Running With Quills: 2009 Scarlet Boa Contest

Monday, September 21, 2009

2009 Scarlet Boa Contest

Good morning, my flowers:

Each year I hold a writing contest—THE SCARLET BOA—at my web site. The final date for entries is coming fast but just in case any of you have thought of writing a scene, there's still time.

Think of it, a big, beautiful scarlet boa of your very own—and your award certificate, of course. Plus the accolades (or cries of horror) of all your friends. Come on, give it a whirl and if you enter, let all of us know.

NEWS FLASH!! The winning entry for the Scarlet Boa Contest will be read by Adam Wilson, Editor, MIRA/Harlequin!!!

2009 Contest:
Enter Your Paranormal World...

For this year's Scarlet Boa Contest, write an impossible-to-ignore opening to a paranormal story. Dynamic words, style and setup can grab an immediate "Yes!" from an editor. Think of your opener as the perfect pitch.

From ten finalists, one winner will be voted on by readers to receive the coveted Scarlet Boa and Award Certificate, and three more writers will each receive an Honorable Mention. One lucky reader/voter, chosen at random during the live Scarlet Boa Winner chat, will also be the winner of their own special boa—color, a surprise!

RULES:

a. Write an opening scene that introduces your paranormal world
b. Use 1,000 words or less.
c. One entry per individual.

The Scarlet Boa contest is open to published and non-published authors alike. Submit your entry (500-1000 words). We'll accept submissions until September 25th and post them online October 1st.

Important dates:

August 1 through September 25:		Submissions accepted
October 1:		Submissions posted online
October -15:		Voting (first round)
October 18:		Finalists announced
October 18 thru October 31:		Voting (2nd round)
November 1:		Winner announced in a LIVE chat at Writerspace at 10p EST!

Have you ever won a prize in a contest? I always remember the crinoline dress my sister made from crepe paper for me to wear in a fancy dress contest (everyone had to wear crepe paper costumes). The thing kept trying to fall off and my paper shoes were soon in tatters. I got second prize despite the ferocious frown on my seven-year-old face but my sister was convinced my grimace lot her a first. Then there was my big box of chocolates for winning a race hula-hooping on roller skates . Fess up, who one the "Best Baby" honors?Never mind, you still have a chance to win that Scarlet Boa!Stella

28 Comments:

Anonymous said...: Hi Stella,

Once, I won a children's dictionary from a raffle in elementary school. I was so excited just to have won a prize, it didn't matter that it was a dictionary. Plus, I love dictionaries. Must be the writer in me. Maybe one year, I'll try fiction writing again and enter your contest. Have a great week!

Jennifer; 8:32 AM
Stella Cameron said...: Jennifer: Don't you love those memories? I hope you kept the dictionaries. I also love them. My prize book possession is the entire OED. Boy, I agonized over buying that but desire won out!

Stella; 9:21 AM
susan andersen said...: Stella! You can hula-hoop while roller skating? I once won a candy bar for doing something (on skates) at the roller rink but it sure as shootin' wasn't hula-hooping. That's way more coordinated than I'll ever be.

You're my hero.; 11:20 AM
Anonymous said...: Well, I've won a couple of Writer's blog contests.
Rebecca York and Julie Kenner. Won a nice package of signed backlist books from each. Good reading from both.

That's about the extent of my "winnings."

Louis; 12:14 PM
Stella Cameron said...: Aw, Susan--I like being your hero. I left out winning five pounds (sterling) for best roller skating teeter totter performance.

No, I'm not kidding. They use a thick sheet of wood like a vast piece of sheetrock in shape and balance it on trestles. Men hold down one side of the balanced wood while you skate to get up speed then shoot up that side. As you're reaching the top, your weight and the men's pressure throws the contraption down on the other end. He he, you truly fly. You whip down so fast that the big trick is not to wipe out when you hit the rink floor.

Hero Stella, here:); 12:42 PM
Stella Cameron said...: Louis:

There's nothing like winning something you actually want. Good for you.

Cheers, Stella; 12:43 PM
Anonymous said...: The onnly thing I ever won was a big Blue Ribbon for growing the biggest and best bean plant in 6th grade science class.

Do swimming trophies & medals count? I've won lots of those.

Just want you all to know it's a picture perfect day in Hawai. The sky is crystal clear, bright blue with a few fluffy clouds and very hot! A perfect day for the beach!

Aloha,
Kathy H.; 6:09 PM
Jayne Ann Krentz said...: Geez-Louise, Stella, I had no idea of this roller-skating talent of yours. I'm in awe. The hula-hoop thing was impressive enough but the teeter-totter skating is just so over the top. Wow.; 6:41 PM
Stella Cameron said...: Ah, Kathy--Rub it in. Blue skies, palms, white sands, blue seas--heaven.

Of course trophies count. And good for you on the bean plant. Growing things gives one such a sense of accomplishment.

Stella; 8:12 PM
Stella Cameron said...: Jayne: A branch of my family owned roller skating rinks in both the north and south of England so we skated a great deal. It's funny to look back and remember that I was bopping around on skates from when I was very young.

My grandfather (who would make a very long and unbelievable blog all on his own) claimed to have taught the then Prince of Wales--who became Edward VII (briefly:) to skate in Weymouth. Grandfather claimed a great many things but I'm assured that one was true.

Weymouth was always a great favorite with the royals,who went there to "take the waters." George III went from his bathing machine into the water to the repeated playing of "God Save the King!"

Stella
Font of little known and useless facts.; 8:18 PM
Kate Douglas said...: Stella, I love your facts...and who says they're useless? :-) Also am very impressed with the hula hooping while skating. You are truly an inspiration!

As far as winning, I imagine my favorite win ever was the very first RWA chapter contest that I won with a book that will NEVER see the light of day, but that win kept me writing romances. Of course, it took me twenty years before I actually SOLD a romance, but the win was what it took to let me think I might be published one day.

Kathy, H--I'm headed to Oahu a week from Tuesday--save some of that gorgeous weather for me while I'm over there babysitting grandkids!; 10:30 PM
kris b said...: Stella very interesting blog! I also think you are amazing with your roller skating! wow!

as for winning well I do win things here and there from drawings I enter and such dont know my favorite win though havent won anything in a while what does that mean? LOL I know I wont win a writing thing cause well I can't write thats why I read! I do love to read I am way behind with reading I can't even keep up with new books coming out lately ever have one of those years? I so want to keep up but can't find the time to keep my eyes open after work! sigh.. maybe soon. alas I will be anxious to see who wins the contest and read some of the entries.

Kris b; 3:47 AM
AgTigress said...: Oh, Stella, Talpianna always got such a kick out of your Scarlet Boa contests, and this one would have been right up her alley.

:(; 6:48 AM
Lori Foster said...: Wow, sounds exciting, Stella!
It's so awesome that you do this. What a great opportunity for a writer!

Hugs,

Lori; 7:55 AM
Trenda Plunkett said...: Hi, Stella! Thank you so much for hosting this amazing writing contest! I entered a few moments ago.

Have a gorgeous day!

Trenda; 9:47 AM
Stella Cameron said...: Kate:

That twenty years of not giving up says so much about you:)

Stella; 10:25 AM
Stella Cameron said...: Kris: You just keep reading as much as you can. I know the feeling of "not enough time" so well but figure as long as I enjoy what I'm reading when I'm reading, I'm a winner!

Stella; 10:27 AM
Stella Cameron said...: Tigress:

Yes, Tal loved them. She was a talented writer herself. I'm sure she is missed as a member of many groups to which she added so much.

Stella; 10:29 AM
Stella Cameron said...: Lori:

I think we both get a kick out of doing something for other writers:)

Hugs, Stella; 10:30 AM
Stella Cameron said...: Yahoo for Trenda!!! Good for you and the very best of luck with your entry.

Stella; 10:30 AM
Trenda Plunkett said...: Thank you so much, Stella! :-)

Trenda; 10:35 AM
Sue G said...: Hi Stella, Teeter totters, hula hoops & skates...boggles the mind; staying upright on skates is an accomplishment, so hats off to you.

No real big wins, (unless you count my husband and I do), but I am proud of having a quilt I made juried into a National Show. Didn't win, but it was there!!; 8:12 PM
Anonymous said...: Wow Stella, added several work out classes and do Zumba but I am amazed at those who have great balance in roller skating and hula-hooping with that. Wow!

Although I have tried to enter a lot of contests, sadly nope I never won anything. But not losing hope.

And this year my motto is to just do it, so I did and entered this year's Scarlet Boa contest :); 12:25 PM
Stella Cameron said...: Anon: And I wish you the best of luck! Glad you entered.

My roller skating days are a memory now--running up steps takes concentration these days:)

Stella; 6:38 PM
Stella Cameron said...: Sue: My response got eaten:) I am impressed with your quilting adventures. Making a quilt is on my want-to-do list.

Stella; 6:40 PM
Sue G said...: Stella, thank you. Making quilts must be something like writing...there are always more quilts in the wings waiting to be made. The ideas for the next quilt and the next quilt always come faster than you can ever hope to get to. I'm sure you have characters and plots floating around in your head or jotted down on paper for later too. If we're lucky you'll get to them :); 9:24 PM
Stella Cameron said...: Is the quilt in your photo one of yours, Sue? Stella; 11:02 AM
Sue G said...: Yes, it's a close up of four blocks of a quilt I made for my mom's birthday in 2005. It's 90" x 90" and the 2 blocks are called mariner's compass and pineapple block.; 11:13 PM

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Monday, September 21, 2009

2009 Scarlet Boa Contest

28 Comments: