Monday Miscellany for January 4, 2010

Hello: 

Ready for the New Year?  Have you set writing goals for yourself?  Hope you have gotten off to a great start in 2010.  Here’s this week’s list of writing contests for you to consider: 

BookRix Short Story writing contest. The theme is “Family Stories”.

First Prize: $1000
Second Prize: $500
Third Prize: $300

Deadline February 23.  No entry fee. http://bit.ly/6Anr2c 

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Paper Perfect’s $100 essay writing competition, “If I ruled the world.”  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. How would politics/economies be organized? Would there be more freedom or less? New laws or rules? Deadline February 1, 2010. No entry fee. http://bit.ly/7spY0w

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Be the Star You Are!® announces its 6th annual essay contest to promote literacy and positive messages. Entry fee: $10 donation per entry  Deadline: January 18, 2010

First Prize – $100 plus guest appearance on the nationally syndicated radio program, Be the Star You Are! http://www.bethestaryouare.org/

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Extended Postmark Deadline for Entries in the Dream Quest One Poetry & Writing Contest. New deadline is January 10, 2010.  http://bit.ly/8v8uB

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Homeland Security Essay Contest- This year’s essay question: “How can, or should, the US make homeland security a more layered, networked, and resilient endeavor involving all citizens?” Contest is open to anyone. Essay should be no more than five pages, single-spaced, in 12pt type and in Word or PDF format. $1,500 cash award and an invitation to the Center for Homeland Defense and Security located at the Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, California where he/she will be recognized at the CHDS Forum. Additionally, the winning and four top finalist’s essays will be considered for publication by Homeland Security Affairs, the online journal published by the Naval Postgraduate School’s Center for the Homeland Defense and Security. Deadline Jan. 31, 2010. No entry fee.  Guidelines: http://www.chds.us/?essay/overview

Happy New Year!

It’s January 2, 2010, and I am sitting down to write for the first time in this new year, this new decade.
Actually, that’s not entirely true—I wrote journal entries both yesterday and today.  So I guess I can say that this is the first time I’ve sat down to write for someone besides myself  since last year.

I almost didn’t get any words written just now. Sitting at my PC, I find that it’s so easy to click on an Internet browser and begin to surf and read under the guise of research.  I am about to launch an association just for ghost writers (and those who want to be), and although I’ve done a fair share of ghost writing myself, I like to read up on how others find ghost writing work, how they got started, and what they charge their clients.  So I can quickly find excuses for reading rather than writing.

But that’s not what this year is going to be about.  Yes, I will launch the association, but I also plan to get back into writing shape myself—slowly and awkwardly, at first, but eventually toning up those writing muscles of mine over time.  I’m doing it because, in order to inspire other writers to write, I need to set a good example.  I’m doing it because I have been inconsistent for far too long.  I’m doing it because I need to do it.

Often over the years, I’ve encouraged writers to put aside at least 15 minutes a day for writing.  Time for me to take a dose of my own sweet medicine.

And you know what?  It feels good.  It always has felt good, this writing process.  Not always smooth, seldom very easy, but always fulfilling.  It’s what I was born to do.  And if you’ve followed WriteSuccess for any length of time, you know that it’s what you were born to do as well.

Here’s to your writing success in 2010.

Mary Anne

P.S. Interested in learning more about my new association for ghost writers?  Pop on over to http://iapgw.org and sign up for the free newsletter that will begin going out this month.  Or consider being one of the first to join—I plan on making this association THE place for ghost writers to connect with those who are looking for them!

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