Several months ago I entered a writing contest sponsored by the Southern Louisiana Chapter of RWA (Romance Writers of America). I don’t actually write in the genre typically associated with Romance, but the contest included the category, Inspirational, which I felt was a good fit for Nathan: A Heart, A Storm, A Prayer, my memoir about our quest to find a surgical solution to our son’s health challenge with scimitar syndrome.
Last week, I was tickled to learn that my entry won first place! Writing is a reward in itself, but it’s always nice to know that others see merit in your work.
If you are an aspiring writer, I would encourage you to enter the Dixie Kane contest. The annual contest has a $15 entry fee; and win or lose, it’s the best fifteen bucks you’ll ever spend as a writer. Why? Feedback.
Your entry will be assigned to a few judges who will assess your writing on score sheets that will be returned to you at the conclusion of the contest. On the back of those score sheets you will find generous suggestions, corrections, and encouragement. You’ll know what you did right and where you could use some improvement.
For more information about the Dixie Kane Memorial Contest, visit their website at www.sola.org.
Tags: Dixie Kane Memorial Contest, Karen Blakeney, Nathan, Romance Writers of America, Scimitar Syndrome, sola
