posted
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.
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.
Posts: 232 | Registered: Jan 2005
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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.
Posts: 232 | Registered: Jan 2005
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posted
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)
Posts: 6026 | Registered: Dec 2004
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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).
posted
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.
Posts: 232 | Registered: Jan 2005
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