Silly Mom Thoughts

I started writing online in April, thinking I could make a couple of bucks here and there, which I have, but it has grown to so much more. In July I joined an online writer’s community called Accentuate Writers . It is run by the ever-talented Michelle (Michy) Devon, and is bursting at the seams with witty, talented writers with abilities from just starting out to professional. I consider myself somewhere in between, leaning closer to the “just starting out” side of the spectrum.

At Accentuate, I have not only created relationships with fellow freelance writers, I have been given the opportunity to stretch myself beyond blogging and writing for Associated Content and eHow . In September, I submitted my first short story for the Accentuate Writers Anthology contest. I was super cocky, thinking that I had the most airtight story ever created. Pfft! Yeah right. Looking back, I want to smack me. Not only did I not make the finals which would have sealed a place for me in the Accentuate Anthology, I didn’t even make the semi-finals. And no wonder. I read back on the other entries and they were nothing short of awesome.

November 5th was the deadline for a second short story contest. Although I was disappointed that I didn’t make the semi-finals last time, I was more determined than ever to do better. I wrote up another story, paid better attention to mechanics and flow and submitted it. This time, I merely hoped to make the semi-finals, but was prepared if I didn’t. The entries this time around were even more amazing than last.

Today, the semi-finalists were to be announced. The Accentuate-aholics were busy refreshing the conversation thread, as well as Michy’s blog. We were dying with anticipation, hoping that each of us would make the semi-finals list that Michy would post on her blog. At one point, I asked Michy this: “Working on any blogs? Like with the number 703 in it?” (703 is my entry number.)

Being the torture loving woman she is, she posted this blog: This Post is Just for Lindsay

Still, no list of semi-finalists. I had a playdate to attend, and Michy told me to go and not wait around for the results… because I made it.

Did you hear that? (Wait, I guess it’s “read” not “hear.”) Did you read that?

I made the semi-finals this time! See? Semi-Finalists of the Last 2008 Accentuate Short Story Contest.

Although I am almost certain I will not make the finals (seriously, you should see the entries I’m up against), I improved. Next time, I will improve even more. I will keep on improving, in fact, until I get myself into that book, gosh darn it.

I have queries out to a number of magazines that I hope to write articles for. I am currently in the midst of NaNoWriMo where I am working toward completing a 50,000 word novel by the end of the month (a novel which I hope to query a publisher with in the next year). I haven’t had my name in print yet… but it’s coming. I can see it!

Anyway, sorry for the non kid or parenting related writing tangent, I had to share with you my exciting news.  Yippee!

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