Hatrack River Forum: 'A Key Turning' won! Announced in paper today.

This is topic 'A Key Turning' won! Announced in paper today. in forum Books, Films, Food and Culture at Hatrack River Forum.

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Posted by Crotalus (Member # 7339) on :

I got the call today that my short story "A Key Turning" won first place in the annual contest held by the local paper. There was a 3k word limit, and 1st place pays $250. They will print the story in its entirety sometime in August. There were 60 submissions this year, and the editor who called had some very encouring words for me. I am ecstatic. This story first saw the light of day in the writer's forum here at Hatrack, so I want to say thanks to those who critiqued my first 13 lines. Special thanks to wbriggs who critiqued the whole thing. Also a big thanks to OSC. I own and implement both of his writing books, one of which he signed 'To a fellow Taleswapper'. Now I feel like what he wrote is true. I used to tell people "I'm a writer and I have the rejection slips to prove it." Now I have finally crossed the threshold into publication.

[ June 22, 2005, 09:24 AM: Message edited by: Crotalus ]

Posted by Brian J. Hill (Member # 5346) on :

Congratulations! That's awesome!

[Party]

Posted by rivka (Member # 4859) on :

[The Wave]

Posted by Tante Shvester (Member # 8202) on :

Mazel Tov! [Smile]

Posted by quidscribis (Member # 5124) on :

Yay!!!!!! [Party]

Posted by Goody Scrivener (Member # 6742) on :

woohoooo!!!! congrats!!!

Posted by whiskysunrise (Member # 6819) on :

[The Wave]

Posted by alluvion (Member # 7462) on :

that's the sweet sauce!

Posted by JenniK (Member # 3939) on :

Good for you!

ScottR, watch out behind you... [Big Grin]

Posted by ketchupqueen (Member # 6877) on :

Yay!!!

Posted by Scott R (Member # 567) on :

Big congrats, Crotalus!

You realize that if you kept under the 3k word limit you're getting paid $.08/word?

That's a professional rate!

Good luck with your further writings!

Posted by Crotalus (Member # 7339) on :

Thanks all.

Scott R, I had to cut the heck out of my story to get it under their limit, but I squeeked in at 2990. And I am psyched about the pro rate, but even more so about the validation. Good luck to you and all the other writers here. Is your "Blackberry witch" story in print yet? I want to read it.

Posted by kaioshin00 (Member # 3740) on :

Nice work
[Hat]

Posted by Belle (Member # 2314) on :

That first one is such a great feeling! And $250 is a good payout for a first publication!

Congratulations! May this be the start of a long career.

Posted by Goody Scrivener (Member # 6742) on :

So when will you be able to let us know where and when we can get your story?

Posted by Crotalus (Member # 7339) on :

Goody,

I was told that the paper will run it some time in August. It will also probably be included in their online version. As soon as it is, I will post that link all over creation.

Posted by SteveRogers (Member # 7130) on :

Tell me, are there any other short story contests? I can't find any with a small enough word limit. I can rarely cut the story enough for it be under the word limit.

In other news, congratulations Crotalus! (insert clapping smilie here)

Posted by Crotalus (Member # 7339) on :

http://albanyherald.net/zonearchive/0605/zone062205.html

Here's the link. Winners are listed in "the zone" section. And now I reveal my true identity. Stacy Worth is Crotalus. Okay, I'm officially through with this thread. (That is until they actually run the story).

[ June 23, 2005, 03:58 PM: Message edited by: Crotalus ]

Posted by katharina (Member # 827) on :

Congratulations!

Posted by Farmgirl (Member # 5567) on :

Congrats again!

Where does "a married father with two young boys" find time to write stories??
[Smile]

Posted by Crotalus (Member # 7339) on :

Okay, I said i was finished with this thread and then FG asks me a question. Maybe it was rhetorical. Since I don't know, I have to do the polite thing and assume it wasn't. Here is how I find time to write:

I write after everyone is in bed, or before they get up, and during lunch. I also don't hold myself to a very large word-count goal. I consider about 300 words a sitting to be fine. 500 a day is excellent. Makes for slow plodding, but you do what you can. Besides, they won't be little for long.

Posted by Chris Bridges (Member # 1138) on :

Congratulations! Nicely done.