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Valkyrie

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  1. Valkyrie

    Prompt or Anthology Story? Why not both!

    By Valkyrie,


    Anthologies
    Having trouble coming up with a story idea for the anthology?  Then consider checking out some writing prompts.  There are many sources of writing prompts.  I have a whole box of prompt materials in a box in a cabinet. I've gotten them from a variety of places - Amazon, book stores, or as gifts.  When I get stuck, pulling out some of these materials is a great way to get the muse started again.  GA also has a vast repository of prompt ideas from Comicfan's prompts to the current Prompt Team prompts.  You can check them out here by clicking on the Prompt tag:
    Guidelines for the current anthology can be found here: 
     
  2. Valkyrie

    Last Minute Prompts

    By Valkyrie,


    Prompts
    I am the Queen of Procrastination.  I tend to work best under pressure; sometimes I need a deadline in order to get anything accomplished.  Sometimes I leave things to the last minute because I have no choice.  I have so much on my plate, I need to prioritize what needs to be done first.  Kind of like a triage of my schedule.  I do this at work all the time, since I am the only person currently in my department (not from lack of trying to get more help, but that's a completely different topic). Fitting people in for emergency assessment when my schedule barely allows me time for lunch is an art form.  Or an exercise in futility.  Sometimes both.    Anyway, I am writing this blog right before I need to publish it, so I thought procrastination would make a great theme for some prompts.  
     
    PT Prompt #165 
    You have a presentation due at work tomorrow for an idea that could revolutionize the company you work for.  It's 9:00 pm and you haven't even started it yet.  Why haven't you started it and what is the outcome the next day?  
    PT Prompt #166
    Your best friend has set you up on a blind date.  You are a chronically late person and get to the restaurant a half hour late.  What happens when you arrive? 
     
    Reminder:  We welcome guest prompts, so if you have an idea for a prompt, please send it to me, @Aditus, or @Cole Matthews and we'll be sure to feature it in a future blog. 
    Please include the prompt number either in your story/chapter description or title to help readers who would like to search for specific prompts. Also, please remember that stories less than one thousand words must be posted as part of a collection
    If you check the subgenre 'prompt' in your story tags, then people/readers can find everything here:
    https://gayauthors.org/stories/browse/subgenre/prompt/
  3. Valkyrie

    It's Not too Late!

    By Valkyrie,


    Anthologies
    Thank you to all who have submitted stories for the Leap of Faith anthology so far!  Keep 'em comin'! There's still time to get a story written and sent to the anthology Proof Team.  Remember that stories can have a tangential link to the theme; they don't need to hit us over the head with it.  I will be spending this weekend working on my story   Now get writing! 😁

     
     
  4. Valkyrie

    Anthology 101 - Revisited

    By Valkyrie,


    Anthologies
    The submission date for anthology stories to the proof team is fast approaching.  The proof team is already hard at work putting the finishing touches on several exciting anthology submissions.  It's not too late to start writing, especially if you're like me and have to wait till the last minute to do anything!  I thought it would be a good idea to re-feature the anthology guidelines and the anthology 101 FAQ.  Please feel free to ask here, in the anthology forum, or send me a PM if you need anything clarified or have any further questions.  Now I better get writing, especially if I want to get two stories written! 
     
  5. Valkyrie

    Once in a Blue Moon

    By Valkyrie,


    Prompts
    This month a rare astronomical occurrence is taking place... a blue moon!  Not only is it a blue moon, but also a supermoon.  So what is a blue moon?  While it is possible for the moon to appear blue under certain conditions, a blue moon is actually an extra full moon that occurs within a season.  Generally two full moons in one month.  A supermoon happens when the moon is close to earth and appears larger than normal.  Now that we're all educated on lunar occurrences, let's go howl at the moon and see what inspiration this week's prompts stir up.  

     
    PT Prompt #159:
    You work in retail and your boss has the brilliant idea to run a "midnight madness" sale on the night of the blue supermoon.  What craziness, if any, happens?  
     
    PT Prompt #160:
    You are taking a walk in a local park when a naked man runs up to you, snarling and wild-eyed, and bites you on the arm, drawing blood.  He grins at you and tells you that he's a werewolf, and you will be too when the next full moon rises, then he runs off, howling.  You're more worried about diseases than actually turning into a wolf.  What happens when the next full moon rises? 
     
    Please include the prompt number either in your story/chapter description or title to help readers who would like to search for specific prompts. Also, please remember that stories less than one thousand words must be posted as part of a collection
    If you check the subgenre 'prompt' in your story tags, then people/readers can find everything here:
    https://gayauthors.org/stories/browse/subgenre/prompt/
  6. Valkyrie
    The submission date for the Secret Author contest is rapidly approaching, so hopefully everyone is putting the finishing touches on their Secret Author stories and getting them over to Cia.  In the meantime, I have finalized the guidelines for this year's anthology - Leap of Faith.  There have been some changes, so make sure you read them over and let me know if there are any questions.  Let's see if we can beat last year's number of participants! 
     
    2023 Anthology  - Due: October 1, 2023
    2023 Theme is "Leap of Faith”
    Feel free to interpret the theme in any way you want. The anthologies are not exclusive, but inclusive, so don't worry if you think your entry has only a tangential link to the theme. If you are inspired, then write a short story, poem, or play!
    Please read these submission guidelines carefully.
    You may address these themes in any style or genre you choose. Be creative! However, please note this is an anthology of short stories. By definition, a short story must stand alone and not require reading a prior story. It therefore cannot be a chapter in a serial.
    Who may participate:
     Everyone is welcome and encouraged to participate. However, you must be a member here at GA with author or poet status (which is free and can be purchased through the Activities tab: Store link).  Please RSVP to the 2023 Anthology – Leap of Faith event (can be found by accessing the activity tab, then events) to receive reminders and also to give the anthology team an idea of number of participants.
    Submission Guidelines
    Submission Date: October 1, 2023
    Please Note: Submission date is for submission to the Anthology Proof Team.
    Non-Poetry
    No Story Limit: Each story submitted must meet quality and editing guidelines. Each story posted as its own submission Minimum word count per story: 1,000 Maximum word count per story: 25,000 Poetry
    Unlimited number of poems, up to 10,000 words total Posted as a single submission (a collection)  
    Submission Procedure *Please read carefully*
    Once your story is complete and has gone through your beta and editing team, please complete the following steps:
    Contact @Valkyrie via PM. Include in the PM the following information: Title, original editor, genre, synopsis, word count, and excerpt in the body of the PM. Attach your story file as a Word document.  Please send as a .doc or .docx if possible.  We have had issues with .odt documents.  You will be paired with a proofreader from the Anthology Proof Team who will perform a final proof for the anthology and return the file to you. *Please Note: Prior editing required before submission.* Once you receive your proofed file, complete your edits and submit your story into the GA Stories Archive. For help, please read How do I upload my anthology entry into GA Stories? o   Make sure the story stays unpublished (DO NOT click on either the publish or publish now buttons for the story itself or later when adding a chapter/chapters.)
    Select “Fiction” as the category. It will be moved later by staff.  A maximum of four chapters may be included, but submitting the story as one chapter is highly preferred. Due to site limitations, if there are multiple chapters submitted, one chapter will post every 24 hours. This is not something we can change. When submitting multiple chapters, DO NOT SET A DATE for the ‘story’ or the chapters.  Site staff will set the dates for you once they are moved to the anthology category. The ‘story’ and first chapter will publish on the anthology release date, and subsequently, additional chapters will post every 24 hours after that.  Not following this guideline results in a LOT of extra work for staff, and you will risk your story not being included in the anthology. Mark your story status as COMPLETE. Only completed stories are allowed in the anthologies Please note that once you submit a story it will NOT show up in your list of stories until the anthology has gone live. Copy the URL for your story (not a chapter page) and paste it in the announcement thread in the Writer’s Circle so your submission may be checked to ensure it meets submission guidelines and is moved to the anthology category.  ***Please do a visual check of your story once it has been uploaded to ensure that it posted correctly. If it did not, contact @Cia or @Valkyrie.  

    IMPORTANT: Please DO NOT do ANYTHING with your story once it has been submitted to the anthology. We lock edits to anthologies, but we can only lock so much and making ANY changes can cause issues with the system. If there is something with your story that absolutely needs fixed, added, etc, PLEASE contact @Cia or @Valkyrie. Thank you!
    Extensions
    Occasionally things happen that prevent an author from meeting the deadline. If you need an extension, contact Valkyrie before the deadline (not the day of or after), and something may be able to be worked out.  If you have NOT made arrangements prior to the deadline, your anthology story will not be included. You are welcome to post your story independently and include a story note stating it was originally meant to be part of the anthology.
    Story Titles
    Please do not use the anthology themes or your GA Username as a title. Be as original as you can. In case of duplicate titles within the anthology, we will request that titles be changed.
    Unacceptable entries & Content Warnings
    Entries that are obviously unedited (containing many errors) or that violate site guidelines will be either declined or changes may be requested as a condition of entry. For information on what is considered to be unacceptable, please see the Story Content Rules FAQ. 
    Please include a Content Warning in the story notes if your story contains sensitive content, e.g.: abuse-physical, mental, sexual, extreme violence, taboo topics, etc.... 
    Previously posted stories (whether at GA or elsewhere) are not eligible for inclusion into the GA anthologies.
    Editing
    All entries MUST be edited prior to being sent to the Anthology Proof Team. If you need an editor, please visit the Editors section of the Writer’s Club to request one.  Please make sure to follow the guidelines when requesting an editor.  The proof team is under no obligation to provide a proofread of a story until it has been edited. Proofreads should take no more than 72 hours once you have been paired with a proofreader. If you have not received your story back within 72 hours, please contact Valkyrie via PM. If you send your stories in within the last 48 hours of the deadline, you have 48 hours after receiving it back to upload it in order for it to be included in the Anthology.
    Copyright
    As with all content in GA Stories, the rights remain with the individual authors. Your story will post with a simple 2023 copyright notice, using your GA user display name. If you have another preference (for example, a different name, or a Creative Commons license, or specific copyright wording you'd like to use), please include that with your submission.
    However, with this anthology, by submitting your story, you are giving GayAuthors.org first worldwide rights with 14 days exclusivity. What that means is you are giving GayAuthors.org permission to archive your story on its website, distribute it via RSS, kindle, iphone, ipad, eyeball… and you agree not to publish it anywhere else for two weeks.
    If you later decide to post your story at another site, please mention at the beginning or end of the story that it was first published as part of the 2023 Gay Authors Leap of Faith Anthology and include a link back to GA if possible.
    If you have any questions, please post them in the Anthology Forum.
  7. Valkyrie

    Let's Get to Work!

    By Valkyrie,


    Prompts
    I think most working people are well-acquainted with the "meeting that should have been an email".  I had to attend a two-hour training today that was more interesting than others I've attended, but was still time I could have used to catch up on my endless backlog of paperwork.  So this week's prompts have a "working" theme.  Now get to work and start writing! 

     
    PT Prompt #151
    You are in the "meeting to end all meetings".  It's lasting for hours, and it's information that could have been easily conveyed in an email.  The speaker has a monotone voice and is droning on and on and finally lulls you to sleep.  The next thing you know, you're being shaken awake.  Who is shaking you and why?  What happens next? 
    PT Prompt #152
    On the first day of your new job, you are the direct reason your boss (who has been with the company for 20 years) gets fired. What happened, and how do your coworkers react?  
     
    Please include the prompt number either in your story/chapter description or title to help readers who would like to search for specific prompts. Also, please remember that stories less than one thousand words must be posted as part of a collection
    If you check the subgenre 'prompt' in your story tags, then people/readers can find everything here:
    https://gayauthors.org/stories/browse/subgenre/prompt/
  8. Valkyrie

    Do You Want to Know a Secret?

    By Valkyrie,


    Prompts
    Psst… I have a secret….
    Few things grab our attention more than knowing a good (or not so good) secret. Secrets add suspense and tension to stories, and are great ways to sprinkle in conflict. 
    I know something you don’t know…  How many of you heard this from your siblings as kid?

     
     
    Secrets can be benign or life-shattering.  They are mysterious, dramatic, and powerful. Secrets shape our lives and can be a great tool for character development.  Revealing a secret?  Plot twist!

     
    Since ‘secret’ is the theme of the month, with our Secret Author contest stories being revealed daily, I thought it would be fun to feature some not-so-secret prompts.  Well, as far as who writes them, anyway.  The prompts themselves will be full of secrets.  So write away… and shhhhh…  
     
    PT Prompt #145
    Create your own secret society.  What’s its mission statement and purpose? Who are its members?  Where do you meet? 
     
    PT Prompt #146
    Center your story around a secret that, when revealed, would destroy one person’s life while saving another’s. 
  9. Valkyrie

    One Line Wonders

    By Valkyrie,


    Prompts
    Here's part two of my language learning app prompts.  I wasn't going to do more of these, but after reading @wildone's take on PT Prompt #134, I had to after seeing another lesson mention underwear.  
    PT Prompt #141 - First line
    "No, you aren't allowed to put on my underwear."
    PT Prompt #142 - First line 
    "Your dad always steals my sausages." 
     
    Check out Wildone's response to PT Prompt #134 here.  Maybe we can encourage him to write a sequel! 
     
     
     
    Please include the prompt number either in your story/chapter description or title to help readers who would like to search for specific prompts. Also, please remember that stories less than one thousand words must be posted as part of a collection
    If you check the subgenre 'prompt' in your story tags, then people/readers can find everything here:
    https://gayauthors.org/stories/browse/subgenre/prompt/
  10. Valkyrie
    The next in our series of Secret Author contests centered around Halloween.  I don't recommend reading these in the dark though.  Or alone...   

    Link to stories:
    https://gayauthors.org/stories/browse/category/117-2017-halloween/
     
    There's still time to work on entries for the current contest, but the deadline is fast approaching!  Information can be found here:
     
     
  11. Valkyrie
    2017 brought us the next edition of the GA secret author series, and that's no joke!  Even though it's June first, not April first, check out the ten stories in the April Fool's contest here:  
    https://gayauthors.org/stories/browse/category/89-2017-april-fools/
     
    Information on the current secret author contest can be found here: 
     
  12. Valkyrie
    It's time to revisit the next of our past secret author contests.  Here are 13 stories from 2016's Secret Admirer contest.  Be sure to check out @Cole Matthews winning story Jager.  IMO, it's one of the best stories on the site.  
    Link to Secret Admirer stories: 
    https://gayauthors.org/stories/browse/?filter_categories=82&
     
    It's not too late to start writing your own secret author story for this year's contest!  @Cia has received one story already, so let's keep working on those entries!
     
  13. Valkyrie

    Whose Line is it Anyway?

    By Valkyrie,


    Prompts
    I just hit a 1000 day learning streak on the language app I'm using to learn German (it will be 1006 today), and came across a couple of sentences I thought were perfect for first line prompts.  
     
    PT Prompt #133 - First line
    "What are you cooking, and why does it stink?"
     
    PT Prompt #134 - First line
    "Why is your underwear in the swimming pool?"
     
    Please include the prompt number either in your story/chapter description or title to help readers who would like to search for specific prompts. Also, please remember that stories less than one thousand words must be posted as part of a collection
    If you check the subgenre 'prompt' in your story tags, then people/readers can find everything here:
    https://gayauthors.org/stories/browse/subgenre/prompt/
  14. Valkyrie
    In 2015, GA offered the first of a series of secret author contests, Secret Santa.  I thought revisiting this contest would be great for inspiration for our latest secret author contest.  There were 21 stories submitted for the Secret Santa contest... can we beat that number for our "secret" secret author contest?  
    Link to all Secret Santa stories:
    https://gayauthors.org/stories/browse/?filter_categories=80&
     
    Information about the current contest:
     
  15. Valkyrie
    Now that our awesome poetry anthology has wrapped up, it's time to take a look at what's coming up next.
    Submissions for the Secret Story Contest are due to Cia by July 1st.  More information can be found here:
    Submissions for the Leap of Faith anthology are due to the proof team by October 1st.   I am working on updating the guidelines and will post them soon.  In the meantime, get started on those secret author stories!  Just don't tell us about it   

  16. Valkyrie
    I'd like to say a heartfelt thank you to everyone who helped make the return of the GA Poetry Anthology a huge success!  We had 14 poetry submissions to read, all of which are linked to below.  If you haven't already, I highly recommend checking them out and leaving our site poets a comment, reaction, review, recommendation, or all of the above!  Based on the reception of this year's anthology, I think it's safe to say it will be back again next year.  So thank you, site poets for your incredible contributions, and thank you, site readers for supporting our poets with so many lovely comments and reviews! 
    Putting together GA anthologies is very much a team effort, so I would also like to thank everyone who worked behind the scenes to make this anthology possible. 
    Anthology Coordinator
    Valkyrie
    Tech Support
    Myr
    Cia
    Proof Team
    Parker Owens
    Valkyrie 
    Anthology Banner Creation
    Cia 
     
     
     
  17. Valkyrie

    Dessert Prompts - Part 2

    By Valkyrie,


    Prompts
    We had a request for more dessert prompts, so here is part two of deliciousness or disaster!

    PT Prompt #127
    A line cook at a Michelin starred restaurant is cooking the pastry chef’s signature dessert and accidentally spills something into it.  The dessert was meant for a table celebrating their anniversary; however, it is sent instead to an undercover food critic notorious for destroying restaurants’ reputations.  What was spilt, and what is the outcome?
     
    PT Prompt #128
    Describe your favorite dessert without explicitly stating what it is.  Use all five senses. 
  18. Valkyrie

    National Poetry Month - Anthology

    By Valkyrie,


    Anthology
    April first is an important date for a couple of reasons - and it's no April Fool's joke!  April 1st is the deadline to submit poetry to the 2023 Poetry Anthology - Exploration.   It is also the start of National Poetry Month.  I chose April to feature the poetry anthology for this specific reason.  What better way to celebrate this writing form?  There is an annual challenge as part of National Poetry Month, and that is National Poetry Writing Month (NaPoWriMo).  The challenge is to write one poem per day (or thirty poems total) during the month of April.  They don't have to be masterpieces; the important thing is to simply write!  It's a great way to try out new forms - check out the Poetry Writers' Club for prompts and feedback - or even to try writing poetry for the first time!   Let's feature poetry prominently in the story updates and weekly wrap-up!  Who's in?  
     
     
  19. Valkyrie

    One More Week!

    By Valkyrie,


    Anthology
    Well, a week and a half   It looks like we have a great turnout so far for the poetry anthology! Let's keep those submissions coming in!  There's still time to get some poetry written and submitted for anyone who wants to participate.  If anyone needs some inspiration, be sure to check out the Poetry Writers Club.  Feel free to PM me with any questions. 
     
     
  20. Valkyrie
    It's been eight years since GA has featured a poetry anthology, so if you'd like to see them continue, please consider participating and supporting this one. April is National Poetry Writing Month, so this is a perfect way to celebrate!  The guidelines for participation are featured below and will also be posted in the Anthology portion of the Writer's Circle. 
     
    2023 Poetry Anthology - Due: April 1, 2023
    The 2023 Theme is “Exploration”
    Feel free to interpret the theme in any way you want. The anthologies are not exclusive, but inclusive, so don't worry if you think your entry has only a tangential link to the theme. If you are inspired, then write some poetry!
    Please read these submission guidelines carefully.
    You may address this theme in any poetic style. Be creative! However, please note that this anthology, UNLIKE the other GA anthologies, is an anthology of poems. Therefore, no prose allowed, unless it is prose poetry.
    Who may participate:
    Everyone is welcome and encouraged to participate. However, you must be a member here at GA with author or poet status (which is free and can be purchased through the Activities tab: Store link).  Please RSVP to the 2023 Poetry Anthology – Exploration event (can be found by accessing the activity tab, then events) to receive reminders and also to give the anthology team an idea of number of participants.
    Submission Guidelines
    Submission Date: April 1, 2023
    Please Note:  Anthology submissions must be uploaded into Stories and the link posted in the 2023 Poetry Anthology Exploration Links topic, which can be found under the Anthology tab in the Writer’s Circle Club, by midnight EST April 1, 2023.   
    Your entry must include the following:
    At least one poem – there is no upper limit; however, submissions may not exceed 10,000 words total. Posted as a single story submission A maximum of five chapters may be included (“chapters” may consist of multiple poems). Due to site limitations, if there are multiple chapters submitted, one chapter will post every 24 hours. This is not something we can change. When submitting multiple chapters, do not set a date for the ‘story’ or the chapters.  Site staff will set the dates for you once they are moved to the anthology category. The ‘story’ and first chapter will publish on the anthology release date, and subsequently, additional chapters will post every 24 hours after that.  
    Submission Procedure *Please read carefully*
    Once your poetry collection is complete and has gone through your beta and editing team, please complete the following steps:
    Submit your poems into the GA Stories Archive. For help, please read How do I upload my anthology entry into GA Stories? Make sure the story stays unpublished (DO NOT click on either the publish  or publish now buttons for the story itself or later when adding a chapter/chapters.) Select “Fiction” as the category. It will be moved later by staff.  Mark your story status as COMPLETE. Only completed works are allowed in the anthologies. Please note that once you submit an unpublished story for the anthology, it will NOT show up in your list of stories for readers until the anthology has gone live. Copy the URL for your story (not any chapter page) and paste it in the announcement topic so your submission may be checked to ensure it meets submission guidelines and can be moved to the anthology category.  [*]Please do a visual check of your story once it has been uploaded to ensure that it posted correctly. If it did not, contact @Cia. 
    IMPORTANT: Please DO NOT do ANYTHING with your story once it has been submitted to the anthology. We lock edits to anthologies, but we can only lock so much and making ANY changes can cause issues with the system. If there is something with your story that absolutely needs fixed, added, etc, PLEASE contact @Cia. Thank you!
    Extensions
    Occasionally things happen that prevent an author from meeting the deadline. If you need an extension, contact @Valkyrie or @Cia before the deadline (not the day of or after), and something may be able to be worked out.  If you have NOT made arrangements prior to the deadline, your anthology entry will not be included. You are welcome to post your poetry independently and include a story note stating it was originally meant to be part of the anthology.
    Poem Titles
    Please do not use the anthology themes or your GA Username as a title. Be as original as you can. In case of duplicate titles within the anthology, we will request that titles be changed. No foreign language or ALL CAPS for the titles, please.
    Unacceptable entries & Content Warnings
    Entries that are obviously unedited (containing many errors) or that violate site guidelines will be either declined or changes may be requested as a condition of entry. For information on what is considered to be unacceptable, please see the Story Content Rules FAQ. 
    Please include a Content Warning in the story notes if your story contains sensitive content, e.g.: abuse-physical, mental, sexual, extreme violence, taboo topics, etc... 
    Previously posted stories/poetry (whether at GA or elsewhere) are not eligible for inclusion into the GA anthologies.
    Editing
    All entries MUST be edited prior to being uploaded. If you need an editor, please visit the Writing Support Requests forum to request one. We recognize that poetry sometimes breaks the rules when it comes to grammar and wordplay; therefore, it is not a requirement for poetry to go through the Anthology Proof Team.  If you would like your poems reviewed for obvious misspelling, misused words, or something specific to the form you’ve attempted, then please contact Valkyrie and a proof team member will review your submission.
    PLEASE do not format text beyond bold and italics unless absolutely necessary. Changing the font color, size, etc… or other excess formatting breaks the custom GA reader controls which are helpful to those who may have visual impairments.
    Copyright
    As with all content in GA Stories, the rights remain with the individual authors. Your story will post with a simple 2023 copyright notice, using your GA user display name. If you have another preference (for example, a different name, or a Creative Commons license, or specific copyright wording you'd like to use), please include that with your submission.
    However, with this anthology, by submitting your poetry, you are giving GayAuthors.org first worldwide rights with 14 days exclusivity. What that means is you are giving GayAuthors.org permission to archive your story on its website, distribute it via RSS, kindle, iphone, ipad, eyeball…. And you agree not to publish it anywhere else for 2 weeks.
    If you later decide to post your story at another site, please mention at the beginning or end of the story that it was first published as part of the 2023 Gay Authors Exploration Poetry Anthology and include a link back to GA if possible.
    If you have any questions, please post them in the Anthology Forum or PM Valkyrie.
  21. Valkyrie

    Desert Prompts

    By Valkyrie,


    Prompts
    I've just returned from spending a little over a week in the sunny southwestern US visiting my good friend and fellow prompt team member @Cole Matthews and his husband.  We had a great time going for walks in the desert, shopping at antique malls (the inspiration for Prompt #121), going to a concert, and of course, writing prompt responses!  Every time we get together, we always spend part of that time choosing prompts and then writing about them.  I've selected my favorite two out of the six we completed, and stay tuned next week for Cole's favorite two. We'll be posting our respective stories/vignettes throughout the week, so keep an eye out for those as well.  One of the fun parts of writing these is seeing the different ways we interpret the same prompt. Let's see your interpretations as well!
     
    PT Prompt #121
    You enter an antique shop and immediately see something on a shelf that makes your heart pound and hands shake with excitement.  When you pick it up and express interest in it, the shop owner gives it to you for free. What is it and why did they give it to you?
     
    PT Prompt #122
    An anthropologist is assigned to study a unique culture: a middle school cafeteria.  Write their field notes.  Include observations on eating habits, hierarchies, rituals, speech, and rules.
  22. Valkyrie

    There's Still Time!

    By Valkyrie,


    Anthology
    The deadline to submit entries for the poetry anthology is approaching fast, but there's still plenty of time to either start writing or put the finishing touches on your poetry submissions.  Keep in mind that the link to the theme can be tangential - simply exploring poetry itself or its various forms meets the criteria!  Links must be posted in the Writer's Club thread by midnight EST on April 1st.  Please PM me with any questions.  
     
  23. Valkyrie

    National Poetry Month Feature

    By Valkyrie,


    Anthology
    I chose April to feature the Poetry Anthology – Exploration, because April is National Poetry Writing Month.  The idea behind NaPoWriMo is simply to encourage people to write poetry.  It coincides with National Poetry Month, which celebrates poetry in all its forms.
    NaPoWriMo is also a poetry writing challenge, where poets are asked to write thirty poems – or one per day – during the month of April. Quite a few GA members have taken up this challenge over the years and completed it successfully.  The challenge itself acknowledges that not all poems written for the challenge will be masterpieces; the important thing to is write – and explore!
    I chose the theme “Exploration” for the Poetry Anthology because it’s a broad theme open to interpretation, and also to hopefully encourage site authors and poets to explore the world of poetry.  Whether you are new to poetry and want to try writing it for the first time, or a seasoned poet wanting to explore new forms, all are welcome to participate!
    We already have some exciting collections of poetry in the works, so whether you have one poem to contribute or twenty, bring it on! 
  24. Valkyrie

    Anthology Poetry

    By Valkyrie,


    Anthology
    This week I thought I'd feature the poetry submissions from the last two anthologies.  Hopefully these will provide inspiration to work on your own poetry for this year's Exploration anthology.   Just a reminder that submissions are due April 1st, which leaves about a month and a half, so get writing! 
     
     
     
  25. Valkyrie

    Beam Me some Prompts

    By Valkyrie,


    Prompts
    In honor of the latest Readers’ Choice Awards category, I thought it would be nice to feature some prompts based on one of the most difficult genres to write.  Who’s brave enough to tackle some sci-fi?

     
    PT Prompt #116
    An archeologist on an expedition to study ancient ruins in the deep rainforest takes a wrong turn and discovers irrefutable proof of alien presence on Earth.  What did they find and what are the implications of the findings?
     
    PT Prompt #117
    A major part of good sci-fi writing is world-building.  Descriptive writing is an essential part of that process.  Write a paragraph or a few about an alien planet, species (plant or animal), or piece of equipment (such as a spaceship or vehicle or research implement).  
     
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