WU! Anthology: Dimensions of the Wild West!

Dimensions of the Wild West!

Submissions Close on November 15, 2020

You have less than a week to get your Western on! Once again, the WU! members astound us. You can write anything and write it well!!! Great stories!!!

Guidelines here! https://docs.google.com/document/d/1ImJqsZ-6XBBYGBcz0BY0kfsifE7cTzNFCoNusU8vJyI/edit?usp=sharing

Dimensions of Paranormal

Volumes One and Two release in three days!

Paranormal. Does the word bring a shiver to your spine or cause you to think of ectoplasmic slime? Your favorite group of authors from Writers Unite! invite you to experience their version of shivers and slime.

Pre-order your ebooks now!

Paperbacks available on October 30th on Amazon.com!

Volume One: https://amzn.to/31IVvAr

Volume Two: https://amzn.to/3dXH8NO

Writers Unite! Workshop: The Western (Part One)

Writers Unite! Workshop

The Western

Part One

Mention the word “western,” and images of cowboys and sheriffs, shootouts and posses, and a saloon, cattle drive, or stagecoach come to mind—nothing like the wild, wild west.

The western genre appeared during the late 19^th Century when the exploits of citizens moving west into the American frontier became the subject of the ‘penny dreadfuls’ and dime novels that fictionalize tales of real people such as Billy the Kidd, Wyatt Earp, and Jessie James. Interest in western tales inspired by James Fenimore Cooper’s Leatherstocking novels and his best-known novel in the series, The Last of the Mohicans, grew to enormous popularity.

The success of the novel, The Virginian by Owen Wister, published in 1902, led to the rise of well-known authors Zane Grey, Louis L’Amour, and Larry McMurtry. Present-day western authors such as Ace Atkins, Craig Johnson, and the late Tony Hillerman, whose daughter Anne continues the sagas of Navajo Tribal Police Lieutenant Joe Leaphorn, and Sergeant Jim Cree are best-selling authors.

Definition of Western Genre: 

Westerns are stories usually set in western North America, most often west of the Mississippi River and during the latter half of the 19^th century. Common themes include honor, justice, survival, revenge, and redemption. The main characters are cowboys, scouts, Indians, traders, pioneers, and lawmen, among others.

Classic Characteristics of a Western:

• Wide-open spaces of the western United States
• Cowboys
• Lawmen: sheriffs, US. Marshals
• Bad guys such as evil land barons, robbers, gunslingers
• Native Americans
• Settlers
• Wagon trains, stagecoaches, trains
• Mining
• Cattle ranches and cattle drives
• Saloons, barkeeps, saloon girls
• Gambling
• Shootouts, train and bank robberies
• Period set between the American Civil War and early 1900s

Western Themes:

• Morality — Good vs. Evil
• Revenge
• Coming of age
• Love
• Survival
• Prejudice
• Courage

Traditional Western Subgenres:

• Australian – This sub-genre is a rare exception to the ‘time and place’ bounds of the genre and instead settles in Australia’s vast outback.
• Black Cowboy (buffalo soldier) – These westerns feature a protagonist of color. Historians say the actual frontier was relatively colorblind.
• Bounty Hunter – This sub-genre centers upon these morally ambiguous characters.
• Civil War – Some battles during the war were fought as far west as New Mexico. After the war, the Blue/Gray bitterness throughout the frontier.
• Cowpunk – A subgenre that derives its name (and irreverent tone) from science fiction’s ‘cyberpunk.’ (Wild, Wild West, anyone???)
• Doctor and Preacher – Two types of protagonists in this subgenre. These lead characters are committed to peace and healing in an often violent environment.
• Gunfighter – The iconic western subgenre. Often a ‘white hat’ protagonist reluctantly agrees to go up against a cruel ‘black hat’ villain (whether an outright criminal or a corrupt VIP) on behalf of oppressed settlers. 
• Indian wars – This is a dominant subgenre. They are usually accurate, in a historical sense, and will also reflect the worldview of the author. 
• Land Rush – Usually focused on Oklahoma or a few similar events in which vast tracts of land opened to homesteading – whether the resident Indians liked it or not.
• Lawmen (Texas Rangers) – This subgenre centers around the honest lawmen who brought order and justice to the wild frontier. Often the protagonist is or is based upon an actual person.
• Outlaw – Westerns that focus on the black hats, the colorful villains of that era.
• Railroad – Stories center upon a titanic project: the bridging of the east and west coasts by the Central Pacific and Union Pacific lines.
• Revenge – These westerns are a relatively dark subgenre. A determined protagonist, often a young survivor of some cruel massacre, goes after the perpetrators.
• Romance – An overlapping subgenre, which features such a relationship, but in the format of a ‘western’ novel. 
• Sheep – Range wars between cattle and sheep ranchers.
• Town Tamer – A lone gunman, or sometimes a group of friends, take on the corrupt leadership of an isolated town, and risk their lives to bring freedom.
• Wagon Train – These westerns are an archetypal subgenre. The Oregon Trail was the interstate highway of its era, with lumbering Conestoga wagons and hardships that were often extreme.
• Women – Female protagonists lead this subgenre. Some tales idealize their courage and triumphs, as with the real-life Annie Oakley. Opposite this, Dorothy Scarborough’s 1925 novel The Wind is a harsh depiction of a young woman’s life in frontier west Texas. (So harsh that Texan leaders protested.)

Non-traditional Western Subgenres:

• Fantasy – Combining magic and magical creatures in a western is not as prevalent in westerns but do exist. The level of magic may range from everyday use by citizens to strangers with magical powers.
• Science-Fiction – While an unlikely combination, science fiction can combine with western themes. The film “Cowboys and Aliens” from 2011 merged the two genres well, with aliens in the Old West. The movie “Outland” from 1981 has been described as a space western which is a subgenre of the science fiction genre and uses the themes and tropes of the western genre.
• Paranormal – Ghosts, angels and demons, vampires, werewolves, and the occasional Sasquatch appear in these stories.
• Horror – The element of fear is what sets this genre aside and often combine the paranormal genre with horror in a western setting.
• Mystery – Think Pinkerton,stagecoach, and bank robberies, stealing mine claims, along with good old-fashioned murder. Central characters are sheriffs, deputies, US. Marshals, government investigators, and detectives from Pinkerton, including a female detective.

Revisionist Western Subgenre: 

During the 1960s, westerns took on a different tone. They became dark and sinister, with more violence than a traditional western where morals such as good and evil were clear cut. A revisionist western often portrayed the hero as more of an anti-hero, and the division of good and evil blurred. Many movies, so-called “spaghetti westerns,” dealt with deeper issues and different values.

Neo-western Subgenre:

The neo-western is set in present day and carries the themes of a traditional western—a high moral code, good and evil are clear. Characters and settings are often the same, but modern sensibilities are applied to the story. Often, the hero feels out of place as some consider the code they live by as old-fashioned. The Longmire series by Craig Johnson is an excellent example of the genre.

Next:

Characters, Setting, and The Importance of Research

Resources:

Agnew, Jeremy. December 2, 2014. The Creation of the Cowboy Hero: Fiction, Film and Fact, p. 88, McFarland. ISBN 978-0786478392
Masterclass: Western Genre    https://bit.ly/3hIwMSA http://www.cuebon.com/ewriters/Wsubgenres.htmlhttp://bestfantasybooks.com/weird-west-fantasy.html
Brophy, Philip (1987). “Rewritten Westerns: Rewired Westerns”. Stuffing. No. 1. Melbourne. Retrieved 2014-09-01.

Please note: the images used are free-use images and do not require attribution.

Announcing Writers Unite!’s sixth anthology volume.  We invite all writers of westerns or any writers interested in the western genre to submit a story to our Dimensions of The Wild West anthology.

If you are interested in submission, you must be a member of Writers Unite! on Facebook.  https://www.facebook.com/groups/145324212487752/
If you have questions, please email writersunite16@gmail.com

Link to Guidelines for the Dimensions of the Wild West: https://bit.ly/3fh7zgr

WRITERS UNITE! ANTHOLOGIES: DIMENSIONS OF SCIENCE FICTION

Writers Unite! Anthologies

Presents

Dimensions of Science Fiction

Pre-order Begins Today!

Reserve your eBook copies on Amazon

Volumes One and Two: $0.99 each during pre-order

Volume One: https://amzn.to/3hn6rKm
Volume Two: https://amzn.to/2Cc3EDX

The universe—vast, unknown, mysterious, existing as a playground of imagination. From aliens older than time itself, an archaeological dig that portends the fate of Earth, a sentient planet, developing races, colonization, a world fighting for its existence, these and more stories await you within the Dimensions of Science Fiction. Join the authors from Writers Unite! as they take you on a voyage across the universe.

eBooks will be available for pre-order on June 15, 2020 and will be delivered to your readers on June 30.

Paperbacks will be available for order on the publication date of June 30, 2020.

Writers Unite! Anthologies: Dimensions of Science Fiction

Writers Unite! Anthologies

Presents

Dimensions of Science Fiction

The universe—vast, unknown, mysterious, existing as a playground of imagination. From aliens older than time itself, an archaeological dig that portends the fate of Earth, a sentient planet, developing races, colonization, a world fighting for its existence, these and more stories await you within the Dimensions of Science Fiction. Join the authors from Writers Unite! as they take you on a voyage across the universe.

eBooks will be available for pre-order on June 15, 2020 and will be delivered to your readers on June 30.

Paperbacks will be available for order on the publication date of June 30, 2020.

Writers Unite! Anthologies: Dimensions of Science Fiction

Writers Unite! Anthologies Presents

Dimensions of Science Fiction!

“The universe—vast, unknown, mysterious, existing as a playground of imagination. From aliens older than time itself, an archeological dig that portends the fate of Earth, a sentient planet, developing races, colonization, to a world fighting for its existence, these and more stories await you within the Dimensions of Science Fiction. Join the authors from Writers Unite! as they take you on a voyage across the universe.”

The publication date is tentatively set for June 15! Final date to be announced along with pre-order information for this two-volume set as soon as confirmed.

Thanks to all the authors participating. Each time we published an anthology, we don’t think the next one can be better. We are proven wrong once again! Sci-fi fan or not, you will enjoy this anthology.

Writers Unite! Anthologies: Dimensions of Science Fiction

Welcome to Writers Unite!’s fourth anthology volume.  We invite all writers of science fiction or any writers interested in the science fiction genre to submit a story to our Dimensions of Science Fiction anthology.

If you are interested in submission, you must be a member of Writers Unite! on Facebook.  If you have questions, please email writersunite16@gmail.com.

Submission information:  

• Submissions open on April 1, 2019, at Noon EDT
• Submissions close on June 30, 2019, at 11: 59 pm EDT
• All stories must be emailed to the Publisher at writersunite16@gmail.com
• Please type “Sci-Fi Submission” plus your name and the story title in the subject line. Each story submission must be in a separate email.

Writers Unite! Science Fiction Anthology Guidelines:

Genre:  Science Fiction (all subgenres)     

Rating: G, GP, R (no excessive gore or erotica)

General:

• Must be a member of the Facebook writing group, Writers Unite!                                 (Link to WU!: https://www.facebook.com/groups/145324212487752/)
• Work must be original work by the contributor. Previously published work will be considered but must not be encumbered in any way by publishing rights.
• Publisher is Writers Unite Worldwide (https://writersuniteweb.wordpress.com/)

Word count:

• 5000 maximum. (Please no less than 500 for stories, 25 words for poetry).
• You may submit shorter stories and poems (max word count 3000)
• Only authors of stories of min 3000 + words receive cover credit. Shorter stories will be included as space allows and authors given credit in the index of authors.

Submission Count:

• Each author may submit up to five total stories.
• Each author is only allowed one 3K-5K word story (These stories take precedence in publishing)
• Up to four flash fiction and/or poetry pieces (max 1000 words each) are acceptable from one author in addition to the 3K-5K story. (These stories and poems will be selected on quality and space needs in the anthology.

Editing and Proofreading:

• Submitted manuscripts MUST be WELL-EDITED for consideration. Manuscripts not meeting the requirement will be rejected by the Writers Unite! Administrative team and not forwarded to the PUBLISHER.
• Formatting requirements are listed at the end of this document.
• PUBLISHER shall make no changes in, or to the manuscript without AUTHOR’S consent. In order to obtain such consent PUBLISHER shall submit the copy-edited manuscript to AUTHOR for approval. AUTHOR agrees to return such proof to PUBLISHER within ten (10) days of delivery of copy-edited manuscript.

Publication and Compensation:

• AUTHORS will retain sole copyright ownership of their individual respective works.
• AUTHORS  may submit work for publication under a pseudonym but must provide true name for purposes of royalty payments.
• AUTHORS’ compensation will be based on a pro rata royalty share of 50% of net proceeds to be divided among all AUTHORS whose writing appears in WORK.
• CONTRIBUTOR’S *** MUST *** have a Valid PayPal ID will be required for royalty payouts to AUTHORS.  If an individual AUTHORS refuses to provide PayPal ID they will not be eligible for compensation and their content will not be included in WORK. PUBLISHER will provide Authors with one electronic file of the finished product at no charge. If additional author copies are required, they will be provided as follows:  AUTHORS may each purchase up to five (5) copies at PUBLISHER’s discounted rate of 30% off the distributor’s retail price. No royalties will be paid by PUBLISHER for copies purchased using Publisher/vendor discount.
• Selling Price​:​ PUBLISHER will set the retail price (“cover price”) of the WORK, based on length, comparable works, and format. PUBLISHER reserves the right to raise or reduce the price as needed to stimulate sales.
• PUBLISHER at its sole discretion will make WORK available through distribution and/or vending companies in one or more of the following formats:  
  • Readable (text) digital format (electronic download, disk, CD/CD-ROM, E-Book reader or similar media of presentation, excluding motion picture/television/video/DVD rights) whether now known or hereafter invented or developed
  • Print on demand (POD) trade paperback
  • Traditional print run mass market paperback
  • Audiobook

_______________________________________________________________

Formatting the Manuscript:

• Font: 12-point Times New Roman or Courier
• Visual: Black text on white background
• Margins: One-inch margins, and on half-inch first-line indents.
• Paragraphs: Set to double-spaced, O lines before/after.
• Spacing: Left justified with consistent one-space spacing between sentences.
• Name/Word Count: Single spaced true identity and word count in top right of first page. (
• Title: Centered title, about one-third down first page.
• Byline: Centered one double-space after title.
• Main Text: Begin text two double spaces below byline.
• Header: Name / Title / Pg.# on pages 2 and above.
• Dialog: Must be enclosed in quotation marks.
• End of Text: Place <end> after last line.

Writers Unite! Anthology: Realm of Romance

Romance. The word alone conjures up a myriad of emotions depending on the state of our relationships, but the fact is, romance creates intense reactions. Whether we are overjoyed because we are with the one we love or heartbroken over a loss, romance has fueled our imagination from the beginning of time.

Writers Unite! chose romance for our second Realm anthology because the genre is the world’s most popular. From innocent to the most intimate of stories, there is something to please everyone. With an international membership of 45,000 writers from all walks of life, the admins had no doubt the members would rise to the occasion and provide excellent stories about love gained and lost.

We were not disappointed.

As you read the wonderful stories included, remember that these excellent writers had restrictions. The stories are limited to 5000 words or less. Writing a complete story in so few words is an art, and there are artists among us. As we read through the entries, we laughed and cried, and you will too. Keep the tissues handy!

Deborah Ratliff

Writers Unite! Administrator

Click here to order Realm of Romance .  

Don’t forget WU!’s First Anthology Realm of Magic also available on Amazon. com!!!

Writers Unite! anthology: Realm of Romance available for Pre-Order!

***** It’s Here! *****

Writer’s Unite! “Realm of Romance” is available for presale on Amazon!

Click here to reserve your copy (or copies)!!!

https://amzn.to/2FSeuQO

(Alternate link: mybook.to/realmofromance)

Just in time for the Holidays! Great way to bring a bit of romance to those you love!!!

Writers Unite! Announces Our Third Anthology! Realm of Mystery

Mystery writers, join Writers Unite! for the third volume in our Anthology Series!

Submissions for Realm of Mystery will open on September 1, 2018, and closed on October 31, 2018.

You must be a member of the Facebook group Writers Unite! or a follower of this blog to enter. Click here to join WU!

The guidelines for the anthology and directions for the submissions port are found here.

Two crucial points:

• You MUST edit your entry prior to submission. We do a light edit on the stories before they are sent to the publisher but will not correct excessive errors. Those stories will be rejected.
• You MUST have the anthology’s theme as the focus of your story. Writers Unite! chose to do a main genre as opposed to specific themes so that authors had a broader scope to choose sub-genre of interest.

There is an art to short stories. The writer must condense a story into fewer words and also choose those words carefully. Writing a mystery short story has the added element of clues and foreshadowing that are difficult to develop within a few thousand words.

Starting on Monday Writers Unite! will offer a workshop on writing short stories and the mystery genre.

What is Mystery?

Mystery (pronounced mis-tuh-ree, ) is a genre of literature whose stories focus on a mysterious crime, situation or circumstance that needs to be solved. The term comes from the Latin mysterium, meaning “a secret thing.” stories can be either fictional or nonfictional, and can focus on both supernatural and non-supernatural topics. Many mystery stories involve what is called a “whodunit” scenario, meaning the mystery revolves around the uncovering a culprit or criminal.

Get writing!!  Time to tell us “Who done it?”