I’m proud to share some amazing stories and poetry in Allasso, Volume 3: Storge. All the stories are available for free at that link. By May, they should all be available in the print version, as well.
This has been a long time coming, but I hope you enjoy what you read.
Seriously. I have no clue why.
I do find bananas funny. I looked at the page and thought, “Hmm. That seems like something I’d put there.” I thought, “Hmm. Maybe I did put that there.”
But I didn’t.
(I’ll make a real post later, so don’t expect this blog to be dead)
Submissions closed for Allasso last night. I’ve had the chance to read through some of the submissions, but I have quite a few more to go through. Then again. Then again.
I have read some great writing, a lot of pretty good writing, and, uh… Some that wasn’t good. But I’m okay reading those. Makes me remember some publications to which I submitted years ago. I look back at the poetry I sent and think, “Why the hell did I send that in?!”
I’m embarrassed by stuff I wrote a few years ago, but I’m proud I sent it in! Because of that, I love reading God-awful writing. I won’t accept it, but that’s a sign that people are trying. No bad can come of that :)
Yup, that’s right! Time for a furry con!
Not much else to say except I’m working on finding a job right now. Keeps me busy.
Oh, and here’s a picture for you:
So I’ve been doing a lot of work on the publications. I’ve finally made an actual website for them. Thing is… I’m starting to think Scratches might not pan out. I’m putting a lot of effort into the other one, and I feel like it will be much more worth my time.
In other news, I put an ad up on FA. I think this is gonna help get the good word of creative writing out there! Hopefully I’ll see some more submissions soon.
I’ve officially accepted two — one short story and one poem. I’ve also received a few others that look pretty good and just might make it in.
Yup! I’m currently traveling in Arizona with my boyfriend. It’s been fun, and I’ll have more of a report when I’m home sometime next week.
At that time, I’ll start working on the structure of the webpage for the publications. Lots of work to do, but I think it’s all doable. :)
**NOTICE** — Submission guidelines have changed, and I’ve created a new website dedicated to Allasso! Please, feel free to check it out here.
I am currently accepting submissions for two different publications specifically aimed at the furry fandom: Scratches and Allasso. When submitting, be sure to put which publication you’re submitting to in the subject (especially if it is poetry); otherwise, I will assume you are submitting for both.
Also, if you’re not sure whether or not you should submit, just submit. The worst that can happen is that your work will not be accepted for publication. However, I will personally read everything that’s sent to me; if you thought it was worth writing, I definitely think it’s worth reading.
Details and Guidelines for Submissions
Scratches is a monthly publication celebrating the beauty of short writing coupled with the visual arts. Publications will be made in various resolutions for computer backgrounds; occasional editions will be created as 11×17 prints. Submissions can have humans but must be animal-related. Anthropomorphic and feral creatures are both accepted. The different categories are:
Poetry — one (1) poem per submission. Maximum 35 lines, no minimum length. File must be .doc, .docx, or .rtf
Flash Fiction — one (1) story per submission. Maximum 300 words, no minimum length. File must be .doc, .docx, or .rtf
Art — one (1) piece per submission. Any photography or drawn work accepted. Landscape format preferred. Send in the highest available resolution. File must be .jpg, .gif, or .png
New work is preferred. If your submission has been published anywhere (including personal blogs or websites), please tell where in the cover letter.
Submissions for Scratches are currently open. Because this publication is released monthly, submissions are ongoing.
First Scratches will appear in early June.
To submit, send an e-mail with cover letter and poems attached to alexandre.de.britos@gmail.com with subject saying “Scratches Submission”
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Allasso is a bi-annual online publication dedicated to finding new experiences within anthropomorphic writing and art. Publications will be released as an online journal. Submissions can have humans but must be animal-related. Anthropomorphic and feral creatures are both accepted. A person may enter one submission per category each time submissions open. The different categories are:
Poetry — five (5) poems per submission. No minimum or maximum length. File must be .doc, .docx, or .rtf
Fiction — one (1) story per submission. Maximum 10,000 words, no minimum length. Standard manuscript format is preferred, though experimental formats are accepted. File must be.doc, .docx, or .rtf
Essay — one (1) essay per submission. Maximum 10,000 words, no minimum length. Essays must relate to animals or the furry fandom. Standard manuscript format is preferred, though experimental formats are accepted. File must be .doc, .docx, or .rtf
Art — five (5) pieces per submission. Any photography or drawn work accepted. Send in the highest available resolution.
Comic — one (1) comic per submission. Maximum 20 pages, no minimum length. Comics must relate to animals or the furry fandom. Send a link, a .zip file, or individual images.
Experimental/Other — one (1) piece per submission. If what you are submitting doesn’t seem to fit into any of the other categories, it can go here. This could include music, video, or something even our editor cannot imagine. Feel free to surprise us.
We will choose one work per category for a $50 cash prize. In addition, we’ll give our favorite of everything a little something special. Prize winners will be announced on November 15, 2011.
We accept previously published pieces, but new work is preferred. If your submission has been published anywhere (including personal blogs or websites), please tell where in the cover letter. Simultaneous submissions are not accepted.
While we accept adult pieces, we will not accept anything that is strictly pornographic.
Submissions for Allasso are currently open until June 30, 2011. Every person who submits will be contacted by August 31, 2011. Allasso vol. 1 will appear in mid- to late-December.
To submit, send an e-mail with cover letter and submissions to pinkfoxpublications@gmail.com with the subject “Allasso Submission”
(if you had submitted to alexandre.de.britos@gmail.com, don’t worry — we got your e-mail)
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FAQ
Who reads my submissions? Brian Lee Cook, also known as Digby in the furry fandom.
What are you looking for? We want writing and art that attempts to redefine furry literature. Right now, “furry” is almost an abstract concept, and many possibilities within writing are still yet to be found. If you feel that your writing or art brings something new to the fandom — whether it deals with contenct, style, or imagery — we want it.
Are erotic situations alright? That depends on the goal of the eroticism. If the erotic situation stimulates the intellect, then yes. However, plenty of other publications accept adult literature, so please do not send anything purely meant to “get off.”
Are you paying for published submissions? Because this is a non-profit publication, we only have funds to pay those who win the best piece in each category of Allasso.
Are you looking for volunteers? Yes! Right now, we would like to create a website dedicated specifically to these two publications. However, Digby isn’t very good at HTML. We have the money to pay for internet space, so if anyone would be interested in working on a website, please send us an e-mail!
What are the copyrights? When your work is accepted, we reserve one-time electronic rights to your work.
Do you accept simultaneous submissions? No.
Can I submit someone else’s work? No.
I hear so much negativity circling around me all the time that it’s good to finally have a string of positive things happen.
First, the LGBTQA organization at USU held their annual Day of Silence. I believe the national one was held on April 20; however, A-Day (a campus-wide celebration) happened on Friday. Instead of spending time walking around having a blast with friends, dozens of people took vows of silence to remember those who have either died or been silenced. I didn’t do that myself — I felt like I had been silenced too long. I honestly am amazed by how much these college students do in order to build bridges with others, especially the Mormon community.
I did participate more in the improv festival tonight. Four local groups came together and performed to raise money for the Red Cross to use in Japanese relief efforts. Our portion of the show went two-and-a-half hours, but I know people who stayed at that venue for five hours supporting local performance as well as charity. As a troupe, these other groups were somewhat competition to us, but we all came together and experienced a magical night.
I remember days when we said the most important thing we could do as improvisers is bring the improv community together. Tonight, we actually did that. I have a feeling many collaborations will happen in the future.
What follows is a poem I had published in the Sigma Tau Delta regional newsletter in 2010. Rainbows definitely refer to sexual orientation, but I also wonder if this rainbow could be any form of self-expression that stems away from the norm. I used to be a music major at college, and my mother convinced me to change. I’m still not sure if it was for the best.
Have a good evening.
Not Everybody Can Walk Across a Rainbow
But if you do,
The first step is uncertain, shaky,
Like standing on Jello.
If you grab the hand holds
In the blue and green stripes,
Each step gets easier until
You’re at the top
Looking over what looks like
Doll houses surrounded by pine trees
In the green, green valley.
You’re mother might see you sitting
On the purple edge
And get sad
Or worried
Or angry.
She’ll tell you that you’ll fall and break
Your neck, or that she’ll
Disown you, or that she’ll
Take you to live in a cave
Where there are no rainbows,
But you’re there
At the intersection of sunshine and rain
With a puffy white cloud in your palm,
The stormy ones already tipping
Their hats to you.
Chip off a piece to take along,
Your little rainbow geode.
And don’t wait too long–
The climb down is steep
With sharp rocks at the bottom,
And you just might slip
If you’re not careful enough.
It’s scary, I know.
That’s why
Not everybody can walk across a rainbow.
I suppose most stay at the top
And go to the place
Where rainbows go
When they disappear.
The horror! The shock! The terror!
That’s right! I’ve successfully created a blog for myself. The day my parents let me play with a computer mouse, my parents thought, “Oh, nothing bad can happen from this. Maybe a little SkiFree, yeah, but nothing actually harmful.”
The thing is, they didn’t know about this:
A classic terror
That monster traumatized me! I’d sit at the computer, skiing on and not, knowing that sometime in the near future the SkiFree Monster ™ would come and destroy me! I tried to get past him several times, but it’s impossible.
This must have damaged my mind in a few ways — one, I was afraid of skiing or any form of physical exercise. Some people call it laziness, but I blame technology. Two, I somehow became addicted to that virtual fear. It exploded into Doom II, Half-Life, Minesweeper, Sudoku, and the all-dreaded Barbi games.
Wait… that is, I didn’t play Barbi! I only watched my sister play! It didn’t make sense that Barbi could go skating around the world and fall over without losing her head. I mean, that’s the most important point of Barbies. Marie Antoinette could have learned a thing or two from that piece of plastic.
Anyway, the point I’m trying to make is that I have a blog. Ignore all Barbi-related information.
Now to see if SkiFree has any cheat codes…
B. L. Cook 