A happy two-fer

A happy two-fer

Gwynn Scheltema

In an earlier blog this year, I mentioned that I was concentrating on two projects this year. One, was to finish my poetry manuscript and get it published, which includes submitting more poetry to hopefully have more publishing credits to add to my pitch. The other was to steer a wonderful group of like-minded artists and art lovers to present the Northumberland Festival of the Arts (NFOTA) in September 2022.

This week I have the opportunity to further both projects at once. NFOTA has TWO calls for submissions open at the moment, and I’m going to submit. Both are free to submit to. I thought I’d share the details with you so you can submit too, and also ask you to spread the word.

The first call for a one-act play has been open since the fall, and will close on January 31, 2022, but you still have 2 weeks to write a play or to dust off a play you’ve already written and fine-tune it for the call.  

The second call is for an anthology of prose and poetry, Hill Spirits V. The first Hill Spirits Anthology was published by Blue Denim Press in 2012. This edition, the 5th in the series, will be launched at the Northumberland Festival of the Arts. The call area includes Northumberland, and all surrounding counties: Durham, Peterborough, Hastings and Prince Edward. The deadline for submissions is March 31, 2022.

Below are the details taken from the NFOTA website: www.festivalofthearts.ca

One Act Play

Guidelines

The Northumberland Festival of the Arts will present 3 staged readings of one act plays in 3 locations during the festival, scheduled for September 16th to October 2nd, 2022.

The play selection committee is looking for:

  • one act plays between 20 and 40 minutes long
  • never before produced scripts
  • casts of up to 4 interesting characters
  • strong plot
  • convincing conflict, development, and a satisfactory resolution (Is the protagonist challenged, or does the protagonist grow and/or change in some way, over the course of the play?)
  • gratuitous profanity is not advisable

DEADLINE FOR SUBMITTING SCRIPTS: January 31st 2022.

  • Queries can be sent to felicity936@gmail.com 
  • Email scripts to Jessica Outram: jessica@creativitycoaching.ca 
  • Please put NFOTA Play Submission in the subject line.

Thinking about content…

No tragedies at this time—our theme for the festival is: “Celebrating Resilience.”

Will a Northumberland audience see the play’s relevance to our lives now?

How do we keep the audience’s attention? Certainly not by giving them more information but, on the contrary, by withholding information—by withholding all information except that information in the absence of which the progress of the story would become incomprehensible.”—David Mamet in On Directing Film

Hill Spirits V Anthology

Guidelines

Theme

 In support of the Northumberland Festival of the Arts, the inspiring theme for our fifth anthology is “Celebrating Resilience”.

Consider the way a tree bends and flexes during a violent storm or a flower pushes through the pavement of a parking lot. And in the words of this Japanese proverb: “Fall seven times, stand up eight.” Synonyms for resilience include: flexibility, durability, toughness and strength.

If you are reading these words, you have overcome adversity, loss, disappointment, misfortune, heartache and much more. And if you’re a writer, the beginnings of an inspirational story or poem has already begun to tease your grey cells and fire up your neurons.

Who may submit

Residents of the following eastern Ontario counties: Northumberland, Durham, Peterborough, Hastings and Prince Edward.

When to submit

Submit between now and March 31,2022

What to submit

Submit prose and poetry, fiction and nonfiction. Rather than memoir, please use personal narrative. (A personal narrative focuses on an event while a memoir focuses on the author.) 

Material should be original, in English and preferably unpublished. Previously published is only an option if you own the copyright. No excerpts from longer pieces. Although submissions will be edited, please self-edit your submissions.

Writers may submit a maximum of two pieces; and those submissions may be a mix of prose and poetry.

  • Fiction is limited to a maximum of 3000 words per story. 
  • Non-fiction – a maximum of 2500 words.
  • Poetry up to 50 lines including stanza breaks

Preparing your submission

Be sure to edit your submission – aim for publication ready.

Formatting:

  • typed and double-spaced (EXCEPT POETRY)
  • 12 point font  Times New Roman
  • minimum 1” margins on all sides
  • insert header with name/one word from title/page number

Sending your submission

All work should be submitted as attachments by email to hillspiritsv@gmail.com with the subject heading on the email:  Anthology 2022 (Your Name)

In the body of the email, include: your full name (or pseudonym if applicable), the title(s) of the piece(s) and a press-ready bio [max 50 words]. Do not attach this information in a separate file.

Attach submission pieces as separate documents to a single email in MSWord (PC or Apple platform) saved as .RTF or .DOC or DOCX .

Submitting Cover Art

We are accepting submissions for cover art. Images of (photographs, paintings, drawings, etc.) must be at least 300dpi, apply to both front and back covers and relate to the theme – Celebrating Resilience. Email Anthology 2022 cover art to  hillspiritsv@gmail.com

Author Copies and Copyright

Copyright remains with the author.

Each contributor may buy copies of the anthology at a discounted author rate.

The launch will be held as part of the Northumberland Festival of the Arts (NFOTA) in September 2022.

Simultaneous Submissions

Are accepted, provided that you identify them as such and agree to notify us immediately if a piece has been accepted elsewhere.

Acceptance

If your work is accepted, we will contact you by April 30, 2022 at the email address you provide.  

Any questions?

Email hillspiritsv@gmail.com  and put QUERY ANTHOLOGY 22 in the subject line.

Last Word

So, there you have it. Two chances to submit your work for free. Two ways to support the arts in this region. Two ways to support your own writing journey. And two ways to help me with my projects. It’s a win-win all around.

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One thought on “A happy two-fer

  1. Thanks Gwynn. I’ve shared with a few writing friends and fingers crossed for them. These are great opportunities to publish and to have a play produced. Good luck to NFOTA and to a successful Festival of the Arts.

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