Purpose of IWSG: To share and encourage. Writers can express doubts and concerns without fear of appearing foolish or weak. Those who have been through the fire can offer assistance and guidance. It’s a safe haven for insecure writers of all kinds!
Posting: The first Wednesday of every month is officially Insecure Writer’s Support Group day. Post your thoughts on your own blog. Talk about your doubts and the fears you have conquered. Discuss your struggles and triumphs. Offer a word of encouragement for others who are struggling. Visit others in the group and connect with your fellow writer - aim for a dozen new people each time. I'm currently #87.
I've come to grips with the fact I will never be the level of writer I want to be. There's just not enough time in my day to devote to what I need to learn. But there are young writers out there already better than me. All they need is a nudge here and there to follow their dreams.
My High School Short Story Contest is live. No one has entered yet. What if no one does? The only goal I have with this contest is to provide a positive experience to encourage young writers. I've sent email after email to high school principals all over the United States. Not a single one has replied.
What if my email went straight to junk mail?
What if they never passed it on to the English department?
What if...
Arg! I need to stop.
It was just an idea.
There's still time for people to enter. The deadline isn't until November 10th. If I put it out there, surely someone will come? Right?
I have 4 amazing judges, and I hope to have something for them to judge. A wonderful friend donated $100 to add to my $100 in the prize pot, so now we have cash prizes for 1st, 2nd and 3rd place! There is so much potential in this contest idea, but I'm afraid my inadequacies with marketing it will cause it to fall flat on it's face.
Do you live near a high school?
Would you be willing to take a flyer to the front office for me? All you have to do is print the Info Sheet and ask the office staff to give it to one of the English teachers and ask them to share it with their students. It's free for the students to enter and they can win cash prizes and feedback on their writing.Would you be willing to share this on your blog? I have a website set up with all the information and a form the students can use to enter the contest. It's called Bold New Worlds. You can read all the contest details, meet the judges and see the theme and prizes for this year.
Any help would be greatly appreciated!
***I also need to apologize here. Since I'm subbing for a kindergarten class the next three days, it will take me a while to visit your blogs. Don't give up on me though! I will get there eventually. Please leave me a link if you comment so I can get there quicker. Thanks!***
Charity, I think you can become the writer you want to be!
ReplyDeleteAnd, I appreciate the effort you've put into this contest. I admit I forgot to send links to the students in my co-op writing classes until just now (as in a few minutes ago). I hope that some of them will send you stories.
We'll both work to become the writer we want. (Even if I want to quit now.)
ReplyDeleteI plugged the contest today and will continue to do so!
I have a friend who is a high school teacher--I will pass this information along to her!
ReplyDeleteI am so surprised no one's answered. I wonder what that says...
ReplyDeleteThis is a great idea. I think the lack of response has a lot to do with the high stakes testing all school are now involved in. They have to prepare the kids and they have no time for fun or anything really useful for teaching in a real world way.
ReplyDeleteThis writing contest is such a great idea. Let me figure out what I can do on my end. I think I tweeted about it, but I can put it on Facebook and my blog as well. Hope they start signing up by the truckloads! :)
ReplyDeleteHS students are procrastinators. If it doesn't have to be until Nov, that's when it'll be done. Even so, I'll talk to a couple of my contacts in AZ and put it on my blog. :) Have fun subbing!
ReplyDeleteI think most of us feel we could be better writers if . . . Do your best. That's all you can ask of yourself. Best wishes.
ReplyDeleteThank you to all of you! Anyone you can tell about the contest is wonderful. I appreciate the help.
ReplyDeleteI survived the first day of kindergarten! I'll be with the same class all week so it should be fine. My concern is we have storms rolling in today. Tornado type weather. That scares me, but we usually get lucky here.
I have no connection to a high school other than the fact I went to one. I really wish I could help, but I hope the word gets out there!
ReplyDeleteLast Friday I subbed a math class. Algebra 1. They had a quiz. After the quiz, as is normal, much of the class had nothing to do. One student wrote two paragraphs of something that he asked me to read for him. It was pretty creepy. Later in the period, it hit me that he might be interested in your contest. So I gave him a flyer.
ReplyDeleteHe seemed pretty excited. Wanted to get some feedback on his writing, and liked the idea that there might not be that many entrants. His friend seemed interested as well. They both saw the deadline and thought it might be doable.
I have no idea if they'll follow through, but they are aware. Haven't had a chance to talk to any English teachers yet. My assignments keep getting changed.
Oh! I forgot that your contest was starting soon, Charity. I will definitely work writing an entry into my schedule. It's a great idea!
ReplyDeleteI'll mention this to some kids that I know who go over to my friend Meg's home for cooking lessons. Maybe they'll be interested. They seem to like books and stories.
ReplyDeleteI live a walking distance to the high school, I can help.
ReplyDelete