Are you going to the Ontario Writers' Conference in Ajax on Friday, May 2nd and Saturday, May 3rd? I'm looking forward to attending the event...especially now, that I have been notified about being included in the 2nd Annual Story Starter Longlist Finalist!
This is the second year the conference was allowing the writers to participate in the Story Starter Contest. During the months of January, February and March, the OWC's website posted a piece of artwork encouraging writers to use their imagination and come up with something unique that would go along with the artwork. To enter, you were to write a short piece of 100 words (maximum) inspired by the artwork featured. It could be any form of writing (poetry, prose, dialogue, haiku, etc.) as long as it was original. Just for the record, 100 words is difficult to achieve...for a novelist, anyway. It's not very many words to tell a story. I spent ten times longer editing, than I did writing the original piece.
How it worked: The judges selected the top ten entries for each month and sent them off to a final-round judge, who will in turn, chose the top 3 to be displayed at the 2014 Ontario Writers' Conference for final voting by the attendees. There were over 200 entries, and they had to narrow it down to thirty. Sounds like a very tough job. There were so many great entries.
On Saturday, at the conference, delegates will review the artwork and the writing pieces together, and vote for their favourites by ballot. The winning entries will be announced at the conference and each winner will be awarded a prize (unknown at this time). Considering the contest was FREE, I'm not expecting to win a car or anything. Ha! Maybe a coffee mug? You can never have too many coffee mugs.
Check out these names... maybe, you know someone on the list? If so, wish them luck.
Story Starters Longlist Finalists:
This is the second year the conference was allowing the writers to participate in the Story Starter Contest. During the months of January, February and March, the OWC's website posted a piece of artwork encouraging writers to use their imagination and come up with something unique that would go along with the artwork. To enter, you were to write a short piece of 100 words (maximum) inspired by the artwork featured. It could be any form of writing (poetry, prose, dialogue, haiku, etc.) as long as it was original. Just for the record, 100 words is difficult to achieve...for a novelist, anyway. It's not very many words to tell a story. I spent ten times longer editing, than I did writing the original piece.
How it worked: The judges selected the top ten entries for each month and sent them off to a final-round judge, who will in turn, chose the top 3 to be displayed at the 2014 Ontario Writers' Conference for final voting by the attendees. There were over 200 entries, and they had to narrow it down to thirty. Sounds like a very tough job. There were so many great entries.
On Saturday, at the conference, delegates will review the artwork and the writing pieces together, and vote for their favourites by ballot. The winning entries will be announced at the conference and each winner will be awarded a prize (unknown at this time). Considering the contest was FREE, I'm not expecting to win a car or anything. Ha! Maybe a coffee mug? You can never have too many coffee mugs.
Check out these names... maybe, you know someone on the list? If so, wish them luck.
Story Starters Longlist Finalists:
- Marie Arthur-Beswick
- Joe Balevi
- Linda Bleser
- Mona Blaker
- Jean Burbidge
- Agnes Burro
- Priya Chhabraughs
- Val Crowley
- C.D. Finley
- Francine Fleming
- Kristy Leigh Logan
- Robin Martin-Duttman
- Mary McIntrye
- Alicja Merifield
- Teri Prince
- Leena Rahusaar
- Shari Simpson
- Claire Sylvan
- Dale Synnett-Caron
- Lori Twining
- Barbara Wackerle Baker
- Caroline Wissing
 January ~ Art by Ingrid Ruthig |  February ~ Art by Allyson Latta |  March ~ Art by Gretel Boose |
Pictures are the perfect way to help start a story, especially for writers experiencing Writer's Block. In fact, before I start a new novel, I search through magazines, catalogues and weekly flyers, trying to find an interesting person. I cut it out or scan it and then I start developing the character. This way, when I begin to write the first draft of my novel, my mind already has someone in mind for my main character and secondary characters, making it is easier for me to decide what those characters will say and do throughout the novel.
Therefore, it makes a three-day novel writing marathon a doable task. :-)
Therefore, it makes a three-day novel writing marathon a doable task. :-)
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