HAIKU
Contests
I want to thank those who submitted to the Hog Wild Short Story Contest. Even though many stories were an enjoyable read, and some stood out, Dr. Randy Brooks and I have decided that none of the stories submitted are a good match for the haiku booklet. In spite of that, I hope you will continue to follow and support the Hog Wild journey on Facebook.
SUBMISSION PERIOD HAS ENDED
Write a short story for children (age 8 and over) with a pig or a wild boar as the main character. It cannot be more than 250 words (excluding the title) but it can be prose or poetry (though not haiku). Your story can be fiction or creative non-fiction and should be suitable for magazine publication. The text should have read-aloud appeal but should not be babyish. Quirky is welcome. Please combine key elements that go into every good story: character, setting, conflict, plot, and resolution. The winning story may be published in October 2019 as a foreword in Hog Wild, an anthology of pig haiku including pebble art. The lucky winner will receive two free copies and a little something extra (to be revealed at the end of August).
Overall, there are no hard-and-fast rules about forewords, so there's room to be creative and have fun! Just take into account that you are introducing a compilation of pig poems in aid of better living conditions for pigs (proceeds will go to Farms Not Factories, a charity in the UK). But not all of the poems will be
about saving pigs, nor are these just any poems. Haiku don’t preach or shout. This is not activism. So your underlying theme needs to be subtle. It could be awakening, empathy, or mindfulness. Haiku are meant to feel open. The reader is invited to finish the poem in thought. Haiku are sensory delights. Think “Zen”. Your short story submission should reflect that philosophy.
The publisher will retain the right to publish and republish the anthology in print, ebook, and PDF formats. All poems and the short story remain the property of the contributors. This contest is open to anyone anywhere in the world but must be written in English. The first round will be judged by Corine Timmer. Ten stories will be selected for the second round, from which our guest judge, Dr. Randy Brooks, will select three. Corine Timmer will choose the winner in the final round of judging. The winner will be notified via email at the end of August and announced on Facebook and the Bicadeideias blog. The judges reserve the right not to choose a winner.
Submissions accepted throughout June and July 2019. Please submit to corine.timmer@icloud.com. Put your name and Year of the Pig Contest in the subject line. Include your entire manuscript in the body of the email as well as your name, postal address, email address, and country of residence. Messy or offensive work will not be judged!
Work will be judged on:
1) Read-aloud appeal.
2) Haiku spirit.
3) Grammar.
4) Creativity.
5) Quality of the writing.
Good luck! You can read my sample entry at the end.
Examples of pig haiku
pig and i spring rain
© Marlene Mountain(1939 – 2018) (USA)
First published in Frogpond, 2:3-4, 1979.
Pigs and rain both symbolize abundance, power, and strength. So, I can see a very close connection between the first word (pig) and the last word (rain). Another element that comes to my mind is the food chain. Rain helps to nourish plants and bring fertility to crops. Pig meat is used as food, so it shows the interdependence of different elements of nature that gain strength only if the cycle is not disrupted. Spring symbolizes the abundance of blessings, whether it is in the form of food or rain, that makes a person happy. Besides that, I can see a friendly relationship between animals, nature, and human beings—key elements of nature. Spring here also indicates harmony and a balanced relationship among all nature’s agents. Spiritually, I can see a balance between physical (pig) and spiritual (rain) needs. In addition, I can see the dominance of ‘i’ in this haiku that indicates the individual identity of these three: pig, i, and rain.
– Hifsa Ashraf (Pakistan)
waxing moon—
a flying pig
in my dream
Corine Timmer (Netherlands/Portugal)
First published online in the Asahi Shimbun, February 15, 2019.
This haiku was written in celebration of the Year of the Pig. Pigs are associated with, among other things, fertility, wealth, courage, and good luck. To see a flying pig in one´s dream can be interpreted as a sign of growth, bravery, and prosperity—or illusions and greed. The waxing moon represents youth, growth, and enchantment. A time to strengthen one´s resolve.This poem can be interpreted in various ways, depending on the location (culture) and imagination of the reader.
More about the judges
Dr. Randy Brooks is the Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences and Professor of English at Millikin University. He also teaches haiku at the university. He has received international recognition for his writing, editing, and publishing of haiku poetry. He and his wife, Shirley, are co-editors and publishers of Brook Books and editors of Mayfly, a biannual magazine featuring haiku. Dr. Brooks is also web editor for Modern Haiku magazine. Hundreds of his poems have been published in journals and anthologies and he has won numerous awards.
https://decaturian.com/features/2018/02/21/dr-randy-brooks-teacher-and-poet/
Corine Timmer is an interior designer, animal lover, haiku poet, and a self-published author. She lives in the countryside in the south of Portugal with twelve street dogs and other animals, including her beloved donkey, Lolita. Corine’s haiku have been published in several print and web journals and anthologies. In 2017 and 2018 she won awards for her children’s storybook as well as her haiku and photo haiku. She is a member of SCBWI, ALLi, and the British and American Haiku Societies. On Facebook Corine is active in various groups including Kidlit411, Buds of Haiku, and My Haiku Pond.
The publisher
Bicadeideias is a tiny publisher situated in Portugal managed by Corine Timmer. Last year it published Barking Mad Haiku to celebrate the Year of the Dog. All locally printed copies were sold within a few months and proceeds plus donations went to street dog charities in Faro, Portugal. This year it’s PIGS´ TURN! Proceeds will go to Farms Not Factories, a charity in the UK. Follow our journey on Facebook @hogwildhaiku
