Finding Something Friday...Big Bucks Come and Gone

I've waited for a few Fridays to pass, but never mind. What I hoped to find was that you, my friends and faithful blog readers, would be curious about the latest development on my Road to Publication. What I found instead, people, is not so much.

I'm referring, of course, to the Cathy C. Hall Fortune-O-Meter, which for the last three weeks, was hovering around $2.5 million. Sadly, that is no longer the case. But since no one asked for details, it hardly seems polite to brag away now.

So I will just share a way for you to increase your Fortune to the tune of $1,000 in the Lorian Hemingway Short Story Competition. It's a contest for emerging writers, though, so if you've already basked in the glow of Fame and publishing Fortune, then move along. For those of you just starting out, here's a chance at big bucks. Plus, you'll get a lovely letter from the granddaughter of Ernest Hemingway.

It's not $2.5 million. But it's a start.

What Not to Do Wednesday: The One about Procrastinating

I know you're going to think I made this whole thing up.

I wanted to wax poetic on that old writing bugaboo, procrastinating, and I had the perfect tie-in over at a new website called Uncliche. Namely, that you could learn a few lessons about procrastinating from reading other folks' blog entries posted in the monthly contest, which, as you may have already guessed, was on the subject of procrastinating.

Ah-hem. Yesterday was the last day to read the procrastinating entries. BUT, you can read my entry on "pet peeves" if you hurry over to here, right now. Not to stack the deck or anything, but it's one of those contests in which people vote for you. So if you come across a "poetic" post ranting about 10 Items or Less in the grocery store, you could give me a star or two.

But don't dilly-dally, grasshopper. Voting on this topic ends March 10th.

And while I'm at it, grasshopper, just in case I missed the main point, I'll add one more thing. Don't put off your writing. The deadline may be sooner than you think!

Finding Something Friday...Fathers and All That

I almost checked the calendar today to make sure I hadn't missed a few months and ended up in June. Because fathers were busting out all over.


It started early today when I met a friend for coffee (It was hot chocolate, actually. But nobody says, "Let's meet for cocoa."). The conversation drifted to her mother. But it seemed that what the conversation was really drifting to was her father. He died several years before and I could see that she really missed her dad.


Later, I spoke to another friend. We talked of writing and spacing and formatting and such. But what we really spoke about was her dad. My friend had written a quietly powerful and loving story about her father and his simple, heroic efforts to provide for his family. I could tell that she, too, missed her dad.


Lastly, I opened an email from another friend. He'd sent me the video of Randy Pausch, the father of three who'd given that memorable "Last Lecture" at Carnegie Mellon. Although many folks have benefitted from the lecture, he really gave it for his children. He wanted his kids to know, after he was gone, the man that they called "daddy."


So on this Friday, I found myself thinking of my own dad, who, thank you, Lord, is still very much alive and kicking. I find myself thinking of what a great dad the beneficent Mr. Hall is to our three children. And I'm wondering if I can write my own dad story. If you have a story, you can submit it to "My Dad Is My Hero" by February 28. Read all the details here before you submit.


Good luck with your story. And may you find a wonderful dad memory along the way.

My dad (and mom). Who were you expecting? The Pope?

What Not to Do Wednesday: Read any Good Books Lately?

Before I started writing seriously, I read seriously. I read the paper every morning. I read magazines during my lunch break. I read at least one novel a month (I would have read more books, but the beneficent Mr. Hall is not so beneficent when the light is on and he wants to go to sleep). I even keep a journal of every book I've read.


A few months ago, I finally got around to finishing the book on my nightstand. But when I went to write down said book in my journal, I shrieked (or would have if the beneficent Mr. Hall hadn't been snoring away). It had been months since I'd last read a good book.

That won't do at all, grasshopper. To write well, one must read well-written works. There is much to be learned from the Fame and Fortune of others. So read, read, read. Write, too. But don't let your reading take a backseat. Or how else will you recognize great literature when you see it, especially if you're the one hoping to write it?

Finding Something Friday: Erma's Contest

So you think you're funny, huh? Are you as funny as Erma Bombeck? 'Cause if you are, you might just win the Erma Bombeck Writing Competition that's sponsored every year by the Washington-Centerville Public Library.

I sure thought Erma was funny. Come to think of it, I can still read Erma's old columns and laugh. When I found her contest a few years ago, I absolutely had to enter it. Not because I think I'm as funny as Erma. And not because I can enter a previously published essay. Not even because it's free.

I enter the Erma Bombeck Writing Competition because I have a rule: I must lose at least one contest every year. So far, Erma's contest has always come through for me.

Now, don't dilly-dally if you want the Fame and Fortune. Pull out one of your scathingly witty essays and send it off by February 17th. Who knows? Maybe you really are as funny as Erma.

A Prince Charming Post

When the beneficent Mr. Hall rode into my life all those years ago, I can't say I was struck with his princely bearing. He did have a rather boyish charm that made me laugh. So after a ton of pizzas, served with buckets of beer, (plus a rose bouquet from a neighbor's garden) what do you know? Mr. Hall started to look a lot like my Prince Charming.

Which brings me to The Break-up Diet, the true story of a 30-something single mother/aspiring writer who's working as an exotic dancer and searching for her own Prince Charming. Not an easy feat when trying to find a perfect balance between her dreams and her day-to-day life as Supermom.

The Break-up Diet is by Annette Fix, the Senior Editor for Wow!Women-on-writing. She lives in California with her Danish Prince Charming, her son, and two dogs. She's inviting women to visit The Break-up Story Forum, a place where you can share your own break-up or dating stories. Or check out the book's website here.

The Break-up Diet: A Memoir goes on sale today. Be sure to check it out. But don't let that title fool you. Annette finally found her Prince Charming. And I happen to know she's living the happily ever after. Just like me and the beneficent, and as charming as ever, Mr. Hall.

Tooting My Horn Tuesday: Okay, It's an Invoice

See that? It's a Cathy C. Hall official invoice. Notice the sleek lines, the colors cleverly matching my blog's hues, the bold, Copperplate script.





Okay, it's just an invoice. Which may not seem very horn-tootable. But where there's an invoice, there's someone making a Fortune.


Okay, maybe not a Fortune. But it is a bill, requesting payment for services rendered. And today I'm sending out my very first bill. And when my invoice is marked paid in full, and I've got a check in my hand, guess what I'm gonna do?


Oh yeah...I'll be blowing that horn, baby, all the way to the bank.

What Not to Do Wednesday: The One about Contests and Money

I told you I had a lot to learn about WNTD with contests.






But in my defense, I think this WNTD is a common predicament for beginning writers. Namely, whether to spend money on a contest or not. Of course you want the Fame, but you don't want to spend a Fortune getting it. So what to do? Or not do, as the case may be.


I hate to be Miss Wishy-washy here, but it really all depends. It depends on whether you're serious about adding contest credentials. It depends on what kind of contests you're considering. And it depends on your budget.


1. Don't enter a contest where the fee is high, there's only one winner, and the prize is not commensurate (to use a high-falutin' word) with the fee. It's a question of odds, isn't it? If you're paying 20 bucks to win a $100 prize and 565 other writers are also sending in a submission, then you're odds of winning are...well, I'm going to take a "guesstimate" here and say not good. If I had thought that one through the first time, little grasshopper, I'd be 20 bucks richer today.


2. But don't scratch a contest off the list because of a high fee. A contest credential can add a little something-something to your clip file. Especially if it's a prestigious competition. Do your research, consider what you have to gain (winning or making the shortlist, which can also mean something in really big contests), and then believe in your writing and go for it. The more you learn, the better you will get at choosing the right competition for you.


3. Finally, don't put yourself in debt with contests. Set a budget and stick to it. Pick a paying contest when you can afford it and enter the non-paying contests whenever you can. I generally try to make some money before I go spending money. On the other hand, little grasshopper, it doesn't hurt to have the beneficent Mr. Hall around.


I probably still have a lot to learn about WNTD with contests. Phrases like "There's a sucker born every minute" and "A fool and her money are soon parted" come to mind here. So I'll keep you posted. In the meantime, I'll just close with this quote, by Cathy C. Hall: "Winning isn't everything, but it's a heckuva lot better than losing."

Tooting My Horn Tuesday: The One with Double Entendre

I waited all day for something to come along to toot my horn about, but geez. Where's Fame and Fortune when you need it?

Here's the thing. The last time I was soaking in my Thought Intensification Tank (AKA the tub) I hit upon an idea for Tuesday blogging (see above). That was a few days ago; plenty of time for something to come along to toot, toot, toot about.

Well, a few things have come along, but I wouldn't say they were exactly toot-worthy. That doesn't mean that Tooting My Horn Tuesday is a bad idea. Only that it would be a better idea if there was something I could actually toot about.

So tune in next Tuesday. There's bound to be something by then. Or toot your horn, if you've got a mind to. And one more thing. Maybe I should change my title for the tub, too. Or do you think TIT's okay? :-)

Finding Something Friday: Things I'd Never Tell

If I'm being perfectly honest, there's quite a few things I'd never tell. But for the sake of Finding Something Friday I will tell you what I found.

If you zip over to Poets and Writers here you'll find the listings for January and February. And if you look closely, you'll find the listing for an anthology market: Things I'd Never Tell my Mother. Apparently, someone thinks people would like to read stories about things you'd never tell your mother. Humorous or heartbreaking things, or maybe some of the scary things you did. Like a midnight ride on a motorcycle that didn't have any headlights. With a guy you just met. Out in the middle of nowhere. Heading to Lord-only-knows-where. Not that I would ever in a million years do something like that. Not for all the Fame or Fortune in the world.

But if I did do something like that, I'd never tell. Even if I could use a psuedonym. (Which you can if you send your story in to Things I'd Never Tell my Mother.)