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all of the writers, that joined Coffee Shop Author 2011. I received an e-mail, to say that my entry had not made it, this year again. It was neither first, second, or third. So, I say to you, fellow writers, that didn't make first, second or third, do not despair. The fact that you call yourself a writer, is enough to congratulate yourself, for your countless number of hours, that you give to your craft. Congratulations, to the writers who did make, first, second, or third. And thank you, the administration, for offering a venue, for future writers. There are many ways to get published.

Thanks to everyone who entered the contest, and to those who managed to submit their entries on time yesterday. Good luck to all of you. We hope to make a decision by May 15th.

In the meantime, please keep writing!

Susan

As this season ends, (Coffee Shop Author, writing season) It brings me to the other seasons people in general talk about all year long. POLITICS, YUK. but it is here and I would urge all to take the effort and vote. It is a privilege that so many people in the world don't have. Oh, and there is another item to be mentioned with seasons, WEATHER, YUK and YEA. this year seems to have more YUK than Yea in Swan Hills. As of this date, April 30, 2011 we still have mountains of snow still afraid to melt. Every time the world rotates it seems to wobble and place a cloud between the sun and us.

Well, there it is ... SENT.

I just wanted to say thanks to the other writers, and to Randal and Susan for the contest.

My big lesson was this: a good, solid three hour writing block is one of my necessities. Even when I spent my three hours at the coffee shop reading over notes, or working on character sketches, or eavesdropping on other people's conversations (i.e. not writing) some teensy bit of work always got done. And the steady practice has yielded fruit. (Imagine that.)

I see 'My Account' says that I have been a member for 1 year 11 weeks. I assume this began when I entered last years contest at the end of January, 2010.

I have learned a lot in the course of this contest. It has been useful to help me hone my writing skills and I am grateful to all the sponsors.

You have all been an inspiration. Thank-you.

Here, I first learned to complete a first draft, fast, fast, fast. To pour myself into the pages, to set goals, and discovered that deadlines force me to rise to the occasion.

Hi Susan

A couple of quick questions, which I will pose on the blog, in the event others, might find your answers helpful.

Publishers are inclined to request manuscripts in serif fonts like Courier, Times New Roman, or Georgia, but serifs tend to blur on computer screens.

I have noticed, during my trek into “The Land of Submissions,” that many agents, publishers, and websites, prefer sans serif fonts like Verdana, as they are easier to read on computer screens.

If I am not mistaken, The Coffee Shop Author judges are scattered, and will receive the manuscripts via email.

To all registered contestants, please note that, while we don't have many rules per se for this contest, we would like to remind you of the following:

Submit your entry as a Word Doc attachment by email only on April 30th to admin@coffeeshopauthor.com;
submit only 20-pages, and no more, of your most polished writing;
follow that with either a synopsis (please be brief) of the novel or non-fiction you have written/are writing, or an explanation of the thread that holds together all the poems or short stories in your collection;

This has been one long winter! There, enough said on that subject.
I can only imagine that most, on these northern lands, have not made it out to their favourite coffee shop to write, as often as originally planned (not that we are talking about the weather).

Hello everyone,
My writing continues to move forward as does the contest. I have been spending a lot of my time writing "rambles" or short excerpts and notes on the things in my life as they move me enough to do so. Some have been about love, others confusion, and some about being petty. I plan to incorporate them into a character in my next novel which I have been spending a lot of time brain storming about. My work has slowed on my contest entry as I find it so very painful to edit; I find it less inspiring and joyful; I find it to actually be WORK I guess is my problem.

Although I've been away from the writing life for a while - tugged in other directions while getting a Bachelor of Science degree and working in research - I now find that the compulsion to write has returned. Only time will tell if this will simply be a personal journey, or reach a broader audience. But either way, it will be hard work, but also fun.

First musings from a Science writer.