Month: August 2015

The Eighth Annual Life Lessons Essay Contest

real_simple_logo_a_lReal Simple Magazine is accepting entries for its eighth annual Life Lessons Essay Contest. Real Simple wants to hear about a random choice that changed your life forever. All entries will be judged by Real Simple editors, based on the following criteria: originality (25 percent), creativity (25 percent), use of language (25 percent), and appropriateness to contest theme (25 percent). All submitted essays must be nonfiction.

Prizes: The first-place winner will receive $3,000. The second-place winner will receive $750. The third-place winner will receive $500.
Deadline: September 28, 2015.
Entry fee: Free

For more information and submission guidelines, please visit their website.

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.

Print Book Party Panorama

print book panoramaImagine a place with print books as far as the eye can see! What could be better than that? If those print books were at bargain prices! Well guess what? That they are, right here today at the Indies Unlimited Print Book Party.

Want to help readers discover some fine indie writing at reasonable prices? Here’s the deal:

If you have a print book available from a major online retailer at $15 or less, follow the instructions below and post your link. If you see one you like, click over and buy it. This feature is only for print editions priced at fifteen dollars and under.

When possible, we replace some of the links with clickable book cover images. Do not attempt to insert an image in comments on your own. Just put the following information in the comment section:

1. Book title and price
2. Author name
3. A short one sentence book description (keep it tweetable in length.)
4. One AMAZON link to purchase the book.

Then let your friends and fans know your book is available here today. Use the share buttons below, or copy the link in the address bar above and share the news on your favorite social media platforms. The more, the merrier, right? So let’s give it a try, shall we? Please make sure to follow the RULES above. Now, go ahead and tell the world about your cheap read.

IU is a safe-for-work site. PLEASE do not post links to erotica, religious, or political books. That’s what the rest of the internet is for.

[Note: if the book cover images below do not display properly, please check your AdBlock settings.]

Flash Fiction Challenge: Future Shock

Flash Fiction prompt copyright KS Brooks all rights reserved chicago aquarium
Photo copyright K. S. Brooks. Do not use without attribution.

Well, I’ll be. They actually did it. The pretty nurse told me it’s the year 3015 and they’ve woken me up because there’s a cure for cancer. “Woken me up” is a nice way of saying they thawed me out.

Now that I’ve got my health back, I’m looking forward to catching up on the past 100 years and seeing what the future is like. And the babes. I bet my ex-wife is convulsing in her grave over this.

But…what? We can’t go outside? Lakes and parks and all that are inside now? The air’s no good out there? And…there’s no such thing as hamburgers? And my ex-wife is what?

Welcome to the Indies Unlimited Flash Fiction Challenge. In 250 words or less, write a story incorporating the elements in the picture and the written prompt above. Do not include the prompt in your entry. The 250 word limit will be strictly enforced.

Please keep language and subject matter to a PG-13 level.

Use the comment section below to submit your entry. Entries will be accepted until Tuesday at 5:00 PM Pacific Time. No political or religious entries, please. Need help getting started? Read this article on how to write flash fiction.

On Tuesday night, judges will select the strongest entries, and on Wednesday afternoon, we will open voting to the public with an online poll so they may choose the winner. Voting will be open until 5:00 PM Thursday.

On Saturday morning, the winner will be recognized as we post the winning entry along with the picture as a feature. Then, at year end, the winners will be featured in an anthology like this one. Best of luck to you all in your writing!

Entries only in the comment section. Other comments will be deleted. See HERE for additional information and terms. Please note the rule changes for 2015.

R. B. Frank Wins Flash Fiction Challenge

R. B. Frank is the readers’ choice in this week’s Indies Unlimited Flash Fiction Challenge.

The winning entry is rewarded with a special feature here today and a place in our collection of winners which will be published as an e-book at year end.

Without further ado, here’s the winning entry:
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Continue reading “R. B. Frank Wins Flash Fiction Challenge”