Janet Reid & The Toot; A Tooth & an LAA Truth

Aloha,

OK.

Three things I hate:

·         Tooting my own horn. I. Hate. It.

·         Dentists (During a 1985 visit, the Dublin dentist who worked on me did so with a cigarette hanging from the corner of his mouth J)

·         The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim losing (if you follow baseball, you’re probably smiling… (shaking fist your way J)

However, we are a community that lives and breathes successes and failures, so following a recent post I read by the great E.J. Wesley, I’d like to share some mini successes this week:

·         I picked up a Silver Medal at the Olympic Blog Relay this week.

Hosted by the amazing Nicole Singer, I was sandwiched between D.L. Hammons who took Gold, and some dude named Alex. (The only Blogger who doesn’t need HyperlinkingJ)

Nicole awarded me an Olympic “London 2012” pin, which is the first thing I’ve ever won for writing.

I now plan to proudly wear said pin the first time I ever do a book signing J

·         Also, this week, I made the finals of the latest 100-word contest from Janet Reid, Literary Agent.

For anyone who’s enjoyed our 300-word What If? BlogFest (runs through this Friday,) you must check in on her during the weekends, which is when she normally runs these wicked word-prompt contests.

They are so much fun to do, and you only get twenty-four hours, so it absolutely stretches your mind.

Below is my entry. (The five words I had to incorporate into the story are in bold:

Scratching her legs – the damned mosquitoes would scar her – Liz stared at her friend.

“Hamish, what does ‘ken’ even mean?”

“It means I ‘know.’”

Taking in the wreckage strewn across the beach, Liz punched the Scotsman in the shoulder.

“Well, do you ken what happened to the outrigger?”

“No idea. Dave was steering, but he –.”

Liz interrupted him. She didn’t want to think about the stacked bodies at the base of the tree.

“Do you think they’ll send anyone?”

“No, but I’ll have enough food.

I’ve never had haggis using a human stomach. I’m sure you’ll taste just fine.”

###

OK, so that’s more than enough Tooting for now.

Thank you very much.

Got “Toot?”

Please share!

PS… the “LAA truth” as mentioned in the title?

My Future Derek Jeter (who will only play for the Angels :)

Well, even though my beloved Angels *SUCK* so far this year, I will remain forevermore an Angel.

I love the Angels so much that my blood even turns red.

 Ohh…

Top 8 Finalist in Janet Reid Contest & More :)

Aloha,

I was in the middle of collating So You Know You’re a Parent When… (#7) when I opened an email from the irrefutable Sarah Pearson and her subject line of “Not Bad.”

Oh, crikey, what did you do now?

Sarah wrote, “Congratulations on being a finalist in Janet Reid's latest competition! Looks like you came really close too - you rock :-)”

First thing I did, of course, was to pull down the front of my laptop to make sure it was mine, and that yes, Sarah was addressing me.

Wow. Noooo way, dude.

I trundled over (they say “walking” is so ‘80s) to Ms. Reid’s blog, and there I was, one of eight (of 155 entrants) finalists.

Bloody hell, dude, that’s like awesome!

(Does a real gurly swoon…)

Gets up, brushes Lucky Charms off knees … I'm a finalist… wonders if VistaPrint can crank out 250 free business cards in 24 hours...

I have to tell you, I nearly awarded myself a RockStar accolade, but I only have two left and Costco said they won’t get another delivery until the Blogmen strike in Long Island is resolved. Seriously?

I can’t make this stuff up.

Yes, you can – you’re a bloody writer.

Whatever dude, shush, the Blogmen said they had taken care of your snippets.

My snippets – ouch that hurts to even think about.

Anyway, it was great to have gotten so far… I don’t think I’ll be able to write “eight” (of 155) without adding (of 15-…ohh…) for at least a few days.



Credit: My Better Half :)

Especially as my topic for the 100-word flash fiction was about my trusty brown office chair, which is a bizarre topic, but it worked :)

PS… If your children are having trouble sleeping,  you can read the original entry on my blog here.

PPS… Dear Regular Readers, would you stop by Mandi Thomson’s blog and show her some writers’ love by saying hi and following her.

(After reading my post for the Janet Reid contest, Mandi was inspired to write a just-for-fun post of her own. (She also has the *coolest* “about me” page – evah.)

The point of all this is to share the joy I felt at having my work recognized. I promise I am *not* bragging or trying to inflate my ego, but I *do* want anyone submitting a query/book proposal/mss/ to read this and know that sucess is also a part of who we are and what we do.
(Sure I didn't win, but I got recognition for my efforts, and guess who is all pumped up again :)

I was *so* in awe of Mandi for stepping up to the plate and writing something because she was inspired by my entry.

And, do you know why?

No, but here it comes, right?

And why?

Because last week at the SCWC, I was inspired by a young author called Lacey Impellizerri who wrote a 250-word story for our writers' conference.

Her story was so wonderful that when I later walked past my old, brown office chair, I instantly knew it had a story :)

PPS… Rach’s Fourth Campaign is well under way, and I wanted to say THANK YOU!!! to the dozens of peeps who’ve left comments of support and encouragement.

Has anyone noticed the Word Verification Codes have eased off a little… The darkground seems to have disappeared into the yonder wilderness from whence it came.

Was it Rach’s Fourth Challenge, or was it the Blogmen who watch and wait for protesting writers who say it is right to not split infinitives?

Janet Reid Contest Entry: "Empty"

Aloha,

If you haven’t heard of the flash fiction contests hosted by renowned literary agent, Janet Reid, you should check out her blog.

The current contest opens at noon (EST) Friday (2/24) and closes at 6 p.m. (EST) Saturday (2/25). Winner receives an ARC of INSURGENT by Veronica Roth, the sequel to DIVERGENT, which was voted “Best Book of the Year” by the readers at Goodreads.com (among many other honors!)

Usual rules apply: write a story with 100 or fewer words. Post in the comment column of [her] blog post. (Comments closed until the contest opens). If you need a mulligan, delete your entry and enter again. Only ONE entry per person will be considered for the contest.

Use these words in your entry:
choice
destroy
risk
sequel
allegiance

                                                          ###

Here’s my entry:

"Empty"

Alone in the dark.

Lights on.

Striding by without a glance, your allegiance is always elsewhere.

Because I wear no leather, and can’t rock or roll anymore?

Won’t you please sit?

I heard you may destroy me – is there no other choice?

I helped feed your first, the sequel and now all three boys. I fed you when needed.

Puked, sat and farted on, I never gave up – you left me!

Sports coat on – the one I wore – you’re moving onward and upward.

Lights off.

I was your first risk.

I’ll wait forever.

Your old, brown fabric office chair.

                              ###

What Does Leather Have That I Don't?

                                         

 

There's no voting or liking, but just thought I'd share:)

PS.... Wanted to give a super Star Wars Shout Out to Leigh Covington for including me in her "redo" of Star Wars in Two Minutes. (David Powers King and Cassie Mae are in this one, too :)

Watch it here  - and may the Farce be With you

Of Contests and Spam (the Food:)

Aloha,

Hey, it’s a new day, and a new dollar, so I wanted to again say thanks to Lillie McFerrin who last week sent over a couple of awards, including the Liebster and the Kreativ.
During my post Friday, I shared six things – per the rules – and being a rule-breaker, I made a minor change when I listed six Little Whoppers, but only one was true…

And, in true Daytime Game Show fashion, the correct answer is …. “We’ll reveal the answer folks, right after this message from our sponsors:

The Truth Will Set You Free :)

We return you now to our scheduled programming...

The “winner” was #4, where I once replied to an ad for a staff reporter where applicants needed to have both a bachelor’s degree and two years of experience in journalism.
I had neither – and still got the job.
(No one chose this one, but I’ll post that story another time.)

(Most everyone chose No. 3, the one where I “once jumped off a bridge into a dry canal thinking that the two old mattresses I placed on top of each other would break my fall.”)

(Actually, this one is *also* true, but in reality I jumped off the bridge onto only ONE mattress… nearly breaking my then-fourteen year-old ass in two :)

Anyway, here’s where I’d normally pass the awards to the next person… however, I’m holding off, because I’m still fairly new to Blogger – so I have no one I want to pass it onto.

Happy Valentine's Day

My apologies if I sound like a spazzed-out Grinch, but I *hate* winning an award/certificate/medal just for competing/participating.

I also don’t want to dilute the awesome pay-it-forwardness of these (and all other) awards by just passing them over the next person following me at Aloha Nation.

I did wander through my list of “active” followers, and feel I’ve given out the appropriate awards, which is why I want to “bank” the Liebster and Kreativ awards, and pass them forward the next time I’m “wowed.”

Does that make sense, or am  I not “getting” the point of the awards? 
I'd love to hear your thoughts...

I cracked Janet Reid up! (Maybee I kan rite after all...)

Aloha,

If you're in the business of writing, you've heard of Janet Reid, literary agent. I follow her via my blog roll, and every now and again, Ms. Reid hosts snap writing contests.

This time, the idea was to write a story using one hundred words or fewer and post it in the comment column of her blog.

I also had to use these words in the story:
countdown
truck
fringe
argo
rens

The 24-hour contest ended Sunday, and while I didn't win, I did get an honorable mention in her "Lines that just cracked me up" section:

Mark 10:06am
“Hey now Liam, ‘argo,’ ‘ergo,’ I go where you go, you know that.”

There were about seventy-five entries, so for Ms. Reid to even offer a few words of encouragement means a lot (especially on a long, tired Sunday evening when I'd rather be sleeping.)

Look out for the puddly pothole, Papa!

In my writing career, I know the road ahead will be long, winding, full of potholes and even a speed trap or two, but at least I know - and believe -  I'm heading in the right direction!

Here's my one hundred word entry:

*******
“Well then, argo, it must be true,” Rens whined.

“Stop being such a huffster, you’re going to see something amazing,” I said, the damn fly buzzing me to the fringe of anger. “And, it’s ‘ergo,’ not ‘argo.’”

“Hey now Liam, ‘argo,’ ‘ergo,’ I go where you go, you know that.”

“Rens, you surely are numb nuts, but great. You won’t be disappointed, brother,” I said, lowering the truck windows and watching my fly fly.

“That dead intercom on my bed, the one I been telling you about? They talked to me again. They’re coming. The countdown is on, man: 11/11/11.”

November 05, 2011 10:06 AM

********