tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9052453698252224336.post517047162601785188..comments2024-03-29T09:17:03.691+02:00Comments on Thoughts from Botswana by Lauri Kubuitsile: Contests I Didn't WinLaurihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11112458658109887868noreply@blogger.comBlogger12125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9052453698252224336.post-44898504400150839452009-07-07T10:33:48.093+02:002009-07-07T10:33:48.093+02:00Tania- The Grand Prize Winner in this Year Binnacl...Tania- The Grand Prize Winner in this Year Binnacle- (Yeah! Yeah!congratulations again)- I don't know but 114 out of 960 doesn't sound any better to me. :) The lovely thing I'm waiting for is actually quite far in the distance time-wise but thanks for your encouragement. I'll let you know. And- no - I'm not planning to make announcing my loses a new trend in this blog, it was only to illustrate a point not something I would encourage anyone to do. Like that strange hobby of some writers of saving rejections..... not me- I destroy the evidence as quickly as possible.Laurihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11112458658109887868noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9052453698252224336.post-1845270767821229192009-07-06T22:37:29.705+02:002009-07-06T22:37:29.705+02:00Ahem, Ms K, you didn't mention that in the Bin...Ahem, Ms K, you didn't mention that in the Binnacle you came 114 out of 960! And yes, I don't write blog posts every time I get a rejection, every time I don't win. I lose stuff all the bloody time. Hope your lovely-thing-after-three-bad-things has come already!Tania Hershmanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15781460794034586895noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9052453698252224336.post-39564061627651207382009-07-06T08:58:56.805+02:002009-07-06T08:58:56.805+02:00Hi David- thanks for stopping by! It's good to...Hi David- thanks for stopping by! It's good to know that , perhaps, my three things rule might hold some validity since it is universal. <br /><br />Maxine- Contests do get your name out there which was evidenced by my Cape Town trip. I know a handful of South Africans (or did before CT) and yet because of contests many more knew about me. This helps if ever there comes a time when they say "We really need a Botswana writer (or Australian poet in your case) to attend this conference" then they might think of you. <br /><br />Selma-The key to contests, I think, is to enter many. If I entered one and I got nothing I would be seriously bummed but since I'm always waiting for the next one, the disappointment is lessened. Also I almost never enter contests with a fee (the exception is Writers Weekly 24 hour contest which I know I'll likely never win but I live the adrenaline of it).Laurihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11112458658109887868noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9052453698252224336.post-76134070521734711992009-07-06T03:02:38.145+02:002009-07-06T03:02:38.145+02:00There are about 5,678 contests I didn't win, m...There are about 5,678 contests I didn't win, mainly because I didn't enter them. You put me to shame because you have the courage to go out there and do it. You definitely have the right attitude to succeed!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9052453698252224336.post-66956841033438368652009-07-06T01:16:27.248+02:002009-07-06T01:16:27.248+02:00I have only ever entered a few writing contests in...I have only ever entered a few writing contests in my life, but your post inspires me to enter more! And you don't win them just because you enter a lot (though of course, that increases your chances no end), you do so because you can write!Maxine Clarkehttp://slamup.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9052453698252224336.post-68660926996796253102009-07-06T00:24:02.238+02:002009-07-06T00:24:02.238+02:00Hi Lauri,
The idea of ‘non c'è due senza tre’...Hi Lauri,<br /><br />The idea of ‘non c'è due senza tre’ (‘there isn’t two without three’ or ‘(good and bad) things come in threes) is held by many in both the Italian and Australian cultures. It seems to be a universal notion. <br /><br />Congratulations of your contest successes. As for the stories that didn’t win-put them away for a few months then revise and rewrite them and send them to be published.<br />DavidMAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9052453698252224336.post-76135611085480793842009-07-05T13:48:19.019+02:002009-07-05T13:48:19.019+02:00I've become slightly like you Sue. Since I'...I've become slightly like you Sue. Since I've stopped writing short stories for awhile, most contests will require me to write something specifically for it. When I do that a loss is even more difficult, so I try to avoid it. There are contests for novels too Sue. <br /><br />To be honest, I was even a writing contest whore before I won anything. I love waiting for results. I get disappointed when results come out- even sometimes when I'm among the winners. I quickly enter another contest to re-seat myself in wait mode. (There is likely a disorder waiting somewhere in that)Laurihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11112458658109887868noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9052453698252224336.post-6122853672737369582009-07-05T13:37:26.353+02:002009-07-05T13:37:26.353+02:00I really like that last quote! I struggle with th...I really like that last quote! I struggle with the whole competition thing. I enter one or two poetry comps a year, never any fiction ones because I don't have any short fiction to submit and don't want to write something just for the comp. So I flip between thinking comps are great and important, and thinking they're more work than than they're worth. Wish I'd make up my mind (of course, i bet if I won one I'd really start liking them :-) )Sue Guineyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13556228394020314560noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9052453698252224336.post-68220768962252152322009-07-05T08:33:15.666+02:002009-07-05T08:33:15.666+02:00Thanks Elizabeth- I'm crossing my fingers. (Ye...Thanks Elizabeth- I'm crossing my fingers. (Yes- I do that too!)Laurihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11112458658109887868noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9052453698252224336.post-9770217556407876222009-07-04T19:02:28.317+02:002009-07-04T19:02:28.317+02:00I'm with you on that bad events occur in three...I'm with you on that bad events occur in threes theory, it seems to hold true for me anyway, especially of late. My brother has always said, (of buying lotto tickets, not entering writing contests), if you don't play, you can't win. As with everything, (sending in queries to agents and such), it's all a big numbers game. You, my dear, are IN THE GAME in a big way. I feel a HUGE win coming on in your future.Elizabeth Bradleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03150221675618198674noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9052453698252224336.post-46237492384413190942009-07-04T18:08:00.640+02:002009-07-04T18:08:00.640+02:00Helen thanks for your wishes of good luck.Helen thanks for your wishes of good luck.Laurihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11112458658109887868noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9052453698252224336.post-49143213615629347422009-07-04T15:20:30.016+02:002009-07-04T15:20:30.016+02:00I like your theory! And your post is a good lesson...I like your theory! And your post is a good lesson for the rest of us. You'll never win if you don't enter. It sounds so simple, but it's so true. People who keep winning are actually entering. <br /><br />You didn't win these three, but congratulations on all your other wins and the ones about to come your way!<br /><br />Helen<br /><a href="http://straightfromhel.blogspot.com" rel="nofollow">Straight From Hel</a>Helen Gingerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09794759602654727110noreply@blogger.com