Saturday, May 22, 2010

Holiday Contest

The Victoria Day Weekend, Memorial Day in the USA, marks the first anniversary of this blog. Conversations From Land’s Edge was created to better connect me with other emerging writers. I have not taken a writing class in a while but those who attend this blog have proven to be wonderful teachers, entertainers and friends of the highest order.

I had intended to start naming off folks who encouraged me in those first days but the list would make this posting far too long. Thank you all (and you know who you are) for taking time to comment on my posts when, often, there was little substance or conversation. The circle of friends has grown wider and exposed me to a wider range of writers including the talented #Fridayflash contributors. Each of you have taught me, or advised me or made me laugh at your blog content or your comments here. I toast you all!

To help celebrate both this long weekend and my blog anniversary I am pleased to announce the first Land's Edge flash fiction contest. The contest starts today and deadline for submissions is Sunday, June 20th. Please send forth your best short stories or essays with a holiday theme. I leave the word 'holiday' wide open to your interpretation. Any holiday, festival, gala or fete will do. Some examples...New Year's Day, Labour Day, Anzac Day, Guy Fawkes Night or even the Running of the Chihuahuas in Sonora. Suffice it to say that it can be a holiday or celebration of historic or fictional proportions. The contest is open to anybody, anywhere (yes, even Scotland!) .Though the farther away the winners the cheaper the form of transportation for the prizes (read-fishing trawler on a slow return to Europe or Pony Express to the boonies of Tennessee...)

After consulting the Minister of Finance I have been permitted to dip into the residuals from last month's hockey pool winnings. There will be prizes for 1st, 2nd and 3rd place contestants. The winners and five honourable mentions (more or less) will all be published on this blog after the winners are announced on Saturday, July 3 between the Canada Day and Independence Day holidays. The contest rules are as follows:
  1. Stories of any genre, 750 words or less

  2. Please...send only previously unpublished stories

  3. Send entries to awdavidson.nl@gmail.com with Contest Submission and the title in the subject line of your email

  4. Put your story in the body of the email...no attachments please

  5. No spitting on the Land's Edge judges

The submissions will be judged by myself and 'blind judged' by Laurita Miller of Brain Droppings and one other Land's Edge staff member. No pandering to the judges, please, as we are impervious to such things unless it's a twenty in an unmarked envelope. This is a Newfoundland contest being judged by Islanders so the 1st, 2nd and 3rd place entries will have bragging rights and will each receive a gift of Newfoundland & Labrador Literature mailed to anywhere their heart desires. This post is getting a bit long, so I'll post the specifics on the novels on Monday. I hope all of that was clear (I am only now consuming my first coffee of the day). If not, email me with questions at the above address. Have a great weekend all...please tell others about the contest...and start writing.

24 comments:

David Barber said...

Alan, as I have missed a few comps lately due to work, I am definately in. That is of course if it's open to folk across the mighty pond?

Cathy Olliffe-Webster said...

Immediately I have that Madonna song roaring around in my noodle. A contest! An ever-loving contest! I am pumped, Sir Alan, pumped and primed. However, may I say, I am deeply disappointed with the prize... literature? When you promised fruitcake?
Meh....

Alan W. Davidson said...

David- Guess I was vague on that...the issue is now claried on the updated post, sir! Start writing...

Cathy- Pffft! Fruit cake instead of fine Newfoundland Lit? Win or lose, I will personally supply you with cake when you visit in the fall...

David Barber said...

Thanks Alan. You're very generous...for a Scotsman. :-) My brain is now working overtime.

Laurita said...

I think this is a great idea for a contest. Wide open for all kinds of good things. I also appreciate the rule about not spitting on the judges.

Katey said...

What a fabulous idea!

the Running of the Chihuahuas in Sonora

... hahahaha. I so need to go with that one :D

Paula RC said...

Wow, what a wonderful idea, Alan. I shall see what I can come up with, though, 750 words are a bit short for me, but I shall have a go.

Kara McElhinny said...

Happy blogoversary Alan!! I'm glad to be apart of your loyal readers! Thanks for extending the following so I could find you :D

Running of the Chihuahuas in Sonora - I just did that last week! :P Your contest sounds fun! Hope your doing well, can't wait to read, and maybe submit!

Happy writing
Kara

Laura Eno said...

Happy anniversary, Alan!
No spitting at the judges? At all? Are you sure?

DEZMOND said...

Just one year old? I'd swear you looked at least "teenagerish" :)

K.C. Shaw said...

Happy anniversary! The contest sounds like a lot of fun!

Unknown said...

Congrats on the birthday of the blog, Alan...

Alan W. Davidson said...

Thanks for the 'anniversary wishes' from everyone. Much appreciated. Thanks, also, to anyone that thinks I look 'teenagerish'. I have not been told that since I was a teenager...even then, by beard in school made me stand out a bit...

Michael Solender said...

huzzah! entry on it's way.

Jodi MacArthur said...

Somehow I've missed this one, just saw it on Laurita's blog. Good to know about!

SueH said...

Caught up with this 'event' via Mr Barber's blog. Am I permitted to enter, even tho' I don't live in Scotland? ;-p

(mind you, I do have over four centuries of Scottish 'blood' in my veins...)

Alan W. Davidson said...

Michael- Thank you, sir!

Jodi- Hope you can whip a story together.

Sue- Sure you can enter (we'll allow you, even though you're English...)

PS...I hope the 400 year old blood hasn't gone off by now...

SueH said...

....400-years of Scottish blood gone off? Eeeeuuuw - conjures up a MACabre image :-o

Cat Russell said...

Happy Anniversary! Sooo...any special holiday or fest is okay? Like Free Comic Book Day or The Annual Dandelion Fest? I just want to make sure before I send off my entry... :)

Alan W. Davidson said...

Catherine...I would love to have an entry about the Annual Dandelion Fest (you would surely be writing about my back yard!) Free comic book day sounds intriguing too...you go girl!

Cat Russell said...

OKay, I'll start working on it today. My son and I make a point of going to both the Dandelion Fest and Free Comic Day almost every year, so this should be fun!

Susan Cross said...

When I first scanned the prizes I thought you were giving away retrievers and I surely don't need another dog, especially not a large one like a Newfoundland or Labrador.

I don't think I have any Scottish blood in my veins but I do drink single malt Scotch. Does that count for anything?

Alan W. Davidson said...

Sorry, Susan, no retrievers, but I do have a retired greyhound that could use giving away! Single malt scores big with this judge (just incase you submit a flash story to the contest...you've got until the end of day Sunday. Just sayin'...)

Susan Cross said...

Please, Alan, no retrievers or greyhounds. I have a 9 pound Maltese and she is more than enough for me! I may just submit. One more deadline to meet tomorrow and then I'm free and clear to think. I'll have to read the rules again. I just thought of a story idea...