Another contest

Two years ago, I entered the annual writing competition sponsored by Writer's Digest, which, in my view, is one of the best magazines ever. After I updated it, I entered LOSS OF CONSORTIUM in the screenplay category. (CONSORTIUM is about a young woman who sues her husband's employer, which is a newspaper, for $50 million for the loss of conjugal rights.) It was a light romantic comedy. If ever produced, it would be good on Lifetime or another network marketed toward women.

I didn't win. However, I was awarded an honorable mention, which was better than I expected. I got a certificate.

CONSORTIUM was my first and only full-length screenplay.

I was in the middle of DEATH AT THE JUNGLE-BUNNY JOURNAL, which, of course, is now titled A MURDEROUS DISPATCH, last year at this time and didn't have time to enter the competition. But I decided to enter this year, although I am hip deep in THE DEATH OF ART (DOA).

I thought of entering a short story I originally wrote a number of years ago about a young mother who needed a break from her busy life. And while I can't remember where I put the story, or the short-film screenplay adaptation I did of the story, I remember enough of the story to start it over again.

But then, just last night, I came up with another idea. There are 10 categories in the competition and I can enter more than one. But I would certainly enter the memoirs/personal essay category.

There are a number of short personal essays I have written over the years about events in my life, particularly those involving my daughters. (Meeting six-year-old Jessie and her mother years ago in a Barcelona market. Riding the rails overnight between Paris and Luxembourg. Ericka's first trip to the doctor. Going to JFK for George. THREE TIMES. Ericka and Michelle's first flight alone. My first trip to the drugstore to get "supplies" for one of my daughters.)

But the story I am leaning toward is an expanded version of something I blogged about this month. My first pitch session. While I have written about those other things, the pitch session, and the details surrounding it, are the freshest in my mind. Plus I enjoy the story. The ending wasn't exactly what I wanted but, at a time when I was having a major battle with despair, it was uplifting.

So that is my plan. I could change my mind. The deadline isn't for nearly two months. And I have that funny story about when Angela and I misplaced one of the children for about 15 seconds. But the pitch session, if rewritten well, should do well. At least, that is my hope.

Now I have to get back to DOA.

Thanks for reading and keep writing.