Wednesday, December 28, 2011

The Early Bird Gets the MWG Discount and Woo Hoo, I'm a Winner!

Now that Christmas is over, I'm looking forward to the new year. I've already come up with goals for 2012. One biggie is to exercise more: my physical muscles, my writing muscles, and my spiritual muscles. I've already signed up for the MWG Confernece which will be next April. I'm organizing a writing group at my local parish, with our first meeting scheduled in early January, and I'm going to eat less and start walking more, starting right away.

If one of your resolutions for the new year is to get serious about writing and you're thinking about attending a writer's conference, here's one that local, regional--and by golly--even national or international writers can attend.

Tricia Sanders, the Missouri Writers' Guild Vice President and Conference Chair, has been hard at work planning the 2012 MWG Write Time! Write Place! Write Now! Conference which will be April 20 through 22, 2012 at the Doubletree Hotel and Conference Center of St. Louis. The hotel address is 16625 Swingley Ridge Road; Chesterfield, Missouri 63017.

Attendees who register by mail on on line by Dec 31 can save money. I'm all about saving money, so I mailed my registration yesterday to take advantage of the early-bird discount. MWG members and Chapter members can also attend at a discounted rate. 

The scheduled presenters  on Apr 20-21 are impressive and include authors, poets, editors, agents, and publishers. Claire Cook, Jane Friedman, Susan Katz, Susan McBride, Debra Hess, and Walter Bargen are among the speakers. On the additional day, Sunday, Apr 22, attendees can sign up for smaller group optional Master Classes at an additional cost.

Attendees can also reserve a table to sell their books and sign up to pitch their works to agents and editors--and, depending on membership status, attendees are eligible to enter all or most of the conference contests for modest fees.

If you miss the early-bird deadline, you can still sign up to attend; it will just cost a bit more.

Pop over to the MWG Conference blog to read an interview MWP Publicity Chair Sarah Whitney had with  Highlights Editor Debra Hess. Leave a comment and you could win a conference tote bag.

Now for a bit of good news: Deb Marshall, President of MWG e-mailed and told me my short story "The Window Washer" won third place in the Fiction category of the Dr. Doris Mueller Poetry and Prose Contest. The contest judge was Harvey Stanbrough.

Congratulations to all the winners in the all three contest categories! There were nine winners in all. Texas poets cleaned up in the Poetry category. The Children's category was mixed with winners from Kansas and Missouri. But in the Fiction Category, the Show-Me State showed it was all Missouri, baby!

I'm excited. Not only that my story won third place, I made a little money, and the judge is awesome, but because "The Window Washer" is a story I feel strongly about and didn't give up on. So, I'll continue working on my story until it gets published. That reminds me; I need to work on some entries for the MWG conference contests.

So, there you have it. Two ways to kick your writing into high gear in 2012: a writer's conference with great speakers and a chance to win by entering the contests. 

21 comments:

  1. Congratulations, Donna. I am intrigued by 1) the title and 2) the fact that you felt so strongly about this story, you didn't give up on it.

    I hope I can read or hear this story at some point...

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  2. Wow, Donna! Congratulations on the Third Place! I know that is very big in that particular contest! And I'm right there with you on your plans and goals for 2012. (I don't make "resolutions"...but I do make goals for myself!)Good luck to you and all your writer pals... :)

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  3. Hi Sioux,
    Thanks, and of course you can read it.

    Hi Becky,
    Thanks. I hope I can keep up with my goals.

    Donna

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  4. Congratulations, Donna! And I love the idea of working all those "muscles." :)

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  5. Hi Madeline,
    Thanks. I'm going to work those muscles as hard as I can.
    Donna

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  6. Congratulations on your win. I just went over and commented on the post. I have many of the same goals and resolutions for 2012 as you do.

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  7. I started typing a comment and had to get up. When I came back, it was gone. If it shows up, please delete.

    Congratulations on your story win! What a way to end the year and start a new one.

    Happy New Year!

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  8. Hi Janet,
    Hope your goals work out for you. I'm determined to stick with mine.

    Hi Carol,
    That happens to my comments some times too. It is frustrating.

    Thanks for your kind words, and you're right it is a good way to end the year and start a new one.

    Happy New Year!

    Donna

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  9. Congratulations, Donna! What a great way to close out the year and begin a new one. Wishing you a wonderful New Year!

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  10. Hi Lisa,
    Thanks. You are right.
    Happy New Year!
    Donna

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  11. Congratulations Donna and thanks for the reminder about signing up for the MWG... or so I hope to remember by the time I'm finished with reading the rest of the blogs that I'm behind on.

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  12. Thanks, Lynn.
    I hope you had a wonderful Christmas and have a great new year.

    Donna

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  13. Donna,

    Thanks for the conference plug. I love your goals. Mine are similar.

    Love the title of your story and congrats on the win. Your stories are always great.

    Tricia

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  14. Hi Tricia,
    You are welcome. I just hope I can stick to my goals.

    And thanks for your kind words.

    Donna

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  15. Thanks for your story and card. It was waiting for me when we got home from our trip north. I kick around attending a conference but have yet to commit. Will give this some thought. Happy New Year!

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  16. Sounds like a wonderful conference. I wish I can attend. One of these years I will. I have writing goals too. I really want to accomplish them this year.

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  17. Donna, you have inspired ME. Congratulations on your win.

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  18. Hi Sally,
    You are welcome. Hope you had a good trip up north.

    Hi Clarissa,
    It helps to have goals. I hope to stick to mine this year.

    Hi Linda,
    You are so sweet. Thanks for your kind words, and I love your new photo.

    Donna

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  19. Congrats, Donna! What a wonderful achievement!

    Pat
    Critter Alley

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  20. Congratulations on the short story! I'd like to read it!

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  21. Hi Mary,
    Thanks. I'll bring a copy of Voices to the next Saturday Writers meeting.

    Donna

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