The Writer's Voice - ENTER May 1st!!

I've had some success with Pitch Contests via Twitter or through blogs. While I'm still on that elusive hunt for an agent - by success, I mean that a talented group of fellow writers that volunteer a LOT of their time to put these contests out there have selected my work, on occasion, to showcase. Woot!

We all write because we LOVE to write, but we still secretly crave that validation from our peers. And even when I don't get picked - I root for the writers who did and keep tabs on what's going on, what genres are doing the best in the contest - that kind of stuff, because - hey! Helpful! :)

So, thought I'd give a quick shout out to another pitch contest coming up on May 1st:

And you can click HERE for all the juicy deets.  Enter it! Can't hurt - right? Happy writing and GOOD LUCK!!

How Did I Forget How Great "Stand by Me" Is??

Photo credit here

Do you ever, for one reason or another, remember seeing a movie and thinking, "Yeah. Once was enough."? I must have had this reaction when I watched "Stand by Me" for the first time, when I was a teenager. I can't explain why, but it was always one of those movies that I was like, "Meh. I've seen it already." But, as my daughter and I were trolling through the movie selections on Amazon Instant Video the other weekend, I came across this movie and thought - "OK. Why not?"

Why not?? Seriously? What was I thinking??? I had somehow forgotten how FABULOUS this movie is. Or never realized it the first time around. Maybe it's my maturation as an aspiring writer, and well, as a basic human being, but I appreciate this story so much more now. The characters, the friendships, the "what ifs", the beautiful simplicity, the very "realness" of it all made me wish that I could write something just as good. It inspired me. And I just thought you all should know that ~ ;)

My 16-year-old daughter LOVED it, by the way. How could she not?  And just as a crazy, this-is-me-thinking-about-it-too-much aside to the movie and the actors...has anyone else realized how scary-alike the real actors and their characters sort-of ended up? Wil Wheaton/Gordie Lachance - both writers.  River Phoenix/Chris Chambers - both dead (so sad!!!)  Jerry O'Connell/Vern Tessio - both married with kids.  Corey Feldman/Teddy Duchamp - both turned out a little sad and crazy. Weird...

Anyhow - I thought it worth mentioning that your tastes and your appreciation and understanding for things can change with time and experience. Never hurts to give something/someone a second chance. Who knows - the second time around may even inspire you!

Happy Tuesday, y'all! :)