Haha... Just found this neat little thing while travelling the inter-web...

Click here to find out what your blog is rated. I am like that Disney channel. Maybe I should write some tougher posts.

Just found out I won a short story contest today — in a local journal. There were 132 entries.

*DRUMROLL*

I placed first! I am so totally pumped. I got high marks from the judges and lots of helpful comments to polish the story up. So I'm going to do just that and send it in for the Writer's Digest Short Short Story contest. I've thought about it several times, just haven't actually worked up the nerve to do it. But now I think I can.

So now I'm pushing forward. I did a story for a contest that was due a few days ago. For that one, I ran through several options of stuff that "sort of" hit their guide and I went through a couple false starts as options didn't please me (for this contest) and got set aside for pursuit of something else.

I finally submitted a short story based loosely on an old set of legendsI had written. I had a rough outline in mind and then, as things started going, I just went where the storyled me.

I think I wrapped up all my "loose ends" and essentially hit the editors' wishes. I guess we'll find out when the winners list comes out.

 Just came across this announcement; considering entering this as well (despite the entrance fee): 

FenCon and the Dallas Future Society are proud to announce the return of the FenCon Short Story Contest for a third year. We're once again looking for a science fiction or fantasy story on any topic. The only limits are your imagination, a maximum 5000 word count, and the short list of rules below.

The first entry is free for members of FenCon and the Dallas Future Society and just $10 for non-members. Final judging will be conducted by top industry professionals and the winner will be published in the FenCon IV Program Book!

All submissons must follow these official rules and include a completed entry form. The contest entry deadline is July 14, 2007.

I've pretty much not had internet access the last couple of weeks.  Obviously I haven't posted much, though there seems to be interesting things happening.

I am still here though, and following goings-on as best I can.  In some ways I'm really enjoying being unplugged for a couple of weeks.

I'm taking a little vacation right now, in the last six months, I've started a job, resigned, been unemployed, started another job, moved into a new apartment and managed to stick with my weekly review deadline.

Regardless, I know that my output hasn't dropped off because I haven't had time to write. I've been able to write just fine. I'm still making time to write. I'm finding time to write, but I haven't been writing too much fiction. For quite some time now.

More later!

On Monday night, I went to a book launch. One of the members of my group, published her second book of short stories. Short fiction is a tough market to get into because it's so small.

There's something satisfying about seeing a project go from conception to published book, to hear the drafts, and to make suggestions, however small, along the way. That's one thing I like about creative writing groups-hearing someone suggest something and seeing the possibilities. I also like the support that we give each other. There's a lot to be said for a group where everyone works cooperatively rather in competition, which can happen too. Cooperation leads to everyone celebrating each other's success.

I'm always circumspect about celebrating too early, because my first story accepted never saw the light of publication. The story, about 1500 words long, was accepted, and I was offered $320, much more than I've had for any similar-length story I've soldsince. Then, a month later, the journal folded and that was that. I wasn't able to place it anywhere else. Sometimes, I think I should rewrite it and send it out again, but it's so old now that I look at it and cringe.

Mark Leyner is one of my favourite authors, but I've never read anyting non-fictional from him. Until now that is. A friend lent me Why Do Men Have Nipples?

Here's Vintage's (the publisher) description:

Compiled by Billy Goldberg, an emergency medicine physician, and Mark Leyner, bestselling author and well-known satirist, Why Do Men Have Nipples? offers real factual and really funny answers to some of the big questions about the oddities of our bodies.

Finally, answers to all those strange questions you'd like to ask your own doctor but haven't had the guts to do so. If you've ever wanted to ask a doctor . . .

• How do people in wheelchairs have sex?
• Why do I get a killer headache when I suck down my milkshake too fast?
• Can I lose my contact lens inside my head forever?
• Why does asparagus make my pee smell?
• Why do old people grow hair on their ears?
• Is the old adage "beer before liquor, never sicker, liquor before beer. . .," really true?

I was seeking a fast, uncomplicated read to offer my evening to and this tiny tome captured my heart. It is alot of fun to leaf through and I especially liked being able to shatter some of the preconceptions that I harboured. This is one of those tomes which is great for reading/quoting to friends, etc.

I have seen a number of reviews go after this book for not providing enough education. Personally I think there are more than enough earnest books out there and I love that this one is written in a satirical and is worded in such a way that everyone can understand -- it just doesn't take itself too seriously! The anecdotes contained herein are often pretty funny and it definitely reminds us all what a strange world we live in. That said, I still came away from this little gem with many new things learned and I am sure you will too.