Average American White Girl

So I wrote a novel. Trouble is, it isn't set in Sri Lanka or Pakistan. It isn't the least bit political. The main character isn't a drug addict or a cross-dresser. Worse, I myself am not a drug addict or a cross dresser. I wasn't adopted into a family of gypsies. I'm not from New York.

I'm just an everyday American white chick. My family is the normal everyday amount of dysfunctional. Not at all daytime TV talk show worthy and certainly not a Dateline contender. What can I possibly have to say? What would the writers magazines be interested in? What would my shocking headline be?

Here's what I know: What life feels like. (I bet you know it too.)
Here's what I write: What life feels like. (Isn't that what most of us really want to read.)

I hope so.

So, I'll not be discouraged by the writing mags. Let them feature what they want. I'll be writing what the rest of us know. And hopefully, one day I'll shock the world with

AVERAGE AMERICAN WHITE GIRL PUBLISHES A NOVEL

Contests

OK, folks. Just a quick list of some contests that look interesting. I go to a workshop in the mountains every year in July, and the approach of that week in paradise always gets me extra motivated to send more stories out, enter more contests, and brush off old ideas that have been beggng for their turn at the page.

Here's a few contests that I got from Poets and Writers--which by the way--if you don't subscibe to some or other writing mag, I suggest you do. I like P&W. It has great contest info, articles and a series at the present from agents and editors that will make you want to seek professional help for wanting to be a writer in the first place. But, despite that....it's a great mag. It's good motivation and good info.

Here's a few that looked interesting to me:
June 30th:
Atumn House Press: $1000 and $1500 travel for either book of poetry or fiction,
www.autumnhouse.org

June 3oth
Hidden River Arts
$1000 and pub of short story.
www.hiddenriverarts.com

July 15th
Santa Fe Writers Project: $1750 for work of fiction. Prizes for second and third also.
www.sfwpawards.com

Check those out, there is still time to enter.

Until then....

At last...my love has come along

my lonely days are over, and life is like a song... ok, maybe a bit too mushy, but the point is...I have a "new" computer, I finally hooked it up to the internet and here I am. Again. Till this one breaks at the hands of my computer unfriendly fingertips. I once touched one key on a sample computer at Staples and the whole thing shut off. no joke.

Anyway... It's time again for me to fit writing, blogging, and e-mail back into my full time job and housework schedule. I'll have to fish around for my superhero costume but I think I can do it.

I've got a bit of catching up to do so this one isn't filled with tips and such..just a link to a reading I'm attending tomorrow and a little slice of heaven I'll be in next month.

www.malaprops.com

www.wildacres.com

Soon