Congrats to a Very Funny Girl

Just when I thought that I had nothing interesting to post, I got some terrific news from a writer friend. Donna, of Donna's Book Pub, won first place in the Erma Bombeck writing contest! This is an annual competition and Donna just received the call that she won in the humorous essay category. Do pop over to offer your congratulations if you can, because this is a major feat. I've known Donna since I joined Saturday Writers about 4 or 5 years ago. She's a talented writer, and so deserving of this major recognition.

Now doesn't that story motivate you to write and send your work to a contest or publication? You never know. You could be the next one to win big (or even small, I'll take whatever I can get).

But one thing is certain...if you don't submit, you won't win.

So let's all get to work and submit those sublime stories. I want YOU to be the next one to post about your writing success.

Bogey, would you puh-leeze move over so I can create!

Oh What a Beautiful Day!

I went back to work after the long holiday weekend full of the blahs and wishing I could stay home just one more day. But instead I bravely marched through the front door along with my fellow reluctant warriors. Later in the morning I took a minute to check my blog and found a comment congratulating me on a contest win.

WHAT????

Immediately, I zipped over to the Saturday Writers website, and sure enough, I won second place out of 87 entries in a short story contest. Joy! Bliss! Nirvana!

This evening I planned to post the good news, but first took a look at a long list of emails. Uh-oh! A tantalizing Chicken Soup email nestled in the middle. I clicked on it first thing and read the opening sentences every writer wants to see:

"Your story "My Daddy's Name" has made it to the final selection round for Chicken Soup for the Soul: Thanks Dad. Only five percent of the submitted stories have made it this far. The vast majority of stories in this "last round" will appear in the book, but we do not make the final decisions until about a month before the publication date."

WHAT A DAY!!! Pardon me for yelling, but I couldn't help myself! Now I'll keep fingers crossed that I make the final cut into the book, even while I bask in the warm afterglow of the contest win.

No more after holiday blahs for me...I'm smiling from ear to ear!

Advice to Writers

Photo from Dusty's website

On Saturday, Dusty Richards spoke at our Saturday Writers Meeting. Author of nearly 100 western genre novels, Dusty knows a thing or two on writing about critters. After all, what's a cowboy without a horse? Dusty attends rodeos, races, and all things "horsey" to help him create a true portrait of the animals and people who were part of the Old West.

He had a lot of terrific advice for us, but what stuck with me most was his emphatic recommendation on writing a book.

Just write it. From beginning to end. Don't edit. Don't go back and reread. Get the entire thing down on paper. Dusty says if you allow yourself to keep rewriting while the work's in progress, writers (especially new ones) are likely to become discouraged and never finish the manuscript. However, once you've actually completed your entire story, things change. You are now committed to it. You've written your book! Then comes the time to go back and start revising and polishing what you've written to make YOUR BOOK the best it can be.

He couldn't be more correct. How many of us start writing a book but never, ever finish it? We're too busy putting up roadblocks and using excuses that prevent our success. It's certain that Dusty's formula has worked well for him.

So here's my new plan. I'm going to gather all my notes and start...no, I mean FINISH, a novel.

Care to join me?

Cuivre River Anthology IV

Cuivre River Anthology IV is Saturday Writers' latest anthology. It contains selections in four areas: poetry, essays, short stories, and flash fiction by many award winning writers. The book opens with two poetry selections written by Missouri's first Poet Laureate, Walter Bargen.

Among the contributors are some friends and fellow Saturday Writers, including yours truly.

The book is a lovely collection. It's easy to pick up and read a story or two, and then come back later for more. Or, if you're greedy like me, you can devour it in one sitting.

Kudos to Lou Turner and Donna Volkenannt who did an outstanding job as co-editors.

If you'd like to order a copy, check out the Saturday Writers website.

Best Seller Bobbi

On February 28, best selling novelist Bobbi Smith was the guest speaker at our monthly Saturday Writers meeting. She spoke about her evolution as a writer, the publishing industry, and what's hot and what's not selling in New York. With 51 published books and numerous awards, Bobbi is a gal who knows what she's talking about.

I discovered that Bobbi is a dog lover who would like to feature a canine someday in one of her stories. (Of course, her agent and publisher prefer she continue writing what her readers love best...western romance). She is the proud owner of several Golden Retrievers along with what she describes as a "big black dog."

Hooray! Another writer who loves critters! (I'm sensing a theme here.) And Bobbi, I plan to keep reading and watching for that dog book!