Jump to content

Valkyrie

Site Administrator
 View Profile  See their activity

  • Posts

    19,009

  • Joined

  • Last visited

 Content Type 

Blog Entries posted by Valkyrie

  1. 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:
     
     
  2. 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: 
     
  3. 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!
     
  4. 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/
  5. 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:
     
  6. 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   

  7. 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 
     
     
     
  8. 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. 
  9. 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?  
     
     
  10. 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. 
     
     
  11. 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.
  12. 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.
  13. 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.  
     
  14. 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! 
  15. 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! 
     
     
     
  16. 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).  
     
  17. Valkyrie

    Reader's Choice - 2023

    By Valkyrie,


    Announcements
    Instead of an anthology blog this week, we're bringing you the revival of an old GA feature... the Reader's Choice Awards!  Myr opened up nominations for our first category - First Love stories - a few days ago, and there is already an impressive list of stories that have been nominated. It's not too late to nominate your favorite, but you'd better hurry since the thread closes tomorrow, February 10th at 8:00 AM EST.  Voting will open later that day and close on February 13th, with the results being revealed on Valentine's Day.  
    So check out the thread, the amazing stories already nominated, add your own, then vote!  And stay tuned for the next installment of the 2023 Reader's Choice Awards!  There is definitely more to come, so start thinking of your favorite stories and nominate them when the appropriate genre is announced. 
     
  18. Valkyrie

    Poetry Prompts

    By Valkyrie,


    Anthology
    No, I didn't mix up the days and post the wrong blog  Even though Friday is Prompt Day, I thought it would be a good idea to feature a series of prompts created by GA poet @AC Benus several years ago.  These prompts are a perfect stepping stone for anyone thinking of giving poetry a try, and are also useful exercises for more experienced poets.  Start at the beginning, for each prompt builds upon the rest.  Post your results here, or else in the Poetry Writers Club.  There are a lot of great resources for poets in that club, and it's also a great place to get feedback on your poetry.  
     
     
  19. Valkyrie

    Let's Go Exploring

    By Valkyrie,


    Prompts
    Let's do a bit of a flip-flop with today's prompts and push ourselves out of our comfort zones.  In honor of our upcoming Poetry Anthology, I thought it would be fun to feature a couple of prompts that can be used for either poetry or stories.  If you are a poet, then try writing a paragraph, short story, or vignette.  If you are a non-poet, then give writing a short poem or two a try.  The anthology theme is Exploration, so let's explore writing styles that may not be in our wheelhouse.  You never know what you might come up with. 
     
    PT Prompt #109 - Write a poem or paragraph about colors without naming any colors.  
     
    PT Prompt #110 - Write a poem or story about the following image:  an elderly couple holding hands on the beach, staring out at the water. 
  20. Valkyrie

    2023 Poetry Anthology - Announcement

    By Valkyrie,


    Anthology
    Due to feedback I've received about the poetry anthology, the guidelines have been revised to eliminate the limitation on number of poems submitted.  There is now a maximum word count instead.  The one poem per chapter rule has also been abolished, so multiple poems may be posted in one "chapter", with a maximum of five chapters.  Please review the revised guidelines and let me know if there are any questions.  I have also created threads in the anthology section of the Writer's Club for discussion, links to anthology submissions, and the guidelines.  
    https://gayauthors.org/forums/forum/298-anthologies/
  21. Valkyrie

    Poetry Revisited

    By Valkyrie,


    Anthology
    I'm still working on fine-tuning the details for this year's poetry anthology - Exploration, so stay tuned to next week's blog for further information.  In the meantime, I thought I would feature our last poetry anthology, which was eight years ago!  Hopefully this will inspire some of you to explore the realm of poetry and participate in this year's anthology. 
     
     
  22. Valkyrie
    Writing Events in 2023! 
     
    We have an exciting lineup of writing events happening in 2023!  We're still fine-tuning the details, so stay tuned for further information about each event.
     
    4 months from now we're bringing you a Poetry Anthology - Exploration!  All Submissions due Saturday, April 1
    Many of the usual anthology procedures will still apply, but ask questions below, and we'll make sure the information is included in the Rules/Discussion topics posted soon! 
    7 months from now we're having a Secret Author Story Contest! All Submissions due Saturday, July 1
    More info on theme and rules to follow soon, so make sure you follow the Site Fun and Games blog to learn more. But above all, it's a secret... so shh!
    10 months from now we're having the Leap of Faith Anthology! All Submissions due Sunday, October 1
    Stories between 1,000 and 20,000 words and poetry collections of up to five poems will be accepted, with most of the usual rules in effect (some may be subject to change). Anthology topics will be posted soon, as usual, but some posting guidelines or details may change so keep following the Anthology blogs and topics!   
  23. Valkyrie

    Let's Get Technical

    By Valkyrie,


    Prompts
    I love the challenge of technical writing prompts.  So here are two that hopefully you will like as well. 
    PT Prompt #103
    Choose a setting and an emotion.  Write about the setting in a way that evokes the emotion without explicitly naming it. 
     
    PT Prompt #104
    Two characters are having a conflict with each other but refuse to acknowledge or talk about it.  They are playing a game (can be any kind of game), and their true feelings keep sneaking out.  Write the scene.  
  24. Valkyrie
    I'd like to extend a huge thank you to all who voted in the anthology theme selection survey. I'm pretty blown away by the turnout we received! It was quite a nail-biting race, especially in the beginning, but eventually a winner leapt ahead.  So without further ado, here's the announcement we've all been waiting for... 

     
    Leap of Faith 
    Please remember that the link to the theme can be tangential - it doesn't have to smack you in the face, as long as it's in there somewhere.  We want the anthology to be inclusive, not exclusive.  Here is the link to a great blog post written by @CassieQ about writing to themes:
     
    Stories between 1,000 and 20,000 words and poetry collections of up to five poems are due to the proof team by October 1, 2023.  It's never too early to start working on anthology submissions!  I can't wait to see what everyone comes up with next year.  
    Please stay tuned to upcoming blogs for further information about the 2023 Anthology - Leap of Faith!
  25. Valkyrie

    There's Still Time to Vote!

    By Valkyrie,


    Anthology
    Happy Holidays!  Whether you celebrate Hanukkah, Christmas, Kwanza, Festivus, or something else, I wish you the best the holiday season has to offer!  A large part of the US will be facing a pretty nasty winter storm this weekend, my area included, so fingers crossed everyone can still celebrate as planned. 

     
    Thank you to all who have voted in the anthology theme selection poll so far.  The poll will remain open until midnight EST on 12/27/22, so there's still time to vote if you haven't done so.  I won't give any clues as to which one is currently in the lead, but will say it's a pretty close race! If you are unable to access the Google form, please send me a PM with your choice between: Too Soon, A Second Glance, Leap of Faith, Hidden, and Star Crossed, and I will record your vote on your behalf.  
    https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1BVqr8MUJjM1T21Ylro18ITkQ9R0_Kjvs5aImfpfzUr8/edit
    I will reveal the winning theme next Thursday, 12/29/22, so stay tuned! 
×
×
  • Create New...