Writing and Writers (for The Diamond Angle)

Have you ever written a poem? How about a short story or essay? It may be surprising, but most people have authored some form of literature having nothing to do with school assignment for the joy and challenge of translating thoughts to words.

It's okay to admit in present company. Jack London would fit most people's definition of a macho guy and he wrote extensively.

Crafting 10 pieces puts one well on the way to finding his unique written voice. More than 20 marks an aspirant with enough positive feedback to be serious about his genre. One also may have entered a contest or two and been dismayed to discover the most publicized events are often the most disreputable. Keeping literary grifters hands out of a checkbook can be an overwhelming job for ego untickled babes armed only with love of art form, and that's where Winning Writers.com enters the picture.

According to co-founder Adam Cohen, " My wife and I launched Winning Writers in late fall 2001. As a published poet, Jendi (Reiter) has built up a great deal of knowledge about poetry contests, and won a few as well. We thought other poets might benefit from this knowledge as well, so we developed Poetry Contest Insider. There are so many scam artists out there it boils our blood. They distract poets from good contests and exploit their money. There are other poetry contest guides besides ours, certainly, but they don't help poets tell good contests from bad. We've found over 300 contests to date. You can't enter them all, so it helps to choose wisely. Winning quality contests is a great way for poets to gain attention for their work."

Having become painfully aware of the difference between making claims and stating facts, this columnist went over the Winningwriters.com website with scheme attuned senses. Found enough beneficial features to believe this concern may be among the rarest of internet animals; the honest hippocameleopard.

WinningWriters is not laid out as a con artist's webpage would be. It's easily navigable and contains no outrageous promises or deviously constructed misleading statements. There's a tremendous amount of free, useful information: credible contest lists, student sites to improve skill, recommended books and magazines, scam avoiding advice, poetry manuscript tips for submission, and best sources for supplies and software. Questions are answered in a timely way (by phone or e-mail), and WinningWriters sponsors a couple of contests based on merit which last year generated over a thousand entries between them- The Wergle Flomp Free Contest (covered in this space 8 months ago), and War Poetry Contest.

So what's a War Poetry Contest? Under Adam's definition, it's, "our serious contest. We felt this important subject could benefit from a new forum. We try to keep an open mind. For example, we don't assume that war is always bad. There is a 10 dollar entry fee and 2000.00 in cash prizes. The better pieces are displayed on-site each year, and winners are announced in the fall."

Whether one carpenters lines(war related or otherwise) round the clock, thinks it might be a kick to create any sort of piece or is somewhere in between, the WinningWriters website is the net's premier resource. It facilitates craft improvement, which stimulates enjoyment, confidence, and a greater sense of personal growth.

Besides, guys - if Raymond Chandler is a worthy example - a few heartfelt, reasonably well written poems just might capture and keep that special lady's heart. It's been documented that verse helped lure Cissy Pascal away from her husband,  into Chandler's arms, and down the aisle. Continued judicious application of rhyming stanzas helped Phillip Marlowe's creator stay in marital bliss for 31 years - and Raymond was a very mediocre poet.

Wordsmithing can be very sexy.

http://www.winningwriters.com