Bits and pieces

July 30th, 2011

This post is a bit of a round-up of mid-summer news; stuff you might want to know.

Here goes:

(1) I still don’t think I’ve managed to process this one completely. Which is kind of nice because every now and then I take it out of the compartment in my brain where it lives and I have a fresh look at it and get newly excited. I found out late last week I was a finalist in the Writers’ Union of Canada’s 15th Annual Writing For Children Competition. This news, in and of itself, is very gratifying and exciting. For some reason I keep getting hung up on the fact I made the shortlist from 680 entries to 118. That alone seems incredible. I still haven’t really zeroed in on the getting to the final 12 bit. What I am extremely pumped about (extremely!) is this part, “the Union will submit the winning story, together with the stories of eleven finalists, to three Canadian publishers of children’s literature for their consideration.” Oh. My. Goodness. What an opportunity. After years and years spent slogging it out on my own, doing the submission thing all by myself, this just seems like heaven to me. Wow.

(2) I’m teaching a workshop! Probably. And maybe even two. It’s all based on enrollment (as in there has to be enough) but the Ottawa Catholic School Board has agreed to my proposal of holding a workshop to help writers enter writing contests and are adding it as a new course in their Fall continuing education catalogue. It’s going to be a two-hour workshop and, I think, pretty affordable at $21.00. Once the course is open for registration I’ll post the details and I encourage anyone interested to sign up, as well as passing the info onto others who might also be interested. I’m pretty pumped on the benefits of entering writing contests these days (see item #1) so can’t wait to share what I’ve learned with others.

(3) Changes are looming for Two Writers Talking. Peggy and I will be giving you more information so stay tuned for that. Can’t say more right now, but will very soon.

In the meantime hope you’re all enjoying your summer!

test Filed under From Tudor, On Life, The Writer's Path | Comments (3)

3 Responses to “Bits and pieces”

  1. Lynn on August 2, 2011 10:42 am

    Congratulations on making the finals! That is amazing, amazing news. When will you know more about the results?

    As for the course, I’ll take it! Let me know where and when.

  2. Tudor on August 2, 2011 11:07 am

    Thanks for the congrats! The results of the contest are final now and, while I would have been able to use the $1,500 cheque for winning, the real prize is having my entry submitted to three publishers of children’s fiction. Two of them are closed houses – in other words, companies that don’t read unsolicited manuscripts – so getting a foot in the door there is great.

    The course will be open for registration on August 15. I’ll post a link to the registration page then. Last I heard it was going to be $21 +HST so a pretty decent deal…stay tuned for the registration link. It would be great to meet you and any other readers in person!

    Thanks again Lynn!

  3. Lee Ann Smith on August 2, 2011 6:59 pm

    Tudor, I’m so excited for you! CONGRATULATIONS on being short-listed! Can’t wait to hear more about the submissions to publishers. And I’m sure you will have a great time teaching your workshop!

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