Write Unconditionally
January 29, 2010 by Mary Anne
Filed under From My Desk To Yours
Have you ever felt as though you’ve lost your writing passion? You know, that once upon a time feeling when the words just flowed, your nerve endings crackled and you lost track of time while writing?
Sometimes, when faced with a writing to do list that includes posting to the WriteSuccess blog, writing an article for the Invisible Ink (the newsletter for the International Association of Professional Ghost Writers), and freelance assignments ranging from drafting a press release to editing an ebook, I wonder when writing stopped being fun and became work instead. Or maybe the feeling comes after receiving a string of rejections, or chasing down writing job leads that go nowhere, or on those days when the only activity you see on your otherwise blank computer screen is the blinking of your cursor.
That’s when I know it’s time to take a break from writing for my livelihood, if only for a short while, and do what I call some unconditional writing. Maybe it’s a long overdue note to a friend, or pouring out my heart in my journal. Maybe it’s reading other blogs and commenting on them, or simply looking out my window and trying to describe how many different shades of gray there are on a wintery day. It’s time to write for fun again, without expectation of payment or feedback, and without self-judgment.
When I write unconditionally, I revive the simple of joy of wordplay. I don’t write to inform, educate, persuade, explain or inspire. I write simply because I can. And by doing so, I reawaken the appreciation that I can do something well that others struggle with, and that I love something others dread to do. Then the writing to do list looks fun again, and back to work I go.
So when you’re feeling stuck, try writing with abandon. Write unconditionally, for no other reason than the fact that you’re able to do so. I think you’ll find that you’re passion for writing wasn’t lost—it just needed to be rekindled.
Here’s to your writing success.
Mary Anne
Monday Miscellany for January 25
January 25, 2010 by Mary Anne
Filed under Monday Miscellany
Hello:
Did you know that you don’t necessarily have to wait for these Monday roundups in order to receive news of writing contests from me? I generally send out the ones I find via Twitter throughout the week, as well as links to writing articles of interest and updates to this site. If you would like to get these writing news and contest updates more frequently, I invite you to follow me on Twitter at http://twitter.com/writesuccess .
I’ve also recently discovered some new online sources for contest news that I plan to mine for gold from now on. I hope 1) you find these updates helpful and 2) if you win any of these, you’ll let us know by sending me an email at MaryAnneHahn1@aol.com .
Here’s to your writing success.
Mary Anne
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2010 PNWA Literary Contest
12 fiction categories:
| 1. Mainstream | 7. Non-Fiction Book/Memoir |
| 2 .Historical Genre | 8. Screen Writing |
| 3. Romance Genre | 9. Poetry |
| 4. Mystery/Thriller Genre | 10. Short Story |
| 5. Science Fiction/Fantasy Genre | 11. Children’s Picture Book or Chapter Book |
| 6. Young Adult Novel | 12. Adult Short Topics: Article/Essay/ Short Memoir |
$50 nonmember entry fee. Deadline February 19. http://bit.ly/5F9hN2
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E.M. Koeppel $1,100 Short Fiction Award
- Annual Awards for Unpublished Fiction in Any Style, Any Theme First Place Award: $1,100.
- Editors’ Choices: $100 each
- Maximum Length: 3,000 words. Stories must be unpublished.
- Annual Submission Period: Between Oct. 1 and April 30. (Postmark Deadline, April 30)
- No limit on number of stories entered by any one writer. Simultaneous submissions OK as long as you notify us as soon as your work is accepted elsewhere.
Deadline April 30. $15 Entry fee for first submission, $10 for each additional submission. http://bit.ly/5Z2KCo
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Share Your Story in Cup of Comfort
Do you have a real-life love story you’d like to share? Then we invite you to take a shot at a $1,000 grand prize, publication in the bestselling Cup of Comfort book series, and recognition from one of America’s most popular magazines, REDBOOK.
A Cup of Comfort for Couples
Submission deadline: April 20, 2010
Story Length: 1000–2000 words
http://www.cupofcomfort.com/CallforSubmissions
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The Write Time Contest
The Write Time, contains 366 different writing exercises – one for each day of the year. Get the book and choose two exercises: one right up your alley, which serves your strong suit; and one that pertains to a genre, or style of writing, in which you ordinarily don’t work. Write out the exercise, and stick to the word count that it specifies, but write about something that impassions you and brings out your very best. Go for complete excellence. Push yourself. Surprise yourself.
When finished, put your name, address, phone number and email atop the entries, and email them to me at bob@wordjourneys.com. Also let me know how The Write Time is working for you..
There is no entry fee. Obviously, it will help that you have a copy of The Write Time in order to choose the exercises – and to practice new, original material on a daily basis!
Your entries will be juried by two independent judges and myself. We will award a total of seven cash prizes: A $200 GRAND PRIZE for the best combination of two pieces (they must be separate subjects); First, second and third for the best individual entries; and three Honorable Mentions.
The prize breakdown:
Grand Prize (Combination of Two Entries): $200
First Place, Individual Entry: $100
Second Place, Individual Entry: $80
Third Place, Individual Entry: $60
Honorable Mentions (3): $20
http://bobyehling.wordpress.com/2010/01/22/the-write-time-contest-where-good-writing-is-rewarded/
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Adams Peanut Butter Cause a Stir Essay Contest
Write an original essay describing creative ways in which you are helping (or supporting) the environment (”Essay” or “Entry”). Essay must be in English and must be 250 words or less.
Grand Prize: a 5-day/4-night trip for winner and up to 3 guests to Yosemite National Park, CA, including round-trip coach air transportation from a major airport near winner’s home to Fresno, California, National Park entrance fees, hotel accommodations and five-day car rental.
Deadline: March 16. No entry fee.
http://www.adamspeanutbutter.com/causeastir/
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Scribiphile New Beginnings Writing Contest
Write a short story (under 3000 words) featuring the theme “new beginnings.” The first place winner will receive a $100 Amazon.com gift card and a credit for 3000 words of editing service from the great folks at Elite Editing. 2nd place will receive a $50 Amazon.com gift card.
Deadline: March 31. No entry fee.
http://www.scribophile.com/contests/new-beginnings-contest/
Monday Miscellany for January 18
January 18, 2010 by Mary Anne
Filed under Monday Miscellany
Hello:
Before I launch into this week’s list of contests, I want to let you know that I’ve been busy working on a new association just for active and aspiring ghost writers. The International Association of Professional Ghost Writers (http://iapgw.org ) is a project that I had been thinking about developing for quite some time, primarily because I had been unable to find another virtual or brick and mortar group in existence that serves the special needs of this writing niche.
I spent a considerable amount of time last year working on the concept, researching ghost writing (beyond what I myself have done), setting up some initial member benefits and building the site. I think one of the greatest benefits over time will be the members-only job board; my goal is to make it the online place for ghost writers and those who need them to connect.
This year I’ll devote even more time to building the membership, promoting the association to people who need a ghost writer, and adding benefits. In February, I’ll be offering my first teleclass—details coming soon.
You’ll find a sign up box at the site for “Invisible Ink,” the IAPGW’s free biweekly newsletter; subscribe to that and you’ll also receive my free report, “The Ghost Writer’s Guide to Getting More Clients.”
I am very excited about the potential this association holds for current ghost writers or anyone wanting to learn how to break into this field. If that sounds like you, please go to http://iapgw.org . Or if this sounds like a writer you know, please let him or her know about it!
OK, on with this week’s Monday Miscellany—another good list this week!
–Mary Anne
Writer Advice Flash Prose Contest
WriterAdvice, www.writeradvice.com, is searching for flash fiction, memoir, and creative non-fiction that grabs, surprises, and mesmerizes readers in fewer than 750 words. $10 entry fee. Deadline: April 15. http://bit.ly/4KB0Lg
Carteret Writers Writing Contest
Categories include fiction 3000 words), flash fiction (750 word), poetry (50 lines or fewer) and non-fiction (2500 words). Deadline: March 9. $5-$10 entry fee. http://bit.ly/8e4kDC
InkSpotter’s Finding the Right WordsFlash Fiction Contest
Write a self-contained short story in 500 words or fewer. No predetermined theme this year, so let your imaginations run wild. Deadline: July 21. $2 (Canadian) entry fee. Top prize $60. http://bit.ly/8jdnTE
State Farm “Embrace Life, No Matter What” Essay Contest
Inspirational. Committed. Remarkable. Selfless. Hopeful.
Do these words describe you or someone you know who has persevered following the death of a spouse or parent? If so, State Farm Life Insurance Company wants to hear your story. Open to US & Canada. Top prize $10K. deadline March 1. http://bit.ly/4XNdgz
“If I Ruled the World” Essay Writing Contest
In 1000 words or less, tell us what you hate about the world – what bothers you or ticks you off, and how you’d fix it if you were running things. $100 prize. Deadline February 1. http://bit.ly/7spY0w
Leapfrog Fiction Contest
For book-length works of fiction . $30 entry fee for adult fiction category. $20 for children’s fiction. Deadline May 1. http://bit.ly/5JorTu
Robert J. DeMott Short Prose Contest
Submit your prose-poem, short-short fiction, essay in-brief, etc. of 500 words or fewer. The only criterion (besides length) is that all submissions work innovatively with the prose form. $15 entry fee. Deadline: June 15. $200 top prize. http://bit.ly/5lOzS0
