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When Blunders Pay

February 16, 2012

Cathy C. Hall 1 , , 10 Comments

So according to Merriam-Webster a blunder is a “gross error or mistake, resulting usually from stupidy, ignorance, or carelessness.”

I’d be a a very rich writer if I could earn money from my bucket o’ blunders. But maybe this time, I’ll get a blunder or two to pay off. Because Birds and Blooms is sponsoring a Backyard Blunder Contest. All I need to do is a. write 400 words or less about a funny birding or gardening blunder, b. send it in by March 15th and c. win the $500!

Easy-peasy. What may be a tad more difficult is really honing in on what a backyard blunder is. Because I’m not sure that picking up a hanging plant and throwing it three stories off our deck to make my point, could be classified, technically, as careless. Stupid, yes.  Hilarious, definitely. But there was no mistaking what I meant.

Friday’s Fun Finds: Books, Cooks, and Maps

February 3, 2012

Cathy C. Hall 1 , , , , , , , , 5 Comments

I ran across this most amazing website a few weeks ago and so you must really dash along here if you want to send in an entry for the map contest! But even without the contest, you’re going to love these wonderfully illustrated recipes and maps.

Take a look at They Draw & Cook…but I must warn you that you’ll get sucked in for a while. The art work is SO clever, and honestly, I don’t even like to cook and I wanted to try some of these recipes. If you have an artsy side, you can even submit a recipe yourself, maybe end up in the next cook book.  (You can shop for the book and really cool fonts, or mugs or…well,  zip over here to see the Monkey Banana Shop where proceeds benefit the World Food Program USA.  That’s pretty neat, right?)

And if you are an artist,  you’ll want to check out the map contest at They Draw & Travel. HUGE prizes but not a lot of time to get that map finished (Deadline February 10th!!!!). You know, I don’t think you have to be a Rembrandt kind of artist for this contest. If you’re creative and inventive and have a favorite place, I’ll bet you could draw something swell. Not that I can draw much beyond stick men (Hence, Cathy-on-a-Stick is a photo of me on a stick) but I’ve met lots of writers who can also draw, or paint, or dance or play music. So, I wanted to pass this contest along to you incredibly talented people (who through no fault of your own make me feel somewhat inadequate).

Anyway, it’s Friday and time for a lovely little break. I watched this animated short called “The Fantastic Flying Books of Mr. Morris Lessmore” which just happens to be nominated for the 2012 Academy Awards’ Best Animated Short Category. And yes, it’s 15 minutes. But after only a minute, you’ll see why it’s up for an Oscar. And if you love books, you’ll see why it made me cry (in a totally uplifting and lovely way). Enjoy.

Friday Finds: A Contest, A Swell Submission Opportunity and a Tip

January 13, 2012

Cathy C. Hall 1 , 13 Comments

No time for chit chat here, writers. This is January, and we all know that January is that time of the year when we are gung-ho, nose- to-the-grindstone, butts-in-chairs, spitting-out-921-words-a-day writers! So take a look at these…

The Erma Bombeck Writing Competition: Can you write funny? And keep it short (450 words or less)? Or maybe you have a splendiferous human interest story? If so, polish up your essay and send it off for a chance to win in the Erma Bombeck Writing Competition. BUT, a few things to note. You can only send ONE entry. And this year, there is an entry fee ($15.00). I’m not sure how I feel about this $15.00 entry fee…On the one hand, entry fees tend to cull out those folks who’ll whip up something and send it off to a contest, just for fun. On the other hand, $15.00 is on the high end, especially when you consider that only the FIRST place winners get money ($500.00). I shall ponder this for awhile. Or at least until February 13th. (Entries must be received by February 14, 2012.)

Bylines Writers Desk Calendar 2013: Sylvia Forbes dropped in and left a comment about this submission opportunity for next year’s calendar. BUT, as I wasn’t sure y’all had read her lovely comment, I’m giving another heads up here. She’s looking for short and sweet  stories (300 words) about the writing life. AND you’ll get payment ($5.00) plus a free desk calendar. She’s also giving the top three stories bonus bucks! Read all about the submission guidelines here, and get those 300 words in by March 1, 2012.

January’s Writing Tip: Before you submit to a contest, or a market, or any submission opportunity, do your homework! If the website includes past winners, read the entries. Most magazine markets and newspapers are available in online databases; read a couple issues. If a submission opportunity gives examples of what the editor’s looking for, READ ‘em. I guarantee that your brain soaks up little things like style and tone, and your writing will come out a better fit after a bit of reading. Note, I’m not saying copy the writing. We have to be, er, we. I’m saying be your original self and get a good feel for what an editor likes.

Now, then. Take advantage of all those writerly good intentions and goals you made! Today, we write! ( For tomorrow, we may be piddling…)

Finding It’s That Time of Year Again (Or What? The Highlights Contest Already???)

January 3, 2012

Cathy C. Hall 1 , , , , 8 Comments

As you may recall when I wrote about my mission to acquire Cheryl Klein’s SECOND SIGHT, I am not one to give up easily. And so once again, I shall be rolling up my sleeves, flexing the brain, and looking for an unusual newspaper headline for my Highlights Fiction Contest story.

Yep, it’s that time of year again when hope springs eternal and visions of dollars dance in my head as I write up a scathingly brilliant kiddie story of 750 words or less (475 words if I think up something brilliant for the younger readers of Highlights). Although, I’m a little flummoxed at the moment by this part:

CATEGORY:

A funny story inspired by an unusual newspaper headline.

I mean, I can do funny, and I read all kinds of newspapers. But I may have to do some digging to come up with an unusual newspaper headline to write this story and send by January 31.

Not that I’m deterred. On the contrary. ‘Cause you know what? I finally won SECOND SIGHT. And Highlights Fiction Contest? You’re next.

Finding BOOKS! And a CONTEST!

August 26, 2011

Cathy C. Hall 1 , , , , , 2 Comments

So, remember when I told you all about Gail’s trip to Chautauqua and her book giveaway? And then I told you to rush over there and sign up so you could win?

I won! I won two swell books! And they came in the mail today:

I’ve had so many people recommend Mockingbird by Kathryn Erskine, so I’m thrilled to have it! And though I don’t have a book of my very own yet, I have high hopes. So I’m eager to jump into Jacqueline Deval’s Publicize Your Book to learn a thing or two. So thank you, thank you, Gail! I’m so glad I dashed over to your blog for the book giveaway!

Speaking of dashing over, I wouldn’t have won, just sitting here on my boomerosity, thinking about how swell it would be to win books. I had to, you know, actually do something. So here’s your chance to do something and win, too. It’s the Family Friendly Short Story Writing Contest. There’s no entry fee but there are prizes! You can win cash and a subscription to CBI (Children’s Book Insider). Not too shabby, there.

All you have to, you know, actually do is write a story that’s family friendly. You can do that. And you can win, too. (Now dash off and start writing–you only have till Oct. 1st!)

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