“Talent is cheaper than table salt.
What separates the talented individual
from the successful one is a lot of hard work.”
Stephen King
Short Story Contests – A Love/Hate
Relationship
If you like a challenge and are up for
it, enter a short story contest. I can’t think of a better way to open up some
dank, unused brain cells, to stretch your talents and pull you screaming from
your nice safe box. Contests have pushed me to write mysteries, syfy, romance
and even comedy. Okay, so my curse jar seems to fill quite rapidly during the
process, but writing out of my comfort zone is liberating.
May I suggest, when you hit a stumbling
block on your ‘important’ work, it’s nice to clear your head with something
completely new…new, like a contest. Additionally, short stories are good fodder
for reading at open mike nights. You do read at open mikes, right? Open mikes...great for instant feedback, but maybe a subject for another blog.
My favorite short story contest is the one
offered thorough Writer’s Digest. A
contest comes out every other month. They offer a photograph as a prompt, a
word limit and the entry fee is zip.
The winner’s story is published in an
upcoming issue of the magazine and online. Bonus: You don’t need a subscription
to enter or read the top finalists’ entries. Just log on to their website, and
read the winner’s story.
There are tons of contests out there in La
La land. Some offer money as prizes, some offer publication in their magazine,
some offer both and more. BUT, watch out for the small print. There are
publications that ask for an up-front fee, a publishing fee, a donation, or
money to edit and critique your written entry. I pass those by. Google “Free
Short Story Contests,” and surprise, 87 million hits.
Example: This is a short-short story I sent to On The Premesis (a favorite online
magazine.) The word count limit was 50 words and the word “graft” had to appear
one time, and one time only, in the story. Creating a complete story in 50
words is not easy peasy. I honed and polished these 50 words like crazy. Did I
win, you ask? Nope, but I was pleased with my writing. Here’s my entry for
those interested.
Family Tree
I’m
adopted. My birthplace is a war-ravaged county, but my home is California. My
new family grafted a Red Delicious apple twig onto an older McIntosh tree. “We
picked this twig because it’s special…like you.” Years later, the tree
continues to bear delectable, cross-pollinated fruit.
More of On The Premises if you are unfamiliar
with them.
I encourage you. I challenge you to
stretch your writing skills. Enter a short story contest. And report back. Let
us know how it went.
* * *
And speaking of short stories, I
invite you to visit my YouTube channel, Writers Round Robin. Once a month, I
start a story line using 50 words or less and you are invited to add your own
50 words or less to take the story in whatever direction you chose. That’s
always a surprise. :o)
#################
AND
NOW…TA-DAH!
🎆🎆 IT'S A BOOK! 🎆🎆
I am proud to announce the birth of my first
book.
Name: Deserter, Rebel, Renegade
Size: 6”
x 9”
Weight: 11 ozs.
Parent: P.
Austin Heaton
📙📖📗📙📖📚📖📗📘📙📖📚📗📘📙📖📗📘📙📖📚
It’s
“Official!” My debut novel is for sale on Amazon.com.
Let’s
start with a question: What would you do if you found your Great, Great, Grand-father’s
journals hidden behind a wall?
Don’t
know about you, but I’d make a big pot of coffee, find a comfy chair and stay
up all-hours reading. I’d find out why he refused to talk about his time with
the 1st Virginia Infantry, about his arduous trip across the Oregon
Trail and living in the wild and outrageous city of San Francisco in the 1860’s.
And, whoa…Great, Great, Grand-mother has a secret of her own?
###########################
See
you November 15th right here where I’ll report on a very Special Research Trip. And, thank you
many times over for taking time to read my blog and for checking out my book.
Other places to find me:
Email: https://paustinheaton@gmail.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/paustinheaton
Twitter: https://twitter.com/PAustinHeaton1
No comments:
Post a Comment