Header PromotionYippee!!!
Love Inspired author, Cheryl Wyatt, runs a contest on her blog every month. When I first saw Cheryl's July word list and prompt lines, I knew the theme was a crime scene. But, I don't write suspense.
As usual, I copied the prompt list to a word doc and filed it way. And, as usual, every few days, I'd open the doc and look at the list.
Slowly, the words merged into a crime story.
But...I write tender romances filled with faith and forgiveness. I don't write horrendous, frightening, gory stories.
Cheryl's prompt contest, though, is a challenge. I thrive on challenge. For 2 weeks I thought about Cheryl's list.
Slowly, during the last week of July, I started writing the most horrendous, frightening, gory story my imaginative mind could dream up. For 5 days I worked on it, tweaking it, until I'd wrung every word I could out of the 500 word limit.
Finally I submitted it, assured that no one else but Cheryl would see it, because with her contests, you email your entry for her eyes only.
A few days ago, Cheryl emailed me. I'd won.
What?
Yup. She even critiqued it which in itself is invaluable to me.
And, she suggested I turn it into a short story or a novel.
Wow.
And do you know what else? Shhh...it was actually an exhilarating experience.
So, what do I have to say now? Yes, I still write tender inspirational romances...
...but maybe I'll try a riveting suspense, too.
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If anyone is interested, you have until August 31st to enter Cheryl's August prompt contest.
For the word list and prompt lines, click here: http://scrollsquirrel.blogspot.com/
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Congrats!!!
Congrats!!! Anita Mae
This is great news! You may never know your own potential until you try.
So happy for you.
Orchid
Orchid
Congrats Anita Mae! Well
Congrats Anita Mae! Well done.
Nancy
That's so Cool Anita Mae
I bet there wasn't any chocolate pudding eyes in it or was it toffee colored eyes? I enjoy your snips.
My Dh picked Saskatchewan to win last night. I will have to tell him not to do that. Will wait to see what happens with Calgary as he picked them as well.
Waving to Orchid and Nancy and EllenToo
When I get a little money I buy books, and then if any is left I buy food and clothes..-- Erasmus
Congrats Anita Mae Now
Congrats Anita Mae
Now you need to follow Cheryl's advice and turn it into a novel or short story.
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ELLEN TOO
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Congrats, Anita Mae
Congrats, that's so awesome! Isn't it neat finding out you can write in a genre you never considered? You should definitely see where it takes you as a short story!
Thank you, ladies.
Thank you for taking the time to congratulate me.
Yes, I was very surprised that I could write a different genre so removed from my norm, but I'm more surprised that I enjoyed it. Especially suspense.
Mind you, one of the books on my 2008 Top 10 list is Buried Secrets - a Love Inspired Suspense book by Margaret Daley so maybe it's not so off the wall, eh?
As for turning it into more, I'm gonna have to sign up for some on-line suspense courses, I think. For a successful suspense story, you need red herrings and stuff to throw your reader off the path of the real ending. Things that I don't use - usually - in my inspy romances.
I've already read one boring suspense book this year. I do not want to be the author of one!
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At least you know what you
At least you know what you don't want from anything you write.
I suspect you will be successful if you chose to take up this challenge.
Nancy
Thank you Nancy
It's encouragement like yours that keeps me striving for the most entertaining story I can possibly think of.
Good luck in the Writer's Challenge. Your entry reminded me of a 'Presents' book.
www.anitamaedraper.blogspot.com
www.newsfromthepews.blogspot.com
It's nice to know that what
It's nice to know that what I came close to what I was aiming for. LOL, I'm not even a particular fan of Presents, but I am trying to write outside of my comfort zone with some of the challenges.
Nancy
Comfort Zones and Challenges
First off, I'm really proud of you for winning the July prompt contest! That was a hard bunch of words!
Cheryl gave me really good feedback on my entry, too, and made me feel as though maybe I could do something with it, despite my thinking it was terrible!
Thanks for the reminder. I need to see if I can come up with something for the August one, before it expires. I think you're probably on the fast track to win the book collection this time, Anita Mae!
And speaking of challenges and comfort zones, I really got out of mine with Jodie's "first date after" challenge!
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YAY ANITA!
congrats on winning for July! isn't that your second win for Cheryl's challenges?
i am so looking forward to seeing what you finish from her crit. of course, i'll be really excited when i see/hear about you getting published. you've got to be just that close now...
"Life is pain Highness, anyone who tells you otherwise is selling you something." - Dred Pirate Roberts, The Princess Bride
Participating author in Pass the Plot, Summer 2008
Yes, my 2nd win
Hey Deb, yes, this is my 2nd win.
And the weird part is - the last win was a suspense, too!
Go figure...
www.anitamaedraper.blogspot.com
www.newsfromthepews.blogspot.com
hmmmm...
is it possible Rachelle likes suspense novels?
"Life is pain Highness, anyone who tells you otherwise is selling you something." - Dred Pirate Roberts, The Princess Bride
Participating author in Pass the Plot, Summer 2008