Do you sometimes think that it's just about impossible to break through with writing? Is the notion of winning a competition with your short story looking sillier and sillier? I felt the same way and yet, some years ago, after many attempts I met with some success.

That isn't some kind of sales pitch for a bogus secret. It's simply true. I'd tried to get published quite a few times in womags and I'd entered a few competitions from a writers' magazine without getting anywhere. The evidence seemed to suggest I was a poo writer and nobody wanted to benefit from the glow of my genius. All I seemed to get were rejection slips. The week my mother died I got one. That wasn't good.

Then, one day I won a competition. Yes - First Prize - loads of money! It was brilliant. I was almost hysterical. No - I think I may actually have been hysterical! I hit notes my voice hasn't hit before or since when my friend rang me up to point out my good fortune.

Then I wrote something else and came second soon after in the same competition. That was a kind of confirmation, I suppose, that I couldn't be all that poo after all. Another story was commended a month later. Not something I could actually spend but praise is good. I like praise. We all do.

The winning story is here:

Prize-winning story about a man with a chip in his brain. Thanks to Kate Mosse, best-selling writer of 'Labyrinth' who set the competition and gave me the 1st prize.

A Greedy Cat

The commended story was funny and I enjoyed doing it:

Rodrigo learns about love.

Two young Spaniards with pistols argue about love in this comical tale.

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This was a story of mine, based on a dream, that made a 'hall of fame' for years.

Shark

What if a shark was chasing you down a hill and you hid in a church?

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Here are a couple of inspirational notions I had if you have time or the inclination to take some advice:

Engage the Borg! New orders for writers.

Boldly go and do the deed. Write it. Post it or email it.

Writers should all get Lost.

How to keep the reader wanting to know what happens next.

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This article sold to a very nice American lady:

Boscobel: A King's Hideaway

and explains why so many pubs are called 'The Royal Oak'.

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This is a smattering of personal writing about my parents:

Snapshots - Memories of Parents

Story: early mother; imaginary letters to dead father, late mother.

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The Hall of Fame

Here we find a few examples of writing from online contributors.

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Papa's ruminations

Some ranting about things, plus stories and music from Papa.

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Banquo and Clarence

Whimsy. Not really funny but going in that direction... What if Shakespeare's characters tried to claim disability allowance?

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Joss Whedon is God

A little praise for a writer and director with great appeal. I'm happy in 2009 to be watching 'Bones'. Angel lives on as a cop.
 

I've moved into an odd direction in the 21st century and seem to spend a lot of time kicking and punching people. This is so much fun that I rarely seem to write.

  When I do it's often about fighting.

 May none of us ever weaken!

However, let there be no mistake, the buzz of finally getting that elusive and seemingly impossible competition win or article sale is fantastic.

If I could do it, maybe you can too. It's a noble dream and a worthy ambition. You definitely can't do it if you just give up. Plug on and your chances are much, much better.

I screamed when I won and hope one day that you may scream every bit as loudly as I did when, against all the imaginary odds stacked against the door of possibility, 'Has the Moon lost her Memory?' was a winner for me.

FlameDruid 2009