Monday, January 4, 2010

The Great Critique and Highlights Contest

The Great Critique always sneaks up on me ... it's next Tuesday and I'll be critiquing magazine and nonfiction manuscripts. This event gets sold out in a couple of days after it opens for registration, but I know people have managed to get in who are on the waiting list. You know, people break a leg over Christmas once in a while ...

I started writing about my first time and felt like I'd written about it already ... and sure enough I had here. Gee, not one original thought in my head.

Well, the kiddos are back at school after a wonderful two weeks at home, and I am working on both my novel and a couple of shorts for the Highlights contest. This is a yearly ritual and although I've never won the contest, I'd love to, so I keep on trying.

This year's theme is: Fiction based on a true story from your family. And the prizes as always are fabulous: Three prizes of $1,000 or tuition for the Highlights Foundation Writers Workshop at Chautauqua.

Doesn't this make you want to work on a family story? Even if you don't win, your story might be purchased for regular publication, and you will now have a family story that you can give as a gift for Christmas.

Good Luck!
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8 comments:

Anonymous said...

Oops, it's this time of the year for the Highlights Contest. I almost forgot. Thanks for the reminder, Vijaya. And happy critiquing. :)

Bish Denham said...

I'm thinking, I'm working on it, I promise.

Cynthia Chapman Willis said...

Good luck to you, too, Vijaya! Enjoy the critiquing and the writing! It's the love of it all that really pays off in the end, right? : )

Write2ignite said...

I've never heard of the great critique! How did I miss this?

I want to write and sub to the Highlights contest JUST so I can be in the running for a full scholarship the big C. I would love to go there!

I bet you have some great family stories to work with!

hugs,
Donna

Vijaya said...

Thanks, ladies.

Nathalie, I loved reading about how you made your own book and charged your schoolmates. Thank you for visiting here.

Good girl, Bish.

Cynthia, you nailed it. At the end of the day, love is what it's all about.

Donna, the big C is amazing. I went on a full scholarship one year, so keep that in mind as well.

And yes, although I have a TON of family stories, not all of them lend themselves to conflict and resolution and all that good stuff. But I have two little stories done already. Must spit-shine them and send them off.

Anonymous said...

I bet your stories are shining already, V! If you ever need another set of eyes, mine are available!

hugs,
Donna

Vijaya said...

Thanks Donna. Can I take a raincheck on your set of eyes ... now that I've already sent in my stories, I don't want anybody to tell me what doesn't work.

Fingers crossed.

Christina Farley said...

I really wish I had time to enter this contest from Highlights. Such a fun one.