Furnace Press sends word of a book competition on urban decay.

The “Decomposition Series” will consist of books focusing on noteworthy abandoned sites in New York State. The five books in this series will be 40-60 pages in length with black & white illustrations. The first of these publications will center on the ruins of Sea View, a former tuberculosis hospital in New York.

We’re looking for proposals on interesting neglected structures with captivating visuals and intriguing histories. The text can consist of documentation, history, speculation, fiction, and/or personal experience. We’re primarily looking for material that engages, arouses interest, and adds to the appreciation of forgotten ruins in New York.

There is no entry fee; the winning author will receive publication and contributor copies. The submission deadline is October 22, 2007.

Meanwhile, starting September 25, the Municipal Art Society brings us Jane Jacobs and the Future of New York, an exhibition and series of events designed to “highlight the relevance of activist and author Jane Jacobs and the urban design principles presented in her classic text, The Death and Life of Great American Cities.”
 

Image of Sea View’s ravaged terra cotta ornamentation found at Forgotten NY.

Crown Royal is having a contest, fifty words or less, as to what makes for a good occasion to drink. (A glass and ice?)

The prize: You get a Nascar Race named after you.

The Douglas Light 400.

Kinda like the sound.

The entry fee is $10, and the deadline is May 8.

Author Jonathan Baumbach will judge the submissions.

Random House is looking for the most original voices of the twentysomething generation, writing about their lives, their passions, their world. We will be publishing the best essays in a book titled Twentysomething Essays by Twentysomething Writers: The Best New Voices of 2006. There will be a grand prize of $20,000 to the top winner.

There’s no entry fee. The editor says “super famous” writers need not apply.

It could have an “American High” structure, in which a reporter follows a number of members of a band for a year, but the tone should be “Freaks & Geeks.” It could be something along the lines of “Drumline.” Or, and this is preferable, it could be a person’s wry memoir of his or her life as a band geek: weirdness on the bus, band sluts, the freshmen who steal your place, rivalries, loathing, the football team, what personality type goes with each instrument, etc. Knowledge of band camp and competitions would be a plus. The writer should also have some sort of platform, but let’s take things one step at a time.

This is not a formal competition. I might get nothing worth publishing. There’s no guarantee of a deal for someone, nor do I have any timetable or advance in mind. A 2-3 page query with a bio would be fine to start. A 10-15 page chapter outline would also be fine. Agents are welcome to respond too, of course, if they’ve got someone perfect for the job.

If you’re interested in writing this book, please contact Stephen directly at snow1985man [at] yahoo.com.