First - Although Brandi's eye surgery didn't go as hoped (the graft failed), some significant healing took place while her eye was closed - so much so that our vet now believes there is a good chance it may finish healing on its own. Her next "weekly" visit isn't until the week of Thanksgiving. A very good sign.
Maria at Maria Zannini - Maria does a great writer's blog with some wonderful personal notes mixed in. It's informative and fun.
Dru at notes from me - Dru is an avid reader who offers reviews, news, great bits of trivia, and more.
I hope you'll stop by and check out both of these blogs if you're not already a follower.
Moving on - I've got to mention I ran my first 5K race since I started running again this year. I didn't quite make my target pace but I did manage to come in 12th of 57 in the little old ladies division.
Okay, now for the topic of the day. At work I receive a lot of e-mail, letters, etc. congratulating me on being selected for the latest who's who of whatever and offering to send me a beautiful leather bound copy of the registry for the low price of... These offers, of course, go directly into the trash. Then I received an e-mail a couple weeks ago telling me my short story "has been awarded 88th place in Genre Short Story category of the 79th Annual Writer’s Digest Writing Competition" and "the Grand Prize manuscript, the First Place manuscript in each category, and the names of the top 100 winners in each category will be printed in a special competition collection" which I may wish to order.
I honestly don't know how to react. I mean, based on the total entries in last year's contest, I'm estimating well over 1,000 entries per category so making the top 100 puts me in the top ten percent, which isn't bad. And this was my first attempt at a mystery short story. But it's still 88th place and I don't want to get all excited over something that's just a ploy to get me to order a "special edition". I'm actually feeling a bit stupid here. So I'm looking to my more experienced writer blog buddies to help me out. Is this cause for a small woo woo or should I quietly delete this post and hope no one noticed it? I'd really like your opinion.
Unwriting progress: From the original 150,000 words down to 109,874 (No progress at all for the last couple weeks. Pitiful.)
I'm currently enjoying: Just finished ROOM by Emma Donoghue. (I pulled an all-nighter finishing this one.)
Groaner of the Day: King Ozymandias of Assyria was running low on cash after years of war with the Hittites. His last great possession was the Star of the Euphrates, the most valuable diamond in the ancient world. Desperate, he went to Croesus, the pawnbroker, to ask for a loan.
Croesus said, "I'll give you 100,000 dinars for it."
"But I paid a million dinars for it," the King protested. "Don't you know who I am? I am the king!"
Croesus replied, "When you wish to pawn a Star, makes no difference who you are."
(Okay, I'm sorry.)
14 comments:
So glad Brandi's eye is healing on its own. That sounds great and hopefully thinks will continue to improve.
Congrats on the award. I do think you have a lovely blog and I enjoy stopping by. Congrats to those you passed the award on to as well.
Now for the entry in the Writer's Digest competition. My opinion - time to do the happy dance. You made the top 100 out of over 1,000 and it was her first time, WOW. I'd say a woo hoo is in order.
Mason
Thoughts in Progress
A woo hoo is a must. Go ahead and do the happy dance.
I'm glad Brandi's eye is improving.
Congrats on the award and your blog is one of my must reads. Thanks for the award.
I hope November is a grand month for you.
Have a good Monday.
Thanks, Liz! I'm glad you like the blog.
Ref: Writer's Digest contest.
Read the letter again. I had an honorable mention too a few years back. At first I did what you did and said, 'meh'.
But the letter I received said I was one of 18,000 entries. I don't remember where I placed, but 1 out of 18,000 is pretty darn good.
Congratulations!
I understand the word reduction. I have a JUNKYARD full of word and chapter extractions that I use. They do come in handy from time to time and are always there should I need something to fill in a gap.
Mason - Thanks again for the award. It was nice to receive and to pass along. Thanks also for the good wishes for Brandi and for your vote for a happy dance. I was really up in the air on that one.
Thanks Dru - for the congrats, the good wishes, and your ongoing support. I hope your November is wonderful as well.
Maria - Thanks. My letter didn't mention the total number of entries this year but, according to their website there were 13,000+ entries in the contest last year, (for all ten categories). I'm guessing the Genre Short Story category would get its fair share so I estimated 1,300 entries. 88th out of 1,300 isn't so bad. If only they hadn't included that 'special edition' purchase offer. {grin}
(Should I be crushed that you called me Liz?)
Stephen - I thought you'd be one person who would comment on that terrible pun (Groaner of the Day). Nothing?
D'oh! Slaps head. Gives self concussion.
Sorry, Linda. Blame it on early morning distractions. I shall now tattoo your name on my chest. No telling what the husband will think after that. :)
Maria - LOL! Please, nothing so drastic. A simple post-it-note to your forehead will suffice.
I say celebrate! Moments of validation as a new writer are hard to come by--snap this one up and savor it. It's quite an accomplishment, Linda, and it looks great on a query. :)
Thanks, Heather. I guess a little happy dance is called for after all.
And Happy Anniversary to you and your photographer.
that is great news for sure. I am slow getting all caught up on the computer. So much going on all around --emotional, physical, mental, etc... we have Ava temporary custody too. I still reading the J.D. Robb. get too many interruptions with an almost 3 year old.... but still great. 2 down and 1 to go in this series of 3. I wish I could read straight thru like you did the ROOM, wasn't it?? :-))
that is great news for sure. I am slow getting all caught up on the computer. So much going on all around --emotional, physical, mental, etc... we have Ava temporary custody too. I still reading the J.D. Robb. get too many interruptions with an almost 3 year old.... but still great. 2 down and 1 to go in this series of 3. I wish I could read straight thru like you did the ROOM, wasn't it?? :-))
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