Day: June 23, 2014

Katherine Paterson Prize for YA and Children’s Writing

Paterson-PrizeThe Vermont College of Fine Arts is now accepting original, unpublished stories under 10,000 words for the Katherine Paterson Prize for YA and Children’s Writing. The categories are:

Young Adult (YA)
Middle Grade (MG)
Picture Book or Writing for Young Children

Prizes: One first place winner receives $1000 and publication. Two honorable mentions receive $100 each, and are considered for publication.

Entry fee: $20.

Deadline: June 30th, 2014.

For more information, please visit their website.

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Indies Unlimited is pleased to provide this contest information for the convenience of our readers. We do not, however, endorse this or any contest/competition. Entrants should always research a competition prior to entering.

Internet Tracking: How To Minimize Data That Is Used

How to miminize interest-based adsMany of us have dabbled in Facebook ads at one time or another with mixed results. As an “Ad Placer,” we can carve out what types of people we want to see our ads by geography, age groups, interests, and more. Up until now, as a Facebook user, the ads you see have been a result of what you do on Facebook, your profile, status updates, and interests.

This is all changing and changing dramatically. Facebook is making a shift to give advertisers more options to tailor ads to what people do outside of Facebook. As if we didn’t get the heebie-jeebies already, Facebook is teaming up with retail stores to analyze data about purchases and what Facebook knows about you. In other words, Facebook is sharing with retailers the fact that you saw an ad for shoes and matching it up with the fact that you purchased the same brand in a retail store later. This is powerful information for advertisers and of course, helps Facebook sell more ads.

The reality is, you are being tracked everywhere. The only way to prevent tracking is to stop using the Internet. That is not an option for an Indie Author. Continue reading “Internet Tracking: How To Minimize Data That Is Used”

Featured Book: On the Right Side

On the Right SideOn The Right Side: My Story of Survival and Success
by Karen Magill
biography, memoir
Available from Amazon.

When Karen Magill woke to find herself partially paralyzed on one side of her body, she began a journey filled with twists and turns. From the diagnosis of multiple sclerosis to becoming an award-winning novelist, On The Right Side shows that a crisis can be a blessing.

Creating a Short Story Collection

Four MothersMany authors write the occasional short story, but because of their length, may not want to sell them as a single item.

A short story collection is a great way to release some shorts with a word count that makes the price reasonable.

Creating a short story collection is a little different from creating a traditional novel, so here are a few things to consider: Continue reading “Creating a Short Story Collection”