One Down, Can't-Even-Think-About-How-Many More to Go

Yay! I finished my SBO scholarship essay! Finally! I guess the problem was that if I was trying to decide which version of the essay I liked better, neither  of them must not have been very good. So I rewrote the entire thing again, except I liked it much better this time.

Today, I'm working on my Seventeen Fiction Contest entry. Curiously, Seventeen does not have any record of their previous winners' work on their website. And for some reason, I can't find the issue that the winner was in this year. Perhaps my seven year old sisters went off with it somewhere. I don't really understand why they like reading it so much, but I suppose, every little girl wants to be a big girl. Too bad. They have no idea how much I wish I was a little kid again. Back when I didn't have too much homework, and you could basically go up to a kid and say "You wanna be friends?" and then you would automatically become best friends.

Hey, that's not a bad story idea. Hmmmmm. Well, I've got lots of writing to do. Best wishes.

It's Not Writer's Block.

Grrrrrr. I have this entire week off with good intentions to finish writing to enter all of the three contests I mentioned in the previous post. But as usual, plans don't work out. Last night, my computer was open to a blank word document, while instead I tried to improve my win percentage on my new iPod's solitaire game. That's not good. Luckily, yesterday I did manage to finish my SBO scholarship essay, but decided I didn't like it, so I rewrote it and now I can't decide which one to enter.

I guess my problem lately has been getting the words on paper. It's not writer's block. Because I know exactly what I want to say. I know exactly how I want it to be read. But for some I just can't get it out on paper once I start writing the actual words. Ughhhhh.

So, lately, I've employed all my writer's block secret weapons. Even though it's not writer's block. I wrote it down, even though I still don't like it. I went running today to get my mind off of it. I read other people's writing to try to get refocused. And sleep. I tried to get lots of that last night.

So, here I am, at it again. I will finish something today. Any ideas for getting past this definitely-not-writer's-block?

Oh, and I just checked that some other competitions have a very close deadline!

-EVERYONE: The Writing Conference's Annual Writing Contest. Deadline: Jan 8! They are accepting narratives, expositions, and poetry on the topic "couarge". Prizes: Plaque and publication in the Writer's Slate. http://www.writingconference.com/contest.htm

-UHHHH... THE DEDICATED ONES?: Columbia College Chicago Young Authors 2010. Deadline: Jan 15. Submit fiction writing, creative nonfiction, and short plays. Hmmmmm. The website doesn't really  say what the prizes are. That's odd. Why enter it if you don't win anything? Well, give it a shot. Maybe you'll be given a super secret gift bag or something. And the experience is good. http://www.colum.edu/academics/fiction_writing/YA/YA10.php

Alrightee, happy writing!

Now the Countdown to New Year's

I started seeing the lists today. New Year's is notoriously famous for lists: resolutions, best moments, worst moments, etc. And what a year it has been. The world lost Michael Jackson. America swore in its first black president. There's plenty more, but I'm sure you'll be seeing plenty of these recaps from now until Jan1. Has anybody realized that it'll be gone before you know it?

For those of you enjoying winter break, don't forget to keep writing! What better way to recap the year? For those of you wanting to submit before the new year, check out some of the links on the right. Many of them accept submissions year round. Some contests to keep in mind:

- GIRLS: The Seventeen Magazine Fiction Contest: Deadline Dec 31! I don't know how great a measure of writing talent it is, but it's being judged by Seventeen editors and Meg Cabot. This year's winner wasn't bad either. However, I am worried that they call it a sweepstakes. Must be original work of fiction under 500 words. Prizes: Publication in Seventeen magazine, $5000, and a phone conversation with Meg Cabot. http://www.seventeen.com/sweepstakes/9554

- BAND/ORCHESTRA GEEKS (haha jk. musicians): SBO Scholarship Essay Contest: Deadline Dec 31! SBO is the school band and orchestra magazine. The magazine is more for music educators, such as band and orchestra directors, but the contest is for students (grades 4-12). Essay on "I believe music must remain  a part of the school curriculum because..." must be 250 words or less. Prizes: $1000 scholarship. http://www.sbomagazine.com/ME2/dirsect.asp?sid=F304E8D78FBE4F74B99F91D7AA49CDBA&nm=Essay+Contest

-EVERYBODY: Scholastic Art and Writing Awads: Deadline Jan 8 (but check your local region for deadline info!) This is one of the best writing contests out there. They really do recognize talent. It's a very prestigious award in the teen writing world. Many different categories with different word limits. Awards: Publication, scholarships, and prestige. A Must-Enter. www.artandwriting.org

Alright, get writing!

Christmas Time!

Ok, so Christmas is in a couple days. I've been enjoying the time off from school because we had a huge snowstorm over the weekend, and it's given me plenty of excuses to sit on my butt and write. And sleep. I think it's funny because when I was younger, I always wanted to stay up late, but now, I'm just like "I want sleep!"

So, in the spirit of Christmas, I found some really cool gifts to give writers. (or things you writers might want to ask for!)

Funny, short, and the kick in the butt, you've been needing to get writing. I love this one.








-A baby names book. Good for naming characters.

-Erasers. Hahaha I like these.

- Of course, a good old dependable notebook! Keep the lefties in mind!

Alrightee, hope you liked it. You can find more good writer gift ideas at http://www.inkygirl.com/category/useful-diversions/gifts-for-writers/. Happy Holidays everyone!

The Beginning

Inkwaves started as a need for a new username. I didn't realize the impact of a screenname back then, but I do now. Screennames are like identities. They give first impressions. They have their personalities ( I mean, how many of us have been more outgoing over emails or IMs? Or less scared to ask someone out or to break up with them or say something straight to their face? It's like a whole different persona.)

So, there I was, absentmindedly scribbling lame usernames down for my email, when I realized that I really liked the way the list looked. Not the usernames themselves. Just the way the ink from the pen kind of flowed into... into waves. And that was that. Inkwaves. It was perfect. Subtle. Understated maybe. It gave a small hint at what I like doing, if you knew me well enough. Yet, it didn't have to declare my undying love for jonas brothers or monkeys. (I don't actually like the JoBros). It's been really versatile. I came up with that one in 5th or 6th grade, and it's stayed with me ever since.

So, that inspiration for my screenname and username, is kind of what I've been doing for years: noticing things nobody else would and writing it down. I'm a teenage writer. I write because it clears my head. Because things make a whole lot more sense on paper. I write to express myself and I write so I won't forget. Along the way, I've found that I really like the way my writing looks in print: columns of neat print and my name in the byline. It always reminds me that I'm part of something bigger.

 The inkwaves blog is a reminder of that, too. I'm going to be writing about places for teens (and others) to get published, writing contests, books, stories, writing, and inevitably, my own adventures in the world of writing. Hope you'll read it. But I can't promise it won't be a bumpy ride (isn't that what makes a good plot?) And doesn't plot make a good story?