Website Review: Mash Stories (@mashstories)

My first experience with Mash Stories involved corruption, pizza and a selfie.

My submission, Naked Men and a Pigeon did not make it to the shortlist. However, I did get a bit of feedback.

2016 Gameplan

Hello internets.  I know I have not been giving you the attention you deserve.  I've been busy. I've changed jobs, and life on the home front has required me to give a little more attention to the fam and a little less attention elsewhere.  I hope you understand.  I plan to make it up to you though.

More Writing Resources!

First - I've added a new resource in the links side of the page. Christopher Fielden, welcome. Dr. Yeoman sent out an email for a blog post about 7 mistakes people make when entering writing contests. The article is on Chris Fielden's website, and although I don't know the guy, I like what he's trying to.  You know - sharing writing, talking about writing contests, that whole deal.  It's eerily familiar. He's also a fellow competitor having entered Dr. Yoeman's Writing Village Contests. And I like to know what I am up against.  Lastly, he brings a love of rock and roll, a sense of humor, and a flair of fantasy to the table that I find quite enjoyable.

Writer's Village Winter Competition

$1600 top prize for short fiction in Writers’ Village Contest winter 2015

$1600 is the top prize on offer for short fiction in the Writers' Village International Short Fiction Award winter 2015, with cash prizes totaling $3200. The second prize is $800, third prize $400 and there are five runner up prizes of $80. Ten further Highly Commended entrants will have their stories acknowledged at the site and gain a free entry in the next round.

$1,600 Writers' Village International Short Fiction Award

$1600 top prize for short fiction in Writers’ Village Contest summer 2015

$1600 is the top prize on offer for short fiction in the Writers' Village International Short Fiction Award summer 2015, with cash prizes totalling $3200. The second prize is $800, third prize $400 and there are five runner up prizes of $80. Ten further Highly Commended entrants will have their stories acknowledged at the site.

You'll Never Win a Contest If...

You never enter.

Duh.

I know, it's an obvious statement. Yet, this statement rang like a bell when I read Annette Young's recent article on her writing contest website Creative Competitor.

"The main element to winning is to enter in the first place. It’s as simple as that"

Claim A $800 Cash Award For Your Unpublished Novel

A $800 cash prize can be won for a debut novel in the Writers' Village International Novel award, closing 30th June. Novels that have previously been self-published are also eligible. The winning author will be assessed by international literary agency A. M. Heath for possible representation.

The top eight contestants will receive personal feedback on their novels by the judge, novelist Michelle Spring, Royal Literary Fellow at Magdalene College, Cambridge. Entries are welcome worldwide.

Entry is $22.

Details at: http://www.writers-village.org/foundation.php

$4800 Prize for a Short Story - Plus the top 50 get critiques!

$4800 is the top prize on offer for short fiction in the Writers' Village International Short Fiction Award summer 2014. The second prize is £$800, third prize $400 and there are 15 runner up prizes of $80. The top 50 contestants also gain a free critique of their stories, win or lose.

With $7200 in total prize values, the Writers' Village award is one of the world's largest short story competitions that welcomes new writers from anywhere in the English-speaking world.

Winners will be awarded the title ‘Winner, the Writers’ Village International Short Fiction Award summer 2014’ and see their work showcased online.

Any genre of prose fiction may be submitted up to 3000 words, except playscripts and poetry. Entries are welcomed world-wide. The fee is $24 and multiple entries are permitted. Deadline is midnight 30th June 2014. Entry rules plus all winning stories since 2009 can be found at:

http://www.writers-village.org

Also - there's still time (until March 31, 2014) to enter the bursary competition - Check it out here!

$800 Bursary Offered to Debut Novelists

Debut novelists can win a $800 bursary to have their novel professionally critiqued at the Writers’ Village Foundation, a not-for-profit award scheme established to help new authors. The top eight submissions will also gain personal feedback from the award judge, novelist Michelle Spring, a Royal Literary Fellow at Magdalene College, Cambridge. Entry is $19 and the deadline is 31st March 2014. Details at: http://www.writers-village.org/foundation.php

Frodo, Harry Potter, Hercules, and You

Are you ready to go on an epic quest?  Ready to face nefarious foes and push towards glory? Well, at least when it comes to writing competitions?

Author Annie Douglass Lima has graciously featured me in a guest posting spot.
Writing Contests: Choose your Quest

Shout out to  Angela Ackerman at Writers Helping Writers for making this connection happen.

My Personal Judgment Day

I wish I had an awesome wig to wear when I was judging the writing contests.

Recently I volunteered to help On The Premises judge a writing contest, and the experience illuminated some truths that changed the way I think about and approach writing competitions. Plus, in my quest to be the ultimate writing competition expert, I need to see contests from as many angles as possible.