Testing with Contests II SS NL May 16

         The February 21st issue of Short Stories Newsletter concerned entering contests to test our writing. After my experience this past month, I decided to tell how entering contests has helped me.

Viv

Next week's editor will be Sarah Rae

Benefits of Entering Contests

         By the end of January this year, fifteen (15) large, manila envelopes carried contest entries to the OWFI writing contest. Each year, the Oklahoma Writers' Federation Inc. holds a conference the first part of May, and each year the organization sponsors a huge contest of 33 categories, open to people all over the world. I entered 15 of the categories.

         The good news announced at the Saturday night awards banquet sent me scrambling to my feet, even if the legs and feet didn't cooperate very well. I took first place in the Young Adult Short Story. I'm going to frame the certificate and copy of the prize check. After all, taking first place from about 80 entries with a perfect score isn't an every day occurrence, at least for me.

         The other good news, and very helpful part of the contest, is I received oodles of helpful suggestions and comments on all but two entries. (Those two entries had nothing: good, bad, helpful, or indifferent.) Of course I'm going to put the score sheet and copy of my winning entry in plastic sheets for gloating purposes: a perfect score and very nice, encouraging comments. All the revisions, all the editing, all the plain hard work on "Survival at Waterloo"  paid off.

         The best part of the contest, other than winning, consists of pages and pages of suggestions, edits, and comments on twelve of the other entries. I'm already revising one novel I entered and plan on revising all the other works. The judges encouraged me, let me know what they liked and found effective in my writing as well as what needed improvement. I won more than a first prize: I won invaluable critiques on items I plan on submitting -- after I make all the revisions necessary to strengthen and improve.

         I encourage everyone who wants to be a writer, a successful writer, to enter stories, novels, poetry, articles in contests. Test your writing, find out where more work is needed as well as what works.

Where to Find Writing Contests

          Writing magazines such as The Writer, Writer's Digest, and Poets and Writers list contests in their magazines. The magazine itself often sponsors contests. Find copies of the magazines or look on line.

         If you're a high school student, talk to English and/or creative writing teachers. Different organizations sponsor student writing contests each year and notify teachers.

         If you're a college student, check with the English or Creative Studies department for writing contests held on campus.

         Check on contests here on the site. Perhaps the comments aren't by professional editors, agents, writers, or publishers (as found at the OWFI contest or magazine contests), but most give helpful suggestions to improve our writing.

         Don't be afraid to find out how to improve your writing.

Items from the Site

From "The Writer's Cramp" 

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From "Invalid Item" 

SMS  [E] #1245150 scary story by Lydia Davidson

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From "Invalid Item" 

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Blossoms Maligned  [13+] #1135889 Finally getting the nerve to ask Sarah out, Tom finds his best day might just be his last by RadioShea

Black Ice  [GC] #1217975 A vet relives 31 January, 1968 by SonofDrogo

Comments from Readers

exasperanza
         I thought that the letter on short stories was a great reference tool that every writer should keep for future stories!

         Thank you. I try to have material and/or information that will help.

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outlander
Hello Vivian,
         Your April 18, 2007 short story newsletter was wonderfully informative! One question though; would you give us an example replacing a weak "to be" verb with an action verb?
Outlander

         Sure, hope this helps.

It was dark and gloomy. The night's blackness created a feeling of gloom.

The boy was sad. The boy hung his head as he remembered his friend.

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billwilcox
         Another well-taught lesson on the craft of story telling, Viv.

         Thanks, Bill. I try.

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AXiLeA
Hello Vivian,
         In this month's newsletter you reminded us of some essential points about writing fiction. I particularly enjoyed the section on "lazy writing." Plot, dialogue and others are part of what I studied in my creative writing classes. But what you named "lazy writing" isn't something I was told about. Thank you!
         I'm sending you these comments, although I only have poems in my port. But I enjoy writing fiction too and will eventually post some work here, in the future.

Thanks again,
Axilea

         Please let us know when you add stories to your port.

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StephBee - House Targaryen
         Viv, I loved how you highlighted such structural points as the hook, dialogue, plot, and lazy writing. I hope others found this as informative as I did.

         I'm always glad to hear I've helped. I try to use what I've learned, many times the hard way, so that others can learn an easier way.

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Red Writing Hood <3
{indent{Great newsletter, as always, Viv.

          Thank you, Holly.

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Mark
         Vivain, thank you. This edition is yet another example of how much you offer to us all. I continue to work at this craft, and have you, among so many others here at W.com to thank for my working education. Even when we know some of these thoughts, seeing them demonstrated can give a fresh feel that may translate into our writing more effectively then the rusty old thoughts that were already there. I'm off to exercise my underdeveloped writing muscle, thanks again!

         As a teacher and as a student, I learned that reiterating helps remembering.

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harryestoddard
         A good plot doesn't have to be from start to climax to resolution. What about Metamorphosis with its somewhat revolutionary climax to resolution plot line? Maybe for one of the upcoming newsletters you could do a segment on writing effective descriptions (hooks). I often find that I pass over pages of listed stories with my cursor, simply because they have poor descriptions; and I, too, for that matter, have trouble writing something that will reel in the readers. Great newsletter!

          Okay, what about Metamorphosis? The main thing to remember when writing is to know the rules and how to use them effectively before starting to bend or break them. Not many of us write well enough following the "rules" to be able to start experimenting -- yet.
         My next Short Stories Newsletter will deal with good beginnings, hooks.

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donprescott
Vivian,
         As always, you've produced another great newsletter with excellent advice about letting the reader see the character. While seeing is an important aspect, the reader's feelings about the character are an important part of that tapestry the writer is trying to weave.

Thanks,
Don

         Unless the reader can "see" and know the characters, no relationship can exist. I like your analogy of the character being a part of the tapestry the writer weaves.

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It's time to say goodbye until next month. I hope you enjoyed what I had to offer.