Writerpedia discussion

Anyone ever have any luck?

Let's see what ya got?

As I Sit

As I sit and think of the crimes I have committed
Could it be that I thought I was a man
And wasn't afraid to admit it?
As I sit and try to keep those crimes inside
I can't help but remember the ones that died.
And as I watched their bodies begin to fold
And their eyes begin to roll,
I tried to stop and look at their souls.
But now I feel myself being pulled
As their bodies are ever so cold.
As I sit I thought I heard them say
To do it in such a violent way
You must have had no fear
Because you never shed a tear.
And as I sit I try to think what's going on inside,
What gave me so much pride?
Yet, It is something I can't explain,
Something so evil it makes me think I'm insane.
Deep down inside lies another person with another name
And when he comes out I"m not the same.
But for now he feels afar
As I sit behind these bars.

I have entered some writing contest in the past and have had good luck with the ones that i entered.

Nancy

I've entered a couple, but so far no luck. Which ones have you had some luck with, if you don't mind sharing that information?

I'm thinking of entering a few short story contests. The entry fees aren't big, but I also don't want to waste my money.

I will have to look that up. As soon as i fet my stuff moved here and unpacked, I'll let you know. I know i tried a few different ones before i got any lock at all.
As soon as i get my stuff here, which is on the way and i get it unpacked, I'll look through my writting Stuff and let you know.
So just keep trying and i will you all luck.

I like the idea of a writing contest, but I think that if we have a writing contest on here there should be two or three different categories:

Poetry
Short Story/Novel
Non-Fiction

Anyway,yeah... :)

Well they both are wonderful Poems, the flow is good in both of them. Now do you really want us to vote and give you both crique on your writting.
I think it would be nice to see other's work.

"We all have our own unique way of writting, thought, and ideas. We are all schooled in our way of thinking and we are all teachers - whether it's a profressional teacher with a degree or not."

James, You mention a short story. I would like to summit a very very short story , no more than 1500 words. A true story.....but I think is cute. when is the contest, and how much "dinero" Alicia

My class was assigned an essay contest once. I made it in but forgot to send in my form >_<. But I really don't like essays. It was actually on mythology which is pretty fantastical.

As per the poems and writing contests, I cannot choose between those two poems! Seriously! I'll get back to everyone on my contribution. I need time to...ur...think.

hi guys. i like the first poem best. freaky, but good rythm and imagery. good poetry is often kinda freaky, the flowery stuff just isn't popular anymore.
i've done well in poetry contests before, but mostly that one at www.poetry.com where they're mostly trying to sell you your own stuff in hardcover.
anyone want to see a sonnet? check out my profile, i'll start posting some writing.

hi guys. i like the first poem best. freaky, but good rythm and imagery. good poetry is often kinda freaky, the flowery stuff just isn't popular anymore.
i've done well in poetry contests before, but mostly that one at www.poetry.com where they're mostly trying to sell you your own stuff in hardcover.
anyone want to see a sonnet? check out my profile, i'll start posting some writing.

I entered one writing contest about 2 years ago. I did not win, and I think the rules were that all writing becomes their property. So now I wonder, if I enter and do not win, can I ever use that story elsewhere?

I just joined this group. I'm active in the Pikes Peak Writers (pikespeakwriters.com, I'm VP of Programs) and Rocky Mountain Fiction Writers (www.rmfw.org) in Colorado. Both run excellent genre fiction writing contests in association with their annual conferences: PPW in the Spring, RMFW in the fall). I placed or won in both contests in past years as I honed my writing until it became publishable. My debut mystery was nominated for the 2007 Best First Novel Agatha Award. I highly recommend you find a local writing organization near you where you can go to workshops to learn the craft and business of writing and can enter their contests to get feedback from judges on your own writing.

I won 3rd prize Jakarta Art Council Novel Competition 2006 and receiving $1,250 prize. I'm grateful because I competed with many professional novelists.

I also want to participate english literary competition sometime in the future, but I'm lacking of proper resource.

Beth -- Is there a good way to try to find these local organizations?? I've had a beast of a time trying to find any kind of workshops I can get to around my work schedule. I have a few small colleges nearby, so that's where I started looking, but even the professor who taught my summer class on poetry (back when I actually had a little bit of free time) didn't have any suggestions for other kinds of writing (I know, crazy, huh!) Oh, and Bravo on getting a nom. for an Agatha! I'll have to check out your stuff!!

Does your local newspaper have a Book Page, say on Sundays? Mine does, and it has a column listing events put on by local writing groups, such as workshops and meetings. Most nonprofit writing groups allow guests to attend a meeting or two for free or a minimal charge while you decide whether or not you want to join.

Also, Shaw Guides ( http://writing.shawguides.com/ ) lists writing conferences. You can limit the search to those in your state, then look for those put on by nonprofit writing organizations vs profit-making centers. Then check out those organizations' websites for information on their focus and aims.

Lastly, your local bookstores and library may have information about local writing organizations. Many of them meet in bookstores and library branches, even. Good luck finding an organization that suits you. I really think that networking with other writers is a vital component of anyone's writing career.

I am new at this so I am not sure how to start. I’ll just jump in. I have been writing a Historical novel for the last four years on the fall of the Philippine. I am hovering about 125 thousand word and I am about 50-70% done depending on where the story goes and how it ends. I have rewritten the beginning many times and I just want an honest opinion on it. I also have short stories and a few poems; not happy ones. So here is my intro, if it stinks tell me so. I’ll make the changes. Oh, if you don’t like it please tell me why, and how I can fix it


How many died in that 80 mile 7 to 12 day march? Five thousand, or was it twenty five thousand, no one dared to answer.

The Start
Slowly the lifeblood flowing out of the veins came to an end, and ones hold on life is released to fall freely, twisting and turning in the winds of indifference and uncertainty. Finally falling to a resting place, contrasting its red and yellow colors against the fresh black earth of a grave and the gloved hand of a young woman in a cemetery called Mountain View. At the end of the grave, the temporary marker read Mark J Miller.

Kneeling next to the grave, Diana was alone in her thoughts. All the others had left long ago leaving Diana at the grave and her sister waiting in the car. The grave had been filled in and the colorful autumn leaves continued to deposit themselves in random patterns on the fresh black Earth. The flowers over the mound were beautiful with an assortment of roses, lilies, carnations, and gladiolas. Most striking was a circle of orchids in vibrant colors. On the card was a single letter, a large golden K.

A beautiful autumn sun was setting behind her as she stood up and brushed the dirt off her gloved hands. She fumbled with the buttons on her navy blue coat and pulled the coat collar up to cover her neck against the on coming chill. She ran her hands around the back of her neck and pulled out her shoulder length brown hair giving it a shake. Looking up over the grave, “the Mountain” as the locals called Mount Rainer, with its many glaciers was aglow in a golden autumn sunset.

As she turned to leave she noticed an attractive woman with dark hair standing under the branches of a large cedar tree. She hadn’t noticed her there before. She seemed different somehow, but Diana couldn’t articulate it in words. She was wearing a snug pullover, dark pants and a long leather coat. She had the kindest expression and it made her feel relaxed and comfortable just looking at her. Diana bowed her head in recognition and the woman by the tree did the same with a faint smile.

Diana walked back to the waiting car, a Chevy Cruiser, and got in on the passenger’s side, “Did you see that woman over by that cedar tree?”
“Where?”
“Right there,” Dianna looked back at the tree, but the woman was gone; nothing but an ancient cedar drooping its massive lower branches like a bowing subject sweeping his hands gracefully out to the side. That’s weird; she was there just a moment ago.” Diana scooted around on the leather seats expecting to see her walking but she was nowhere to be found. “I wonder who she was? You did see her, didn’t you sis?”
“No, I don’t remember seeing anyone by the tree, but hay I wasn’t looking either.” Wow, she is really stressing. Sis looked at Diana like a mother watching their child struggle through a painful event. Being the older sister she has always tried to look after her sister. “Are you doing ok Diana?”

“Oh, I almost forgot. I found this in the car when I got in. It’s addressed to you Diana.”
“To me? She looked surprised that someone would leave her a gift at a time like this. “What is it?”
“Open it and find out.”

Well, four years ago, when I was eleven, i won third prize in a Cricket Magazine Story Contest. My story was about cute little singing mice. :) All I won was like a free book or something, but I was really happy. Oh, and when I was nine I won first prize in a local poetry contest for my poem about watching ice cream melt on a hot summer's day. lol.

I'm going to participate in this poetry contest of Garrison Keillors. The winner gets a mattress and his/her poem is read on the air.