Virtual Writers, Inc.

How do I join the live event in Second Life®?

admin — Fri, 11 May 2012 14:29:25 +0000

How do I join the live event in Second Life^®?

You will first need to join Second Life^® through the Second Life^® website. Go to http://www.secondlife.com to start the process. It’s free to join.

Click on the JOIN NOW button and this will take you to the Registration screen. Here you simply fill in your personal details and choose a name and look for your avatar. Don’t worry too much about your avatar’s appearance as there will be plenty of opportunity to tweak it once you are inworld.

Once you have completed your Registration, you’ll be asked to download and install the Second Life^® viewer to your computer. You will then be taken to a screen that allows you to choose which community gateway to enter. This is important as we want you to go through as smooth a transition as possible. Please choose the Caledon (Victorian Steampunk) Community Gateway. Once you have chosen the gateway you will find yourself appearing inworld at the University of Oxbridge in Caledon. Now begins your brief induction.

Follow the signs and read the information boards as you come to them. There is also a brief Second Life^® tutorial provided on screen. Try and absorb as much information as possible but be mindful that you can always return to Caledon at a later date if there is something you feel you missed. At the very least try and understand the most important concepts such as how to move, how to talk and your camera controls.

Once you have completed the Orientation Tutorial you will need to find your way to Milk Wood. This is the sim that is home to Virtual Writers, Inc. At the bottom of your screen you will see a search tab. Click on this and look for Milk Wood. Now the teleporting fun begins. Click on ‘Teleport’ and you will be moved from your present location to our welcome area. Make sure you save the landmark so that you can easily return there.

We look forward to meeting you at one of our various daily writing events. Don’t forget to click on one of the group joiners so you can stay abreast of happenings in the writing community. You can also join Virtual Writers, Inc. through the search facility. Simply put Virtual Writers, Inc. under group search, click on the group name to bring up the profile screen. Then click ‘View Full Profile’ followed by ‘Join’.

What is the Competitive Dash?

admin — Fri, 11 May 2012 14:25:01 +0000

What is ‘The Competitive Dash’?

The Competitive Dash, an adjunct to the Daily Writers’ Dash, uses anonymous peer review through an online poll to find the most outstanding poem, flash piece or short story each month. The winning piece is then displayed in the Winners Wall of Fame.

The competition is open to all ages and nationalities, although entries must be written in English.

The winner will receive L$2,500 (Second Life® currency) or a $10 Amazon gift voucher and publication on the website on our Winners Wall of Fame.

Deadline for submissions is midnight (PST) on the 27th of each month. We accept only one entry per person per picture prompt or a total of 4 daily dash entries.

Public vote begins midnight (PST) on the 28th of each month and ends midnight of the 4th. Winners will be notified by the 7th.

Writer retains copyright, however, we reserve the right to republish winning work, whole or in part, in future electronic and/or print editions or anthologies.

Send your submissions for next month to andrea@virtualwritersinc.com

Please read our general submission guidelines here.

What is a writers’ dash?

admin — Fri, 11 May 2012 14:12:47 +0000

I found #writersdash/#dailydash on Twitter, what is it?

The Writers’ Dash (#writersdash or #dailydash on Twitter) is a 15-minute free writing exercise held on Twitter, Facebook and Second Life^® every weekday. At 5:30am PST we share the word prompt on our social media channels; the live event begins in Second Life^® at 6am PST. Write whatever comes to you. Don’t fixate too heavily on what you are writing and disengage your inner editor – the key is for you to get the words on the page first; you can worry about editing later. If you are attending the live event in Second Life^® there will be an opportunity for you to show your work to the other participants after the 15 minutes are up.

Do I have to do the Writers’ Dash in Second Life^®?

No, you can do it at home, if you prefer. We share the prompt word at 5:30am PST on Twitter and Facebook and start the timer in Second Life^® at 6am PST.

How do I join the live event in Second Life^®?

You will first need to join Second Life^® through the Second Life^® website. Go to http://www.secondlife.com to start the process. It’s free to join.

What is ‘The Competitive Dash’?

The competition is open to all ages and nationalities, although entries must be written in English.

The winner will receive L$2,500 (Second Life® currency) or a $10 Amazon gift voucher and publication on the website on our Winners Wall of Fame.

Deadline for submissions is midnight (PST) on the 27th of each month. We accept only one entry per person per picture prompt or a total of 4 daily dash entries.

Public vote begins midnight (PST) on the 28th of each month and ends midnight of the 4th. Winners will be notified by the 7th.

Writer retains copyright, however, we reserve the right to republish winning work, whole or in part, in future electronic and/or print editions or anthologies.

Send your submissions for next month to andrea@virtualwritersinc.com

Please read our general submission guidelines here.

What is Virtual Writers, Inc?

Virtual Writers, Inc. is an online writing community that furnishes both the professional and beginning writer with opportunities to meet other writers, share resources, learn about jobs, news and new writing markets, and showcase their work in a distinctive way. We are unique in that we have a fully functional 3d sim in Second Life® where daily writing events, such as word wars and dashes, author meet and greets, poetry open mics and book readings are held. We provide the writer with an exciting way to meet other writers in an inclusive and friendly environment.

The Early Bird Gathers the Worm: Feb/Mar Writing Competitions

admin — Thu, 16 Feb 2012 22:39:26 +0000

The following list consists of links to submission calendars for UK and International writing competitions. These links will be regularly updated.

Please note that none have been verified by Virtual Writers, Inc. and we can, therefore, take no responsibility for them. You are advised to research heavily before applying.

If you can recommend any good competitions we are anxious to hear about them. Just email us through our online contact form and provide full links. Many thanks.

February 2012

1st February, 2012 – Countryside Article Competition

4th February, 2012 – The Imison Award

21st February, 2012 – Norwich Writers’ Circle 41st Annual Open Poetry Competition

28th February, 2012 – Emerald Writing Workshops Flash Fiction

28th February, 2012 – Straid Collection Award 2012

29th February, 2012 – Kelpies Prize

29th February, 2012 – Chapter One Novel Competition

TBC, February, 2012 – Crime Writers Association Debut Dagger Award

March 2012

2nd March 2012 – Cardiff International Poetry Competition

5th March 2012 – Windsor Fringe Kenneth Branagh Award for New Drama 2012

10th March 2012 – Northern Writers’ Awards

19th March 2012 – Mslexia Women’s Short Story Competition

20th March 2012 – Fish Prize for Flash Fiction

30th March 2012 – Calderdale Short Story Competition

30th March 2012 – Fish Prize for Poetry

30th March 2012 – Rider Haggard Short Story Competition

21st March 2012 – The Academy of Children’s Writers Write a Story for Children Competition

31st March 2012 – Crystal Magazine Children’s Story Competition

31st March 2012 – Dark Tales Short Story Competition (see entry at December 2011)

31st March 2012 – Exeter Writers Short Story Competition 2012

31st March 2012 – MAG Poetry Prize 2012

March TBC – Michael Marks Award for Poetry Pamphlets

Galaxy Award Books of the Year: 2011

admin — Wed, 04 Jan 2012 13:29:21 +0000

Audible.co.uk Audiobook of the Year

Winner: My Dear I Wanted to Tell You Louisa Young (HCAudio). Shortlisted: Any Human Heart William Boyd, narrator Mike Grady, Before I Go To Sleep S J Watson, narrator Susannah Harker, My Dear I Wanted to Tell You Louisa Young, narrator Dan Stevens, My Sister Lives on the Mantelpiece Annabel Pitcher, narrator David Tennant, Snowdrops A.D. Miller, narrator Kevin Howarth, The Player Of Games Iain M. Banks, narrator Peter Kenny.
Specsavers Popular Fiction Book of the Year

Winner: A Tiny Bit Marvelous Dawn French (Penguin). Shortlisted: A Tiny Bit Marvellous Dawn French, Daughters-in-Law Joanna Trollope, Gillespie and I Jane Harris, My Last Duchess Daisy Goodwin, Snuff Terry Pratchett, The Radleys Matt Haig.
Crime & Thriller of the Year

Winner: Before I Go To sleep S J Watson (Doubleday). Shortlisted: Before I Go To Sleep S.J. Watson, The Fear Index Robert Harris, Heartstone C J Sansom, The Family Martina Cole, The Impossible Dead Ian Rankin, Trick Of The Dark Val McDermid.
More4 Popular Non-Fiction Book of the Year

Winner: How To Be a Woman Caitlin Moran (Ebury). Shortlisted: A History of the World in 100 Objects Neil MacGregor, How To Be a Woman Caitlin Moran, Madeleine Kate McCann, Map of a Nation Rachel Hewitt, The Good, The Bad and The Multiplex Mark Kermode, Wonders of the Universe Brian Cox.
Galaxy New Writer of the Year

Winner: When God was a Rabbit Sarah Winman (Headline). Shortlisted: Before I Go To Sleep S.J. Watson, Grace Williams Says it Loud Emma Henderson, Pigeon English Stephen Kelman, Rivers of London Ben Aaronovitch, Snowdrops A.D. Miller, When God was a Rabbit Sarah Winman.
National book Tokens Children’s Book of the Year

Winner: A Monster Calls Patrick Ness (Walker). Shortlisted: A Monster Calls Patrick Ness, Dead Man’s Cove Lauren St John, My Sister Lives on the Mantelpiece Annabel Pitcher, One Dog and His Boy Eva Ibbotson, Stuck Oliver Jeffers, The Highway Rat Julia Donaldson illus. Axel Scheffler.
Food & Drink Book of the Year

Winner: The Good Cook Simon Hopkinson (BBC Books). Shortlisted: Home Cooking Made Easy Lorraine Pascale, Jamie’s Great Britain Jamie Oliver, Made in Sicily Giorgio Locatelli, Rick Stein’s Spain Rick Stein, The Good Cook Simon Hopkinson, The Vintage Tea Party Angel Adoree.
The Telegraph Biography of the Year

Winner: Charles Dickens Claire Tomalin (Viking). Shortlisted: Charles Dickens Claire Tomalin, The Genius in My Basement Alexander Masters, Hitch 22 Christopher Hitchens, Life Keith Richards, Mud, Sweat and Tears Bear Grylls, Red Dust Road Jackie Kay.
International Author of the Year

Winner: A Visit From the Goon Squad Jennifer Egan (Corsair). Shortlisted: A Visit From the Goon Squad Jennifer Egan, 1Q84 Haruki Murakami, The Night Circus Erin Morgenstern, On Canaan’s Side Sebastian Barry, The Leopard Jo Nesbo, The Tiger’s Wife Téa Obreht.
Waterstone’s UK Author of the Year

Winner: The Stranger’s Child Alan Hollinghurst (Picador). Shortlisted: The Sense Of An Ending Julian Barnes, Jamrach’s Menagerie Carol Birch, The Bees Carol Ann Duffy, The House of Silk Anthony Horowitz, The Long Song Andrea Levy, The Stranger’s Child Alan Hollinghurst.
WH Smith Paperback of the Year

Winner: Room Emma Donoghue (Picador). Shortlisted: Room Emma Donoghue, The Brightest Star in the Sky Marian Keyes, The Postmistress Sarah Blake, The Red Queen Philippa Gregory, When God was a Rabbit Sarah Winman, You’re Next Gregg Hurwitz.

The Early Bird Catches the Worm: December Writing Competitions

admin — Tue, 29 Nov 2011 22:21:55 +0000

The following list consists of links to submission calendars for UK and International writing competitions. These links will be regularly updated.

Please note that none have been verified by Virtual Writers, Inc. and we can, therefore, take no responsibility for them. You are advised to research heavily before applying.

If you can recommend any good competitions we are anxious to hear about them. Just email us through our online contact form and provide full links. Many thanks.

December

1st December, 2011 – The Anthony Hecht Poetry Prize

31st December, 2011 – Dark Tales Short Story Competition

31st December, 2011 – Fellows’ Poetry Prize

31st December, 2011 – Local Poem Competition

31st December, 2011 – Longworth Editors Short Story Competition

31st December, 2011 – Red Telephone Young Adult Novel Competition

31st December, 2011 – Walkopedia Travel Writing Competition

31st December, 2011 – Writers Bureau Annual Poetry Competition

31st December, 2011 – Writers’ Village Best Writing Award

Book Publishers A-Z

admin — Fri, 18 Nov 2011 21:24:23 +0000

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Yale University Press

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The Early Bird Catches the Worm: November Writing Competitions

admin — Mon, 17 Oct 2011 14:17:47 +0000

The following list consists of links to submission calendars for UK and International writing competitions. These links will be regularly updated.

Please note that none have been verified by Virtual Writers, Inc. and we can, therefore, take no responsibility for them. You are advised to research heavily before applying.

If you can recommend any good competitions we are anxious to hear about them. Just email us through our online contact form and provide full links. Many thanks.

November

1st November, 2011 – Second Light Poetry Competition for Short and Long Poems

10th November, 2011 – Yorkshire Open Poetry Competition, 32 Spey Bank, Yorkshire, YO24 2UZ

14th November, 2011 – Iota Shots Poetry Pamphlet Awards

15th November, 2011 – Countryside Tales Winter Poetry Competition

18th November, 2011 – Bedford Open Poetry Competition

29th November, 2011 – Poetry Business Book & Pamphlet Competition

30th November, 2011 – Cafe Writers Open Poetry Competition

30th November, 2011 – Chapter One Children’s Book Competition

30th November, 2011 – Cinnamon Press Writing Awards

30th November, 2011 – Fish Prize for Short Stories

30th November, 2011 – International Aeon Award Short Fiction Contest

30th November, 2011 – Leaf Books First Chapter Competition

30th November, 2011 – Inktears Short Story Competition

30th November, 2011 – Magma 50th Issue Poetry Competition

30th November, 2011 – Mary Gornall Memorial Short Story Competition

30th November, 2011 – The New Writer Prose and Poetry Prizes

30th November, 2011 – The Plough Prize

30th November, 2011 – St. Andrews Day Short Story Competition

30th November, 2011 – Betty Trask Prize and Awards

General Writing Competitions (International, US and UK)

admin — Mon, 17 Oct 2011 14:10:59 +0000

The following list consists of links to submission calendars for UK and International writing competitions. These links will be regularly updated.

Please note that none have been verified by Virtual Writers, Inc. and we can, therefore, take no responsibility for them. You are advised to research heavily before applying.

If you can recommend any good competitions we are anxious to hear about them. Just email us through our online contact form and provide full links. Many thanks.

General Writing Competitions

UK Short Story Competitions

Prize Magic’s List of UK Writing Competitions

National Literary Trust

Ask About Writing

Sally Quilford’s Writing Calendar

The Bridport Prize

University of East Anglia

University of New Orleans

Japan-United Status Friendship Commission

The Madison Review

International Writing Competitions

3-Day Novel Contest

Rockway Press

Writer’s Digest

International Songwriting Competition

The UK Songwriting Contest

Sentinel Literary Quarterly

Stanford University Press

Salem College

US Contests

Bronx Council on the Arts

Massachusetts Cultural Council

The Poetry Center of Chicago

The Chattahoochee Review

Glimmer Train Press

Goeth-Institut Chicago

Iowa Review

Main Street Rag

The Ohio State University Press

Southern Illinois University

Workshops

Writers’ Digest Online Webinars

The Early Bird Catches the Worm: October Writing Competitions

admin — Thu, 13 Oct 2011 15:43:33 +0000

The following list consists of links to submission calendars for UK and International writing competitions. These links will be regularly updated.

Please note that none have been verified by Virtual Writers, Inc. and we can, therefore, take no responsibility for them. You are advised to research heavily before applying.

If you can recommend any good competitions we are anxious to hear about them. Just email us through our online contact form and provide full links. Many thanks.

October

1st October, 2011 – Spilling Ink Fiction Prize

10th October, 2011 – TRYangle Project Competitions

15th October, 2011 – Hastings International Poetry Competition

15th October, 2011 – Sentinel Annual Poetry Competition

17th October, 2011 – Troubadour International Poetry Prize

30th October, 2011 – Fiction Garden International Ghost Story Competition

28th October, 2011 – Write a Story for Bedtime Competition

31st October, 2011 – Chapter One Children’s Story Competition

Quarterly Competition – Debut Quarterly Competition

31st October, 2011 – Earlyworks Press Short Story Competition

31st October, 2011 – Chapter One Young Illustrator’s Competition