Cultural Spanish Communication

My latest contribution to Being Latino. Take a read and get involved!

“Metiche or metichi, the Spanish adjective that negatively describes a person as meddlesome or nosey, is not usually a flattering compliment. In my Mexican culture, I was regularly reprimanded as a young girl for being a metiche, as my constant curiosity and people-watching habit would find me staring, when in public. To date, I cannot read or work out in public as my fascination for my fellow beings is simple intense. However, don’t take it as a critical judgment, it is an admiration for the human condition and diverse perspective. So, yes, I continue to be a strong example of what it is to be a constructive metiche, with a genuine motive for awareness and understanding. Therefore, when invited to Latino community engagements I clear my calendar in order to attend these public events and be the best metiche possible.”

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What a great topic! Boy, do I have several stories “from the back of the truck” to share.  Unfortunately I’m a little older than 12 years old, although not by much. Anyhow, my fellow Tejanos… I am sure you have just as many stories “from the back of the truck” that are worth sharing. Take out your journals and pencils, your laptops, and your reference texts and write the next winning cultural short story!

Send your draft to me, I will gladly read, proof and comment!

¡Buena suerte!  Best of luck!

~Teresa

Topic: “from the back of the truck”

Texas Book Festival, in partnership with the University Interscholastic League, announces its 12th annual Fiction Writing Contest, sponsored by Kirkus Reviews, to encourage and reward creative writing in Texas schools. This year’s fiction writing contest theme is “from the back of the truck.” The topic was selected by Texas Book Festival fans on Facebook, who voted it as their favorite of three choices.

Texas junior and high school students (grades 7-12) are invited to submit a piece of original fiction, no more than 2,000 words in length. Entries must be submitted online no later than July 27, 2013. Submitted entries are considered in three divisions: grades 7-8; grades 9-10; and grades 11-12.

There is no entry fee, and schools are limited to three entries per division. The submissions will be judged by educators, authors, and community leaders. Judges will look for excellence in use of dialogue, character development, setting, plot, conflict, and resolution.

Winners will receive a cash prize: $250 for first place, $100 for second, and $50 for third. In addition, first place winners will be awarded a plaque, will have their stories published on the TBF website, and will be invited to participate on a panel during the Texas Book Festival weekend Oct. 26-27. The Book Festival will provide accommodations for the first-place winners and their family for one night.

Since 2001, the Texas Book Festival has partnered with UIL to host its annual fiction writing contest. The mission of the Texas Book Festival is to celebrate authors and their contributions to the culture of literacy, ideas, and imagination. The writing contest serves to promote that culture to students across Texas and to educate them on the opportunities available to writers.

About Texas Book Festival

The Texas Book Festival is a nonprofit organization that celebrates authors and their contributions to the culture of literacy, ideas, and imagination. Founded in 1995 by Laura Bush and a group of volunteers, the annual Festival is held on the grounds of the Texas Capitol, and this year will be held the weekend of Oct. 26 and 27. The Festival features readings and discussions from more than 250 renowned Texas and national authors, entertaining and informing more than 40,000 adults and children alike. Thanks to the Festival’s 1,000 volunteers, the event remains free and open to the public. TBF supports Texas public libraries and literacy through its Library Grants and Reading Rock Stars programs, and also hosts year-round events across the state. Texas Book Festival members receive invitations to exclusive author events, priority seating, the latest literary news, and more. Visit www.texasbookfestival.org for more information.

The plan… NOT to get constrained or distracted by an infatuation with another. Simple, clear, and safe.  The perfect plan to allow for a professional and successful career as a feminist, Latina writer living abroad, enjoying travel, and living a fulfilling cultural life. I envisioned myself surrounded by children, yet uncommitted. Whose children? Not my own, that’s for sure! That was my plan and I was sticking to it while working on my Master’s degree in College Station, Texas.

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About Glimmer Train Press

Glimmer Train has been discovering and publishing emerging writers since 1990.

These are the things Glimmer Train hopes to do:

- Publish literary short stories that were emotionally significant. We knew that at its best, a story could add depth and breadth to real life, and those were the stories we wanted to print.

- Present stories in a handsome physical publication that people would keep, giving the stories the long lives and future readings they deserved.

- Keep a keen eye out for new voices, favoring pieces by emerging writers.

- Permanently have a no-reading-fee category (our “standard” category) so no writer would be prevented from making submissions because of finances.

- Pay writers well for stories we accepted for publication. (In a year’s time now, we pay over $45,000 to writers, nearly a third of that to emerging writers.)

Upcoming Very Short Fiction Contest

We invite you to submit your very short stories (maximum word count 3,000) within the next 21 days.

Reading fee is $15 per story; please, no more than three submissions per contest.

Open to all writers. Any short story that has not appeared in print, nor been accepted by a print publication, is welcome!

Maximum length: 3000 words

Held twice a year: Open to submissions in January and July.

January Deadline: January 31

Submissions at: Glimmer Train’s online submission site

Prizes:

• 1st place: $1,500 and publication in Glimmer Train Stories, and 20 copies of that issue.
• 2nd place: $500, or, if accepted for publication, $700 and 10 copies
• 3rd place: $300, or, if accepted for publication, $700 and 10 copies

Things You Should Know about Submitting Your Stories and Submission Categories

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