Today I submitted a story into a writing contest.  *gulp*

The requirements are that it - rhyme, be no more than 300 words, and - along with some other writing specifications - would appeal to a child.  So I dug out my rhyming story that I had asked my critique group to give their opinions on a few months ago, and seriously tackled the comments and advice. Then I posted it for critique again, tweaked a few little things, and prepared it for submission. Oh my...

I chose to submit it online, and it's a good thing I did because October 31 is the deadline, which is .. um .. today! How long it took me to hit send I'm not sure. I sat here barely breathing. I checked to see if my heart was still beating. I checked my story over a few more times to be sure it was set up the way the judges requested, then I stopped breathing, started stressing, and .. hit the submit button.  Yikes!

Omigosh! It's gone now, so if I missed anything it's too late now! The waiting has begun. Today will end and the judges will begin reading and judging every entry that meets their requirements. I wonder how many will they receive? I wonder how many will they toss out? I wonder how difficult will it be for them to choose five winners?  

Winners, what a nice word -- especially if I am one! Five .. winners. First place winner is awarded $500 and his/her story will be published in the writers' newsletter that is read by editors and publishers. (yummy possibilities there.) Second place winner receives $250. Third, fourth and fifth place winners each get $100. All five will be given a certificate, as well.

Would I like to win? But of course! Does it matter which one? umm .. if not first then I guess it doesn't matter as much which place, does it? But I'm not kidding myself about the possibilities. I know the competition is tough, there are incredible writers out there. My writing is probably quite simplistic in comparison but I still have a chance, actually five chances in this instance. So, I won't give up hoping.

By mid-February the winners will be notified, in March they will be announced in the next issue. I will be disappointed if I don't place, but if my story doesn't win in this contest I have it ready to go out again.

For now, this looks like good blogging material. :)