Welcome! The holidays are almost over and everyone is gearing up for New Years. I had a nice Christmas at home with the family. I hope everyone enjoyed the break as well. Gift wrapping is too much of a nuisance for me so I do very little anymore. The thought for gifts is what really matters. Anyway after Christmas I've received email newsletters for notices about film festivials and competitions. They appear to be abundant all year long, but sometimes in the right time of year a specific type of script gets more recognition and consideration.

Movie producers and filmmakers are looking for new, innovative scripts all the time. The challenge is working with a feasible budget and finding the right components to get a movie produced. These short scripts (screenplay shorts) are used primarily for film festivals and sometimes as work samples. I've written two screenplay shorts, but never entered any script contests. So much editing, formatting, adding/deleting was necessary to repair the scripts. Right now I'm working on an idea for a third script. This is for a feature-length movie.

There are also outlets for theater companies who seek plays. If you want to become a playwright it's essential to learn the craft though the process is quite similar to screenwriting. The following are some places to enter script contests, register scripts for sale, and submit plays:

www.indiefilms.com

www.hollywoodlitsales.com

www.filmmakers.com

www.millmountain.org

Well, hello. This holiday season has been quite the interesting one from years past. From the carnage and crazed shoppers at the malls after Thanksgiving to the debate of the political correctness of specific holiday names has caused tension in the air to rise. I've never seen so many people argue over such stupid, insignificant things. Why can't these hypocritical groups be happy? They need to accept traditions and respect each ethnic group. This doesn't mean they have to celebrate other holidays which they're unaccustomed with.

See with all that's happened over the past year: Hurricane Katrina, war in Iraq, Bird Flu scare, shopping madness, and commercial holiday war Americans should be grateful to be alive and well. Also those who get to celebrate Christmas, Hanukah, or Kwanzaa with their families need to be thankful. So many others are alone, homeless, or stuck in the hospital with an illness. Another thing, people should feel free to say Merry Christmas or whatever and not worry about offending different ethnic groups. If they don't like it then too bad. That should be the least of anyone's problems during this time of year.

I'm trying to be optimistic for the new year. I seriously hope positive changes occur for the whole nation and other parts of the world. Receiving gifts isn't important to me. Rather than mindless spending for common gifts on impulse it would be nice to see more middle-class and rich people donate essentials(money, food, clothes) to the needy. I gave a donation to the Red Cross for the Hurricane victims. Families in Louisiana can use all the help they can get as they were left with nothing. Spreading the word about giving to right causes such as charities is good for the holiday season. Everyone let's not fight and bicker this year, try to understand the truth meaning of Christmas, and think of others rather than ourselves. Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to all!

Hi, with Christmas around the corner authors with new books out only have one thing on their mind: sell, sell, sell! I would too if my book catered to specific holiday shoppers. So many gift items can be found in a book store, not solely for avid readers. Select groups of readers enjoy anthologies, new fiction novels, self-help books, humor, and sports. The most popular item this year will probably be the Harry Potter books. Fantasy genre is hotter than ever. Whether you're a fan or not of this genre you've got to admit sales are booming for the author.

With the holiday season fast approaching I've decided to touch on an issue Americans are passionate about. Of course I'm talking about holiday shopping. Geez, did people go overboard this year and cause chaos in malls this year. The day after Thanksgiving brought on a new meaning to Christmas spirit. Anxious shoppers could just smell the bargains while others faced their worst nightmare: getting mugged and attacked in public areas. The elderly suffered the worst end of this sales-driven frenzy. They got shoved and kicked on the ground while herds of impatient shoppers pushed their way through congested department stores. It was utter madness!

These are the type of real experiences that can make good story and article ideas. So take a closer look at the holiday season, an event or situation may trigger the next great short story, joke filler, or script you write.

Greetings to all who find this page. The fiction market is growing more rapid than ever. Everyday new publications are created, looking for that creative, inspiring or entertaining short story or anthology. I've learned in my searches online that more low and medium paying markets are open to submissions from all fiction writers. They're welcoming new writers and encouraging them. That's a good sign. Editors are still picky, but are considerate and understanding.

Recently I've located two websites that publish short stories for members and readers to view. The web addresses are:

www.short-stories.net

www.short-stories.co.uk/


Check it out! Leave comments or post your own orginial stories for free. Join the forum community by signing up as a member. Also contests are listed. If anyone out there knows of any good humor websites for short stories let me know. That's what I enjoy writing and reading the most. Until next time, keep the writing flowing and good luck.