Life, The Universe, And Everything, a.k.a LTUE has announced a call for submissions for an anthology. It's called,
I Have a Sidequest For You. You can access the announcement website:
HERE. For you writers out there, you should check it out.
LTUE has a soft spot in my heart. It was one of the first writing conferences I ever attended. It's one of the first conferences that invited me to participate as a panelist. It's been almost a decade since I first attended LTUE. It was the cheapest convention out there, which I always appreciate, and they seemed to have a lighter and more fun atmosphere than other conferences.
Because writing symposiums attract creative people, those people like to...well, create things. This anthology is an example of what happens when you assemble people who like to write.
From the website:
Since its beginnings in the early 1980s, the Life, the Universe, & Everything Symposium has been a staple of the Utah and Intermountain West author and artist community. Many authors, artists, and editors have found inspiration for their careers at the feet of scores of symposium guests. Influential professors and others have mentored those planning and running the symposium, but many of these mentors have passed on.
The symposium helps students of all ages by providing greatly discounted student memberships. Hemelein Publications—in conjunction with LTUE Press—created a series of memorial benefit/charity anthologies to help the symposium continue to help these aspiring creators learn about their crafts at a reasonable cost. Author, artist, and editor proceeds from the anthology go to LTUE to help students attend for a very low cost.
The fifth of these anthologies, I Have a Sidequest for You, is a science fiction and fantasy sidekick adventure anthology, created in honor of Tom Grover. Tom was always helping out with LTUE, volunteering for anything and everything. He always seemed to be there when help was needed, and he was tireless in his efforts to make LTUE a success. He passed away in 1988 following a mountain climbing accident.
If you're interested, here's more information:
- Science fiction and fantasy sidekick stories (including superhero, fantasy adventure, and so on) where the main character is the sidekick in a larger story. These are stories of the sidekicks, the plucky comic-relief guy, and the not-so-chosen ones. The “main” story should only be referenced in this story about the sidekick. We want stories featuring the sidekick-type character—janitors, lunch ladies, innkeepers, librarians, the type that don’t go on adventures or become heroes and chosen ones—stories that feature the sidekick as a hero-character.
For example, a story about Will Scarlet instead of Robin Hood and Little John? Or a story about one of the lesser-known knights of the Round Table? These don’t have to be big adventures or even save-the-world stories, just stories where the sidekick gets to shine instead of the “main” hero. - The characters in the story must be your own, original characters. Do not use other creators’ characters.
- Any length up to 17,500 words
- Unpublished or reprint stories
- Up to two submissions per author
- This is a benefit/charity anthology, so stories are donated and author receives no monetary compensation
- Authors receive a print copy of the anthology and an electronic copy
- Meet the content guidelines described on the Submission Guidelines page
- Stories are due by June 20, 2021 at 11:59pm Mountain Time.
It's been a while, but I've had several stories published in anthologies. They are not the biggest money-makers, but they can open so many doors. They're a great place to start or help a writing career. Come on--give it a shot. Check out the site, write a little story, and send it in.
Who knows what can happen?
