the world they live in a better place. Nigeria is our own world.

The anthology welcomes Poetry, Prose, Photography, Essay and Artwork. We welcome you, with all of your bliss and pain. The colour is neither white nor black, it's grey.


This is Nigeria Anthology Guidelines:


1. The theme is 'This is Nigeria'. You know your story yourself, we can't write it for you. That's why we're giving you the liberty to be whatever you want. Be rest assured that no 'MURIC' is coming for you. We have you covered.

2. We cherish brevity here. Be concise with your analysis and points.
- Poem: 30 lines maximum, not more than two poems.
- Prose (nonfiction only): 1,500 words maximum, just one piece.
- Essay: 700 words maximum, just one piece.
- Artwork: 3 paintings maximum.
- Photographs: 3 maximum.

3. In the subject box, write "This is Nigeria Anthology" Write your name and contact details in the body of the mail and attach your submission in word document format only (doc, docx). No specification on font style and size. Don't bother sending your picture.

4. Submission closes June 30, 2018. We need you to edit, reedit and even edit again before making submission.

5. Send all submissions to submission@myaceworld.net


This is all Free. We're not paying you upon acceptance. We would even love if you could donate a token to support the course. But all things being equal, we promise you an audible voice at no cost.

Organized by ACEworld

Please SHARE with fellow writers. http://www.wordsmithpraise.com/2018/06/call-for-submission-this-is-nigeria-anthology.html

[img]https://1.bp..com/-_OPJLSlcopY/WyeFTy4HBcI/AAAAAAAABu4/ksz5OPLW72ofCuutqc1AXkrLi-ZP8yzdwCLcBGAs/s320/online-writers-wordshop.jpg[/img]

ONLINE WRITERS WORDSHOP is here. Fasten your seat-belts writers. here comes another chance to sharpen your skill and learn from award-winning brilliant writers.

Two weekends of intense coaching, two weeks that's gonna change everything. The details are as follows:

Registration Fee; #1,100
Account Number: 2041419898(UBA) Abiodun Oloruntobiloba

Send Proof Of Payment to 08129587008(WhatsApp)

The Coaches for the Writers Wordshop are;
Graciano Enwerem, Arch Angel, Caleb Somtochukwu Okereke and Toby Abiodun.

P.S; This is just timely for slam poets interested in entering for WAR OF WORDS SEASON 7(WOW7) SLAM.
Coaches will be giving out tips, ideas, and steps to qualifying and eventually winning the SLAM.

SHARE TO ANY WRITER YOU KNOW!!!

http://www.wordsmithpraise.com/2018/06/register-for-online-writers-wordshop.html

FESPO:
I'm sure that if I post that I need writers, over 10 writers(both good and bad) will message me within a day. Many writers are not tired of being slaves, all they can invest is their time and maybe proficiency for those that are proficent, they don't want to invest anything financially because they are afraid to take risks. Lemme tell you, this life is a scam, to make it in life you have to take some risks. "TO WIN BIG, YOU SOMETIMES HAVE TO TAKE BIG RISKS" --- Bill Gates.

Now, if you find this is useful, it's cool and if you find it useless, you can ignore it. To be sincere, I'm tired of enslaving writers, I'm ready to show you how to make it with freelancing(upwork).

Kindly contact me on whatsapp @ 08140056707 for your upwork account and I'll also be glad to give you tips to make you sucessful on upwork because I can confidently say that I'm a sucessful freelancer on upwork but many Nigerians find it difficult to manover their ways. Contact me I'll give you tips.

What about Fiverr?

Share your thoughts After Reading It. Thanks

ekaromail:
2018 APEN/AISEN Short Story Contest, Powered By OkadaBooks


Think you can write an amazing short fictional story in 1500 – 2000 words?

Enter the inaugural APEN/AISEN Short Story Competition: Powered By OkadaBooks, for your chance for a 1 week paid internship at Farafina/Kachifo press and a chance to get published on OkadaBooks, and make your school proud!

Open to APEN/AISEN schools only

The top 10 winning entries in each category will be on display in the inaugural APEN/AISEN OkadaBooks short story compilation.

Click the link below for details. https://blog.okadabooks.com/participate-in-the-2018-apen-aisen-short-story-contest-powered-by-okadabooks/

It is not open to every one now

[img]https://4.bp..com/-eF7KZWHcC7I/WxUgBnPDdqI/AAAAAAAABsI/eC6WBx5Zuvo2gJiHxKbYdYo5uMdVa5mxgCLcBGAs/s320/10-Tips-for-writing-a-love-story.jpg[/img]

So you want to write a love story? You need to know What it takes to write a love story and how does one write or start a love story. Sharpen your pen because writing a love story is much deeper and full of complexity than you might think. You probably would have fallen in love at least once. You met someone that made you happy and experienced your own love story, that's good.

Love stories can be brilliant, emotional, and creative outlets. But to truly master the art of the love story you need to know a couple things. A compelling story – no matter the content, plot, characters, and depth of the romance therein – depends immensely on your ability to entice the reader and get them adequately drooling for the love to come.


Tips For Writing A Love story

Below are the tips, read carefully and absorb every details. Also read Guidelines For better story writing


1) Think About Your Characters

What do they desire? And most especially, what do they want before the story begins, and before they meet each other?

What makes a love story a great story to read is the same thing that makes any narrative a story: A character forms a goal and sets out to achieve that goal, but on the way encounters obstacles which, of course, the character must find solutions to. See The Creative Writing Guide HERE

"The greater the obstacles, the greater the page-turning power the narrative has."

In a love story, the character may not at first know they are looking for love(1). So you may need a substitute goal to carry the story forwards while your protagonists discover their true motivation.


2) Make Your readers Fall in love with your characters

If your reader does this, then they will understand immediately the attraction that the two lovers hold for each other. And they will get a double thrill when they get together!

Sounds simple, how do you get a reader to fall in love with a character?

Create reader empathy by making the characters truly heroic and admirable – then chuck in a bit of charisma. Equally reliable; introduce a character as they’re enduring an undeserved hardship.

3) Explore The Full Range of Human Emotions

During the course of the story, look at fear, pain, disappointment, betrayal and jealousy. Love isn't simple – so don't write a crappy love story. A love story could begin with death. Then the character might be so depressed, it could be finding love that saves him.

4) Focus On Personality.

a) Do Not Equate Personality - There can be a few likenesses between the two darlings, however don't try too hard. On the off chance that they are excessively comparable, the reader will begin to regard them more as kin or companions than lovers.(2)

b) Anger, Rivalry, And Love - Both outrage and love take a considerable measure of energy and at last they can generate each other. In the beginning periods of your story don't be hesitant to give them a chance to severely dislike each other, simply quell the fire before it heightens.

c) Personality Mix - We have all known about the embodiment of "extraordinary" lovers: reckless guy and pleasant, plain young lady or the other way around, and brilliant person and half-witted yet cool young lady or the other way around.

Endeavor to go past that. Create two list of the considerable number of identities you to can consider, one for the young lady and one for the person. At that point pick an arbitrary attribute from each rundown and check whether you can make a story off that.


5) Do Not Make It Too Unnatural.

Yes, you want to write an unique love story, make it something the readers will love, something bizzare.

Uniqueness is like salt. Just enough can perfect a dish, but too much can ruin it and make you regret even making it. Creativity on the other hand is fine.

In the act of making your story grotesque, don't damage the story by adding too many fanciful combinations. You'd certainly bore your readers or make them question you writing.

6) Develop The Antagonists.

The romantic equivalent of an antagonist might be an envying ex, overprotective parent.

An antagonist can provide strife, angst, and even comical relief. They are very rewarding and enjoyable to create. Who doesn't Want to make the perfect villain? Someone that challenges the love story.

7) Keep Love Powerful


When in love, people are moved to achieve huge things. The obstacles confronting the lovers should be massive, and the power of love even greater than that. 'Lovers will go to almost any lengths to overcome problems'. Don’t forget LOVE CHANGES EVERYTHING.

Two people in love are like wildfire. If an inferno isn’t lit between the covers of your novel, the story will be limp too! Both of the lovers should be melted in the crucible of their love, and so become different by the end of the story.

Imagine a story whereby their love is challenged by concurrent obstacles but their love is powerful enough to keep them together.


( Excite Readers With Immediate Action.

Another great option for starting your story is choosing a moment that will immediately pull the reader into the story line with a compelling action sequence in the opening scene of your story. Make sure that any initial action sequences are readily comprehensible.

There doesn’t even have to be any actual danger; it is more than enough to simply convey a sense of peril that the reader can relate too.

9) Infuse Suspense In The Love Story.

While there are no concrete rules for how a love story needs to begin, there are some narrative tropes that continue to melt hearts. Among them; consider the implication of an oncoming challenge to one of the story’s love interests, a dramatic change in circumstances, or a blatant threat to a character or a relationship between characters.

A common route here is a moment in which danger or the threat of danger are recognized or experienced by a character who will be featured prominently in your story.

10) Then Create A Powerful Love Scene

Romantic scenes can be full of passion, yet also full of doubt. Vulnerability and awkwardness are attractive: keep all that, but let them pull together. Create an ALL POWERFUL declaration of love, something that strike the readers heart and make them wish they were the characters themselves.

Tease this scene out – make it long – but not too long. Don’t forget Wilkie Collin’s famous advice, which is just as valid when it comes to the first kiss or first love reveal: ‘Make ‘em cry, make ‘em laugh, but ABOVE ALL make ‘em wait!'

WRAP UP:

If you've never experienced love and you intend to write a love story. I don't know what to say. Haha.

Do me a favour and SHARE this post. Comment your thoughts. I'm Open to suggestions.

Written by Praise Osawaru.

Find me on Twitter And Instagram -[url=instagram.com/wordsmithpraise]@wordsmithpraise [/url]

http://www.wordsmithpraise.com/2018/06/10-tips-for-writing-love-story.html

I'm interested. Msg me on whatsapp +2348133744400

The Africa Book Club Short Reads Competition is open to submissions. African writers can enter fiction or nonfiction pieces of not more than 3,500 words for a chance to win monetary prizes—$250 for 1st Prize, $150 for 2nd Prize, and $100 for 3rd Prize. The contest is also open to non-Africans, provided their submissions are set in Africa. The top three works and 27 other entries will be compiled for an anthology, for which contributors would receive $25 per entry. Submissions must not have been previously published. There is no entry fee. The deadline for entries is 30 June. Winners will be announced on or before July 15.

Submission Guidelines:

Submissions will be received throughout the year and can be made at any time through our online submission page – Click Here to Submit Your Entry.

*Entries must not exceed 3,500 words (suggested minimum length is 1,000 words).
Entries must be written in English.
*There are no theme or style restrictions. We are interested in works of fiction and creative non-fiction. All genres will be considered. What we are looking for are good stories that our readers will enjoy.
*Writers can enter as many stories as they like. However, each entry can only have one story.
Submitted stories must not have been published previously in any form. If you enter your story in another competition and you win, please notify us and withdraw your submission.
*Copyright remains with Africa Book Club. Entrants are deemed to grant us first publication rights and exclusive worldwide license over each entry submitted for one year after publication, and for publicity purposes thereafter. Selected pieces may appear in electronic format on the Africa Book Club site, other electronic forms, and in print. Entrants will be notified electronically upon receipt of their submissions.

* We reserve the right to cancel this competition, and not to publish our annual anthology, where circumstances are beyond our control, or if we determine that the quantity and quality of submissions do [not] meet the required parameters for publication.
By submitting an entry, you agree to be bound by the above rules.


For enquiries send an email to: reviews@africabookclub.com.

Find out how to enter HERE. http://www.wordsmithpraise.com/2018/05/opportunity-for-writers-enter-africa-book-club-short-story-competition.html?m=1

obehiD:


That sounds awesome if it is indeed authentic. This is my first time hearing of them, but their website looks legit: https://www.publiseer.com/?m=1

I also heard about them. Its seem super legit. There is an article here if you are interested > http://www.wordsmithpraise.com/2018/05/Introduction-to-publiseer.html

Travails of a Budding Poet - A Fiction



Chapter 5

As soon as I came to terms with the realities of my poetic ignorance, I immediately began to negotiate my way out of its confines. I was determined to break loose of Neruda's bewitchment. How could I write like this? Is it even possible?!. I wondered.

But writing like Neruda was not the urgent crisis, understanding a single line of his poem that I had just read was. It was ripping my soul out of its rigging. All my cognitive life, I had never read a text in English and not made sense of it until now, my dissent for ambiguity is the reason I'm obsessed with the use of English and handy dictionaries. Yet, here i was, seeing words I actually recognize in clauses but unable to make substance of them.
What I learnt was vivid - Ignorance is not the biggest enemy of knowledge; the illusion of knowledge is. I had never researched poetry, nor read a poem, nor met a poet nor attended a poetry class, but still managed to believe I knew enough, managed to be infuriated that my poem was criticized, and managed to even refer to my works - as poetry.

It was now time to learn the things I thought I knew.

I quickly researched Neruda, read more of his works and biography. My early lessons in correct poetry began in his "Twenty love poems and a song of despair".

It was In those priceless sonnets that I truly met poetry. In them I learnt, that she was fire, burning on ice, that she was truth in its Sunday clothes, that she was a parallel ray of reflections, that she lived in the branches of the night and rides on shawls of fairies. That she creeps into fireflies, dews, scents and virgin ladybugs. It was thanks to Neruda that I learnt that she sometimes;write herself.

At the end of the paperback edition of the book were recommended reads, from other Chilean and non Chilean poets. My thirst for poetic material increased, along with my curiosity and In a short while I had met the "others".

Wordsworth in his posthumously uncompleted 66,000+ line poem - "the Prelude", Li Po in his famous Japanese haiku anthology, Rumi in his "Book of Love", Linda Goodmans in "Gooberz" and Imamus-shatibii in his classical "Matnush-Shaatibiyyah".

With each passing book, came brutal blows, bloodying my ignorant nose, and forcing it to perceive what poetry truly scents like - Petrichor.

To be continued....

Chapter 4


Thanks to my newly found redemptive vigour, crocheting poetic lines became more liberating, rewarding and fulfilling. It simply became about doing what I loved to do and enjoying it, rather than doing it for accolades. The simple notion of conceiving a muse, penning it and closing its final verse was a priceless thrill.


The joyous hamlet I had arrived, on my unfolding trip turned out to be quite illusory. It was filled with reassuring cheers and a budding reputation amongst my acquaintances and peers alike. "Wow! You wrote this! That's amazing" they would marvel. I knew my poetic prowess was not exactly soaring with the eagles, but I was cozily sheltered in the belief, structured on brittle grains of ego, that it was only a cloud or two behind them, but little did I know; for spectacular, was my ignorance.


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Equally spectacular, were the storms that whirled it away, randomly breezing ego deflating shrapnels on my face, through the sharp cracks of the first few lines of the poem I was reading.


It was on one of my dovish weekends strolls, that I bumped into a rotting document, browned with dusts and footsteps, lying wastefully at the mercy of the random evening breeze. I picked it up for a quick skim as my curiosity usually compels me to. It was a decaying fragment of a poet's anthology, half torn, I was only able to see a name and an interrupted poem. It read:

_________________________________________

The Word

- Pablo Neruda

The word was born

in the blood,

it grew in the dark body, pulsing,

and took flight with the lips and mouth


Farther away and nearer,

still, still it came

from dead fathers and from wandering races,

from territories that had become stone,

that had tired of their poor tribes,

because when... [torn away]

_________________________________________

As much as I loved poetry, my romance with poetry was not induced by conventional poetry, fundamentally, it was inspired by other creative energies - lyrics, paintings, and deep prosaic images.

As far as I was concerned, poetry was all about rhyming ambiguous words within vessels of my thoughts and putting them into verses.

I especially have an affinity for the lyrics of Bruce Marshall Mathers, around which my sense of creativity and writing style generally revolved until I met Neruda in his rotting piece.

There I was, reading something ENTIRELY DIFFERENT, starkly distant from what I have grown to regard as poetry, the words seemed like incantations, deliberately knitted by aliens from other galaxies to fever my soul. Albeit written in English, my perplexity would be no different had they been written in Valerian. Arrested were my illusions, by genies of neruda's magical awe, trapped to rot in cells of his tingling aura, still very much outliving him.

In them I received the cold revelation, that my poetic prowess was still rooted in the muds, faraway from mother earth's high planes, right where the eagles leap into the clouds of poetic mastery. A point I illusory thought I was approaching. Huh. Ridiculous.

Travails of a Budding Poet - A Fiction

CHapter 3

Tens of twilights have been trapped in the dirty scarfs of the lady night, since my proverbial horse's back was mended. It was gradually healing and bravely steadying its foot, ready again to saddle me, through my travailing "poescapades".

PAY ATTENTION: DOWNLOAD THE WORDSMITH APP HERE TO STAY UPDATED ON STORIES AND MORE

Thanks to my newly found redemptive vigour, crocheting poetic lines became more liberating, rewarding and fulfilling. It simply became about doing what I loved to do and enjoying it, rather than doing it for accolades. The simple notion of conceiving a muse, penning it and closing its final verse was a priceless thrill.

Fuelled by a stubborn desire to excel in the bardish art, I became exclusively indulged with poeia, incessantly conceiving mind pleasing muses, and trading them with the best narratives and dictions my mind could negotiate, at random will.

My knack for rhythm and rhyme patterns were flourishing, to my surprise, and so too were my resourcefulness with words, along with a deft poetic touch. I was quickly becoming midas, anything I touched became gold or better still - poetry. They were of the smoldering magic, lent to me by nature, which were getting kindled.

I would stitch an entire poem with linear rhythm patterns or rhyme schemes with little effort. I never really operated with muse. All I just needed to do was pick up my pen and poetry would just gush, right through its tip. It was that easy.

In fact, I was beginning to see someone I could refer to as a marinated poet anytime I looked in the mirror. It was indeed a swooning experience, an indeed joyous road on my poetic Voyage, at least for the while it lasted, for it soon received a staggering blow, right through the ribs.

To be continued....

Please if you're reading. Tell me what you think about the story.
Please

Travails of a Budding Poet - A Poetic Fiction.

Chapter 2

Although, my bardish proclivities were then, overt, I had fallen hopelessly in love with the mild charms and witty vibes of poetry, even as a naive teenager. The creative chaos she sets loose in my head, were enough excuse to sail away from the banks of reality.

I have always regarded oral communication to be largely tedious and banal. My expressions tend to be more accurate, articulated, less awkward and less dramatic when they stream from my pen and not my Jaws. It always seems like I say the wrong things at the right time, or the right ones at the wrong time. I was never an orator. But my writing proclivities were promising to make up for that.

I knew I would struggle to make any significant impact on any society with my tattered oratory, and thus, wholeheartedly embraced the noble prospects of morphing the society's reflection of itself, unraveling the hidden beauties of the universe hidden in plain sight, and bridging educational, social and nepotistic barriers of our world through positive and enlightening poetry.

These were the dreams i had been steadily nurturing, before the horse's back on which they were about to ride got broken by the vicious comments of my first critic. In the flood of self-doubt and negativity his comments had sent my way, I drowned. I wallowed. I gave up and I Quit.

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I drowned in the positivity of remembering that the criticisms were worthless opinions of a doubt caster, and that an impediment to action only calls for further action. I wallowed in the vibes that suggested obstacles to be the way to triumph. I gave up on doubting my spark, my creativity, my difference, my ability and my passion. I Quit writing for others and started to write for myself, I quit mongering for accolades and I Quit getting knocked off my pedestal by mine or other's doubt.


I felt, albeit ironically, a deep sense of gratitude and debt in fact, to my first critic, for aligning my expectations with the correct perspectives of creative survival so early on my poetic journey.

To be Continued....

Synopsis :

Travails of Budding Poet tells the story of a poet who was mocked after sharing a poem he wrote.

Please drop your comments about the first chapter.

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Travails of a budding Poet - A Fiction
Chapter One

Towards the twilight of my University days, i had been swooning, of course along with my alter ego, mostly within the succour of his apartment, which I still remember in very fond memories, about all things Aubrey Graham, Joe Cole and Bruce Marshall Mathers and other marvels of the exciting world we had just teleported into - the world of words. Friends would occasionally meet us at it, amidst our stubbornly themeless conversations.



He, of course, had a better grasp of the scribing thingy. His sharp writing prowess and optimism had been my rudders into aerial covens of prosaic and poetic mastery. I would scrawl pieces for days, only for me to eventually delete them - they were never good enough, I believed, A notion he usually opposes.

After lots of practice, contemplation and positive Vibes. I summoned the courage to stop deleting my works. I finally decided to share a poem - Now - with a few acquaintances, to test the waters, for a start. Amateurish as it was, it was a poem I had given my best, it was good enough, I concluded. I finally decided to share it with some old classmates from college. An act I was soon to regret, thanks to the following remarks.



"Do you know how to write? are you even sure you wrote this?"

My eyes could not feast on such worded thorns, not for long, I immediately smirked them away, but I was too late, for they had waltzed, through my skin perhaps, into the crusts of my timid soul, burrowing in them, sharp hurtful holes.


I would never post poems again, maybe he was right, I was not a writer, I was never any good after all, maybe this is not my thing, maybe I don't have what it takes, maybe this is a good time to stop, maybe I should get out of my head, maybe I should just let go, maybe I should just QUIT. all these and more, I whispered beneath the rubbles of his pelted words.

To be continued....

5 Guidelines For Better Story Writing

"Writing isn’t easy, and writing a good story is even harder"
A short story conserves characters and scenes, ordinarily by concentrating on only one conflict, and drives towards a sudden, unforeseen revelation. Go simple on the piece and chatty back-story — your reader doesn't have to know everything that you know about your characters.


A novel can take an additionally wandering way, yet should in any case begin with a scene that sets the tone for the entire book. A powerful short story (or poem) does not just record or express the writer's emotions; rather, it creates feelings within the readers.

MUST READ >> WHY WRITERS SHOULD HAVE A JOURNAL

Wanna become a better writer? I've got you covered, check out Five Tips To become a better writer

What I know About Story Writing


Since I started my blog last year, I’ve been trying to fully understand how to write a good story. I’ve read blog posts on writing, asked fellow writers and, of course, written stories myself.

There are Certain Keys To Writing a story. You should totally check it out.

Guidelines For Better Story Writing

1. Write In One Sitting

Write the first draft of your story in as short a period as could be allowed. In case you're writing a short story, attempt to write it in one sitting. In case you're writing a novel, attempt to write it in one season (three months).

Try not to stress excessively over plotting or outlining out in advance. You can do that once you know you have a story to tell in any case. Your first draft is a discovery procedure. After which it would experience re-writes before achieving perfection. Actually there's no perfect story though.

2. Build up Your Protagonist

Stories are about protagonists, and on the off chance that you don't have a good protagonists, you won't have a good story. The basic element for each protagonist is that they should decide.
Victor Frankl stated, "An individual is a choosing being." Your protagonist must make adecision to get himself into whatever wreckage he gets into in your story, and in like manner, he must get to an emergency point and choose to get himself out of the chaos.

To additionally build up your protagonist, utilize other character models like the protagonist nemesis, or a best friend character that uncovers the protagonist milder side..

3. Create Suspense and Drama

To create suspense, set up a dramatic question. A dramatic question is something like, “Is he going to make it?” or, “Is he going to get the love of his life?”
By putting your protagonist’s fate in doubt, you make the reader ask, What happens next?

MUST READ >> JOSS WHEDON TOP WRITING TIPS

Note: To do this well, you need to carefully restrict the flow of information to the reader. Nothing destroys drama like over-sharing.

4. Show Scenes, Don’t Tell

Honestly, the saying “show, don’t tell” is overused. However, when placed next to the step above, it becomes very effective. When something interesting happens in your story that changes the fate of your character, don’t tell us about it. Show the scene! By description.

Your readers have a right to see the best parts of the story play out in front of them. Show the interesting parts of your story, and tell the rest.

5. Write Good Dialogue

Good dialogue comes from two things: intimate knowledge of your characters and lots of rewriting. Each character must have a unique voice, and to make sure your characters all sound different, read each character’s dialogue and ask yourself, “Does this sound like my character?”
If your answer is no, then you have some rewriting to do. Also, with your speaker tags, try not to use anything but“ he said” and “she said.”

Speaker tags like “he exclaimed,” “she announced,” and “he spoke vehemently” are distracting and unnecessary.
The occasional “he asked” is fine, though.


The Wrap Up:

Now that I've shared this knowledge with you, why don't you SHARE it with someone else. Comment your thoughts.

Click HERE To Join THE WORDSMITH group On Whatsapp.

I guess you must love the story then. thanks for reading.

For Example

"An Ocean Voyage,
As waves break over the bow,
The sea welcomes me"

What Is Haiku?

The word "Haiku" has two syllables: Hai-ku; the word "introduction" has four syllables: in-tro-duc-tion. "Haiku" is a traditional form of Japanese poetry.

Haiku poems consist of 3 lines. The first and last lines of a Haiku have 5 syllables and the middle line has 7 syllables. The lines rarely rhyme

RAINFALL HAIKU SUBMISSION CALL!!!

From Africa Haiku Network Facebook Post,

Greetings from Africa Haiku Network. We are pleased to announce the commencement of our rain-fall haiku series, where we shall be sharing haiku poems composed on the subject of rainfall. Each haiku will be accompanied by a photograph and featured on a daily basis Facebook.

MUST READ >> 20 FANTASY AND SCIENCE FICTION MAGAZINE THAT PAYS WRITERS

Interested haiku writers are expected to submit a minimum of five haiku to africahaikunetwork@gmail.com with the subject "Rainfall Haiku Submission.” You are free to submit from now till July 14, 2018 being the closing date.


Signed,
The Editorial Board, Africa Haiku Network

TELL ME WHAT YOU THINK ABOUT THE STORY

CHAPTER TEN

She pulled out the knife and plunged it into my stomach once more. I pushed her off me, she hit her head on the table behind and collapsed.

I got up, pulled out the knife slowly. It hurt like hell. 'I've never been stabbed before'. I threw the knife away and tried to stop the bleeding. I could hear the police footsteps upon the stairs.

I looked around, I needed a fast exit then I noticed the wind blew open the window. I walked towards it, Damn! It was a long way down. I'd bled all over the perfectly waxed floor.

How was I gonna get down three storeys? The footsteps grew louder, My heart paced faster. I took a step backwards, was ready to jump. Suddenly I felt a force pull me back.

I staggered and fell flat to the ground. She was holding the knife firmly. I hit her knees and rolled sideways watching her fall upon the knife.

Blood began gushing out like a tap went on. I looked at the door, the door knob twisted.

I drew myself up and raced towards the window, jumping out and landing on a car. The alarm system went off upon my collision.

"Ahh," I groaned, feeling my bones crack as I got off the car and began walking.

I stared up the window. I could see flashlight, Surely the Cops have found her Corpse.
I didn't mean for things to end like that. This was one hell of a love story.
--------------
My name is Daniel, I used to think the world was black and white, now I realize it's filled with shades of Gray.

THE END
Written by Praise Osawaru

Chapter Nine

Until.... It struck me. My wristwatch! Where the hell is my wristwatch?!

I ran into the room, scattering everywhere in Search of it. Then I remembered, I wore it while going to that dick head house.

Shit! It must have fallen off during our struggle.
I began shivering, my thoughts escalating.
'What if the police found my wristwatch?'

They could trace it back to me. Gee, I bleeped up big time.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

- - - - - - -

I paced around for a while, brainstorming as to what actions to take. There was no other option, I couldn't let the police take me to court.

I hurriedly grabbed my travelling bag and began assembling my stuffs inside. I had to flee before she arrived.

I couldn't risk her telling the cops I murdered him. I took my diary from beneath the bed and shoved it in the bag, held it up to shoulders and walked out of the room.

As I opened the door, I found her out front.
"Bleep!" I yelled.
"You scared the crap out of me," I added
"So it was you?" she whimpered.
"Baby I swear I didn't mean to, it was a mistake," I reached for her.

She shoved my hands away. Walking into the living room slowly.
"But you caused it, How could you be sleeping with someone else behind my back?" I. Looked at in the face.
"Does that warrant you to kill him!" she smacked me.
I exhaled and moved closer to her.
"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to," I looked at her gorgeous eyes.

She had tears streaming down her cheeks. I held her face, and slowly pressed my lips against hers.

She pushed my back and brought a knife from her back. She swung it at me,
Slashing my face.

"Ah! I screamed.
"What the hell is wrong with you?"
She reached forward and swung the knife at me again, I moved backward hitting her left arm thus ripping the knife off her hands.

"Stay back I don't want to hurt you," I said.
"It's too late the cops are right outside," she responded.
Bleep! She came at me pushing me off my feet, she grabbed the knife and stabbed me.

I.... I...

TO BE CONTINUED (Here)

Chapter Eight

Shit! I stood there frozen until the next knock drew me back to reality. 'What the...? '
'What do i do?' I asked myself as my heart beat paced faster. I noticed a window in the kitchen.
"Hello, it's your neighbour James. I heard some noise while passing by. Is everything Okay?"
The door knob twisted. Shit! He was bout to come in.

I proceeded to the window and jumped through, landed outside but sprained my ankle in the process.
"Bloody Hell!" James screamed.
I began limping around gradually. Across the street, there was a cop was doing patrol. He flashes his light on me. Probably he noticed I was limping and wanted to know what happened to me.

I, However kept on walking, not looking towards him. He horned, in hopes to get my attention but I turned deaf years nonetheless. Eventually, he drove off.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Immediately I got home, I pulled off my shirt which had blood stains all over. Didn't want her to see it, it's raise suspicion.
Found her asleep at the couch, I didn't wanna wake up so I just walked by slowly, unfortunately her phone rang.
"Uhhh.. " she yawned.
"Hey babe, " I grinned in facade.
"Where Ya been? Wait I have a call."

Clearly looking at the phone, it was a call from "Her Number". But how come? I just murdered him now..
She picked the call however and busted into tears dropping the phone on the floor.
"What happened?" I asked in surprise.
"My uncle just died, The police just called me now to come he body .
Damn! She was an awesome liar. I acted as though I believed her änd she left.

I hurriedly rushed get my previous clothe, the one that got stained with blog. I went backyard, grabbed and set the clothes alit.

'Burn the evidence' I learnt that from many movies I've watched.
A warm smile descended upon my face, in that moment I felt joyous until....

TO BE CONTINUED

Written by Praise Osawaru and Ayomide O'tega

Fantasy and Sci-Fi Magazines are fun to write for.

They publish quite intriguing content for a niche market that understands a whole different world from the general population’s perspective. Writers are encouraged to be innovative and exceptionally imaginative – and this is where the fun happens! Most of the Fantasy and Sci-Fi magazines on our list accept feature-length pieces, so writers can let their imagination roam free.

Here are 24 Fantasy and Sci-Fi paying magazines for you to choose from. Please note that a few of the publications may be closed for submissions at certain times of year. Make a note of when they’re open again and keep trying with your stories and articles.

Note: Want to get paid to write in niches other than the Fantasy and Sci-Fi niches? Be sure to check out our ultimate list of magazines that pay writers.


1. Fantasy & Science Fiction

Pay: 7 – 12 cents per word

Fantasy & Science Fiction publishes material related to fantasy and science fiction. They encourage prospective writers to submit articles of up to 25,000 words in length. They like receiving full manuscripts instead of queries.

Payment is between 7 and 12 cents per word, and is made upon acceptance. Art work is also welcome, but please see guidelines before submitting.

2. Analog

Pay: 10 cents per word

Analog covers content related to science fiction – including novellas. Submissions are judged on merit only, so new writers are welcome to submit work. They prefer writers to send cover letters or queries instead of full manuscripts. Short stories should be between 2,000 and 7,500 words in length.

They pay between 8 to 10 cents per word for stories, and payment is made upon acceptance.

3. Ares Magazine

Pay: 6 cents per word

Ares Magazine seeks to publish content on the following genres: science fiction, fantasy, mythology, horror, alternative history and pulp adventure. They are currently not accepting fiction submissions, but prospective freelancers are welcome to send in art and game designs. This publication likes fiction submissions to be between 4,000 and 10,000 words in length.

Payment is 6 cents per word, paid upon publication. Do check their website for detailed guidelines.

4. [url=asmivos.com]Asimov’s Science Fiction[/url]

Pay: 8 – 10 cents per word

Asimov’s Science Fiction is a widely-distributed publication, dedicated to the science fiction genre. Their call for submissions is for articles no longer than 20,000 words. Asimov’s Science Fiction uses an online submissions system, so please keep this in mind.

They pay between 8 and 10 cents per word for shorter stories of up to 7,500 words.

5. Clarkesworld Magazine

Pay: 10 cents per word

Clarkesworld Magazine covers a variety of topics related to science fiction and fantasy. They are currently accepting art, non-fiction and short stories, and expect articles to be between 1,000 and 16,000 words in length.

Clarkesworld magazine pays 10 cents for the first 5,000 words, and 8 cents from there on. There’s a wealth of information on their site to steer you in the right direction when writing for them, so please read this carefully.

6. GigaNotoSaurus
Pay: $100

GigaNotoSaurus is open to everything related to science fiction and fantasy. This publication accepts articles within the 5,000 and 25,000 words range. They invite prospective writers to send full manuscripts instead of queries.

Payment is $100 per story, paid upon acceptance.

7. InterGalactic Medicine Show

Pay: 6 cents per word

InterGalactic Medicine Show will publish content and art work on science fiction and fantasy. There is no specific word count and submissions are made through an online form. They pay 6 cents per word, upon publication.

Please be familiar with what they publish before submitting work.

8. Kasma Magazine

Pay: 2 cents per word

Kasma Science Fiction magazine covers most topics within the science fiction genre. Kasma’s call for submissions is for articles between 1,000 and 5,000 words in length. This publication pays 2 cents per word, upon publication.

Submission is all done through their website, so do check there for details.

9. Mad Scientist Journal

Pay: $100

Mad Scientist Journal is a widely-distributed publication, covering topics that can be loosely classed as ‘mad science’. They are currently not accepting submissions until Spring. Short fiction should be no more than 8,000 words, while 2,000 words is the limit for flash fiction.

Mad Scientist Journal pays $100 upon publication.

10. Pseudopod

Pay: 6 cents per word

Pseudopod is a genre magazine in audio form, dedicated to horror, dark and weird fiction. They expect short fiction to be no more than 6,000 words in length. Pseudopod invites prospective freelancers to send a cover letter before sending the full manuscript.

Payment is 6 cents per word, paid upon publication. Their submission guidelines are very detailed and specific, so do study these before writing anything.

11. The Drabblecast

Pay: 3 cents per word

The Drabblecast is a weekly podcast, featuring flash fiction from a variety of genres. They encourage writers to submit stories no longer than 4,000 words. Submissions should be made via email.

Payment is 3 cents per word, paid upon publication.

12. Lightspeed Magazine

Pay: 8 cents per word

Lightspeed Magazine publishes material within the science-fiction and fantasy genres. They’re open to stories between 1,500 and 10,000 words in length, but prefer stories of no more than 5,000 words.

Lightspeed Magazine pays 8 cents per word upon publication. They have strict guidelines and formatting, so do heed these when writing for them.

13. FSI Magazine

Pay: 15 cents per word

Fantastic Stories Of the Imagination covers a range of science-fiction and fantasy topics. They’re inviting prospective freelancers to submit original stories of no more than 3,000 words in length. Please send full manuscripts in the first instance.

FSI Magazine pays 15 cents per word – upon publication.

14. Crossed Genres

Pay: 6 cents per word

Crossed Genres publishes any genre of writing, and are not restricted to science fiction and fantasy. They invite writers to submit work between 1,000 and 6,000 words in length. Crossed Genres works with an editorial calendar or a monthly theme. There’s a wealth of information on their site, which you should read before considering submitting anything to them.

They pay 6 cents per word, upon publication.

15. Herioc Fantasy Quarterly

Pay: $100

Heroic Fantasy Quarterly covers a wide range of topics related to heroic fantasy, every three months. This publication has a particular calendar on their website, and they expect prospective freelancers to consult this. They like articles that are no longer than 10,000 words.

Payment is $100 for stories, and is made upon publication.

16. Shimmer Zine

Pay: 5 cents per word

Shimmer Zine is a unique publication that deals with fiction, written from eclectic viewpoints. Their call for submissions is for articles no longer than 7,500 words. Ideally, they like content that are about 4,000 words long.

Their submission guidelines are quite specific, so do study their site before writing anything for them. They pay 5 cents per word, upon publication.

17. Beneath Ceaseless Skies

Pay: 6 cents per word

Beneath Ceaseless Skies is dedicated to literary adventure fantasy. They encourage potential freelancers to submit articles no longer than 10,000 words. They will also accept longer stories – depending on the plot.

Submission guidelines on their site are specific and dense, so please be familiar with what they publish and the types of characters they love before writing. Payment is 6 cents per word, paid upon publication.

18. The Dark Magazine

Pay: 3 cents per word

The Dark Magazine is a monthly publication dedicated to horror and dark fantasy. They are in need of stories from 1,000 to 6,000 words in length. Submissions should be made via email, in a particular format.

This publication pays 3 cents per word, and payment is made upon acceptance.

19. Fiction Vortex

Pay: $300

Fiction Vortex focuses on horror, Sci-Fi, fantasy, supernatural and alternate history stories; converting them into series. They publish content no longer than 3,500 words, and submissions should be made by email. Do check out their guidelines for specific information on how to submit work.

Payment is $300, made upon publication.

20. Waylines Magazine

Pay: 6 cents per word

Waylines Magazine publishes science fiction, horror and fantasy stories. They accept manuscripts between 1,000 and 6,000 words in length. Prospective freelancers are to send the magazine a query with an idea before starting work.

Waylines Magazine pays 6 cents per word, upon publication.

THANK ME LATER

create a PayPal acct bro

plavic:
Wordsmithpraise , I'm interested but i have just payooner.

Opportunity For Writers | Submit To Dwarts Magazine

Dwartonline magazine is seeking submissions to its 6th issue, due to be published in July 2018.
Submissions are open for poetry, fiction, non-fiction, drama, art and photography.
Their reading for Issue 6 will last from April 1 – June 1, 2018.

Its editor Wale Ayinla explained:

"We are looking for original and compelling pieces that touch on great themes that tear and make up the human being. Pieces that break stereotypes and are told with extraordinary confidence will appeal to us more."

Submissions Guidelines For Dwarts Magazine


*.Send your works to dwartsonline@gmail.com.
*.We have interest only in works that have not been published elsewhere.
*.Every submission must be accompanied by the writer’s/artist’s/photographer’s short bio and photo. This should be in the same document as the piece.
*.Please state the category you are submitting to in the Subject line of the email.

For more details, visit DWARTS Magazine

Win $100 In Poetry Inspired Contest

Get ready to win some cash, poetry inspired contest begins now and will end June 30, 2018. Contestants should have Cash App or PayPal account with bank account connected to receive the prize.

Again award will be paid out via digital transfer of funds. You must be OK with your poem being published on our site, credit will be given to you.
This poem must be about the Summer and inspiring as well, all forms of poetrywill be accepted

Poetry Inspired Contest Rules:


1. Pay $5 Entry Fee Below
2. Must HaveCash App orPayPal
3. Must Be Your Original work
5. Poem Should Be About Summer
6. Cannot Be Written Before May 1st
7. All Poems May Be Published At poetryinspired.com

For More Information
CLICK HERE




Win N100,000 In Poetry Slam Competition


The Port Harcourt Literary Society POETRY SLAM COMPETITION

Are you a SPOKEN WORD POET, and you believe you can own the stage in slam contest and emerge winner, then you should apply.

MUST READ>> WHY WRITERS SHOULD HAVE A JOURNAL


PRIZE POETRY SLAM COMPETITION

1ST PRIZE :100, 000
2ND PRIZE : 75, 000
3RD PRIZE : 50, 000

BEST YOUTH PRIZE :25,000

HOW TO ENTER POETRY SLAM COMPETITION


1. Send a 1 or 2 minutes video of your personal performance to literaryevening1@gmail.com
2. Upload the mini version of your entry on Instagram.Use the hashtag #phlsslampoetryTag and follow us at @phls_openmic

SUBMISSION DEADLINE 20th May, 2018

SLAM DATE: 25th May, 2018
SLAM TIME: SLAM starts 2pm

Accreditation: 12 noon
VENUE: PHLS library, G.U Ake, Eliozu,
beside Air Assault Golf Course

Good luck! Thank Me Later.