Several of you have mentioned your frustration with continued rejections, marked-up critiques, or blogs with few followers. So this looks like a good time to revisit this blog post, written several years ago:
Want to Be a Master Writer?
My journey to publication was like that of many writers…filled with unexpected (and of course, undeserved) detours of rejection and denial. What were those editors thinking? Didn’t my years as a high school newspaper reporter and editor of the literary journal count for anything? And what about all those A’s I made in college English Comp class?
Yes, the day I placed my fingers on the keys of the blue and silver Selectric, I was confident I was embarking on a short trip to bestseller lists and six-figure royalties. Little did I know the long and winding road that lay ahead.
What about you? Has your journey been harder than expected? Are you tired of the lay-overs, delays, and potholes? I often wonder if I would have even started writing if I’d known it would take sixty-three rejections and seven years to see any of my words in print. Yep. You read right. Seven years and 63 rejections before ever having anything published.
I’m so thankful God gave me the perseverance (AKA hardheadedness) to stay the course. Even though the goals of bestseller lists and six-figure royalties have been replaced by more realistic goals of having enough money for gas in the car and an occasional dinner out, my desire to write hasn’t changed a bit. If anything, I’m more driven than ever to tell the stories I know I was created to tell. Stories that speak truth to readers–adults and kids–through both fiction and non-fiction.
But what has changed is my passion to write well. Really well. It’s no longer enough to have another article published or sign another book contract. I want to write with excellence. I want to become a Master Writer.
If you’d like to join me on this journey to excellence, I hope you’ll head on over to Mary DeMuth‘s excellent article, What It Takes to Become a Master Writer, posted at Michael Hyatt’s blog. (But after you read it, be sure to come back and check out all the great writing opportunities we have for you this week!)
So, are you up for the challenge? Are you willing to do what it takes to become a Master Writer, one writing worthy words in the name of Truth?
That’s my goal. I hope you’ll join me on the journey.
(Path photo courtesy of Bob Spalding Photography)
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MoGo7000 Can Contribute to Your Master Writer Hours–And It May Win You $100 in Cash!
Christian Writer’s Den readers have written over 500,000 words so far this year! Some will even have a book-length project by the end of December. Hoo-wee!
Want to be in the running? It’s never too late to join us. Just check out the MoGo7000 guidelines here and get started. It’s free and open to everyone!
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September’s Writing Opportunities and Contests
Lots of opportunities and lots of contests this month! Thank you, Marilyn Shipe, for contributing many of these opportunities. 
- Fibromyalgia and Chronic Pain Life
They’re looking for YOUR story! - LEE & LOW BOOKS NEW VOICES AWARD
NO ENTRY FEE. Open to writers of color who are residents of the US and who have not previously had a children’s picture book published. Manuscripts should address the needs of children of color by providing stories with which they can identify and relate, and which promote a greater understanding of one another. Submissions may be FICTION, NONFICTION, or POETRY for children ages 5 to 12. Folklore and animal stories will not be considered. Manuscripts should be no more than 1,500 words in length. Deadline September 30, 2011. The Award winner receives a cash grant of $1,000 and our standard publication contract, including our basic advance and royalties for a first time author. An Honor Award winner will receive a cash grant of $500. - READER’S DIGEST WRITING CONTEST
NO ENTRY FEE. To celebrate the publication of Life…The Reader’s Digest Version: Great Advice, Simply Put, Reader’s Digest will host the “Your Life…” contest. The grand prize winner will receive $25,000, and ten runner-ups will win $2,500. The eleven honorees’ stories will also be published on ReadersDigest.com. In addition, Facebook fans will have the chance to vote for their favorite stories. The most popular Facebook entry will also receive $2,500. To enter, submit your life story in 150 words or less on Reader’s Digest’s Facebook page. The deadline has been set for November 1st. - THE HORN BOOK MAGAZINE
Both The Horn Book Magazine, a bimonthly publication, and The Horn Book Guide, a semiannual publication, review children’s and young adult books that are published in the United States. The Horn Book Magazine also reviews audiobooks. The Horn Book Magazine accepts article submissions. The Horn Book Guide is exclusively reviews and does not accept article submissions. Articles submitted to The Horn Book Magazine should be of a critical nature on some aspect of children’s literature and should be no longer than 2,800 words in length. - WRITER’S DIGEST YOUNG ADULT SHORT STORY COMPETITION
$-Winner receives $1,000 cash, promotion in Writer’s Digest, $100 worth of Writer’s Digest Books and the 2012 Novel & Short Story Writer’s Market. The Second Place-Winner receives $500 cash, promotion in Writer’s Digest, $100 worth of Writer’s Digest Books and the 2012 Novel & Short Story Writer’s Market.Honorable Mentions will receive promotion in Writer’s Digest and the 2012 Novel & Short Story Writer’s Market. Entry Deadline: October 1, 2011. All manuscripts must be 4,000 words or fewer. - CREATIVE FICTION TRUE CRIME CONTEST
$20 ENTRY FEE. Deadline September 30, 2011. For an upcoming issue, Creative Nonfiction is seeking new essays about true crimes–detailed reports of premeditation, follow-through and aftermath, whether gleaned from police blotters or the news, passed down as small-town legend or family lore, or committed in cold blood. Creative Nonfiction editors will award $1000 for Best Essay. Limit 4,000 words. - Chicken Soup Call-Out
Chicken Soup is looking for stories about dogs and cats and breast cancer and faith and parenthood and more! Check out the Chicken Soup site for deadlines and details. -
Upstate Fellowship of Christian Writers Christmas Flash Fiction Contest
This is sponsored by our own local writer’s group! So what is Flash Fiction? Basically, it’s a story that can be read while drinking a single cup of coffee. So, let’s get those creative juices flowing!- Deadline: Sunday, November 27, 2011
- Word Count: 300 words
- Theme: The Forgotten Gift (Yes, this theme is vague, we did that on purpose. We wanted to encourage your creativity-not limit it.)
- The contest is open to all UFCW members and friends, so feel free to share the link!
- First, Second, and Third place winners will be chosen. Entries to be judged anonymously, with winners being announced at our Christmas party in December. The winners and their stories will also be published on our UFCW Web site in January.
- Ladies Home Journal Personal Essay Contest
Whether you choose to write about a life lesson you learned the hard way or a challenge you managed (or perhaps failed) to meet, no topic is off-limits. And you could win $3,000 and have your essay published in LHJ. Essays will be judged chiefly on their emotional power, their originality, and the quality of their prose. - THE ANNUAL FUNDSFORWRITERS CONTEST
The 10th Annual FundsforWriters Essay Contest seeks nonfiction submissions. First prize $400. Five additional cash prizes. Zero entry fee and $5 entry fee categories. Theme: Diligence. Limit 750 words. Email submissions only.
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It’s Not Too Late to Register for the Southwest Christian Writers Studio
It’s coming up–October 17-21 at LifeWay’s Glorieta Conference Center in Santa Fe, New Mexico. Limited class size, personal attention, writing time, hands-on experiences, one-on-one critiques.
Faculty includes:
- Sue Brower of Zondervan (be sure to ask her about having dinner with me–it’ll win you LOTS of points…negative ones!)
- Zena Dell Lowe, writer, director, producer
- Edie Melson, our own digital guru
- Eva Marie Everson, muti-published author of fiction and non-fiction books
- And of course, Alton Gansky, author of a gazillion books and director of SWCWS
How’s that for a line-up? Check out the My-CWC website for info on both the Southwest Christian Writers Studio and the Blue Ridge Mountains Christian Writers Conference.
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Parting Words from The Word…
Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving. Colossians 3:23-24
I pray God’s blessing on the work of your hands and your hearts,
Vonda
