This Summer, I am going to push myself into entering a number of awards and trying to get my peculiar talent-set noticed on a wider stage. Despite what some might think, this isn’t about building a massive multi-media empire. That’s the easy part: what is harder for me is the recognition that a fifty-summat writer can be considered as a neophyte, and that there is so much to learn as yet undiscovered.
Therefore, these things matter, and I’ll be pushing to produce/showcase my best work for inclusion to the following:
Penguin Write Now (Novel) (second attempt!) :: Entries close July 9th.
Poetry School (Mentoring) :: Entries close July 22nd
The Woman’s Poet Prize (Mentoring) :: Entries close July 23rd
Aesthetica Magazine (Poetry and Short Story) :: Entries close August 31st
The Poetry Society :: Entries close October 31st
Undoubtedly there are more, but for now this is my limit in terms of ability and real life.
Let’s be honest here, I’m a realist after all. Knowing how many people, with considerably more ability and experience enter these things, being realistic as to my chances is as important as presenting the best output possible. There’ll be no spamming of timelines or incessant banging on about how excited it is waiting for the outcomes. If my work is good enough, then someone will eventually take notice.
That’s the mindset that keeps the whole process moving forward to begin with.
The Internet of Words 