Wednesday, August 22, 2012

Hey Writers, What Time is It? It's Contest Time!

Back-to-school season brings back childhood memories of my early school days, evoking the smell of crayons, sharpened pencils, glue, and clean sheets of paper in my Big Chief Tablet.

This sense of nostalgia also reminds me of the excitement of watching favorite TV shows after school with my brothers and sisters on our black-and-white TV. One favorite was the "Howdy Doody Show," which started out with "Hey, Kids, what time is it?"  Sitting at the foot of the TV, we shouted back, "It's Howdy Doody time." The show was sponsored by Rice Krispies, with their cereal's "snap, crackle, and pop."

It might not be Howdy Doody time, but with my grandkiddos back in school, for me it's writing time--and time to enter contests.

For the next two months, I've decided to "snap, crackle, and pop" into action. Here are a couple of contests I hope to enter. Both have late September deadlines and low fees .

* The first contest is the Springfield (Missouri) Writers' Guild 19th Annual Literary Awards. There are eleven contest categories including poetry, fiction, and non-fiction. Entry fees range from $2 to $3. Prizes range from $100 to certificates. Deadline is Sep 30. Here's a link to the submission guidelines.

* The Green River Writers Writing Contest, with fifteen categories, is sponsored by Green River Writers in Louisville, KY. Entry fees are modest, but the top two category prizes are generous. The original deadline was Aug 31, but the deadline has been extended until Sep 29. Here's a link to their site.

How about you? Do you know of any contests coming up that you'd like to share?

20 comments:

  1. Donna, thanks for the info. I also need to get writing. So far, the only think snap, crackle and popping on me are my bones. . .

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  2. Love the Howdy Doody memory. I watched that one, too!

    Pat
    Critter Alley

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  3. Thanks for the tips. I posted a couple this month. The links are in my blog posts. Or you can Google the contests. I'm not spamming. Really.

    The Mona Schreiber Prize for Humorous Fiction and Nonfiction

    http://unbaggingthecats.blogspot.com/2012/08/val-sharer-and-carer-all-rolled-into-one.html

    AND

    iStories for Narrative Magazine's iPhone and android app

    http://unbaggingthecats.blogspot.com/2012/08/its-gamble.html

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  4. Well, I have this one, but I it might originally have come from you! http://justacontest.com/ You always post good ones. Happy writing!

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  5. Hi Linda,
    Thanks.

    Hi Alice,
    You are too funny!

    Hi Pat,
    It was a memorable show.

    Hi Val,
    Thanks for the links. I will check them out.

    Hi Tammy,
    Thanks for the link and your kind words.

    Donna

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  6. Hi Donna - Thanks for the info. I'll go check those out. I have "contests" on my list of things to do, but so far I've had trouble keeping track. Time to put my Franklin Planner to good use. :)

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  7. Thanks for sharing this information.

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  8. Hi Lisa,
    Same here. I should be more organized, but I'm trying. Glad to see you back.

    Hi Mary,
    You are welcome. Hope your school year is fun!

    Donna

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  9. Here is one I just received...might interest someone:Each month for the past year, Switchback has provided a prompt and asked readers to send in their best work inspired by that prompt. Switchback will be retiring the flash contest in September, so August is your last chance to submit. Contest submissions can be poetry, fiction, nonfiction, or even art but must be 500 words or under. Please send us only one submission per prompt and only previously unpublished works. We accept simultaneous submissions but please notify us immediately of acceptance elsewhere. Make sure your name DOES NOT appear on the submission itself. The deadline for submissions is 5:00 pm on the last day of the month.

    The final prompt is: "The end."

    Visit http://www.swback.com for more information

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    Replies
    1. Hi Claudia,
      Thanks for letting us know. I will check it out.
      Hope you're enjoying the last days of August in your part of MO.
      Donna

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  10. Good luck with the contests, Donna! Sounds like you are focused and ready to write.

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  11. Well, first I had to watch the Howdy Doody bit--I always get a kick out of old shows like HD! They just snap, crackle and pop with all kinds of things you canNOT do today-;-)

    Then, I had to read the contests--I got a note from one of those contests--Green River, I think? So I'll need to put my writing cap on for those (and others mentioned).

    So finally, I needed to say a big congrats on your Catholic Writers interview! Go, Donna!

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    Replies
    1. Hi Cathy,
      Those old shows do bring back some memories, don't they?

      Good luck if you enter any contests, and thanks for your kind words about my interview.

      Donna

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  12. Thanks for the info, not sure if I'll get around to it or not, trying to focus on one thing at a time. Not so easy to do. I know you'll do fantastic...

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    Replies
    1. Hi Lynn,
      I know what you say about focusing on one thing at a time. That's not always easy.
      Donna

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  13. I'm excited about fall, more for the cooler temps than school starting. My time had freed up, though, and these contests are a good idea. Thanks for the tips.

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  14. thanks for the tips to the contests, I'll check them out. I love the low entry fees. I can't think of any to add right now, if I do I'll come back and add them later.

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  15. Hi Sally,
    You are welcome. Good luck if you enter. I'm with you about looking forward to cooler temps. I'm hoping my background image of colorful leaves will chase the heat away.

    Hi Janet,
    You are welcome. Low entry fees get my attention. Good luck if you enter.

    Donna

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