Writing for Competitions
This morning as I slipped on my shoe I felt a ball of cold stuff under my toes. For those of you with arachnophobia it would be your worst nightmare. I’m usually more careful, but I was in a rush. I didn’t get bitten – I pulled off the shoe to find a huntsman spider looking at me as if I was insane for testing its patience like that. If I had been in a nightclub I would have won the break-dancing competition.
I bet you’re glad I shared this story with you – you’re welcome. But that’s all beside the point of this post.
In the last few years I’ve been asked a lot about writing for awards and competitions. I feel like my first big break came when I won my first award. Then over the years, winning more awards really helped me polish my writing as well as landing me a few good jobs. It also provided me with some great marketing tools and introduced me to a load of interesting people.
This week the lovely people at LULU.com gave me the opportunity to talk about writing for awards and competitions. It’s only a short article, so if you’ve got a minute, please go over and check it out.
My Writer’s Nook has been getting the work-out of its life for the past month or so. It seems my muse came back from vacation with a vengeance and is shooting me with so many arrows of ideas that I’ve been averaging about 5,000 words a day (not all good words, but hey – they’re words!)
So I thought I put my favourite picture here – the view from my Writer’s Nook.
xxx Have great weekend! xxx
Dianne Gray author 
Serves you right Dianne, that spider – I thought your article would have told us HOW to win – apart from writing great stuff of course 🙂 I entered a competition once and I think one ought to get at least a brief acknowledgement, even though it might be crap. Especially if you’ve paid an entry fee.
That is some roll you’re on – I haven’t hit 5,000 words in a long time.
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Save that story you entered, Roy. I remember years ago I entered a story into a relatively small. local competition and I never heard back from them because it came nowhere – then I re-entered the exact same story into a big international comp and it won. I guess it all depends on whose judging on the day!
I’ve been writing SO much and even playing with poetry and flash fiction – maybe I’ve finally lost my marbles (or found them) LOL 😉
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A great place to write. 🙂
Found a scorpion in my boot once (the hard way). The sting didn’t affect me much at all, just a little pain and some swelling. Fortunate, because I had to call in a medevac chopper for another guy that was stung. You learn to keep a closer eye on footwear.
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Oh dear, Tim – I’m glad you were okay and also glad the other guy got the assistance he needed. Did you go in the Medevac chopper? I only ask because I accompanied a friend in a Flying Doctors plane here in Australia many years ago and it was an amazing experience.
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I didn’t go in the chopper. I stayed with my platoon in the bush.
I had plenty of chances to ride choppers though.
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Wow! Now I’m intrigued.
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Ack! I got the willies reading about the spider, Dianne. And DOUBLE ACK! Five thousands words a day…that’s amazing. It’s a great feeling isn’t it?
Thanks for sharing the post…I’ll be sure to check it out. Happy Weekend!
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They’re not all good words, Jill (lol) – I’ve been playing around with poems and short fiction as well 🙂
I was just reading your Storms of Life post – wonderful and so inspiring! xxx
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Bad words are better than no words! Short fiction is fun, but I could never write poetry. I admire those who do. I’m happy you enjoyed the story. You are one of the blogger friends I thought of when I read it. ❤
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That’s so sweet of you, Jill xxx
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I knew immediately what was in your shoe the moment you wrote “I felt something” You’re right, that is my nightmare and I’ll bet the size of it would made it a double feature!
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It was definitely a double feature! It’s happened to me before and you’d think I’d know better and slow down in the mornings to check – silly me 😉
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I don’t envy you the spiders of OZ but what a great view. When I lived in Sydney I was always afraid to reach my hand into the mailbox in case a funnel web had taken up residence. But if I peeked first, I was afraid i’d end up with a funnel web on my face. I would go days without checking the mail.
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That’s so funny, Carol because it reminds me of a recent visit I made to a friend’s place in Canberra. She hadn’t checked her mail for six weeks because she’d seen a red back spider in her mail box! I cleaned out all the mail for her and sprayed it. But those funnel webs are hideous! When I lived down that way I was always very wary of them because (apparently) they jump – Yikes!
Have a great weekend, my friend 😀
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Okay, so now, with the spider story, you’ve knocked all the words right out of me. My best word count, for a single day, ever, was 17,032. It was a rollicking 22 and a half hour writing marathon. Never again.
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That’s a massive writing day, Alta! Wow! You’re a legend 😀
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With a writing nook like that, I’d almost be willing to put up with giant spiders in my shoe. Almost. 😉
Congrats again on the award! I enjoyed reading your article.
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Thanks so much, Carrie xxx
I’m normally more careful around here – just goes to show what happens when you’re in a rush 😉
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You guys in Australia will have to change the lyrics in “the itsy bitsy spider” to something more to scale.
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Haaaa – hugey wugey spider thumped up the water spout, down came the rain and into hugey’s mouth… 😀
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There you go!
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Ew, on the shoe. LOL I used to live in the US south and west. Although it’s been many years I still check my shoes and anything else I pick up from the floor. haha!
You are on a writing roll!! 🙂
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I usually do check the shoes, Jackie – I must have my mind on other things lately 😀 But I’ve leaned my lesson and will check every day from now on 😉
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I’m searching the picture for the spider. That IS my nightmare and California has few nasty spiders.
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An absolute nightmare, Jacqui! They get very big here.
Thank you so much for reading the LULU post and leaving a comment – very much appreciated 😀 xxx
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ooo la la – love the view from the nook – and I am going to check out your lu-lu article –
laughing at imagining you doing a break dance… ha
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The Writer’s Nook is the best place ever 😀 Hope you like the article, and yes – I’m a pretty ‘bad’ break dancer LOL 😉
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did you know that the state I live in is the “spider state” – supposed to have the most in the US –
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Yikes! 😀
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And we have more ticks, fungi, and moisture – we were in Colorado for the first part of raising our family (hubs is native CO) and it has a much drier habitat – so different –
Xxoo
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We have ticks as well, they’re yucky…
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argh – good word…..
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great view and too bad about the spider…glad it got away before it got you!! (:
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That spider wasn’t in as much of a hurry to get away as I was 😉
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Here it’s frogs. Once i couldn’t wear my yard joggers for a week because Leroy the green frog was camped in one… and I couldn’t bear to evict him.
Great advice. When life calms down I want to start with short stories and see where it goes… oh, and blog posts… Inspired by your Writer’s Nook and because if I had to sit inside I wouldn’t get anything written due to outside-day distractions I’ve set up a couple or spots on the verandah.
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So lovely to hear from you, Dale! I hope life calms down for you soon. It’s great to set up a spot for writing and outside is the only way to go. I think the sky and stars are a wonderful muse xxx
I have a frog (Jazzman) who now brings a lady friend up to the Writer’s Nook at night. They dine out on the geckos 😀
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You were a lucky girl with that nasty spider wanting to take a bite! Congrats on all your awards. They are like getting a good grade, and certainly make a difference. Of course, I’m too scared to enter anything, and no award person has come looking for me, so I stand here unawarded. Therefore, I’m in awe of you, who has won many awards. However after reading your books, I can honestly say that you deserve every award and more. I would be happy just to write as well as you do – with our without awards! 🙂
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That’s such a lovely thing to say, Marsha – I’m so flattered! 😀 You are an inspiration to me xxx
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Likewise, of course! 🙂
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A nook like yours is a writer’s dream. I can see why you can average 5, 000 words a day. Lovely! 🙂
Your article, Winning at Writing is inspiring. I might even take a plunge and enter few shorts I’ve written over the years.
Enjoy the weekend…xx
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It’s worth a try entering these awards, Cocoa – I believe I’ve got nothing to lose and everything to gain by entering. If I don’t win I just shrug my shoulders and enter the story in another comp. Like any creative competition or award – it just depends on the judges who have likes and dislikes. I hope you take that plunge! 😀
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Crocodiles? Goodness. An interesting article sweety. I have my book on lulu too, though of late haven’t had many sales. You totally grossed me out with the huntsman story but I smiled in the end. I’m so pleased you’re writing again and the nook view is sublime. ❤️
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It’s so lovely to hear from you, Jen – I hope it’s all going okay with the family in Melbourne xxx (I see you’ve had some pretty exciting storms recently!)
Lulu is great and the quality of the books is awesome. I’m going to see if I can find your author page on Lulu 😀
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xxx Hugs
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Spiders aren’t my phobia. The poor little guy must have thought his life was over.
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I think I did give him a bit of a fright, but we were both very happy to dash off in opposite directions uninjured 😀
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Usually, a spider bites first and negotiation is never part of the conversation. You got lucky! 🙂 Terrific view and place to write.
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This one just curled itself into a ball (thank goodness!) Haaaa – he ran off, probably thinking I was a nutcase 😀
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I really like spiders, but I do avoid the venomous ones. I’m glad you weren’t bitten.
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I think I would just die on the spot if I found a spider in my shoe, but you make the experience sound not too bad and even give your spider a rather cute personality. 🙂 Love the view from your Writer’s Nook and congrats on your awards and the recognition you’ve received. You’re a star! xx
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Thank you so much for reading the LULU article and commenting, Sylvia! You’re the star xxx
I’m so glad you liked my spider story – it had a happy ending 😀
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My pleasure, Dianne. I once had a spider bite and it wasn’t pleasant. 😕 xx
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Well done! With the spider and your writing competition
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Thank you Dannie – and thanks so much for the tweet! 😀
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Inspirational, Dianne! 🙂
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Thanks so much, Jo 😀
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What a great view! And ugh! I followed the link to see a picture of that spider. Yikes! So glad you didn’t get bitten! Huh-le-leh. {shivering} And I was thinking about maybe entering some writing contests, so thanks so much for the post on that.
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Best of luck to you if you enter the competitions. I’ve learned so much so I truly recommend it 😀
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Thank you!
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Oh man, I am seethingly jealous. 5,000 words a day? I think 250 words is a good day. [SOBBING BIG TEARS] How long do you keep that up anyway?
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Well, today I’ve written none [I say with a shameful look] 😉 But I have been working on the RUC so I think that’s a pretty good excuse. Tomorrow I’ll start writing again and then see where that takes me 😀
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OK, I will try for 250 words and pat myself on the back if I make it ;). Good luck to you!
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Haaa – you’re 250 words ahead of me 😀
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I’ll try to remember that!
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I’m glad it was a spider . . . and not a s~n~a~k~e. EEK!
That is some word count, Dianne. Especially since I assume you’re not just typing “Here’s Johnny!” or “REDRUM” over and over and over like Jack in The Shining.
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P.S. I enjoyed your LuLu article.
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Thank you so much for going over to have a read, Nancy 😀
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A snake in my shoe would have seen me more then break-dancing, Nancy (although I did have one in my bedroom the other night that hubby captured and then released elsewhere) 😀
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I’ve entered a couple of competitions but nada! I will keep trying, Dianne! Thanks for the inspiration. Your writing nook is amazing and 5,000 words! That’s really awesome. I’m lucky if I can write that in a week. I need to step it up!
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Keep trying, Amy. If a story I write doesn’t make the cut in one comp I just enter it into another 😉
I’m glad you like the writer’s nook. When I lived in the city I found it really hard to write, but looking out on these wide open spaces is a dream 😀
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Oh Dianne, a huntsman!!! yuk! I’m pleased to hear your writing mojo is back in a big way and I’m looking forward to reading more of your work soon. I decided, after entering a couple of picture book manuscripts in competitions, I’m not going to enter unless there is feedback on offer. It’s a bit rich to ask for a $50 entry fee and get no response. I really want to know how I can improve my stories to make them enticing to a publisher. And I enjoyed your article too.
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Fifty dollars is a lot! You’re right, for that cost feedback should be included. You can always self-publish those books and put them on your blog for people to buy (I now I’d buy one) 😉
Thanks so much for going over to read the article – very much appreciated 😀
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Thanks for the vote of confidence! Marsha is always telling me to self-publish. The problem is I’m not an illustrator and you can’t have a picture book with no pictures!
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I’m not an illustrator either, but maybe you could use some kind of illustration ap online? I know GIMP and aps like that can turn photos into cartoons. It may be worth try 😉
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I will check it out!
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Ugh, not sure I could cope with the spiders and suchlike where you live, but then the writing nook view is wonderful! We’re a bit spoiled here in England in terms of not having to deal with nasty creatures, but we have the nasty weather instead. I lived in Las Vegas for a few years, and there we had a few nasties, black widows and brown recluses and snakes, but when you’re actually there you just accept it as being part of where you live don’t you, so I guess it’s the same where you are (although you probably laugh in the face of black widows with some of your beauties there!).
5,000 words a day is amazing, it blows NaNo out of the water!
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You’re right, Vanessa – I think I’m just used to the creatures because they are just a part of this place. I’ve heard some people from the US say they would be scared here, but when they walk around their neighbourhood or farm they need to watch for cougars and bears! If I saw one of those I’d never venture out of the house again 😀
I hope I can keep up this word count! 😉
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OMG, I would have fainted straight away if I’d stepped on a spider – what would Little Miss Muffett have thought? 🙂
Your writing nook always makes me full of envy but I know you use it well. 5000 words a day is awesome. That also makes me full of envy. 🙂
I struggle with Contest approach/avoidance syndrome.
Have a great week in the RUC in the land of milk and honey.
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Thanks so much, Sheila 😀 The weather here is beautiful at the moment (coming into winter in the tropics is such a relief) so the RUC really is the land of milk and honey at the moment 😀
Writing contests are not for everyone – it can be really nerve-racking at times 😉
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Was the spider o.k.?
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Absolutely – it ran away
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What a great nook, Dianne. That close encounter must have shaken you up! I once nearly squished a very comfortable frog, fast asleep in my shoe.
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Oh, I bet poor froggy got a fright 😦 I’m so glad you like my nook – it certainly does the job 😉
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What a fantastic view Dianne. With a view like that I would not get much done as I would gaze out and day dream… It looks as though you will have a good crop this year. So another book in the offing???
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The crop is magnificent this year (and the price of Aussie sugar is doing well for the first time in years) 😀
I’m trying to write two books at the moment in between a few short stories. It’s great to be busy 😉
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You certainly are busy, the muse is working overtime.
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So glad you got your muse back, and the photographers nook – oops – writer’s nook, is as gorgeous as ever. I’d probably never get any writing done LOL. To the folks who avoid competitions, or get discouraged by not hearing back – or winning, keep entering. For quite some time I didn’t enter a particular industry competition because the main rival was an established photographer, with a team, who had been in business here for at least a decade. I was sure I couldn’t live up to my own expectations of her work! I entered this year, and won the Best Event Photography category. It’s an amazing feeling. So don’t let your own insecurities stand in your way! And I’m sure there are stories to be had out of all your creature encounters Dianne – short; children’s; a mystery featuring strange but deadly creatures! – Suzan –
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This is such an inspiring story, Suzan! Congratulations xxx And it is a great feeling knowing that you’ve been deemed the best by a judge. Friends and clients can tell you they like your photography (like they do with my writing) but when a judge loves your work it’s the icing on the cake (and looks great on your CV). I’m absolutely wrapped with this news 😀
The writer’s nook is a favourite with my friends who are photographers and artists. The lighting changes every minute and sometimes I’m totally ignored when people are here 😀
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Thanks Dianne! It was definitely a highlight! I’ll try not to ignore you when I land in that nook one day. (Teleportation required, at the rate things are going this year, so you’re safe for a while!)
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I encountered a few Huntsmen during my time in Fiji – but never in my shoe, thank goodness!
I read your Lulu article – excellent stuff. I’m a firm believer in entering writing competitions and whilst I haven’t had any major wins, I’ve had my fair share of short-listings so I just keep plugging away. Well done on your current writing output… very inspiring!
Susan A Eames at
Travel, Fiction and Photos
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The secret is to keep plugging away, Susan, so I’m so glad you believe that too. Congratulations on your short-listings – it’s very hard to get there so your writing must really dazzle! Well done 😀
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Oh, no thank you on the spider in the shoe! :O Although once in Mexico I pulled on an overshirt and didn’t notice the scorpion clinging to the back until someone pointed it out to me! Funny, it took a while for someone to step up and help knock it off!
So glad to hear that you’re writing again! I’m hoping I’ll be able to say that about myself again soon—maybe once I can get my “writer’s nook” set up to my liking. But I’ll never have the amazing view you do! 🙂
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Yikes! A scorpion on your shirt – wow, that would really freak me out 😲
I’m really looking forward to reading your writing again – time to get your writer’s nook up and running 😉
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Congrats on the well-deserved recognition you have received! While it is true that writers write because they simply must, a little nudge here and there definitely greases the wheels.
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It certainly does, Allen! 😉
And thank you so much for the congrats xxx
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Hey dear Dianne, just read the Lulu article. Great piece, and inspiring for me as right now I’m 38, so, on your schedule, I’ve still got a couple of years to get that ‘big break’ 🙂 And what a 40th birthday present that would be! What you shared made so much practical sense…thank you!
OK, 5000 words – that’s insane?!?! Then again, you do have that stunning view to draw your muse.. Scary spider story number…how many? 🙂 Blessings on you dear friend, and can’t wait to read the fruits of your current (fast!) flow…Love, Harula x
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Thanks so much for going over to the article, Harula! 😀 and I’m so glad you liked it (you young gorgeous girl!) xxx
There was only one spider in my shoe, but he was big enough to make up for about five 😉
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EEk. You are so lucky! I remember I stayed with a friend in El Paso, TX, and she was like check your shoes for scorpions before you put them on. That was pretty freaky.
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Oh yes! Scorpions aren’t prolific where I live, but they are in the desert areas. I’d be thumping those shoes every day 😉
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I do NOT thank you for sharing this story. I saw one try to make his home in my shoe the day before yesterday and I’ve been paranoid ever since – wearing sandals today! It didn’t help running across this post!
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You are awesome and an inspiration! I love your unique style and the fact you self publish look forward to reading more. Not sure I would have survived the spider. But now I see where Wolf Pear came from reading about where you were at the time. Can you tell me which book you are most proud of and suggest which one I should read next thanks.
Kath
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Thanks so much, Kath! I’m so glad you liked Wolf Pear. Next one 0f mine you should read? Depends on what you’re interested in because I have a habit of switching genres. If you like conspiracies and hidden ancient science, The Everything Theory is pretty damn good and action packed 😉
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Love the view, and all the wonderful writing you produce there too! 🙂
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The view is awesome (which is probably why I feel like I’m on a permanent vacation) 😉
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That Flow Zone is a wonderful place to be–so happy for you!
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Thanks, Naomi! I love that flow zone 😀
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Love the nook! It’s practically worth the spiders! I love that someone asked if the spider was ok! 🙂 I’m terrified of them but I try to always let them live. I’m past the age you were on winning your first prize as I’m taking steps to apply to an MFA program at 50. Crazy? I’d rather be crazy than completely regretful! 🙂
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It’s never too late, Laura. My sister started her archaeology degree in her fifties and has now completed it. We never stop learning 😀 Best of luck with your writing and thanks so much for the follow and dropping in to say hi! xxx
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“it ran away” Very nice
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😉
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