I learned my first lesson this month in paying close attention to deadlines. Yes, I messed up.
Haunted Waters Press held a writing contest for their summer publication of From the Depths. I admit I struggled with the theme for a while and it took me some time to settle on an object to write to about. But I did it! I have a completed short story that meets the specifications laid out and it is sitting on my computer as we speak. Their deadline was May 25. That day I was out enjoying myself at a pool party and completely forget to send in my story. I have a bad habit of waiting till the very last minute to submit my writing. I never feel like they are good enough and I am known to make changes and alterations up until I hit 'send'. A very bad habit and I know that I am setting myself up for disaster, case in point, but I do it anyway.
The good news is I found another fun project. I discovered Flash! Friday on Twitter through a six degrees of separation coincidence to Haunted Waters Press. Every Friday, founder Rebekah Postupak posts a new photo prompt and theme to use in a flash fiction story. She has created a fun and encouraging environment where writers share their mini-stories. Unfortunately I had to miss the last two weeks because of sick kids and a brief hospital stay, but I am really looking forward to next week.
Looking forward to June, I found two new things to write about. Chilling Tales for Dark Nights is asking for short horror stories for their July contest. Submissions are open through June 11. There is a photo prompt with which to inspire you. The top ten finalists will be voted on by the public. The second contest is L. Ron Hubbard's Writers and Illustrators of the Future. Sci-fi and fantasy stories are due by June 30. I'm really excited by both of these subjects. I have tried my hand at mystery, but never at horror or sci-fi/fantasy. I accept the challenge!
Incidentally, congratulations to the winners of We Said Go Travel's writing competition. There were so many amazing writers that have traveled to so many amazing places that I have no idea how they were able to pick their winners. The theme for the summer writing competition has been announced. Write about a place that allows you to feel free. All entries are due by July 4.
Wish me luck, and I'll do the same for you.
Saturday, May 31, 2014
Thursday, May 1, 2014
Happy May Day!
A late season cool front has left us Texans feeling refreshed and (almost) ready for summer. I know that once the temperatures start reaching triple digits, we'll miss these sweater weather mornings. I, for one am ready to start anew. I have been feeling a little down after a set back with my health, but I am hoping to be back on track soon and ready to tackle this month's challenge. First let's take a look back and see how the last few months have stacked up.
In February I participated in the We Said Go Travel Inspiration Travel Writing Contest. They are going to be announcing their Independence Travel Writing Contest sometime this month so check their site often if you are interested. I know I will! If you are interested in reading the piece I submitted you can click the link here.
In March I was excited to work on a short story for Three Cheers and a Tiger's mystery writing contest sponsored by Literary Journal, Toasted Cheese. Congratulations to the winners! I am looking forward to the June publication so I can read your wonderful stories. Three Cheers and a Tiger will have a science fiction/fantasy writing contest in September. I have never written anything in this genre, but this is the year to expand my horizons, right? So why not give it a go?
April was National Poetry Month. My personal goal was to write a poem a day with Writer's Digest blogger and poet, Robert Lee Brewer on his Poetic Asides blog. I started off strong, writing sometimes multiple poems a day. They weren't always very good, but that wasn't the point of the challenge. The point, for me, was to write every day. Something I am very bad about. Almost halfway through the month I thought I was going to make it, then I had a very bad bout of dizziness and vertigo and couldn't stand to look and the computer screen. C'est la vie; especially around here.
And that brings us full circle to May. I searched and searched for something new to work on in May, but ended up finding another short story. Haunted Waters Press is calling for open submissions for their June publication. They are looking for works of prose, creative nonfiction and poetry for their quarterly literary journal, From the Depths. I can write a short story of 3500 words or less, flash fiction of any length, or creative nonfiction of 1500 words or less. They want a story that revolves around the ordinary objects in our lives. It can be any type of story and any type of object; let your imagination go wild.
Wish me luck and I'll do the same for you.
In February I participated in the We Said Go Travel Inspiration Travel Writing Contest. They are going to be announcing their Independence Travel Writing Contest sometime this month so check their site often if you are interested. I know I will! If you are interested in reading the piece I submitted you can click the link here.
In March I was excited to work on a short story for Three Cheers and a Tiger's mystery writing contest sponsored by Literary Journal, Toasted Cheese. Congratulations to the winners! I am looking forward to the June publication so I can read your wonderful stories. Three Cheers and a Tiger will have a science fiction/fantasy writing contest in September. I have never written anything in this genre, but this is the year to expand my horizons, right? So why not give it a go?
April was National Poetry Month. My personal goal was to write a poem a day with Writer's Digest blogger and poet, Robert Lee Brewer on his Poetic Asides blog. I started off strong, writing sometimes multiple poems a day. They weren't always very good, but that wasn't the point of the challenge. The point, for me, was to write every day. Something I am very bad about. Almost halfway through the month I thought I was going to make it, then I had a very bad bout of dizziness and vertigo and couldn't stand to look and the computer screen. C'est la vie; especially around here.
And that brings us full circle to May. I searched and searched for something new to work on in May, but ended up finding another short story. Haunted Waters Press is calling for open submissions for their June publication. They are looking for works of prose, creative nonfiction and poetry for their quarterly literary journal, From the Depths. I can write a short story of 3500 words or less, flash fiction of any length, or creative nonfiction of 1500 words or less. They want a story that revolves around the ordinary objects in our lives. It can be any type of story and any type of object; let your imagination go wild.
Wish me luck and I'll do the same for you.
Tuesday, April 22, 2014
April Update
I had a small hiccup meeting my goal for my Poem-a-Day challenge. I had a little bump in the road with my health, but I am starting to feel a little better so even though I missed a few days I am ready to get back on the proverbial horse and get back to writing. I had a bout of dizziness that was preventing me from being able to even look at a computer screen for several days. I have resolved to do what I can when I can do it. It's not quantity it's quality.
Speaking of quality, I am no poet! I liken my poetry to the attempts of a junior high schooler, but at least it has been fun doing it. I have experimented with different styles and different patterns and imagery that probably was only apparent to me, but it was fun writing it nonetheless. All in all I think it will make me a better writer by making me slow down and think more about which words have more impact or paint a better picture. And it's not too late to get in on the action! Go to Writer's Digest and join in on the fun!
Speaking of fun, my travel article from February's challenge is now live on the internet! How cool is that? In February, the challenge was to write about a place that inspires you to spend your time wisely and without regrets. The challenge was hosted by We Said Go Travel and the winners will announced in May.
I have prospects for my May challenge. I'll let you know next week what I decide. Till then...
Wish me luck and I'll do the same for you.
Speaking of quality, I am no poet! I liken my poetry to the attempts of a junior high schooler, but at least it has been fun doing it. I have experimented with different styles and different patterns and imagery that probably was only apparent to me, but it was fun writing it nonetheless. All in all I think it will make me a better writer by making me slow down and think more about which words have more impact or paint a better picture. And it's not too late to get in on the action! Go to Writer's Digest and join in on the fun!
Speaking of fun, my travel article from February's challenge is now live on the internet! How cool is that? In February, the challenge was to write about a place that inspires you to spend your time wisely and without regrets. The challenge was hosted by We Said Go Travel and the winners will announced in May.
I have prospects for my May challenge. I'll let you know next week what I decide. Till then...
Wish me luck and I'll do the same for you.
Monday, March 31, 2014
Marching Right Along... (Get It??)
I consider March a success. And it was a fun challenge. Three Cheers and a Tiger hosted a short story mystery writing contest toward the end of the month. The rest of the month I practiced writing monologues and I read. I read a lot. I read The Shining, Misery and Christine by Stephen King and am two thirds of the way through A Game of Thrones by George R. R. Martin.
There are days when I would rather read than eat, write, watch tv, walk the dog, anything. Having done only one short challenge this month was a welcome break and I was happy to reacquaint myself with the authors and genres I love best. I have always been enthralled with mystery, suspense, dark humor, the supernatural, history, fantasy, love, relationships, violence, murder and death. Movies and television have nothing on the written word. That's a bit hypocritical from someone whose repertoire consists mostly of scripts, shorts and monologues, but I envy those who can envision their worlds so completely and vividly and then recreate them for an audience on a blank page. That's why I read. Not out of jealousy, but out of awe. And to escape and be inspired. I may not be able to be onstage anymore, but I can still be anyone I want to be when I crack the spine of a new book or share a favorite old one with my children.
Anyway, that's my feelings on the importance of literacy. As for the March challenge, it couldn't have gone better. A writing prompt was announced on Just the Place for a Snark on Friday, March 21. We had 48 hours to write a mystery story between 2450 and 2550 words. The prompt was, and this is an abbreviation so as not to plagiarize, write a story about something that appears in a pile of snow.
I don't know what made me this, but I decided to go to my 13 year old son for advice and together we came up with a story that if I "ever made it into a book" he would "definitely want to read". Of course that just be because he was the main character. The mystery we made up was that a group of kids found a flash drive in the snow and just had to know what was on it. There were a few hurdles to overcome before they could finally get it plugged it and working. Things like meddling parents, chores, and bedtime. Not to mention they had to dry it out in a cup full of rice. Oh, but just imagining what was hidden on the drive was maddening. Then finally success! And then, when they open it up... The end.
Actually I just ran out of words. I tend to be wordy. In truth, it was fun writing something with my son. Now my daughters are jealous and want a story inspired by them. Guess I'll have to write a sequel.
For April I have decided on a different sort of challenge. April is National Poetry Month. To honor that I have chosen to join the challenge to write a poem every day for the month of April. Now, I am no poet, but that is okay. You don't have to be. I believe, as many writers (and wanna be writers like me) do, that it's not what you write, it's that you write. Robert Lee Brewer is hosting his 7th annual April PAD Challenge on his Poetic Asides blog. All the rules and guidelines are laid very nicely and neatly. He will post a writing prompt everyday and everyday a new guest judge will choose their favorite. What is different this year is that the favorites that are chosen will be published in an anthology, giving the publishers a one-time right to publish but the poems will still belong to the writers and are still able to be reprinted elsewhere. I think that's the most important information, but if you are interested go check it out.
Wish me luck and I'll do the same for you...
There are days when I would rather read than eat, write, watch tv, walk the dog, anything. Having done only one short challenge this month was a welcome break and I was happy to reacquaint myself with the authors and genres I love best. I have always been enthralled with mystery, suspense, dark humor, the supernatural, history, fantasy, love, relationships, violence, murder and death. Movies and television have nothing on the written word. That's a bit hypocritical from someone whose repertoire consists mostly of scripts, shorts and monologues, but I envy those who can envision their worlds so completely and vividly and then recreate them for an audience on a blank page. That's why I read. Not out of jealousy, but out of awe. And to escape and be inspired. I may not be able to be onstage anymore, but I can still be anyone I want to be when I crack the spine of a new book or share a favorite old one with my children.
Anyway, that's my feelings on the importance of literacy. As for the March challenge, it couldn't have gone better. A writing prompt was announced on Just the Place for a Snark on Friday, March 21. We had 48 hours to write a mystery story between 2450 and 2550 words. The prompt was, and this is an abbreviation so as not to plagiarize, write a story about something that appears in a pile of snow.
I don't know what made me this, but I decided to go to my 13 year old son for advice and together we came up with a story that if I "ever made it into a book" he would "definitely want to read". Of course that just be because he was the main character. The mystery we made up was that a group of kids found a flash drive in the snow and just had to know what was on it. There were a few hurdles to overcome before they could finally get it plugged it and working. Things like meddling parents, chores, and bedtime. Not to mention they had to dry it out in a cup full of rice. Oh, but just imagining what was hidden on the drive was maddening. Then finally success! And then, when they open it up... The end.
Actually I just ran out of words. I tend to be wordy. In truth, it was fun writing something with my son. Now my daughters are jealous and want a story inspired by them. Guess I'll have to write a sequel.
For April I have decided on a different sort of challenge. April is National Poetry Month. To honor that I have chosen to join the challenge to write a poem every day for the month of April. Now, I am no poet, but that is okay. You don't have to be. I believe, as many writers (and wanna be writers like me) do, that it's not what you write, it's that you write. Robert Lee Brewer is hosting his 7th annual April PAD Challenge on his Poetic Asides blog. All the rules and guidelines are laid very nicely and neatly. He will post a writing prompt everyday and everyday a new guest judge will choose their favorite. What is different this year is that the favorites that are chosen will be published in an anthology, giving the publishers a one-time right to publish but the poems will still belong to the writers and are still able to be reprinted elsewhere. I think that's the most important information, but if you are interested go check it out.
Wish me luck and I'll do the same for you...
Thursday, March 13, 2014
Brief Update
I was successful in submitting two pieces to two different competitions so far this year. In January, I wrote a radio play. In February I wrote an article for a travel magazine about a place that inspires me. I am happy to report that I already have plans for March, April and May. In March I plan on participating in a short story writing challenge. I will tell you more about the April and May competitions as more details become available.
I do know that winners have yet to be announced for the BBC Radio Play Writing Competition. Right now, they do not plan on releasing the winner's names until August. The winners for We Said Go Travel magazine will be announced May. When I know, you'll know.
At this moment, I'm going to get back to work rewriting one of my plays. I also am going to write some monologues for a possible future endeavor. The writing challenge for March, hosted by Toasted Cheese, begins March 21.
Wish me luck and I'll do the same for you!
Friday, February 28, 2014
Ready for March
February was mildly successful. I submitted one of the two pieces that I had planned on doing. I kind of figured that I had bitten off more than I could chew, especially considering that I was still going through physical therapy this month. All in all I was satisfied with the one article that I did get submitted.
I wrote an article for We Said Go Travel. The theme was "Inspired"; where you are inspired to spend your time wisely and without regrets. I wrote about spending much of my childhood at my grandparents' property in the Piney Woods region of Texas. It was the only place I could think of where I felt I had never wasted a single moment. We (myself, my sister and my cousins) had so much to do out there. We were constantly playing in the barn and the corn crib on their property. We were helping shell peas, picking mulberries, preparing meals, reading stories, playing games and in general learning about life and love from my grandparents. The website is posting all the submitted entries on their site (I'm still waiting for mine to go live) and they will announce the winners of the contest in May.
So now it is time to concentrate on March. I found an interesting contest for March. Twice a year, Three Cheers and a Tiger sets forth a challenge to writers to write a story in 48 hours. On the weekend of March 21, a topic and a word range will be announced and writers will be challenged to write a mystery story accordingly. Winning entries will then be published in the June issue of Toasted Cheese. In Spring, Three Cheers and a Tiger hosts a mystery writing contest and in the Fall they host a science fiction/fantasy writing competition.
I know that later this year there will be the opportunity to submit plays for one act contests, a shorts competition, and a reader's theater contest here in the Houston area. Therefore, during the interim I will start on some new play ideas as well as a rewrite of a full length play I have already written. Guess I better get started!
Wish me luck and I'll do the same for you!
I wrote an article for We Said Go Travel. The theme was "Inspired"; where you are inspired to spend your time wisely and without regrets. I wrote about spending much of my childhood at my grandparents' property in the Piney Woods region of Texas. It was the only place I could think of where I felt I had never wasted a single moment. We (myself, my sister and my cousins) had so much to do out there. We were constantly playing in the barn and the corn crib on their property. We were helping shell peas, picking mulberries, preparing meals, reading stories, playing games and in general learning about life and love from my grandparents. The website is posting all the submitted entries on their site (I'm still waiting for mine to go live) and they will announce the winners of the contest in May.
So now it is time to concentrate on March. I found an interesting contest for March. Twice a year, Three Cheers and a Tiger sets forth a challenge to writers to write a story in 48 hours. On the weekend of March 21, a topic and a word range will be announced and writers will be challenged to write a mystery story accordingly. Winning entries will then be published in the June issue of Toasted Cheese. In Spring, Three Cheers and a Tiger hosts a mystery writing contest and in the Fall they host a science fiction/fantasy writing competition.
I know that later this year there will be the opportunity to submit plays for one act contests, a shorts competition, and a reader's theater contest here in the Houston area. Therefore, during the interim I will start on some new play ideas as well as a rewrite of a full length play I have already written. Guess I better get started!
Wish me luck and I'll do the same for you!
Tuesday, February 4, 2014
Going for Number Two
Finding a contest for February was much easier than it was to find something for January. The web was full of contests and challenges for writers that were starting this month. I found three good ones to choose from and then chose two. I might have bitten have more than I can chew, but I want to test my limits.
The first one I chose to enter ends on February 14. Sponsored by We Said Go Travel, the challenge is to write about somewhere inspirational you can spend your time wisely and without regrets. Individuals can submit up to five entries, but each entry has to be between 500 and 800 words. A picture can be included. This is much shorter than the 53 minute play I just finished.
The second choice is an essay about human freedom. It is a fictional piece, so I can be as creative as I want to be, but it needs to illustrate the role that freedom plays in our lives. This contest is sponsored by Students for Liberty and Libertarian Fiction Authors. The deadline for this one isn't until March 4, but for my particular goal, I will have to finish my story and enter by midnight February 28.
Both contests offer a cash prize and a chance to be published in their respective publication. Not a bad deal. Writing an article and a short story is a different challenge from the radio play I wrote last month. I'm looking forward to it.
Wish me luck and I'll do the same for you.
The first one I chose to enter ends on February 14. Sponsored by We Said Go Travel, the challenge is to write about somewhere inspirational you can spend your time wisely and without regrets. Individuals can submit up to five entries, but each entry has to be between 500 and 800 words. A picture can be included. This is much shorter than the 53 minute play I just finished.
The second choice is an essay about human freedom. It is a fictional piece, so I can be as creative as I want to be, but it needs to illustrate the role that freedom plays in our lives. This contest is sponsored by Students for Liberty and Libertarian Fiction Authors. The deadline for this one isn't until March 4, but for my particular goal, I will have to finish my story and enter by midnight February 28.
Both contests offer a cash prize and a chance to be published in their respective publication. Not a bad deal. Writing an article and a short story is a different challenge from the radio play I wrote last month. I'm looking forward to it.
Wish me luck and I'll do the same for you.
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