The Aelf's Bloggery: "Contests and Dialog"

Leave "said" alone. Don't be tempted by the muse of variation to permit characters to "opine," "elaborate," "chortle," "cajole," or "laugh." Roy Peter Clark "

The Rant 'N' Rave Section

"Dialog, Say it like it is!"

Have you ever picked up a novel, started to read it and stumbled over the stilted dialog of the characters? I read lots of first drafts and rewrites and one of the sure signs that I'm reading someone's first or second attempt at writing is the absence of contractions in their characters speech. Red flags go up at once. The following are examples of what's certain to detract from any good story.

"Bill, will you hand me the knife please? I cannot reach it."

"Okay, just one minute and I will give it to you."

All I have to say is "OUCH". Stilted, stilted stilted. Now let's try it again using contractions.

"Bill, will you hand me the knife please? I can't reach it."

"Okay, just a minute and I'll give it to you."

That reads much better, doesn't it? Good dialog should never read or sound artificial. Always, always avoid stilted, contrived, wooden or too formal dialogue. The only exception to that is if your character is stilted, formal and contrived.(HA) If you are unsure of your dialog, READ IT OUT LOUD! Yeah, that's right, go ahead and feel like a fool. That's how I felt the first few times I did it. I always read my dialog out loud; of course I'm alone when I do. That protects my fragile ego from the unabashed assaults of uncontrolled laughter. Try it! It won't take long for you to find out what a valuable tool reading aloud is.

Well, that's it for this issues Rant n Rave section, on to Tidbits.

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"TIDBITS"

Every time I post a new Rant on my blog, I like to share my thoughts on any Tidbits or morsels I've found that might come in handy for new writers. These "tidbits" take the form of any articles, websites, software programs or other things that might be beneficial. Last time I discussed a writer's websites and the reasons it's a good idea to have one. This time it's all about contests.

If your serious about writing and getting published it's imperative that you use every avenue available to put your work in front of readers and editors. One such avenue is contests. Some contests are free and some have a small entry fee. I started out by just entering the free ones. There were two reasons for that. One was that I didn't have much money and the other was that I didn't have much confidence in my writing ability.

After I won my first little contest however, (see below) my confidence factor jumped. Now when I write a short story, my first thought is to see what contests might be out there waiting for my submittal. The only caveat to paying a fee that I have is that the R.O.F. (return on fee) must be worth it. If the fee is $10.00 and the first prize is only $20.00, forget it.
The contest I've highlighted below, for example, has an entry fee of $10.00 but the first prize for writing is $500.00. Well worth the investment. Not only will contests get your work "out there", they'll also give you important little morsels of accomplishments to add to your "Bag-o-Tricks."

You do have a "bag-o-tricks" don't you? You know, a writers bio that lists all of your successes. A brag rag that lets the world know you're the greatest. If you don't, contests are a great way to get one started. There are tons of contests out there. Contests for poetry, short stories, novels, best beginning chapters and more. The first contest I won was the "Authors Unlimited Readers Feedback Contest." This wasn't so much about writing a story as it was about giving my opinion about the website and the authors listed on it. I tried to make my article as interesting as possible and, to my delight, won second place. That was back in 2005 and it gave me just the added spark I needed to continue on.

Needless to say, my "Bag-o-Tricks," has grown quite a bit since then. The last contest I entered carried a $5.00 entry fee with a 1st prize of $150.00. Now I didn't win first prize BUT, my entry was chosen to be printed in the newest edition of The Creative Writer put out by J.D.Vine Publishing. That is well worth the entry fee. By the way, J.D.Vine's newest contest is now open for submittals. See the link below in (Sites to see, places to go and groups to join.) Now, if you check out the "Good Stuff" page on my website you will (ooops, no contraction?) you'll find a continually updated list of contests to enter.

A contest that you won't see on that list is one that I just heard about from the contest administrator. It's the Dream Quest One Poetry and Writing Contest. "WOW," what an enticing name. Makes me want to sit down and write a fantasy short story. Here are the details:

The Dream Quest One Poetry & Writing Contest.

The Dream Quest One Poetry & Writing Contest is open to everyone whether experienced or not. This competition is open to all and anyone who loves to arrange words into beautiful art or write a short story that is worth telling everyone. And to all who have the ability to dream. Write your best short story or poem for a chance to win cash prizes. All entries must be original.

Guidelines:

(1) Write a poem, thirty lines or fewer on any subject or style, single or double line spacing, neatly hand printed or typed.Or(2) Write a short story five pages maximum, single or double line spacing, on any subject or theme, creative writing, fiction and non-fiction (including essay compositions, diary and journal entries), neatly hand printed or typed.Deadline: Deadline: December 31, 2007.Winners will be announced on January 31, 2008.Prizes: Writing Contest First Prize is $500. Second Prize is $250. Third Prize $100.Poetry Contest First Prize is $250. Second Prize is $125. Third Prize is $50.Entry fees: Writing Contest entry fee is: $10 per short story.Poetry Contest entry fee is: $5 per poem.To send entries by mail: Include title of story or poem, your name, address, phone#, e-mail, brief biographical info. (tell us a little about yourself) on the coversheet, add a self-addressed stamped enveloped for entry confirmation. Mail entries/fees payable to: Dreamquestone.com.

To enter online: Go to http://www.dreamquestone.com/.
Dream Quest OnePoetry & Writing ContestP.O. Box 3141Chicago, IL 60654Visit http://webmail.tds.net/do/redirect?url=http%253A%252F%252Fwww.dreamquestone.com%252F for further details, to print out an entry form or to enter online.

So what are you waiting for? Write something! Enter-enter-enter! Needless to say, I have a submittal or two to send in, who knows??
On to Last but Not Least….

Last but Not Least

"I didn't know that!"

Well, I've taken up so much space with the Tidbits section this time that I'll keep Last but Not Least brief. Did you know? That Jack London's pseudonym was John Griffith Chaney? That his father deserted him? That his spiritualist mother and his stepfather raised him in Oakland, Calif.? That he was a hobo? "I didn't know that!" He was also a seaman, before educating himself and gaining admission to the University of California at Berkley. London, a noted Socialist, also once ran for mayor of Oakland California in 1901 under the Social Party ticket. He wrote `Call Of The Wild', amongst other stories. Well, that's it for this time, see ya later gater…..Aelf

Sites to see, places to go and groups to join

My Writing Friend: writingfriend@earthlink.net

Nick Daws Writers Circle: Nick Daw's Writer's Circle.

Wridea: http://www.wridea.com/

J.D.Vine Publishing: http://www.jdvine.com/

Tennessee Writers Alliance: http://www.tn-writers.org/