Anthology | Cathy C. Hall Writes

Maybe you’ve noticed the little “Giving Challenge” widget on my blog and wondered, “Hey! What’s that woman talking about?” (If you’ve seen the SNL skit of the game show with Tina Fey translating what women are talking about while a bemused guy stands there, losing all the money, then you’ll understand the hilarious reference in that last line, which for a PG-rated blog, I simply cannot allow. But if you’re not an SNL fan, then never mind.)

Um, where was I? Oh, yes, the giving. Cami Walker has a website dedicated to the 29 Gifts, A Giving Challenge. A year or so ago, Cami was struggling with serious illness when a friend remonstrated her. What she needed to do, said the friend, was think a little less of herself and more of others. To that end, Cami’s friend directed her to give away 29 gifts in 29 days. Remarkably, halfway through the 29 days, Cami’s health began to improve dramatically. Now, she encourages others to follow this prescription and take up the healing power of giving.

To be honest, my mother used to say, “If you’d think more of others instead of yourself…” whenever I whined in my teen years. She may have told me that about a week ago, too. So the healing power of giving has been around for a long time. Which only goes to prove that there’s something to giving.

Cami has a book due to be released in 2009 and she wants to include other stories of giving. She’ll even give you 200 dollars if your essay is selected! You must sign up for the 29 day challenge, give away 29 gifts (the gifts can be anything: a smile, a sock, spare change), write an essay and send it in by November 29th. Now, I realize you don’t have much time here, but if you sign up today and start giving away, you’ll still have almost a week to write and polish your essay. And if you don’t get around to writing the essay, you’ll at least feel better than when you started!

And that’s what this woman’s talking about! (Check out more details here.)

Try saying that five times in a row!

I’m having one of those Fridays when I can’t find a thing, much less a few writerly things. But after a foray into the piles of papers stacked next to the computer, I think I may have finally come up with an interesting tidbit.

Wait, that’s a cheese cracker. But under the cheese cracker is a note about a market. Familia Books is looking for stories about moms to be jammed packed into a title tentatively called “Wisdom of our Mothers.”

Now, I love my mom. And she’s a wise woman. But every time I tell a story about my mom, I get into trouble. It always comes down to the way I remember things and the way mom remembers things. Never the two shall meet. So, even though I could certainly use a hundred bucks, I may have to pass on this newest mom book. But if you’re willing to take that chance, check out the details here. You have till November 30th to submit your motherly wisdom stories…or not.

Of course, you only have a week left in October to submit to all those other markets you’ve been considering…The First Line, the LaChance dog stories, the Memories of the 70’s contest.

Wait, did I tell you about the Memories of the 70’s contest? See, now I have to find something else…hold on a sec.

Okay, the National Association of Baby Boomer Women (Oh, that’s me!) want your 500 word essay about a memory from the seventies that you may be inclined to share with grandkiddies. Or maybe a memory that red, hot searing pokers in your eyes couldn’t get you to tell the grandkiddies. The choice is yours. Now, I don’t have grandkiddies yet, but judging as to how well my kiddies take to my stories, I don’t really think it matters. What matters must be whether you can remember anything from the seventies.

Frankly, the seventies are a little fuzzy for me. If the NABBW sponsor a Sharing the Memories from the 80’s contest I’ve got a doozy of a story about the Vatican. But if you’ve got something you’d like to share circa 1970ish, by all means go check out the details here.

And get writing! I can’t find another thing around here.