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Start August With Writing Fun

August 1, 2012

Cathy C. Hall 1 , , , , , , , , 9 Comments

I cannot believe it’s already August, but calendars don’t lie (they do, however, mock you) so we need to get down to some writing business. Happily, it’s writing funny business!

I saw where Uncle John’s Bathroom Reader is having an Inanimate Object Photo Caption Contest. How fun is that? You only need to come up with a caption. Just a couple of brilliant words. That’s easy enough for the beginning of the end of summer, right? So take a look at the examples (I laughed out loud at the drunk octopus), grab your cameras, and start clicking and captioning.

I also saw that Pockets is having their Fiction Contest once again, and that should be fun if you’re in the mood to write a children’s story. Or maybe you have a story that just needs a bit of polishing before you send it out. Or maybe you’re going to take the story that you sent to the last Pockets Fiction Contest, change the names, and try again.

Or maybe that’s just me. Anyway, take a look at their Writer’s Guidelines to get a feel of the Pockets kind of story and get ‘er done before the 15th.

And extra points (and a bronze medal, at least) if you can get those done while watching the Olympics.

Tuesday’s This ‘n That: Writing Contests!

July 24, 2012

Cathy C. Hall 1 , , , , , 8 Comments

I’ve found two interesting writing contests, and for once, you’re getting plenty of time to work on your entries!

CONTEST 1: The Washington Post Humor Contest

What I like about this contest is the prize money ($1,000) and no entry fee. I’m also rather fond of the idea of writing a true memoir, as I write that sort of thing all the time. Of course, it has to be funny and as we know, if we follow Cathy C. Hall’s posts regularly, I do not always excel at “trying to be funny.” So maybe I’ll try the Twitter joke or funny photo part of the contest. Because I can enter all three. For free!

What I don’t like about this contest is that right in the middle of reading the example put forth by The Washington Post, I had to sign in and create an account. But then, I suppose I have to have an account to enter the contest. I mean, dang. Don’t these people know I’m easily distracted by accounts to things like The Washington Post? And that I’ll never remember my user name and password? Plus, it appears that each contest has only one winner. ONE. Also, I’m more than a little intimidated by that list of judges. Don’t go look at them. You’ll be intimidated, too.

CONTEST 2: Write-on-Con’s Writing Contest Sponsored by The Reading Room

What I like about this contest is also the big money prize: $1,000! And it’s free to enter! And the winner gets an author profile at The Reading Room! And possible consideration by agent Catherine Drayton! And it’s 450 words from a YA/MG novel so I don’t have to think up anything new!

What I don’t like about this contest is that five submissions will be selected and then members of The Reading Room will vote to determine the Grand Prize Winner. Whenever a vote comes along in a contest, I’m not so thrilled. I mean, have you ever noticed that “vote” and veto” are the same letters? Of course, first I’d have to get to the Top 5. And then there’s only ONE winner. The odds of winning this contest are semi-staggering. Plus, I have to join the Reading Room and then I have to deal with remembering that whole username/password thing again.

I guess that’s about all I’ve got on the writing contests today. But I will leave you with this final thought: Someone has to win these contests. Why not you or me?

 

And Speaking of Contests…

April 19, 2012

Cathy C. Hall 1 , , , 1 Comment

I spent ALL morning, trying to get my card entry to work for the Hallmark Greeting Card Competition for Teens. Honestly, it wasn’t that great of an idea but at a certain point, it comes down to principle, right? So I zipped over to the Facebook page for help and someone suggested I go through the contest link on the FB page. And voila! My sucky card uploaded. If you have an idea, you better hurry. The contest ends on the 22nd. On the other hand, it only takes about 3 minutes to enter, if you know the secret handshake. Which you do. Now.

But if you’re looking for something a little more child-writer-friendly, you might want to consider the Kay Snow Writing Contest. There are several categories, but the one I’m considering is the Juvenile story. There’s also a fee ($15.00) but the prizes are nice. You’ve got all weekend to work on your entry, then postmark it on Monday, the 23rd (the deadline).

And now, because I’ve got the hang of the Hallmark contest, I may try another. I wrote a poem for my post at The Muffin today that might work out. It’s not necessarily a good poem, but my first card entry wasn’t so good, either.

P.S. I bought that St. Patrick’s Day pin from a Hallmark store many, many years ago.  So if they ever have a St. Paddy’s Day contest, I’ve got a really good caption.

Great Big Gobs of Good Writing Stuff (Tuesday Twitter Finds)

April 10, 2012

Cathy C. Hall 1 , , , , , , , , , , 9 Comments

Whenever I flit over to Twitter, I always find a lot of good writing stuff. I don’t always read the good writing stuff because there comes a time when I must actually write the (hopefully) good stuff. But I mark the stuff that you might be interested in so that I can share. Thus, Tuesday Twitter Finds (at least, for this Tuesday. You know I won’t remember to flit over to Twitter every Tuesday, right?)

Biographile’s  (That’s such a cool name and a very cool site) having a Short Memoir Contest and giving away a Nook. A Nook Tablet, to be exact. So that’s pretty awesome for writing 1000 words or less. The theme is “Overcoming loss” and the deadline’s Monday, April 23. Get all the details and submit here.

Chuck Sambuchino’s celebrating the release of his new book (Red Dod/Blue Dog) with a sweet giveaway. Heck, you might even have a picture of your dog in his book (Oh! Let us know if you do!) But whether you do or not, you can win some swell writing books and a critique from Chuck if your name is randomly drawn. ‘Course, you can’t randomly win if you don’t randomly enter. So go here and leave a comment (and check out the cute dogs!).

And if you have a way cool literary tattoo, you’ll want to enter LitReactor’s Literary Tattoo Showdown. To be perfectly clear (in case the Beneficent Mr. Hall is perusing here) Cathy C. Hall does not have a tat. But if I were ever to get one (and that would assume that the Beneficent Mr. Hall was no longer with us), it would be a literary tattoo. I could see myself wearing a line from a favorite book, or even a favorite pic (one of the tattoos I saw for the contest was Scout in the ham costume from To Kill a Mockingbird. I wish I had the coolness to pull that one off.) Now, you don’t have a lot of time here (Friday, April 13) but if you’ve always wanted a literary tattoo, today might be the perfect day for a little ink. Assuming you are a not a member of the Hall household.

And finally, the last Twitter Find is a reminder to you about the contest going on here at my little ‘ol blog for a copy of Uncle John’s Bathroom Reader Presents Flush Fiction. You’ll want to comment here, on this lovely post, but you need to go here if you want your name included. And if you get a tattoo with a toilet on it, I seriously will send you a copy of Flush Fiction myself. (Assuming you are not a member of the Hall household.)

Thursday’s Three S’s: Submission, Skype, and Sensational Contest

February 23, 2012

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

I’ve got a surfeit of S’s to share today, so let’s get to ‘em…

I love, love, love the idea behind World Read Aloud Day (March 7th), that the right to read and write belongs to all people, and that words have power. Amen to that! And thanks to the technology of Skype, authors are bringing their words to life all over the world. That makes Skype pretty powerful, too. And I love, love, love that author Kate Messner is bringing together a whole bunch of authors, available to Skype wherever you are in the world. If you have a class of eager kids who’d love to be read aloud to from a famous author, check out Kate’s post and list and sign up. And if you’re an author and would love to read aloud, you still have time to offer your lovely voice and words.  Who knew changing the world could be just a click away?

And now on to our submission opportunity over at Big Pulp.  Technically, they’re closed now, but they’ll be open for submissions on March 1st, and this time around, they’re doing something a little different. They want stories on a theme. And not just any theme, my friends. They’re going ape over there. So might I suggest that you get to work right now on your science fiction, fantasy, horror, adventure or romance story with a little chimpanzee (or gorilla, ape, capuchin, or orangutan) thrown in? P.S. They like humor. And I’ve got a monkey on my back just dying to get in a story.

Now on to that sensational contest I promised!  My writing buddy, Chynna Laird, has a sweet little girl who’s sponsoring a writing contest. That’s right. Jaimie guest posts at her mother’s blog and she’s been itching to have a contest of her own. So here’s your chance to make Jaimie’s day and get a little writing practice in. She wants 250 words or less about your best experience ever. The winner will receive a signed copy of Not Just Spirited: A Mom’s Sensational Journey with SPD! Jaimie didn’t say a word about age, so I’m thinking the contest is open to kids as well as adults. So if you know a young writer, maybe you could pass this contest along. I know Jaimie will be thrilled to get lots of entries (by February 29th).

Okay, people. You have plenty to do– and time’s a’wasting. (Good luck!)

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