Saturday, January 16, 2021

Paradise in Baja California Sur

 


Mexico's 775-mile-long Baja California peninsula is a magnet for travelers in search of sun and crystal-clear water on long-stretched remote beaches - especially those on the Southern and Eastern part - surrounded by the Pacific and the Sea of Cortez.



After a Long Rain: Everything is Green Again on the Hills


Rent a scooter or mountain bike to explore the amazing nature on trails or drive on the road 

along the beaches or to La Ventana

 


Windsurfer & Kite Surfing Beaches



On the Gulf of California (aka Sea of Cortez) a few Mexican towns are known for their consistent winds especially during the winter months. A perfect setting for kiteboarding rentals & schools.





View From a Hill Down to the Beaches


Swimmers, surfers, stand-up paddle-boarders, sailors, scuba divers, snorkelers, sea-kayakers, 

whale-watchers, kite-surfers, and anglers are enjoying the Baja California Sur. Jacques Cousteau famously named the Sea of Cortez, home to 800 varieties of fish, “the world’s aquarium.” 



Sunrise & View to the Sea of Cortez from the Tango Azul Resort


A Path Down to the Beach from the Tango Azul Resort near La Ventana

There is also a 6-seater Ranger to drive you to the beach if needed!



Lemon Tree

Organic Farming is a Common Practice in Baja Sur

Try local fruits such as wild plum, lemons, Litchis, Nanches, Maracuja, Sesame, Macadamias, pomegranates, tomatoes, jambolana, mangos - the list is endless




White Blooming Agave




Bright Red Palm Tree Berries


Nature and plant lovers will enjoy seeing the many endemic plants and trees of the Baja California Sur, such as the elephant tree, pitaya tree, organ pipe cactus, the Cardon cactus, Lomboy or Adam's tree, 




Agave

More images on  https://www.instagram.com/tangoazulresort/

The outdoors are dotted with neem trees, the velcro plant, or the many types

of cacti, succulents, and agaves.



Cool Canyon

Visit canyons and caves, hot springs, the Cabo Pulmo National Park, and the eco-farm 

Rancho Cacachilas. Go hiking, mountain biking, kitesurfing, hop on a boat fishing tour with local fishermen, relax in the pool, learn Spanish, attend a yoga class, or have a Margarita. 

Enjoy the warm turquoise water of the sea, and healthy, local dishes, made-from-scratch in the

restaurants of La Ventana or La Paz. 


How to get there - other than driving down to Baja California:

West Jet and American Airlines have Los Cabos or La Paz in their flight schedules!



Brand new RV Park, centrally located in El Teso, just west of Oxxo! 10 fully serviced RV Lots, 

and 3 unserviced lots, surrounding a swimming pool, bathrooms/showers, and a community 

Palapa, outfitted with a guest kitchen, brick pizza oven, and refrigerator!  Read the reviews:

   http://ioverlander.com/places/52256-tango-azul


Tango Azul Resort is near La Ventana, an hour south of La Paz, on the SE tip of the Baja

Address: Calle Agricultores y, Calle Isla Socorro, 23232 El Sgto, B.C.S., Mexico


Phone: +52 612 204 8352



Complimentary WiFi, and light breakfast round out the impressive amenities list! 

SUP’s, Kayaks, and bicycles are available to rent on-site. 


All rooms in the new casitas at the Tango Azul Resort and the RV lots have a panoramic

view of the Sea of Cortez, and are a short 7-8 minute walk to the beach!

 http:/www.tangoazulresort.com

https://www.facebook.com/tangoazulresort/



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Friday, January 1, 2021

Tips for Successful Writing & Publishing in 2021



Tips for Successful Publishing - Newsletter January 2021

by 111Publishing and SavvyBookWriters


Happy New Year Friends!  We hope you had a good start into the first month of the year and you are in line with all your resolutions. Great tips on how to change old habits (and stick with the new ones) in this January Newsletter.


- GRANTS / FELLOWSHIPS / CROWDFUNDING

- FREE BOOK REVIEW COPY

- RESOURCES FOR WRITERS

- WRITING CONTESTS

- FREELANCE MARKETS / JOBS

- FREELANCE WRITING

- LITERARY CALENDAR


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GRANTS / FELLOWSHIPS / CROWDFUNDING


PlySpace Residency Indiana

Residents will be offered living quarters & studio amenities. They will receive a $500 travel stipend & a $500 food stipend for their residency period, between 4 - 12 weeks. Resident Fellows will receive a $1,500 stipend and up to $1,000 in funding toward their proposed collaborative project and supplies. 

https://www.plyspace.org/

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Idaho Writer in Residence

Award $5,000 annually. Idaho’s Writer in Residence displays preeminent quality in the literary field, complemented by the ability to deliver compelling readings.  Deadline Jan 31

https://arts.idaho.gov/grants/writer-in-residence/

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Idaho Fellowships

Award amount $5,000. This annual award recognizes the outstanding work of Idaho artists and writers. Eligible disciplines rotate on a two-year cycle. The Literature Fellowship recognizes artistic excellence in the areas of fiction, creative nonfiction, poetry, screenwriting, playwriting, or other literary uses of the written word.  Deadline Feb 1

https://arts.idaho.gov/grants/fellowships/

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French Culture Grants

The Book Department of the Cultural Services works to promote French and Francophone literature and to encourage English translations of French works. We oversee three grant programs to help publishers and translators with the acquisition of rights cost and translation cost.  Deadline May 15

https://frenchculture.org/grants-and-programs/books-and-ideas/2769-publishing-grants-prizes


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FREE BOOK COPY

Helpful not only for writers and publishers but for everyone self-employed or start-up. It answers the question: "How can I promote my business without investing a lot of money?"

Request a free copy of "To the TOP" to review it - and at the same time learn a lot, and have this book as a reference for your free marketing efforts.


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RESOURCES FOR WRITERS

350 Character Traits – A Fabulous Resource For Writers

https://www.writerswrite.co.za/a-fabulous-resource-for-writers-350-character-traits/


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WRITING CONTESTS


Mogford Food and Drink Short Story Prize

Food and drink must be at the heart of the winning tale. Your short story could, for instance, be about crime or intrigue; about a chance meeting over a drink; a life-changing conversation over dinner; or perhaps the details of a relationship explored through food or drink. Maximum of 2,500 words.  

£15 Entry Fee.  Deadline Jan 13

https://www.mogfordprize.co.uk/

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Magma Poetry Competition

Two entries: The Judge’s Prize – poems of 11 to 50 lines. The Editors’ Prize  – poems of up to 10 lines. The first prize for the Judge’s and Editors’ Prize is £1,000, second prize is £300. The six prize-winning poems will be published in Magma, there will also be five special mentions for the Judge’s Prize & for the Editors’ Prize.  £5 Entry Fee.  Deadline Jan 15

https://magmapoetry.com/magma-2020-21-poetry-competition/

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Women's Prize Trust

Discoveries invite all unpublished women writers over 18 and living in the UK or Ireland and writing in English to submit to the Discoveries Prize. The winner will be offered representation by Curtis Brown Literary Agency and a cash prize of £5,000.  No Entry Fee.  Deadline Jan 17

https://bridgetwhelan.com/2020/09/19/women-if-you-have-started-writing-a-novel-enter-this-competition/

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Nine Dots Prize

"What does it mean to be young in an aging world?" Prize: $100,000. The winner will expand on the ideas expressed in their summary response by participating in a seminar at the University of Cambridge & by writing a short book (25,000-40,000 words) to be published by Cambridge University Press. Deadline: Jan 18

https://ninedotsprize.org/

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Cambridge Autumn Festival Short Story Competition

The theme for this year’s competition is “Lockdown”- a theme we hope will inspire writers to test their talents and enter this nationwide competition. Writers can interpret the theme in whatever way they wish, but it has to be a work of fiction. The first prize is $1,000 NZD, second prize is $500 NZD, and the third prize $250 NZD. The word limit is 1,500 words. 

No Entry Fee.  Deadline Jan 21

https://cambridgeautumnfestival.co.nz/short-story/

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Encore Award

Open to British or Commonwealth citizens. Genre: Second published novel. The book must have been first published in the UK. Prize: 10,000 British Pounds. Deadline: Jan 22

https://rsliterature.org/award/encore-award/

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Five Words Poetry Competition

Every Tuesday at midday (UTC) until Jan 26, 2021, five words are posted on this competition page. Entrants will have one week to compose and submit one or more poems including all five words given for that week. A prize of 750 euros will be awarded to the winner, plus 500 euros for second place and 250 euros for third place. 

5 Euro Entry Fee.  Deadline Jan 26

https://www.obheal.ie/blog/five-words-poetry-competition/

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Fish Publishing Short Memoir Prize

The best ten memoirs will be published in the FISH ANTHOLOGY 2021. First: €1,000. Second: Writing Course (online) + €200. 

Word limit 4,000 words. 

€18 Entry Fee.  Deadline Jan 31

https://www.fishpublishing.com/competition/short-memoir-contest/

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Stringybark Open Short Story Competition

We are looking for great short fiction stories on any theme but it must have a link to Australia. The story must be 1,500 words or fewer in length, written for an audience aged 16 and above. First prize A$350 cash, publication, plus more. Second prize A$250, publication, and more. Third prize A$125 and publication.  $14 Entry Fee.  Deadline Jan 31

https://www.stringybarkstories.net/competitions/open---open-2021.html

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Michael Waters Poetry Prize

Southern Indiana Review will award a prize of $3,000 and publication for a full-length poetry manuscript written in English. Must consist of at least 40 and no more than 100 pages of poetry.  $35 Entry Fee.  Deadline Feb 1

https://www.usi.edu/sir/awards-contests/waters-prize/waters-prize-2021-guidelines

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Accenti Writing Contest

The contest is open to prose works. Entries can be fiction, nonfiction or creative nonfiction. Entries must be previously unpublished and not under consideration by any other publication. Entries must be original. Maximum length: 2,000 words.  $30 Entry Fee.  Deadline Feb 1

https://accenti.ca/writing-contest/rules/

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Elmbridge Literary Competition

Short stories must be in English, previously unpublished, and a maximum length of 1,000 words (8-13 years) or 1,500 words (14+). Short story and poetry categories. First £250. Second £150. Third £100.

£5 Entry Fee.  Deadline Feb 5

https://www.rcsherrifftrust.org.uk/copy-of-the-2020-elmbridge-literary

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Omnidawn First/Secon Poetry Book Contest

The first prize is $3,000. This contest is open to writers worldwide who have either never published a full-length book of poetry, or who have published only one full-length book of poetry so that the winning book would become a poet's first or second published full-length book of poetry. 

$27 Entry Fee.  Deadline Feb 16

http://omnidawn.com/contest/poetry-contests.htm#book-and-chapbook-contests

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Flash 500 Short Story Competition 

First: £500. Second: £200. Third: £100. The competition is international and welcomes non-UK entrants. Stories must not exceed 3,000 words.

£7 Entry Fee.  Deadline Feb 28

https://flash500.com/short-stories/

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Grindstone International Novel Prize

The 2021 Novel Prize is open to unpublished or self-published, un-represented authors working on a novel aimed at Young Adult or Adult audiences. Open to entrants from all over the world. Minimum 70,000 words. Works in progress are accepted in this competition, and entries may be of any genre. Entrants are asked to submit the opening 3,000 words, accompanied by a short synopsis in the same file. Grand Prize - £1,000 plus full manuscript request. Runner Up - £500. £16 Entry Fee.  Deadline April 1

https://www.grindstoneliterary.com/novel-prize

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Anthology Magazine Short Story Competition

Writers of short fiction are invited to enter the Anthology Magazine Short Story Competition. The winner will receive a €500 cash prize. Submit Memories’ with a maximum of 1,500 words.

€10 Entry Fee. Deadline Apr 30

https://anthology-magazine.com/short-story/

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The Grindstone Short Story Prize 

Writers are asked to submit a piece of short fiction between 1,000 and 3,000 words, of any genre, aimed at adult readers. Grand Prize - £500. Runner Up - £200. The top 20 entries will be curated into our yearly anthology and published in print.  No Entry Fee.  Deadline May 1

https://www.grindstoneliterary.com/short-story-prize

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Waterston Desert Writing Prize

The Prize annually honors literary nonfiction that illustrates artistic excellence, sensitivity to place, and desert literacy — with the desert as both subject & setting. $2,500 cash award, a reading & reception at the High Desert Museum in Bend, Oregon, and a residency at PLAYA at Summer Lake, Oregon. Limit ten pages.  Deadline May 1

https://highdesertmuseum.org/waterston-submission/

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To Hull and Back Humorous Short Story Contest

First Prize: £1,200. Second Prize: £600. Third Prize: £300. The competition is open to authors residing anywhere in the world. Stories must be no longer than 2,500 words in length. This includes the title. There is no minimum word count. Stories must contain some element of humor. 

£13 Entry Fee.  Deadline July 31

https://www.christopherfielden.com/short-story-competition/


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FREELANCE MARKETS / JOBS


Taproot Magazine

Unique, thoughtful, creative pieces exploring the topics of food, farm, family, and craft and range from 800-4,000 words. Stories about the many makers, doers, and dreamers of our time. Write about traditional and modern crafts, recipes, and techniques to be carried into the kitchen, the garden, the pasture, the urban homestead, the rural farm, and celebrates all of these things!

https://taprootmag.com/pages/submissions

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Lilith Magazine

Lilith Magazine welcomes submissions of high-quality, lively, original writing—all year round: reporting, analysis, opinion pieces, memoir, fiction and poetry with a feminist take on subjects of interest to Jewish women. Features usually run 2,500 words, news briefs 500 words or less. Fiction should be under 3,000 words. Back-page pieces run 800 words. 

https://www.lilith.org/about/writing-for-lilith/

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Remote Writer - ELEVEN Magazine Writing Jobs

Assigning projects by subject expertise, our UK-based teams deliver authoritative content across a plethora of advanced topics with total end-to-end oversight. The world's first niche-specific writing team.

https://elevenwriting.com/writing-jobs/

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High Country News

This award-winning nonprofit monthly magazine tells the complex story of the Western United States, through coverage of its people, communities, and landscapes. Pays on publication, between $0.25 and $1.50 per word, depending on the writer’s experience and our experience with the writer. 

https://www.hcn.org/about/submissions

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Better Humans

We offer two payment structures. A $500 flat-rate commission for empathic tutorials, usually about 3,000 words long, under an exclusive contract that gives us the rights to publish your work. The article must not be duplicated elsewhere on Medium. Better Humans is a vast and growing collection of diverse, well-tested advice on every aspect of self-improvement. 

https://medium.com/better-humans/write-for-better-humans-4c6c9884fc08

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Forge

Forge is here to examine and illuminate our constant struggle to get more done, invest in creativity and focus, and be happy doing it. We bring journalistic rigor and credible, peer-reviewed science to bear. We don’t use vague inspiration-speak or glibly suggest quick fixes to major personal problems. Pays up to $1/word. 

https://forge.medium.com/about


Gen

Gen is a new Medium publication focused on politics, power, and culture. Every day, you will find stories that will help you understand the powerful forces reshaping our world. You can email us at gen@medium.com. Pays up to $1/word. 

https://gen.medium.com/about

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Heated

The goal is to showcase the links between food and just about everything else: agriculture, politics, history, and labor; culture and cooking; identity, family, and love. It’s a new, ongoing, and exciting project, one in which we intend to involve lots of different voices and viewsincluding, we hope, yours. Pays up to $1/word. 

https://medium.com/heated/about

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Human Parts

It's the Medium’s home for personal stories and perspectives. From the mundane to the extraordinary to the downright weird, we’re here to explore what it means to be human. Pays up to $1/word. 

https://humanparts.medium.com/about


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LITERARY BIRTHDAY CALENDAR

Literary Birthday Calendar January to December

https://www.writerswrite.co.za/literary-birthday-calendar/


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After many hopefully relaxing holidays last month, January is a time to start implementing your resolutions and plans and to move forward in your writing career.  You know the old saying: “If you don’t have goals, others will hire you to fulfill their goals.”  Have a very happy and healthy year 2021!