Southern Writers Magazine ~ 2014 Short Story Contest!



Karen S. Jones
www.ksjones.com

Writing contests bring out a chill like nothing else. There have been so many contests that I had plans to enter, but whenever I would ready myself for the challenge--even when enthusiasm was bursting from my writing soul! -- No - Words - Came. Contest entries are the only real writer's block I have ever experienced. And knowing how much prestige comes with winning or placing in a contest, I tried really hard to write something--something really great! All to no avail. It wasn't until the 'Last Day To Enter' rolled around for the Southern Writers 2014 Short Story contest that I jumped up and ran to my computer to write what the voices in my head were telling me to write. Even I was amused with the story as I wrote it! After a bit of careful research and several hours of intense writing, I submitted my entry. Then this week, I received the wonderful news that I had won! You cannot imagine how thrilled and honored I feel, not only because I won, but because I won a contest in the prized Southern Writers Magazine whose writers are amazing themselves!

Check them out at http://www.southernwritersmagazine.com/

It's been a good week. It's been a very good week.  If you're a writer, keep writing! If you're a reader, keep reading!

Cynical~

Anyone worth their salt loves books, in my opinion. And it doesn't matter to me which books you're reading as long as you're reading. I've found that the most interesting people I come across are readers. Those that do not are usually difficult to talk to and more difficult to follow. They have other things on their mind, like whether the world is paying attention to them. Total non-readers are so self-absorbed that the thought of reading a book never occurs to them. Unless the book is ABOUT them. And then they just want YOU to read the book. Cynical? Yes, I freely admit it.


What are you reading?
Karen






Historical Fiction ~

The term 'historical fiction' seems to send hoards of readers running from bookstores. I have never really understood why until today. Linked-In has a group of fabulously intelligent and witty readers and writers discussing historical fiction. Today's discussion was on this very subject.

According to many bookstore owners, editors and publishers, when readers hear that a book is categorized as historical fiction, their faces contort and their brows furrow. Then the head shaking begins. No, they were looking for something else. When asked what, exactly, they're looking for, their response is, i.e., a good love story, a good mystery, a coming-of-age tale, etc., and down the aisle they walk looking for that perfect book.

Dear Readers,

 

Listen, don't panic, historical fiction is not a history book! Historical fiction can better be described as 'Period Fiction'. It doesn't have any more lessons to teach that Isaac Asimov's I, ROBOT, or Ernest Hemingway's OLD MAN AND THE SEA, or Jules Verne's THE TIME MACHINE, or JRR Tolkien's LORD OF THE RINGS. Need I mention the writings of Robert Heinlein, Lee Child, John Grisham, Luanne Rice and Maeve Binchy?

Some of the greatest stories ever written were set during a time period different than today. Heck, a story that took place yesterday is historical fiction! Look at the fabulous stories by W. Michael Gear, Kathleen O'Neal Gear, John Steinbeck, Ernest Hemingway, Christopher Curtis, Karen Cushman, Clare Vanderpool, and Sharon Creech. Their award-winning stories, which have been read by millions of adoring readers, are classified as historical fiction, but in all reality, their stories are Adventure stories, and Romance stories, and Mystery stories, and Coming-of-Age stories. Can you imagine your life without their stories?

Step it up a notch, Readers! Walk down that Historical Fiction aisle. You might find the story you've been waiting to hear your whole life. It's been there waiting for you.

    

Happy Reading!
Karen
www.ksjones.com