Like most people, I'm very clever at what I like doing, and not so gifted at other things. Techie skills? That falls right off the bottom of my not-so-gifted list, and onto my WTF-is-that-anyhow list of things completely off my radar, along with cricket scores, tofu, and Britney Spears. I've managed to customise the header for myself, but beyond that is foggy territory. You might as well sit Christopher Columbus at the controls of a Boeing 757 mid-flight. You know--good luck and all that, and where's my parachute...
The 'river' you can see in the header is a photo I took of the Atlantic tide going out from the beach at Bundoran, County Donegal. If you can't read the scrawly writing up there, don't worry, it's not that important; I just wanted some sort of 'handwriting' somewhere. And if the dividers in the sidebar look familiar (especially to fellow fantasy readers), they are indeed Tolkienesque: this template is called "Hobbit" and was created by Arcsin, if you'd like to snag it for yourself.
Let me know of any problems you're having with it: broken links, missing links, readability, or if you just plain love it or hate it. I did take the precaution of saving the whole old template (eerrr, somewhere...) so if this doesn't work out, all is not lost.
So, what else is new? Well I'm so glad you asked...
New Love Stories publishes short romance fiction: contemporary, historical, paranormal, inspirational, whatever, "as long as love/romance are the main thrust of the story". Their words, not mine... just had to share that for the giggle. 3-5K per story, pays well.
New Writing Scotland publishes works by writers who are Scottish by "birth, upbringing or inclination". Hope, you're covered! All forms invited, but you're going to have to buy a stamp: no fax or e-mail submissions accepted. Get it in by September and you might have £20 per published page in your pocket. To get to the submission guidelines, click the link in this paragraph, then on that page click 'publications', which will include NWS with a link next to its cover for submissions.
NewFoundSpecFic is looking for emerging and aspiring writers, and still pays them which is wonderful. If you're under 13 (bless) you need your parents permission. Can I just say I love this publication? If you've got a short story, article, poetry or artwork you think they'd like, hurry because the current submission window is closing on the 6th of July.
New South doesn't offer monetary payment, but hey, South. This is Georgia State University's Journal of Art & Literature (for those of us not resident in the USA, this is Georgia-north-of-Disneyworld, not Georgia-next-to-Russia). If your submission of poetry, prose, or visual art is accepted, you get a bio printed and 2 contributor's copies.
Best New Writing (the Eric Hoffer Award) offers annual prizes for published writing, including short prose, small press publications, and self-published books. Information and links for nominating are on the website.
32 comments: join in!:
Susan;
I LOVE LOVE your new blog look. The picture of you is great. What a beauty you are! Yes you are!
I am always messing with my blog but,... just can't seem to get it right.
Have a great weekend !
I think it is beeeeyoutiful!
It's great, Susan.
Make that 4 FANTASTICS!
I like the simplicity of my blog and yet I yearn for color...one I like, not one Blogger thinks is swell.
Perhaps I too will get brave...you got a map to spare for the technically challenged?
Peggy, thanks! I hid myself behind hair and hand to spare you the worst of the face LOL but the agents say 'put your face on your blog'. Why I wonder. Why?
Thanks Ashley and Radge --I do miss the spraaaawl however. All gone because I wanted top links and I'm a sucker for a drop capital.
Thanks Hope--so, New Writing Scotland, eh eh? Blogger's small choice templates is (IMHO) woeful; surely they could give us more choices without searching the Interweb for days? Ah yes, map, well if you saw what I went through, you'd think I was Nerdus Patheticus. Or you'd send a therapist. But yeah, why not, let's do it!
I love it!!! Did you do this yourself?? I only use the 'stuff' blogger offers - and have changed a couple of times, trying to find "me" -- but this design is DEFINITELY you!! Just great!!!
Mimi, that's the hard part isn't it? A blog-look is like the clothes and hairstyle we wear everyday I guess, we want it to reflect the inner self somehow.
No, I CANNOT do something this snazzy myself! LOL But there are lots of backgrounds to add to Blogger's 'Minima' design at http://www.thecutestblogontheblock.com; I used to use theirs. This one is a whole new template, to add those top links in; that was trickier for me to manage but I'd guess most people would find it easy. I just googled "free blogger templates" and started window-shopping until I found something I liked. Then, the nightmare began... LOL
Damn it why doesn't safari on an iPhone show your new template? Blasphamy I tell ya. Could good old Chris drive a moped? Lol. I'll be anxious to get home and see the site. Hurry up and service my car
Thom, car service on a Saturday? Hawaii must be All-That; we don't even get mail on a Saturday here.
Anyhow, don't worry about checking it--I just downloaded Quilly's photo of you and tiled it a million times for my new background, that's all. So now you know what it looks like here!
I don't love or hate the template. I pay very little attention to templates.
I come to blogs to read the content for the day. Yours not only has great stories but thos places to get published things. I don't write but it is inyteresting to see where writers can send their stuff.
I absolutely LOVE your blog update! Love the green color for one, oh, just everything about it, it's perfect for you! I finally got around to updating my header shot, but haven't gotten up the courage to do more right now. But you have inspired me!! As always! Have a great day!
Thanks Dr. John-- I'm far happier having my writing complimented than my green background, I must admit, and you've really put a smile on my face this evening. Thanks for that! I switched for better navigation mostly, but then I admit I fell for the design like it was a pair of new shoes in a shop window *sigh* ... I do realise that things like colours and curlycues are probably a female "thing". LOL
As for those markets---I've found a lot of magazines and journals I enjoy *reading*, never mind writing for, by doing this! There are so many wonderful stories out there.
Hi Sylvia! We were commenting at the same time (me wordier and slower, no surprise LOL) so I missed you.
I love your blog the way it is; your photos are set off nicely without competing with wallpaper. I've left my photoblog plain black...but I do wonder what to do about the header. Boring, but ... (too pooped by *this* one to change it now! LOL)
Susan -- wonderful new blog template. This soft green is soothing and lovely. The links you provide are filling up my bookmark tab! I really liked the new found one until I read I had to be a Canadian resident. I am not up for moving any further north than Friday Harbor -- though I will soon be camping in Victoria for 4 days.
Thanks Quilly! I'd given another market a miss because of a Canadian requirement, but I didn't catch this one at all. Darn. I used to enjoy challenges like getting around submission requirements, but meh, now I just move on. LOL I'll check better in future--I like to at least mention requirements in the descriptions, to save folks the trouble of clicking through something not for them.
A change is as good as a rest! You know, I might just browse through a few templates myself...
Hello lovely Susan,
Thanks for your super comments on my blog! they always mean so much to me.
I love the new look but a few things are a bit inaccesssible now font wise unless I have high magnification..but the important stuff perfectly clear! I really like the central template and your new pic!
catching up and the photo of your little one is gorgeous. More soon and thanks so much for all the great tips and links!!!
T xx
Nice. Is it a template? I really need to spice my page up a bit. I do like the sage green though, very calming!
It's very nice Susan, so it suits you in that respect. :)
Em... I can't actually read the joinedey-up writing in the header but I am old and decrepit as we know.
A little confession too, I was by no means inebriated last evening - I'm bad but one bottle of H won't do it. I find it liberating to pretend sometimes. :)
Thanks Tanvi! I was hoping it would come through ok for you, and am glad the main part is readable. As Ken points out, I don't think *any* of us over 35 can read the scrawl on the header (I only know what it says because I'm the one who typed it) but it's really only there to look like, well, scrawl--which is somewhat like my own handwriting! I have a few other niggles, but well... iz purdy, so I'ze keepin' it. ROFL Can't wait to see what your birthday present does to yours too!
Baino, yes, I couldn't do it without help, that's certain. I googled "free blogger templates" and wasted er, SPENT, a few lazy hours window-shopping until I found this one. ('Honey, can you make dinner tonight? I'm uh, working on revisions, yes revisions...') I'm shameless.
Ken, you were never suspected! You could still spell "Heineken" afterward so no worries LOL. Maybe we have the same misfortune drink-wise?-- I always get hiccups and/or fall down accidentally after oh, half a glass of wine, and everyone I'm with then thinks I'm a hopeless alcoholic. The truth is I just fall down occasionally, with or without help. What can you do?
I didn't even KNOW there were free blog templates... sigh... now I know what I'm gonna be doing... just as soon as I update my website... just as soon as I finish my last book page... just as soon as I take that photo to use... just as soon as I get away from reading my favorite blogs! Gotta go!
I love all your blog looks. You are a really talented designer. I keep wanting to do something else with mine but can't seem to get myself going. Sigh.
Carol, my life would be far more productive if I hadn't known either! ROFL It's a slippery slope once I try to modify it, but still...it's easier than making over *myself*, and cheaper than making over my house!
Kay, if I had such a beautiful granddaughter at the top of my page, I wouldn't need anything else! Your headers are always breathtaking and the rest is clear to read, you've made the best of both worlds.
Very very nice susan!! I love that color..It's all that! :>)
Thanks Yeti! ROFL
I like this new look, it's been a spell since I visited. Working all the time I sometimes don't get to visit like I would.
Bill, you're welcome anytime...except when driving! LOL
hmmmm interesting you new theme...where's my picture ROFLMAO. I'm not so sure about this theme. It seems very squished to me...not open and brassy like you LOL. But whatever ya choose...i'm there :) And I wish 24/7 and was shocked that they were open on Saturday...they suggested it so I took it :)
It is a very calm look allowing the eye to dwell on the content without unnecessary distraction.
Thom, with your permission I would *absolutely* put your photo up here; tell me which one to snag and you'll have a sidebar link, there's room.
I do miss being all over the place--literally as well as figuratively--but was really feeling a need for either three columns or top links, as navigation on the old look just wasn't there. Unfortunately Blogger doesn't offer such things without third-party help, and after trying Wordpress and Typepad and hating both, I still like Blogger best for being easy (enough for me) to use. But if I was going to go through all the trouble to make the change, it had to be something I reeeeally liked, and this template was the first one I really liked.
(what I'm saying here, is if you don't like it as well, tough toodles)
Now, I do wish it was much wider and had three columns. Ah well! When my minions finally restore the ancient fairy magic to the earth, THEN we shall see what a blog makeover looks like! Mwah ha ha ha ha!!
And, congratulations on getting your car serviced on a weekend. Why were you at a Ford place when your e-mail says Prius?
Grannymar, thanks! I like having the basic links up out of the way and I do love this colour. I like the font much better too, though wish it was just a bit larger, and my efforts to embiggen have failed.
You can use any picture your little heart desires sister. Tough toddles? hmmmph. Nano Nano :)
It's TOODLES, not toddles ya goof, and I only didn't say "titties" because it's a family-friendly g-rated sort of blog.
Um... isn't it? ROFL
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