I just had a great afternoon with a high school senior I’m mentoring for her senior project in writing. This is the third year I’ve either mentored a senior or judged the final projects for a local charter school, and each year has been an amazing experience.
What a joy to watch these young writers as they begin to grasp the nuances of point of view, show don’t tell, and well-developed characters. My young friend sat through her first critique today, taking praise, suggestions, and corrections with grace. Instead of defending her work or taking offense, she accepted the good with the bad and thanked me for doing it.
If only I’d had that attitude when I started out. For years I felt it was my job to protect my work from those who attacked it. What did they know? How dare they tell me what Bitsy would or wouldn’t do? She wasn’t even their character!
That defensive attitude cost me years of progress.
But here I am, 18 years after writing my first book, and I now have the joy of mentoring others–young and not-so-young–in their writing journeys.
Writers, who are you helping?
Today is the 10th annual I Love to Write Day, a day to celebrate the joy of writing. Founder John Riddle was instrumental in helping me get started as a writer, and I will be forever grateful for his time and interest as he reached out to me.
Here’s what John has to say about his dream for I Love to Write Day:
“My goal for I Love To Write Day is to have people of all ages spend time writing. They can write a poem, a love letter, a greeting card, an essay, a short story, start a novel, finish a novel…the possibilities are endless. But I want people to take the time to put their thoughts down on paper. They will be amazed at the results. Writing can be fun, but also challenging. People need to be challenged, and writing is but one of many creative ways to express yourself. I am very excited because I Love To Write Day activities are already being planned all across the United States. For many people, that will be the beginning of their writing career. I Love To Write Day has the potential to launch the career of the next John Grisham, Mary Higgins Clark, Stephen King or Toni Morrison.”
As you can see, the goal of I Love to Write Day is very simple: Just write.
Write a story, a card, a poem…anything! And then…
Find a way to encourage others to do the same.
So, what will you write today? And who will you help?
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Writing Opportunities for YOU!
Here are some great opportunities to get you started on I Love to Write Day. Thanks again, Marilyn Shipe!
1. The Annie Dillard Award for Creative Nonfiction
Offered for the best creative nonfiction. Prize is $1,000 for the winner. Submission open December 1 and run until March 15. 1st Prize: $1,000.
Click here for Annie Dillard Award contest submission guidelines.
2. The Pavement Saw Press Chapbook Award
1st Prize: $1,000. Pavement Saw Press Chapbook Award is offered for previously unpublished poetry chapbooks (up to 32 pages). First place wins $500, plus publication and 50 copies.
Deadline: December 31.
Submission guidelines for the Pavement Saw Chapbook Award here .
3. The Tobias Wolff Award for Fiction
First place winners will be published in the Bellingham Review. Second and third place winners and finalists may be considered for publication.
Deadline December 1 and March 15
Submission guidelines for Tobias Wolff Award here.
4. Chicken Soup for the Soul
$200 + 10 free book copies – Seeks inspirational, true stories about ordinary people doing extraordinary things. Click here for possible Chicken Soup for the Soul book titles.
5. Skirt!® magazine
Skirt publishes 5-6 personal essays every month on topics relating to women and women’s interests. No fiction. Pays $150 per article. Skirt Magazine writer’s guidelines here.
6. Glimmer Train Press, Inc.
One of the most respected short-story journals in print, Glimmer Train Stories is represented in recent editions of the Pushcart Prize, New Stories from the Midwest, O.Henry, New Stories from the South, Best of the West, and Best American Short Stories anthologies. Pays $500 per story. Glimmer Train writer’s guidelines here.
7. The Sun Magazine
We publish essays, interviews, fiction, and poetry. We tend to favor personal writing, but we’re also looking for thoughtful, well-written essays on political, cultural, and philosophical themes. Please, no journalistic features, academic works, or opinion pieces. Other than that, we’re open to just about anything. Surprise us; we often don’t know what we’ll like until we read it. Pays $300 to $3,000. The Sun Magazne writer’s guidelines here.
8. Guideposts Magazine
40% unsolicited freelance. Personal faith stories showing how faith in God helps each person cope with life in some particular way. Tip: Be able to tell a good story, with drama, suspense, description, and dialog. The point of the story should be some practical spiritual help that subjects learned through their experience. Use unique spiritual insights, strong and unusual dramatic details. First person only. E-mail: .
9. Light of the Word
Devotions: 220-230 words
Pays $100 for 7 devotions
Be sure to read the guidelines for devotions. They require that you send two devotions as samples and then be assigned to write the 7 devotions for their publication. Click to see the sample copy for Light of the World. Light of the Word writers guidelines here.
10. Upstate Fellowship of Christian Writers Flash Fiction Contest
Yes, our local writer’s group is sponsoring a flash fiction contest and it’s open to everyone!
Upstate Fellowship of Christian Writers Flash Fiction Contest guidelines here.
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Don’t Forget to MoGo!
The month is half over, but you still have plenty of time to reach your goal of 7000 new words on your book project this month! You could win $100!
MoGo7000 details here.
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Parting Words from THE Word…
God has given you the wisdom to write. How will you use it to help others?
A wise man’s heart guides his mouth, and his lips promote instruction. Proverbs 16:23
I pray God’s blessing on the work of your hands and your hearts,
Vonda
