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Cathy C. Hallhttps://cathychall.wordpress.com/I write, write, write. Then I rewrite, rewrite, rewrite. THEN I submit all those polished-up words out into the world and sell 'em. It's a plan that's worked pretty well.

Tooting My Horn Tuesday for Future Centerville Writers

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Look at those smiles! That’s what writing will do for you. Well, writing and winning.

Those young writers surrounding yours truly are the prize winners in the Centerville Writers Student Poetry Competition. We met on this fine Tuesday at the Centerville Community Center for the awards ceremony and reception. I’m the coordinator of the Centerville Writers, so I had the honor of giving the prizes and certificates and such. Oh, and we heard some great poems, too.

Justice Davis, standing on my right (or is it my left? I can never figure that out. It’s the girl standing next to me, okay?) read her first place middle school poem, “I Am From Basketball.” If she’s as handy with a basketball as she is with words, she’ll go far.

Davon Peeks, the 8th grader standing on the other side of me, won Honorable Mention for “I AM.” Davon impressed me with his quiet, yet powerful poem.

Next to Davon is Safia Siddiqui, a tenth grade student, who won first place for “My Cup of Love.” Safia’s poem was a mature, moving poem about relationships.

And last, and as it happens, also the least (She’s just a kindergartner!) is Samantha Smith, who won first place for her acrostic poem, “Family.” You know, it’s not easy for a kindergartner to write a whole poem, but Samantha did a fine job.

The winning writers will be published soon in the OneStop newspaper (a publication distributed by Gwinnett County). It’ll be their first clip. I hope they’re proud. I know I was proud when I saw them standing up there, reading those poems. Even if they’re not my kids. They’re writers.

And they’re on their way.

Finding Something Friday Gets in the Holiday Mood

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I’m late, I know. Oh, not with this Finding Something Friday post. I still have a few hours before Friday ends. But Advent started Sunday and I meant to share this article with you at the start of Advent. But today will have to do.

I wrote “Five Ways to Add Christmas Spirit to Your Advent” for Girlfriend 2 Girlfriend Magazine’s December issue. I wanted to write about Advent, and they wanted an article about Advent. Isn’t it swell how that worked out? So, if you’re looking for ways to add a little Christmas to your Advent, you can take a peek here (Click on the magazine. It’s further down the page, scroll a little bit more…There’s the magazine! Now, click on page 48). See that lovely wreath?

This is the Cathy C. Hall Advent wreath. Not exactly lovely, but we love it, all the same. That old Advent wreath never fails to bring the Christmas Spirit.

And speaking of the Christmas Spirit, I found a call out for the Cup of Comfort Book of Christmas Prayer. The editor, Susan Townsend, is looking for true, uplifting stories and devotionals with a Christian Christmas theme. Devotionals should be 350 to 400 words, stories should be 1200 to 1500 words. She plans to cover the 25 days leading up to Christmas (see how I worked Advent in again? It’s a sign that you should read my article!) and the days after, leading up to January 6. So, get creative. In a true kind of way, of course. Send those subs with standard contact info and a short bio pasted in the email to CoCChristmasPrayer at gmail.com. Now, you know I don’t mean for you to use the word “at” in that email address, right? And you should also know that time is of the essence. Those stories are due by January 6th.

It’s not too late after all! You can use a little Christmas Spirit from my Advent article to get you started. (C’mon. You had to see that coming.)