Please check out the newly updated News & Events page at our Practicing Writer home site to see our schedule of winter courses and events, here in Massachusetts and online.
And for an insider’s description of our recent character development class at Grub Street, Inc., read one participant’s report here.
It’s relatively easy to find contest announcements, but not always so simple to learn the competitions’ results. That’s why I was so pleased to hear back from the organizers of the Like Heaven Short Story Competition, which you may have read about here awhile back. Congratulations to all!
Winner – Like Heaven Short Story Competition
We want to thank entrants and website managers for their support to this competition. We also want to thank British writer Andrea Semple for acting as one of the judges. We received nearly 100 entries, many containing very fine writing. We want to commend all the entrants on their talent and dedication. The following writers, in particular, sent work in that was very enjoyable and/or moving to read.
Writers of Shortlisted Entries: Samara McDowell, Emily Waples, Leigh Hancock, Tom Bentley, Lucas Shane Triplett, Sharon Wright, Nancy Malek, Sue Orenstein, Robert Ronsson, Richard Leo Barrett, Gina DaMaia, Gimbiya Kettering, Jonathan Gurling, Polly Nelson, Louise Wilford
Three finalists were eventually chosen out of the shortlist and we read their stories with pleasure over and over. Those writers were: Lucas Shane Triplett, Samara McDowell and Robert Ronsson.
The judges had a very difficult time selecting an overall winner but were finally able to do so. We are very proud to announce that
The Winner of the Like Heaven Short Story Competition is Robert Ronsson.*
The winning story, as well as some from the shortlist will soon appear on the Like Heaven Writing Holiday website. Again, we want to thank all those who helped make this competition a success and wish you all good luck with your writing.
Niala Maharaj
Sally Sontheimer*Robert started writing with the intention of getting published in June 2004. He has completed two novels – one of which is for children aged 0-15. Neither has secured a publication deal – yet. Robert is currently researching and drafting his next book, a fictional account of how his father’s birth in 1920 changed the course of British political history.
If you’ve ever dreamed of spending summer days writing in Italy you may want to take a look at the Like Heaven Writing Holidays short story competition, which I recently saw posted over at placesforwriters.com.
Submit a short story (original, unpublished, 3,000 words maximum) no later than midnight, May 7, 2006. You may submit only one story, titled “Like Heaven.” (Frankly, I’m not sure if this means the story must reflect the subject/theme of “Like Heaven” or not–you may want to inquire about that.) The winning entry and honorable mentions will be posted on the Like Heaven Web site.
The winner also receives an invitation to participate in the “Like Heaven Writing Holiday,” free of charge. This includes accommodation, meals, and workshop participation. The prize does not include transportation costs. From what I’ve read on the Web site, this seems to be a prose-focused workshop.
There is NO ENTRY FEE.
To learn more, click here.
ADDED ON MAY 6, 2006:
Per an e-mail received today, submissions to this competition are now closed.
Well, I’m back, and there’s plenty to post.
Let’s start with this opportunity for Boston area teachers who have ideas they’d like to develop into publications/presentations. The Calderwood Writing Initiative invites such teachers (K-14) to apply by April 28 for a two-week summer workshop at the Boston Athenaeum. The workshop will take place July 17-28. Accepted teachers will receive a $2,000 stipend for participating in the summer workshop and in monthly follow-up meetings during the school year. To find out more, consult the Calderwood Writing Initiative.
Writing about public health? “The six-day CDC Knight Public Health Journalism Boot Camp offers a crash course in the basics of public health and biostatistics.” This year’s Boot Camp will take place June 25-June 30, 2006, in Decatur, Georgia. “Approximately 15 journalists will be selected for the Boot Camp, which is made possible through lead funding from the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation. The camp will provide housing, breakfast and a per diem stipend of $25 for other meals. Participants are required to finance their own transportation to and from the camp.” The application deadline is March 15; there is no application fee. I checked over the list of past participants, and among them are several freelancers/book authors. You’ll find much more information, and the application form, right here.