Wednesday 25 May 2011

Missouri Misery. Second prize in the Lost on the Rock Short Story Competition. New competitions - prose and poetry...and more...

I offer my heartfelt sympathy to the people of Joplin, Missouri, who have lost loved ones, their homes and much of their town with that twister/tornado yesterday. What a shocker. We have watched amazed at the images over here in Oz. As a country well used to natural disasters, we feel your pain. Breaking news: now we see Oaklahoma and Kansas are threatened...

Thank you Alan Davidson from Conversations from Lands Edge and Laurita Miller from Calling Shotgun for hosting the Lost on the Rock short story competition. The winners were announced on Sunday on both Al's and Laurita's blogs and I was placed second. Today, if you want to see my interview, go to Laurita's blog, and to read my story go to Al's blog. I hope you will drop by when you have a moment. Starting yesterday, all four winners will have their stories/interviews posted daily. I've read the first-place winner here. You won't want to miss Angel Zapata's story. Flash fiction at its best!

I'd really love feedback on my story. This is the direct link. It is set in Paris and Baghdad and focuses on two women with very different, yet disturbingly similar stories.

Sylvia Ney from Writing in Wonderland has a 1,000 word short story competition just announced. You have until May 29 to come up with a story based on this photo:

Go to Sylvia's for more information.

Another contest, this time for poets. Narrative magazine is running a competition. If you haven't heard of Narrative, it's a very high-quality online writing mag, with published and previously unpublished writers submitting. There is a short story competition currently running, along with other challenges. You have to pay a small fee to enter, but for the Poetry Contest there is a $1,500 first prize. with a total of $3,300 in prizes. I don't write poetry, but if you do or know someone who does, go here for the guidelines.

The Romantic Friday Writers are growing steadily with a band of dedicated members and followers. As of Thursday this week, a linky will be available on the Romantic Friday Writers site to link directly to your story. So, member or no, you are invited to write 400 words or less on the current theme, Glitz and Glamour, and post your direct url on the linky here. You will find all the information you need re submitting, joining etc.

I need your help.There have been several blog posts recently about making your blog easier to load. I know I've been a bit top heavy with photos, links, gadgets etc. If you have any hints for myself or others to streamline their blogs, please leave a comment. Do you have any trouble loading/leaving comments on this blog? Apparently some do. Please tell me...


18 comments:

Suze said...

Sincere congrats on taking second place!

Denise Covey said...

Thanks Suze.

Alleged Author said...

Hurrah for you getting 2nd place! I don't think I've ever placed in anything. I'm still waiting for my first grade teacher to tell me she liked my macaroni wreath.

I've never had a problem with your blog loading slowly. Hmmm.

Deniz Bevan said...

Thanks for all the links and congratulations on coming in second place, Denise!
The only time I have trouble loading your blog is when I'm at work, where they force me to use Internet Explorer. Works beautifully on Google Chrome!

Denise Covey said...

Alleged Author: Thanks. You're so funny! Maybe that teacher just hated macaroni!

Thanks for feedback re blog.

Deniz: My blogger wouldn't let me sign in again today. Just had to tell someone! Took like 2 hours out of my desperate day.

Interesting about Internet Explorer. I use it and it sucks. I often have to try 2-3 times to open other blogs or links but it's fine when I'm in.

I've tried Safari, fiddled with Firefox but it kept having probs and found Google Chrome slow. Go figure. What to do?

Denise<3

Maria Zannini said...

Congratulations on placing, Denise!!

Ref: loading
I'm one of those who has had problems seeing your blog in the flesh, which is why I usually read you on my Reader.

I wish I had an answer for you. All I know is that once I click on it, I just walk away for a few minutes and then come back when it finishes loading.

I do think it's loading a little faster than the last time I was here. Did you streamline it a little?

Denise Covey said...

Maria, thanks for commenting. Others have said the same, yet most have no probs. I've taken quite a few pics and put them in pages, and lowered the resolution of other images I don't want to remove. My new header is lower res also. Every little bit helps.

Any further comments folks?

Denise<3

Theresa Milstein said...

I've had so many problems with blogger in the last couple of weeks - it's not blog specific. There are times when I go to comment, and it won't take (like all of today) but it happens everywhere.

I feel bad for all the disasters hitting the US these days too. It's been a bad year for a few continents.

Congratulations on placing 2nd. I'll check it out.

Cheryl said...

Hi Denise, blog loads fine for me and seems comments do too. Congrats on the 2nd prize - that's fantastic. Haven't been here for a while as work stopped play... also changed my blog address, badly, so hope I didn't lose you along the way - now telling Merrilyn's story from scratch. Off to read your story. Stay warm - it's freezing down here today!

Cheryl said...

PS I also use Google Chrome.

Denise Covey said...

Theresa, thanks so much for visiting old grumpy. I've had a terrible time with google today. Couldn't do anything on blogger and just now edits I'd done wouldn't attach/send. Grrrrrrr. Sorta pleased to hear someone else has had a problem, ha ha. I hope you read/enjoyed my story.

Cheryl: I've been wondering why nothing new was getting posted, ha ha. Now I understand. Thanks for stopping by and hooking up again. I'll be over!

Hope you enjoyed my story.

Denise<3

Denise Covey said...

Oh, Google Chrome eh? I had it loaded once and thought it was slower. Maybe have to try again as Internet Exp. is driving me insane.

HelenMWalters said...

Well done on the competition. Your blog is always full of so much interesting information!

Denise Covey said...

Helen: Thank you for both.

Michael Di Gesu said...

Times have been hard for so many people, my heart goes out to them. We are so fortunate to be in safer areas.

Congrats on second place.... That is FANTASTIC!

I'll check out your story next....

Michael

N. R. Williams said...

I haven't experienced any problems with your blog.

Tonight on the news they showed a semi being picked up by a tornado and destroyed. Now I'm worried for my husband. Yesterday he was in Nebraska and I don't know where he went. So I must call him soon. I think he is fine.

I'm going to go over and read your story now.
Nancy
N. R. Williams, The Treasures of Carmelidrium

N. R. Williams said...

Such a moving story Denise. Both women struggling through destruction that has destroyed their lives. I don't want to give any spoilers.

Called my husband. He's ok.
Nancy
N. R. Williams, The Treasures of Carmelidrium

Denise Covey said...

Michael: It sounds like the destruction is ongoing.

I hope you read/enjoyed my story.

Nancy: Glad your husband is okay. What wild weather! Thanks for reading and commenting on my story.

Denise<3