tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-47535484720901278602024-03-12T18:41:40.772-07:00Resources for Muslim Writers"A marvelous set of resources for Muslim writers..." - Writer's DigestUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger420125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4753548472090127860.post-17123596754526047202013-03-04T21:17:00.000-08:002013-03-04T22:18:20.995-08:00To Allah We Belong, and To Allah We Return<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBDzhxpCMDXjQY3cR-FGuLUhMpcBON04kO5csLfCTzqPn-tQ3n2eOi3Am3IaFmQjly1ZsZZHdIPMHKiLGWURJlwXTO257CBLAB5jCy5Y5K8I0IP94Tg53f8OKseKjKbYHeZ52eUk0gj7A/s1600/jamilah.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBDzhxpCMDXjQY3cR-FGuLUhMpcBON04kO5csLfCTzqPn-tQ3n2eOi3Am3IaFmQjly1ZsZZHdIPMHKiLGWURJlwXTO257CBLAB5jCy5Y5K8I0IP94Tg53f8OKseKjKbYHeZ52eUk0gj7A/s1600/jamilah.jpg" /></a>Some of you may recognize the woman in the picture accompanying this post as Sister <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jamilah_Kolocotronis">Jamilah Kolocotronis</a>, author of the <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/977824.Echoes">Echoes series</a> of Islamic novels. Sadly, Sr. Jamilah <a href="http://www.facebook.com/events/146840162136470/permalink/150048398482313/">passed away</a> on January 12, 2013 after a long battle with cancer and Multiple Chemical Sensitivity (MCS). Sr. Jamilah was a devoted mother to six boys, and, if you visit her old <a href="http://www.writerswebpages.com/jamilahkolocotronis/">webpage</a>, you will see a picture of her lovely family as well.</div>
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Sr. Jamilah was a great author, masha’Allah, and an even better friend. I had the pleasure of getting to know her on a deeper level when I edited her novel <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Ripples-Jamilah-Kolocotronis/dp/0979357764">Ripples</a>. We had many interesting exchanges about her characters and the scenes in her book. Over the years, she also helped me out whenever I needed to interview a Muslim woman for various freelance articles I was writing. I once shared her novels with a close friend who hungrily devoured them one after another, saying that she wished Sr. Jamilah would write faster so she didn’t have to wait so long to find out what happened next in the Echoes series.<br />
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Sr. Jamilah had several unique qualities that I really liked. First of all, she was both gentle and humble and never displayed an ounce of arrogance when it came to her work. She had excellent manners and talked about her family frequently. You could tell that she loved her children immensely and cared deeply about their upbringing. She was an independent thinker who hated oppression and cruelty and always stood up for justice. Above all, she had strong faith and used her literary talent to share it with others. Being ill sometimes <a href="http://muslimteenreads.com/forum/2013/01/06/introducing-a-pioneer-in-islamic-fiction-jamilah-kolocotronis/">slowed her down</a>, but it never stopped her, and this is something I greatly admired.<br />
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Sr. Jamilah and I lost touch for a while, until December 2012, when I wrote to her regarding a project I thought she might be interested in. She was supposed to send me some files but never did. I waited, not wanting to bother her. Then I suddenly heard that her illness had escalated to the point that she had been placed under hospice care. I wrote her another e-mail, only to hear the next evening that she had finally returned to Allah. With a heavy heart, I closed the laptop and put my head down as I remembered all the ways in which Sr. Jamilah had touched my life. Mostly, though, I could only think about her family and how they would be affected by this turn of events.<br />
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It’s taken me more than a month to write about the unexpected loss of such a dear sister. Please make dua for Sr. Jamilah and her family. May Allah SWT shower her with mercy and make her work a form of <a href="http://www.qsep.com/modules.php?name=ilm&d_op=article&sid=331">sadaqah jariyah</a>.<br />
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Did you know Sr. Jamilah?<br />
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Share your memories in the comments section.</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4753548472090127860.post-77426497435464810762012-12-15T22:01:00.000-08:002012-12-15T22:02:18.410-08:00Essay Competition: The Teacher Who Changed My Life<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<strong><a href="http://www.azizahmagazine.com/" target="_blank">Azizah Magazine</a></strong> is partnering with New America Media (NAM) and other media partners in Atlanta, GA to organize an <strong><a href="http://www.azizahmagazine.com/Articles/Article_NAMContest.html" target="_blank">essay contest</a></strong> to honor teachers.<br />
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If you are a resident of Atlanta or its surrounding counties, you can enter the competition in one of the following categories:<br />
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<strong>1) Teenagers between 14 to 18 years old:</strong> Write about a teacher, who is not your relative, who teaches in public or private school in the city of Atlanta or surrounding counties.<br />
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Awards of $500 to both the winner and the teacher profiled.<br />
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<strong>2) Adults 19 years of age and older:</strong> Write about a teacher, who is not your relative, who teaches in public or private school in the city of Atlanta or surrounding counties who have changed your life or the life of your child.<br />
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Awards of $500 to both the winner and the teacher profiled.<br />
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<strong>3) Teachers in Memory:</strong> Write about a teacher, who is not your relative, who might have passed away or lost contact with, or a teacher who taught you in your home country.<br />
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$500 awarded to local school of winner's choice.<br />
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<strong>Essays can be up to 500 words and must be submitted by January 14, 2013</strong>.<br />
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<strong><a href="http://www.azizahmagazine.com/Articles/Article_NAMContest.html" target="_blank">Continue reading here for more details and official contest rules</a></strong>.<span id="goog_69743438"></span><a href="http://www.blogger.com/"></a><span id="goog_69743439"></span></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4753548472090127860.post-68719763632065771312012-12-15T02:22:00.000-08:002012-12-15T02:24:46.688-08:00Write about Muslims for Secular Markets<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
If you’ve ever wanted to write about Islamic topics, you may have thought that the only way to do so would be to have your work published in <a href="http://muslimwriters.blogspot.com/p/comprehensive-list-of-muslim-newspapers.html"><strong>Muslim magazines and newspapers</strong></a>. In fact, there are many ways to write about Islam and Muslims for a <strong><a href="http://muslimwriters.blogspot.com/2010/10/published-article-on-charitable-giving.html" target="_blank">secular audience</a></strong> as well. One of the easiest ways is to <a href="http://www.marketsforwriters.blogspot.com/2012/12/lets-focus-onprofiles-for-moment.html"><strong>write a profile</strong></a> of a Muslim who is doing something interesting or noteworthy in his or her community.<br />
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As I <a href="http://www.marketsforwriters.blogspot.com/2012/12/lets-focus-onprofiles-for-moment.html"><strong>point out</strong></a> on my other blog <a href="http://www.marketsforwriters.blogspot.com/"><strong>(Markets for Writers)</strong></a>, numerous magazines are <a href="http://www.marketsforwriters.blogspot.com/2012/12/lets-focus-onprofiles-for-moment.html"><strong>seeking profiles</strong></a> to grace their pages each month. Depending on the focus of the magazine, they may need profiles of business owners, artists, athletes, environmentalists, chefs, politicians, activists, writers, extraordinary women, and so on.<br />
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There is really no end to a magazine’s eternal need for engaging profiles, and there is no reason why these profiles cannot feature Muslims.<br />
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<strong>In fact, the Muslim “hook” may be something that actually generates increased interest in your article.</strong><br />
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This is particularly true when it comes to profiles of Muslim women. Stereotypes still prevail, and most people do not necessarily expect to see a veiled Muslim woman who is a business owner or athlete, so they are naturally attracted to such topics.<br />
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But there are lots of other interesting tidbits about Muslims that can be incorporated into such articles as well. How do the Muslims you are writing about blend faith with their work or other activities, especially when it comes to prayer, fasting, or possible conflicts (such as the need to shake hands with the opposite sex in a Western business setting)? How has Islam shaped their views on various issues, like financial dealings, artistic expression, animal rights, food, or the environment? What is the role of family in their lives? Why did they embrace Islam (if they converted later in life)?<br />
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Obviously, each Muslim will be different, and the idea is not to get a unified “Muslim” answer. The article should not necessarily focus on Islam, either. You want to stick to the subject at hand, which could be anything from business to sailing the Pacific. It is not a sermon, and you should avoid preaching at all costs. It is a profile, though, so you don’t want to ignore the most important thing in this person’s life, which, for many Muslims, is faith.<br />
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When people read about Muslims in their favorite magazines, this will help them see that Muslims are basically regular people who have many of the same interests and goals that they do. A well-written article may even spark someone’s interest in Islam.<br />
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<strong>Have you ever written about Muslims for a non-Muslim audience?</strong> Tell us about it by leaving a comment below.<br />
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4753548472090127860.post-45868972580654354312012-12-11T21:41:00.001-08:002012-12-11T21:59:28.655-08:00The “Secret” is in Your Hands<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">A lot of you probably remember the 2006 book </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Secret_(book)"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><strong>The Secret</strong></span></a><span style="font-family: inherit;">. According to the author, the so-called “secret” to increased wealth, health, and happiness is based upon the supposed Law of Attraction, which has to do with projecting positive vibes in order to attract good things to your life.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Although I am a big believer in positive thinking (negativity never takes you anywhere good), I believe that the </span><a href="http://www.nouralislam.org/englib/engfiles/behavior/howtoincreaseyourwealth.htm"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><strong>Muslim recipe for attracting wealth</strong></span></a><span style="font-family: inherit;"> better nourishes the soul, leaving one content no matter the outcome.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">A </span><a href="http://marketsforwriters.blogspot.com/2012/12/how-to-earn-2000-per-month-by-writing.html"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><strong>recent post</strong></span></a><span style="font-family: inherit;"> of mine on my other blog </span><a href="http://marketsforwriters.blogspot.com/"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><strong>(Markets for Writers)</strong></span></a><span style="font-family: inherit;"> discusses the kind of income one can potentially earn by writing solely for </span><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Markets-Freelance-Writers-Cents-ebook/dp/B00AHC4322/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1354598346&sr=8-1&keywords=amel+abdullah"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><strong>markets that pay 10 cents per word</strong></span></a><span style="font-family: inherit;">. I suggest that </span><a href="http://marketsforwriters.blogspot.com/2012/12/how-to-earn-2000-per-month-by-writing.html"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><strong>$2,000 is an achievable goal</strong></span></a><span style="font-family: inherit;"><strong> </strong>if you are able to write in the neighborhood of 5,000 words per week.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">In other words, <strong>$100 per day</strong>, 5 days per week, hopefully giving you plenty of time to relax on the weekends.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">For many people, this may seem like a large amount of money, especially if you have ever been sucked into writing cheap content for $5 or $10 per article.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">In fact, <strong>$2,000 per month is what I would consider a starting point</strong>…the minimum you should strive for if you are able to follow a particular formula that I will, insha’Allah, discuss in more detail in future posts. As many of you already know, it is not the actual writing that usually takes the most time. It is the research and planning that goes into an article as well as the time it takes you to actually procure a paying assignment. In order for you to succeed as a freelance magazine writer, <strong>your articles must provide real value to the reader</strong>. These days, anyone can go on-line and Google whatever interests them, and magazines do not want articles that simply regurgitate what any regular person can find on Wikipedia.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Although I regularly set income goals for myself and encourage others to do the same, I always like to keep in mind that it is </span><a href="http://www.ramadan.co.za/2008/islam-hadith/spritual/understanding-rizq-keys-success/"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><strong>Allah SWT who is Ar-Razzaq</strong></span></a><span style="font-family: inherit;"> (The Sustainer, The Provider). For me personally, this means striving to do my best while not stressing too much when things turn out differently than I plan or anticipate.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><strong>Perhaps the real “secret,” then, is knowing that, whatever happens, it’s all good.</strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">The Prophet (PBUH) said: “<strong>How wonderful is the affair of the believer, for all of it is good</strong>, and this applies to no one except the believer. If something good happens to him, he gives thanks and that is good for him, and if something bad happens to him, he bears it with patience, and he will be rewarded for that, so everything that Allah has decreed for the Muslim is good.” (Sahih Muslim)</span></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4753548472090127860.post-37377589314839450172012-12-05T21:48:00.000-08:002013-01-24T21:48:51.476-08:00Catching Up...<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi74LwHh92c8lFKVtFPSlRVBs5vt_-5uNAYFej7jSF20UanIJJg6XE-xv4ZJwQ3TXzloKVg2FJjQfLks1co76ZVA9Lafa-woowqljMcBlRJzTAPxrdaFSAOBKufJCZt7zDjuthNiZ1Gt68/s200/10centsbookcover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi74LwHh92c8lFKVtFPSlRVBs5vt_-5uNAYFej7jSF20UanIJJg6XE-xv4ZJwQ3TXzloKVg2FJjQfLks1co76ZVA9Lafa-woowqljMcBlRJzTAPxrdaFSAOBKufJCZt7zDjuthNiZ1Gt68/s200/10centsbookcover.jpg" width="156" /></a>Hard to believe it's been almost a year since I last posted on this blog. As much as I have missed the interaction here, I had to take a break from blogging in order to meet all of my writing and translation deadlines. Alhumdulellah, my <a href="http://www.precisiontext.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><strong>freelance business</strong></a> has really taken off over the past year. I have been doing a lot of translation work and have also been working on numerous projects that I find personally fulfilling. As I told my kids the other day, I hope never to retire from writing, editing, and translation. The feeling of accomplishment that comes from producing something creative is a feeling that is hard to beat.</div>
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Thank you to all my readers who kept this blog on the Writer's Digest list of the <a href="http://www.writersdigest.com/wp-content/uploads/101Sites_2012.pdf" target="_blank"><strong>101 Best Websites for Writers</strong></a> for the fifth year in a row. More that 4,000 websites and blogs were nominated in 2012, so it is a real honor to be included on this list.<br />
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I received a record-number of <a href="http://muslimwriters.blogspot.com/2007/10/your-questions-about-writing-answered.html" target="_blank"><strong>writing questions</strong></a> via e-mail this year. Due to serious time constraints, however, I was not able to answer more than a small handful. Insha'Allah I will do my best to sort through these in the near future.<br />
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One of the most common questions I receive is how one can earn a living writing. With this in mind, I have written a <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Markets-Freelance-Writers-Cents-ebook/dp/B00AHC4322/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1354598346&sr=8-1&keywords=amel+abdullah" target="_blank"><strong>new e-book</strong></a> (my first, actually). <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Markets-Freelance-Writers-Cents-ebook/dp/B00AHC4322/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1354598346&sr=8-1&keywords=amel+abdullah" target="_blank"><strong>50 Markets that Pay Freelance Writers 10 Cents per Word</strong></a> is available via Amazon.com. Although it is a Kindle e-book, you do not actually have to own a Kindle device in order to download and read the book. You do, however, need a <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/feature.html/ref=amb_link_361458882_3?ie=UTF8&docId=1000493771&pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_s=center-9&pf_rd_r=0XRBA6WQ2TJZ53TNPRD4&pf_rd_t=1401&pf_rd_p=1354791522&pf_rd_i=1000426311" target="_blank"><strong>Kindle app</strong></a>, which can be downloaded for free. The free app will allow you to download and read Kindle e-books on your smartphone, tablet, or computer.<br />
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As the title implies, the e-book identifies <strong>50 markets that pay freelance writers 10 cents per word</strong>. Included are guidelines
and contact information for 50 magazines, newspapers, websites, and e-zines in a
wide variety of genres - everything from sports, travel, and politics to
parenting, frugal living, animals, green living, and more. Many of the editors of these publications have stated that they are open to working with new writers, and that they will even help writers polish their writing in some cases. So, if you want to earn money writing for magazines, my hope is that this guide will make a handy reference tool that will motivate you to send your stuff out and take risks with your writing. In my experience, <strong>10 cents per word is a pretty good price-point at which to get started and very doable for new writers.</strong> <br />
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In future posts, I will explain more about the query process and what it generally takes to get an article accepted. To this end, you may wish to check out my new blog <strong>(</strong><a href="http://www.marketsforwriters.com/" target="_blank"><strong>Markets for Writers</strong></a><strong>)</strong>, which is intended for a general audience. I will, of course, continue to post here in order to discuss issues of relevance to Muslim writers. <br />
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By the way, I am still seeking <a href="http://muslimwriters.blogspot.com/2008/06/seeking-stories-of-dua.html" target="_blank"><strong>stories of DUA that came true</strong></a> for publication in a book. Please read the <a href="http://muslimwriters.blogspot.com/2008/06/seeking-stories-of-dua.html" target="_blank"><strong>guidelines</strong></a>, and send your stories to amel.abdullah{at}yahoo.com.<br />
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<strong>What have you been up to lately?</strong> Please leave a comment below.
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4753548472090127860.post-59473925991296213572012-01-20T12:00:00.000-08:002012-01-21T04:12:46.360-08:00Writers Needed at Nia Prima<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><a href="http://niaprima.com/" target="_blank"><b>Nia Prima</b></a> is <a href="http://www.workhalal.com/index.php?post_id=630" target="_blank"><b>seeking writers</b></a> to cover topics of interest to Muslim women.<br />
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This is a <b>non-paying</b> opportunity.</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4753548472090127860.post-72185896440192429522012-01-12T12:00:00.000-08:002012-01-12T12:00:00.700-08:00Editor Sought for 100-page Report<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><a href="https://www.elance.com/j/we-an-editor-proofreader/28008075/?utm_medium=partner&utm_source=simplyhired&utm_campaign=simplyhired?utm_source=SimplyHired&utm_medium=partner&utm_campaign=SimplyHired" target="_blank"><b>This ad</b></a> seeks an editor for a 100-page report "on the foods that used to be a medium of exchange (money) in the past." Among other things, the report contains Islamic religious material, including sections on usury from an Islamic standpoint.<br />
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If interested in this job, <a href="https://www.elance.com/j/we-an-editor-proofreader/28008075/?utm_medium=partner&utm_source=simplyhired&utm_campaign=simplyhired?utm_source=SimplyHired&utm_medium=partner&utm_campaign=SimplyHired" target="_blank"><b>continue reading here</b></a>.</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4753548472090127860.post-85460574123897546662012-01-11T03:32:00.000-08:002012-01-11T03:32:26.905-08:00Interviewed!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">Sr. Kimberly Ben of <a href="http://avid-writer.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><b>The Avid Writer</b></a> and <b><a href="http://www.muslimahsworkingathome.com/" target="_blank">Muslimahs Working at Home</a></b> recently <a href="http://www.muslimahsworkingathome.com/uncategorized/home-business-interview-series-6-amel-abdullah-professional-freelance-writereditor/" target="_blank"><b>interviewed me</b></a> about the business of freelance writing. Insha'Allah you will enjoy the interview--and if you have any specific questions about getting started as a freelance writer, please feel free to leave a comment on this blog's <a href="http://muslimwriters.blogspot.com/2007/10/your-questions-about-writing-answered.html" target="_blank"><b>Q&A section</b></a>.</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4753548472090127860.post-12649905962176093362011-11-26T12:00:00.000-08:002011-11-28T03:44:28.666-08:00Chicken Soup for the Soul<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><a href="http://www.chickensoup.com/" target="_blank"><b>Chicken Soup for the Soul</b></a>, is seeking submissions for an <a href="http://www.chickensoup.com/form.asp?cid=possible_books" target="_blank"><b>upcoming anthology on faith</b></a>:<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq" style="color: black;"><span class="mainBody">Whether we consider ourselves to be Protestant, Catholic, Jewish, Buddhist, Muslim, Hindu or any other religion, our belief in a higher power directs our lives and our thoughts. Everyone's "faith story" is different. Some of us find faith late in life. Others lose their faith after a tragic event or spiritual dry spell, only to rediscover it through a divine nudge. Faith can appear quickly or build up over time. It can hit us like a sledgehammer or whisper in our ear. It can show up in a miracle or in an ordinary event. However faith arrives, it is life-changing and powerful.</span> </blockquote><blockquote class="tr_bq" style="color: black;"><span class="mainBody">If you have an inspirational personal story of finding your faith, we want to hear from you!</span> </blockquote><blockquote class="tr_bq" style="color: black;"><span class="mainBody"><b>The deadline date for story and poem submissions is December 31, 2011. </b></span></blockquote><a href="http://www.chickensoup.com/cs.asp?cid=guidelines" target="_blank"><b>Continue reading here for submission guidelines</b></a>. <br />
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I have heard that accepted submissions are paid $100, but I am presently unable to find this information on the site.<br />
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<b>Edited: </b>I finally found the sentence I was looking for. Payment is actually $200 and ten copies of the book your work appears in. </div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4753548472090127860.post-20465111072821147482011-11-19T12:00:00.000-08:002011-11-19T12:00:01.312-08:00Articles Sought at LastProphet.Info<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">According to <a href="http://avari.typepad.com/avari/2011/01/an-invitation-to-write-about-islam-paid-opportunity.html" target="_blank"><b>this ad</b></a>:<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq"><span style="font-size: small;"><span><a href="http://lastprophet.info/"><b>LastProphet.info</b></a> invites postgraduate students to submit articles on Islamic topics related to Hadith and/or Sirah, Islamophobia, perceptions of Islam and/or Prophet Muhammad in the media. Articles could be about misrepresentations and misconceptions of Islam and Prophet Muhammad in the post 9/11 world, or they could refer back to as early as 14th century perceptions. </span> </span></blockquote>Pay is a minimum of $60 per article of 1000-2000 words. <br />
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<a href="http://avari.typepad.com/avari/2011/01/an-invitation-to-write-about-islam-paid-opportunity.html" target="_blank"><b>Continue reading here for more information</b></a>.<br />
<br />
<br />
</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4753548472090127860.post-17551819741981564862011-11-18T12:00:00.000-08:002011-11-18T12:00:00.535-08:00Muslim Mothering<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><a href="http://www.demeterpress.org/" target="_blank"><b>Demeter Press</b></a>, which claims to be the "first book publisher focused specifically on the topic of mothering and motherhood," is seeking submissions for an edited collection on <a href="http://www.demeterpress.org/muslimmotheringcfp.pdf" target="_blank"><b>Muslim Mothering</b></a>. This is not a mere anthology, but a scholarly work that will include "multiple, varied, and even contradictory images, symbols, and representations of Muslim mothers and Muslim mothering." While the deadline to submit abstracts has already passed, it may be worth contacting the publisher to see if they will make any exceptions. The <a href="http://www.demeterpress.org/muslimmotheringcfp.pdf" target="_blank"><b>guidelines</b></a> state that the work is to be published in 2012, while the website says 2013...so perhaps there is still some time left to make a contribution to what seems like it will be an interesting collection.<b> </b><br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.demeterpress.org/muslimmotheringcfp.pdf" target="_blank"><b>Continue reading here for more information</b></a>.</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4753548472090127860.post-26651947979964394752011-11-17T12:00:00.000-08:002011-11-17T12:00:05.361-08:00Internships at ASMA<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">The <a href="http://asmasociety.org/"><b>American Society for Muslim Advancement</b></a> (ASMA) has various internships available.<br />
<br />
The <a href="http://www.idealist.org/view/internship/32WScHzxnsW8d"><b>Media and Communications</b></a><b> </b>internship<b> </b>"involves the use of social media tools, including Twitter and Facebook, and will be responsible for monitoring the occurrence of key terms and individuals in the media for updating and promotional purposes." Among other things, the intern will be expected to write "op-ed’s and opinion pieces on contemporary social issues, relating to Islam and America."<br />
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The <a href="http://www.idealist.org/view/internship/XdmHDFJ54cH4" target="_blank"><b>Office of the Development and Fundraising</b></a> internship, on the other hand, "involves research, writing, database maintenance, and general administrative duties." Specific writing duties include:<br />
<br />
<ul><li>Creating and updating donor and prospect profiles. </li>
<li>Drafting inquiry letters, acknowledgement letters, newsletter copy, and other donor correspondence. </li>
</ul><br />
Visit the links contained within this post for more details on each internship. </div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4753548472090127860.post-81561334789726004202011-11-16T12:00:00.000-08:002011-11-16T12:00:02.656-08:00Creative Writer Needed for Islamic Website<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><a href="https://www.elance.com/j/creative-writer-needed-islamic-website/27105629/?utm_medium=partner&utm_source=simplyhired&utm_campaign=simplyhired?utm_source=SimplyHired&utm_medium=partner&utm_campaign=SimplyHired"><b>This ad</b></a> seeks the following:<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq" style="color: blue;">A professional sales copywriter that can create quality wording to draw people in towards the new and innovative products our company offers. These writings include Product Descriptions, Features, and Benefits, promo wording, Newsletters, etc. The writing will be featured on our website as well as documents and promotional materials (forms, flyers, banner ads) where applicable.</blockquote>Although you may bid, pay is listed as $10-$15 per hour.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.elance.com/j/creative-writer-needed-islamic-website/27105629/?utm_medium=partner&utm_source=simplyhired&utm_campaign=simplyhired?utm_source=SimplyHired&utm_medium=partner&utm_campaign=SimplyHired"><b>Continue reading the ad for more details</b></a>.</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4753548472090127860.post-85504095595205252102011-11-15T12:00:00.000-08:002011-11-15T12:00:07.455-08:00Deadline Extended!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">Remember the <a href="http://muslimwriters.blogspot.com/2011/10/two-writing-competitions-at-iwa.html"><b>two writing competitions at the IWA</b></a> I told you about last month? Originally, the deadline for submissions was supposed to be <b>November 8, 2011</b>, but it has now <a href="http://www.islamicwritersalliance.net/islamic_fiction_contests.html"><b>been</b></a> <a href="http://www.islamicwritersalliance.net/essay_writing_contests.html"><b>extended</b></a> to <b>November 18, 2011</b>. </div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4753548472090127860.post-73294545223161541452011-11-06T12:00:00.000-08:002011-11-06T12:00:02.913-08:00Eid Mubarak!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">May Allah SWT accept your good deeds from the <a href="http://muslimmatters.org/2010/11/09/yaser-birjas-the-ten-days-of-dhul-hijjah/"><b>first ten days of Dhul-Hijjah</b></a>! </div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4753548472090127860.post-72664385217789983512011-11-05T12:00:00.000-07:002011-11-05T12:00:01.286-07:00Enjoy the Eid!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">Tomorrow is <a href="http://islam.about.com/od/hajj/a/adha.htm"><b>Eid Al-Adha</b></a>, an important holiday on the Islamic calendar that commemorates Abraham's willingness to sacrifice his son Ishmael to God before God provided him with a ram to sacrifice instead. The day begins with Eid prayers. After that, many Muslims get together with their families, friends and neighbors to exchange Eid greetings, while those who can afford it slaughter an animal (usually a sheep, cow, goat or camel). At least a third of the meat is designated for the poor.<br />
<br />
As a <a href="http://precisiontext.blogspot.com/p/services-offered.html"><b>busy freelancer</b></a>, I have, in years past, made the mistake of working on the Eid. The first time I did this was to help out a Muslim-owned newspaper that was behind schedule but whose publisher wanted the paper to be ready for distribution after Eid prayers. I spent about 12 hours the night before the Eid editing a newspaper that was simply not ready to be published. Articles were missing, and I did not (at the time) have the software needed to edit PDF files directly. This meant that I had to make a lot of notes in a Word file so that someone else could insert the corrections.<br />
<br />
Needless to say, the newspaper did not get printed on time for Eid prayers. Even in better circumstances, it would have been a very tight squeeze. I don't regret helping the publisher, but I do regret taking time away from my family and not spending time with them the night before the Eid as is customary in our home. I also had trouble waking up early the next morning for Eid prayers. The kids were pretty upset that year--and justifiably so! As a professional with production management experience, I should have informed my client that the paper could not realistically be edited, designed and printed according to the schedule he had in mind. I also should have respected the importance of the Eid to my family and simply declined the job.<br />
<br />
You would think I'd learn after that incident, but the next time a client needed me to work on the Eid, I accepted the job without comment. This time, I was working with a non-Muslim client who was sending me lucrative work on a daily basis. Not wanted to disrupt the flow we had established, I accepted work from this client on at least three Eids without telling her I needed a day off. When the fourth Eid rolled around, however, I finally felt comfortable enough to tell her I needed to spend time with my family on the Eid. The client was fine with this and marked it on her calendar. By accident, however, she sent me work on that day anyway. I reminded her that I would not be available to complete the work. She apologized and asked if I could make an exception since no one else was available to do the job. It would have been easy to cave in, but this time I apologized and said it would not be possible. I did not leave the client with no solutions, however. Instead, I told her that I could do the work once the Eid had finished, and she accepted this proposal. Everyone was happy, especially my kids!<br />
<br />
Eid Mubarak to all blog visitors! You may wish to take a look at <a href="http://2eids.com/checklist/"><b>this checklist</b></a> to review the sunnah practices associated with this holiday.</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4753548472090127860.post-15751945834467160382011-11-04T12:00:00.000-07:002011-11-04T12:00:06.351-07:00The Encyclopedia of National Dress<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">According to <a href="http://www.mesa.arizona.edu/publications/newsletter/calls-for-submissions.html#Greenwood"><b>this ad</b></a>:<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq"><a href="http://www.abc-clio.com/AboutUs/Imprints/"><b>Greenwood Press</b></a> would like to announce the launch of a new book series on ethnic dress from around the world. <i>The Encyclopedia of National Dress </i>will be published under the main editorial direction of Jill Condra. The book series aims to publish a comprehensive look at clothing and culture from around the world from an ethnic dress perspective. </blockquote> If interested in contributing to this encyclopedia, <a href="http://www.mesa.arizona.edu/publications/newsletter/calls-for-submissions.html#Greenwood"><b>follow the instructions in the ad</b></a>.</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4753548472090127860.post-28901319184407529842011-11-03T12:00:00.000-07:002011-11-03T12:00:01.071-07:002012 Arab American Book Award<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"> According to <a href="http://www.mesa.arizona.edu/publications/newsletter/grants-competitions.html#AANM"><b>this announcement</b></a>:<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">Submissions are currently being accepted for the 2012 Arab American Book Award. Authors and publishers may contact Kristin LaLonde at 313.624.0223 or <a href="mailto:klalonde@accesscommunity.org">klalonde@accesscommunity.org</a> for nomination forms and criteria.<span class="highlight-inline"> Submission deadline is February 01, 2012.</span></blockquote>The <a href="http://www.arabamericanmuseum.org/bookaward"><b>Arab American Book Award</b></a> honors significant literature by and about Arab Americans and was established by the <a href="http://www.arabamericanmuseum.org/"><b>Arab American National Museum</b></a> in 2006. Categories include fiction, non-fiction, poetry, and children/young adult. Last year's winner in the children's category was <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Time-Pray-Maha-Addasi/dp/1590786114"><b>Time to Pray</b></a>, by Maha Addasi.</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4753548472090127860.post-84023759951651558122011-11-02T12:00:00.000-07:002011-11-02T12:00:01.138-07:00Jobs at Muslim Aid<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><a href="http://www.muslimaid.org/"><b>Muslim Aid</b></a> is hiring. Of special interest to writers are the following two positions:<br />
<br />
<ul><li><strong>Proposal Writers</strong></li>
<li><strong>Social Media Specialist</strong></li>
</ul><br />
<strong><span style="font-weight: normal;"><a href="http://www.muslimaid.org/index.php/about-us/jobs"><b>Continue reading here</b></a> for more information about the application process. </span></strong></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4753548472090127860.post-47955042412583713612011-11-01T12:00:00.000-07:002011-11-01T12:00:05.188-07:00Mohammed (PBUH) in History, Thought, and Culture<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><a href="http://www.abc-clio.com/"><b>ABC-CLIO</b></a> is in the process of compiling a comprehensive two-volume <a href="http://www.h-net.org/announce/show.cgi?ID=189162"><b>Encyclopedia on the Prophet Muhammad</b></a> (PBUH) and his impact on world thought and culture. If interested in contributing to this publication, <a href="http://www.h-net.org/announce/show.cgi?ID=189162"><b>continue reading here</b></a> for a list of desired topics and other relevant information. I hope those who are qualified to write about the Prophet's life will not pass up this unique opportunity to share their knowledge with a mostly Western readership.</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4753548472090127860.post-63408524177798673642011-10-31T12:00:00.000-07:002011-10-31T12:00:03.050-07:00It's that time of year again...<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUmYVJel4heJBfFFWMsYo8ESIRgmPWAtphYsXLrWhA_X55yFdtfwP3kePqsFQgQQj82YGZ5QbdqzMz-YiZxC_qt0_TZwXA-UL96wmfRvvfvIo9J8hgKRHQD8Xyjn8dHBso9UvC9brFCic/s1600/nanowrimo.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUmYVJel4heJBfFFWMsYo8ESIRgmPWAtphYsXLrWhA_X55yFdtfwP3kePqsFQgQQj82YGZ5QbdqzMz-YiZxC_qt0_TZwXA-UL96wmfRvvfvIo9J8hgKRHQD8Xyjn8dHBso9UvC9brFCic/s1600/nanowrimo.png" /></a></div>It's hard to believe that it is already time for <a href="http://www.nanowrimo.org/"><b>National Novel Writing Month</b></a> (NaNoWriMo). If you're unfamiliar with the event, each November participating writers from around the world spend the month working to complete the rough draft of a 50,000-word novel. It sounds like a lot of work, but it is basically writing a little more than 1,600 words each day, which is very doable if you are motivated. Good things can come out of NaNoWriMo. I personally know a few authors who completed novels during the month and went on to have them published. Others broke out of their longstanding writer's block to find that they are capable of writing a full-length novel. There is even a NaNoWriMo for <a href="http://ywp.nanowrimo.org/"><b>young writers</b></a>.<br />
<br />
Are you <a href="http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/sign_up"><b>participating</b></a>? Let us know by leaving a comment. <br />
<br />
</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4753548472090127860.post-59434489081357691922011-10-30T12:00:00.000-07:002011-10-30T12:00:07.444-07:005 Halal Writitng Opportunities for Sunday, October 30, 2011<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><a href="http://muslimwriters.blogspot.com/search/label/Halal%20Writing%20Opportunities"><b>Halal Writing Opportunities</b></a> are back! Here is this week's list:<br />
<br />
<h2 style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://losangeles.craigslist.org/lac/wri/2671944600.html">Freelance Writer for Eco-Friendly Company</a></span></h2><h2 style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://sfbay.craigslist.org/sfc/wri/2623852931.html">Contributing Editor for BusinessAgility.com</a></span></h2><h2 style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://newyork.craigslist.org/mnh/wri/2638118269.html">Stay-at-home Mommy Bloggers </a></span></h2><h2 style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://washingtondc.craigslist.org/nva/wri/2672042349.html">E-book Writer for HowtoGeek.com</a></span></h2><h2><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://washingtondc.craigslist.org/doc/wri/2671923368.html" style="font-family: inherit;">Freelance Writer for Various Projects</a></span></h2><span style="font-weight: bold;">Not sure what is meant by halal?</span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: black; font-weight: bold;">See:</span> <a href="http://muslimwriters.blogspot.com/2009/05/standards-used-to-determine-halal.html"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Standards Used to Determine Halal Writing Opportunities</span></a></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4753548472090127860.post-10123950557115530222011-10-29T12:00:00.000-07:002011-10-29T12:00:04.189-07:00Add Value to your Work with Teacher Study Guides<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFsIs6CXVd-huOEWuPE7B0lR3balaLildo4vG5kwz5HaQ7QOLM97I23QMdyCR9Xn0JnspRCXqHbi9yGWKF2D3JAdn4ug9P9AcQCdlHK58V2nmKG187Ie_5J-SW-FNGzPpLpSby7MJQGNqg/s1600/stories.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFsIs6CXVd-huOEWuPE7B0lR3balaLildo4vG5kwz5HaQ7QOLM97I23QMdyCR9Xn0JnspRCXqHbi9yGWKF2D3JAdn4ug9P9AcQCdlHK58V2nmKG187Ie_5J-SW-FNGzPpLpSby7MJQGNqg/s1600/stories.jpg" /></a></div>If you are writing for young people, one of your goals may be to get your work into classrooms, but how can you make your books more attractive to teachers? How can you make your books more attractive to homeschooling parents? Think about it for a moment. Educators are busy people. The last thing they need is the burden of preparing more lesson plans for their students. Make it easy for them by offering a teacher study guide with your book.<br />
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I first learned about teacher study guides while collaborating on a project to produce a whole series of them for <a href="http://muslimwriterspublishing.com/schools.html"><b>Muslim Writers Publishing</b></a>. More recently, I have come across guides produced by other Muslim authors, such as <a href="http://www.rukhsanakhan.com/teacherguides/Wanting%20Mor%20Teacher%27s%20Guide.PDF"><b>Rukhsana Khan</b></a> and <a href="http://thekubeblog.wordpress.com/2011/08/03/free-activities-and-questions-for-use-with-readers-of-the-victory-boys/#more-179"><b>Jamal Orme</b></a>. Although it takes time and skill to put together a professional study guide that teachers (and students) can genuinely benefit from, it is well worth the effort and may help your books reach a wider audience.</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4753548472090127860.post-18882262651549976422011-10-25T12:00:00.000-07:002011-10-25T20:31:21.109-07:00Call for Writers, Editors, Translators, Transcribers, and Others<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><a href="http://muslimmatters.org/"><b>MuslimMatters.org</b></a> is seeking writers, copy-editors, translators, transcribers, and others to <a href="http://muslimmatters.org/2011/10/25/mm-recruitment-fall-listings/"><b>join its team</b></a>.<br />
<br />
Read more about the requirements for these positions and application process <a href="http://muslimmatters.org/2011/10/25/mm-recruitment-fall-listings/"><b>here</b></a>.</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4753548472090127860.post-26360730460545157942011-10-24T12:00:00.000-07:002011-10-24T12:00:03.777-07:00Creative Inspiration from 1001 Inventions<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs8iQI0z7Nry_dobUHZDUS8AM9yyBlH5ChwkZKUGv5nCxGdwWgQ34ZHJ8b6khhkDvEcg1U8MbF6vO9MOh3BSdzOQ6ddII1pkCOr5EU11f7inUH7ruc5UzJ_hbyRqeHQsup-HWuE9LW33E/s1600/Ibn_firnas.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs8iQI0z7Nry_dobUHZDUS8AM9yyBlH5ChwkZKUGv5nCxGdwWgQ34ZHJ8b6khhkDvEcg1U8MbF6vO9MOh3BSdzOQ6ddII1pkCOr5EU11f7inUH7ruc5UzJ_hbyRqeHQsup-HWuE9LW33E/s1600/Ibn_firnas.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: red;">Abbas ibn Firnas</span></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: red;"> </span></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: red;"> </span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Unfortunately, I did not find out about the <a href="http://www.1001inventions.com/Writing_Competition"><b>Creative Story Writing Competition</b></a> taking place at <a href="http://www.1001inventions.com/"><b>1001 Inventions</b></a> until after the deadline for participation had passed, but the <a href="http://www.1001inventions.com/Writing_Competition"><b>guidelines</b></a> are worth taking a look at anyway, especially if you are a teacher, a homeschooling parent, or a writer who simply needs a burst of creativity. The guidelines provide you with a list of eleven figures from the <a href="http://muslimheritage.com/"><b>Golden Age</b></a> of Muslim civilization. The idea is to choose one and write a 5,000-word story that includes the character. Historical accuracy is encouraged, but the rules also allow for some artistic license. I can definitely see a story like this making a nifty book for kids or even turning into a full-length novel.<br />
<br />
<b>Did you participate in this competition?</b><br />
<br />
If so, tell us about it by leaving a comment below.</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0