Write Your Heart out – Contest and Call for submission round up

Canada Writes – CBC Creative Non-Fiction Contest
What: Unpublished work of non-fiction
Lenght1200-1500 words
Deadline: February 1, 2014 at 11:59 p.m. ET  
Details

9th Annual ACCENTI Writing Contest

What: Unpublished and not under consideration by any other publication work of fiction non-fiction or creative non-fiction
Lenght: 2000 words
Deadline: February 7th
Details

The Writer's Union of Canada – 21st Annual Short Prose Competition for Developing Writers
What: Original and non-publish work of fiction or non-fiction.
Lenght: 2500 words
Deadline: March 1st
Details

Carte Blanche – Call for submissions
What: Narrative of all forms from fiction and nonfiction, to poetry and photo essays.
Lenght: See details
Deadline: March 1st
Details

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The Resolution Zero Project – Month 1: Identifying the problem

This year is going to be my year! This year is going to be different. This year I will make it happen.

 Rings a bell?

 Each year 45% of Americans make resolutions. Popular goals include but are not limited to weight loss, staying fit, spend less and learn something new. The concept of promising to do an act of self-improvement in the New Year goes backs as far as 2000 BC, when the Babylonians offered resolutions to their Gods. However, the format we’re familiar with was born and evolved in the 20th century. (For a more complete history, visit this site).

A study conducted in 2007 by Richard Wiseman of the University of Bristol revealed that “88% of those who set New Year resolution fail.”(1) Further studies have also shown that 25% of people will keep their resolution for about a week and that after 26 weeks, only 46% of people will still be keeping them. (2) 

How is that possible when most people, when making the resolution, take it very seriously and have a real desire to change and better themselves? 

The answer lies in the nature of the resolutions: they are vague, disproportionate and unrealistic. A smoker of twenty decides to go cold Turkey. An overweight person decides to go to the gym every day. Although these goals are commendable, they obviously constitute dramatic changes in the resolution maker’s life and are thus bound to result in failure before they have even been implemented.

 Ok. What then?

 Some people choose not to take resolutions at all, choosing the status quo over the illusion of sudden miraculous redemption. That’s a way to see it but that’s also boring. The other option is to set realistic objectives with defined small steps that will lead, over time, to the accomplishment of your goals. Sounds much better, doesn’t it? 

 This year, my goal is to get a manuscript ready for publication. This is a daunting task and so I’ve decided to create The Resolution Zero Project not only to help myself but to help you get closer to your 2014 goals. In the following weeks, I will be publishing articles, videos and numerous resources to guide you on your journey. I hope many of you will join me in this adventure. 

Your turn! Have you ever made resolutions you didn’t keep? How did that make you feel? Did you ever manage to keep your resolutions? What do you wish to accomplish this year? Let me know! I love hearing from you! 

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Dreamers Interview Series – Tania Mignacca

 Today I have the immense pleasure of hosting visual artist extraordinaire Tania Mignacca.  I've known Tania for a few years now and I've had the chance to see her goregous art soar to impressive levels.  I'm very grateful that she accepted to be featured on ATUA for she is a source of inspiration for me.

Giveaway information will follow the interview.

Tell us a bit more about what you do.

 I'm a freelance illustrator, graphic designer and comic artist based in Montreal. I work with clients and do my own personal projects as well. My inspiration mainly comes from two very different influences: Japanese manga and Montreal's abandoned architectural heritage. Through my work, I hope people will learn to see the beauty in unusual things such as in a decaying building for example and try to look for it in their own surroundings. I'm also the author of Ponto, a weekly webcomic about the adventures of a young signalization cone who comes to work in Montreal. 

When did you start drawing? 

I started drawing at a very young age. Like many kids from the 80's I grew up with Japanese anime and video games. There was something in the traits of the characters and colours that had a huge impression on me so even though I was just a child I decided that I would draw like this one day. I practiced really hard by copying illustrations and drawing my favourite characters from memory. After a short while, I got fed up and I started creating my own characters and stories. It was important for me to be original and creative. 

What medium do you enjoy working with the most?

I usually like to mix different mediums together. I make all my sketches by hand and use different tools such as crayons, acrylic paints, markers and Photoshop to add in colour and textures. I also do photography as a hobby and I often use my photos as part of the coloration process. I find that combining different media helps me give depth and warmth to my artwork. 

What was the main difficulty you had to face when you decided to make a living out of your art? 

The main difficulty I found is that it requires a lot of discipline and a certain amount of sacrifice. Since I work from home, I get to make my own schedule but I often lose track of time and end up working crazy amounts of hours especially when it comes to personal projects.The sacrifice part is mostly financial. I can't travel as much as I wish and I have to be careful about my spendings even if I have a part-time job that provides me with a basic survival revenue. However, the satisfaction I get from my work is way more gratifying. 

What is your next step as an entrepreneur? 

It'll sonn be a year since I  started publishing my webcomic Ponto. I'm currently thinking about self-publishing a print and ebook version of it later this year. I also want to create more products featuring my art and make them available on my Etsy store. Lastly, I hope to attend more art fairs and conventions because it's always great to be able to meet my readers and fans and meet new people. 

Ponto the signalization cone is the hero of your comic strip about Montreal. How did you come up with the idea? 

I was going to exhibit my work at an art fair and I was looking for ideas of products to sell. Since Montreal plays such a big part in my artistic process, I thought it would be a great idea to create button designs for people to show off their pride for our city. The orange signalization cone has a special and negative meaning for Montrealers: they're all over the city and they constantly remind us of the aging state of our infrastructures and, let's not forget, the corruption scandals. This gave me the idea to create an adorable cone character that would be too cute to hate. That's how Ponto was born. When I started selling the buttons, the reaction was instant smiles. Montrealers really loved the idea and it triggered their feeling of belonging to their city. Getting so much positive feedback, I started building a whole universe around Ponto. I chose to publish his adventures as a weekly webcomic. I've always dreamed of writing comics and I felt this was the right opportunity to start. Through the story we follow Ponto who decides to leave his hometown to live his dream of working in the big city of Montreal. Optimistic and a bit naive he will do his best to bring the glory back to the city. 

Our previous guest, Canadian author Kenneth Radu, would like to ask you: Looking through your online portfolio, I would ask what elements or aspects of Japanese art, traditional or modern, most influence your own work? 

Most of the Japanese influences in my work come from Japanese pop culture such as manga an anime. This can mostly be seen in my character designs. As I built Ponto's character, I looked into the Japanese phenomenon of Yurukyara which are cute mascot characters that are designed to promote cities. 

Our next will be YA author T.B. Markinson; what would you like to ask her?

 I read on your blog that you have self-published your first novel. What advice would you give to writers or comic artists who are looking to self-publish for the first time? 

Tania's portfolio http://www.minyaka.com 
Ponto http://www.pontomontreal.com 
Etsy store https://www.etsy.com/shop/minyaka

GIVEAWAY

For a chance to win two autographed 8"X10" prints of Tania's illutrations of you choice, leave her a question in the comment section.  Giveaway ends on Tuesday January 14th 11:49 ET.  The name of the winner as well as the answers will be posted on January 16th.

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Review Wednesday – Price of Justice

Detective Jason Scarsdale of Austin PD didn't think is life could get any worse after the death of his beloved wife.  He was wrong. As the high profile murder investagation he's been assigned starts to spin out of control, Scarsdale finds himself entangled in a web of deception, murder and revenge.  As the tension rises, the clock starts ticking and the investigation becomes personal, will Scarsdale manage to remain the good cop?

Price of Justice by Alan Brenham is a compelling story that kept me glued to the pages. It has all the elements of a great cop story: the good cop going through a rough time, the loyal partner, the dodgy superiors, the brilliant and attractive female cop and, of course, villains one loves to hate.  The novel is well-paced, the writing craftily creating suspense and mounting tension until the tale's denouement.  The alternation of first person naration and omniscient narration was one of the elements that contributed to create fantastic cliff-hangers.  The plot is well-structured; there are no loose ends.

Brenham managed to create characters that are well-rounded and believable.  True, it seems like every hardship is happening to Scarsdale at once but let's be honest: there are times when it seems life throws everything at you, all at once.  Plus, the author makes it work beautifully.  The reader becomes invested in the characters, wanting to know what will happen to them.  Even the villains have believable motives.  In Pride of Justice, there are no absolute evil, just human beings with personal agendas.

If characters are great, the setting is amazing.  With his economical descriptions, Brenham manages to paint a vivid picture of Austin.  The reader also can't fail to notice that the author knows his stuff when it comes to the world of law enforcement.  These two combined allowed me to see the whole story clearly in my mind's eye.

In short, Pride of Justice is a riveting novel that I wish could be made into a movie.  If that's not on the agenda, I hope to read more of Scarsdale's adventures.  This could well be the start of the great series.

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Wild Writers Literary Festival Series – How to Kill a Man: The Secrets of Mystery Writing

Here is the fourth installment of the Wild Writers Literary Festival Series.  Missed the previous ones?  Read them here #1 #2 #3!

This workshop was animated by Brad Smith, author of the Virgil Cain mystery series.  It took the form of a casual chat between the participants and the writer.  Here is what emerged from the exchange.

• The writing process is much more important than where the idea came from.  Chances are authors will prefer being asked about the former rather than the latter.
• Newspapers can be a great source of inspiration for subplots.
• Writing is a mental and physical process.  There are no right or wrong.  You have to do what works for you.
• You can work with or without an outline.  One way is not better than the other.
• Macguffins are great tools to get the readers into the story.
• Don't switch P.O.V. in the middle of a scene.
• Do your research.  Although Google is an amazing tool, to really "get" a place, you need to go there.
• Write your first draft then do the research.  That way, you'll know what you need.
• Pay attention to your secondary characters.  Give them quirks, traits that don't necessarily help the story.
• Create a back story for your characters.  You don't need to put it all in the story, but it will help you create more believable characters.
• Eavesdrop on other people's conversation to create good dialogues.  Find a voice for each characters.  Be aware of rhythm and cadence.
• Use your others senses.  See things from a child's point of view.

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Stolen Words – Chop chop

This year, we set aside the hipster lingo and we educate ourselves on the borrowed words of the English language.  Each month, we'll travel to a different country to see what terms we've stolen from other languages around the world.  In January, Chinese words!

Sagwa character property of Cine group and Sesame Workshops.

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The Sunday Special – Feel Good Factor in 30 days

"I can only describe this part of my journey to be like peeling layers of an onion off one by one – there are lots of them, they are difficult to peel and at times it may make you cry!" 

With the New Year, a lot of people decide to make a fresh start.  For some, it's time to get serious about losing weight, for others it's time to change their take on life, to create a new mindset.  For these people, the Feel Good Factor in 30 Days might be just the book they need. 

This short work by Andrea Morrison is the result of a lot of introspection and experimentation on the part of the author.  Morrison, like many of us according to society's criteria, had it all.  She had the great husband, the great house, the great children and the great job.  Yet, she didn't feel fulfilled.  She was stuck on the treadmill of life and stepping off just felt impossible.  Luckily, she was diagnosed with chronic fatigue.  This forced her to stop and to reconsider her life, which led her to reinvent herself.  No matter what other said, she found who she really was. 

Rich of her experience,  Feel Good Factor in 30 Days gives the reader the tools to achieve a positive outlook on life.  Thanks to its "dip into," lesson-a-day format, this book is very accessible and can be picked up and put down at one's whims. There is no reading order; the tricks are independent of one another. The lessons are short and can be combined to the reader's taste. This truly is a "Pick what works for you" advice book. At first glance, the content may seem very simple, but in our complex world, it can be beneficial to go back to basics.

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