Monday, May 19, 2014

WRiTE Club 2014 is Accepting Entries!






In case you didn't catch it, there was a recent returnee to the blogosphere:

After a hiatus to finish the draft of his latest novel, my good friend DL Hammons is back in the blogging world with a newly designed website.  No longer "Cruising Altitude 2.0", his blogging home is now dlhammons.com -- effectively, but unimaginatively, named after his own name. But luckily, if you're still attached to the high-flying previous name, any links to that site name should still take you to his new one.

DL was one of the first online fellow writers I connected with when I started toying with the idea of becoming a writer myself, almost seven (!) years ago, give or take.  While my writing accomplishments over those years have not gotten much past that initial 'dabbling' stage, Don and I have stayed connected and I've seen his blog grow into a much-loved stop on many a writer's blog roll.

In late 2011, DL rolled out his WRiTE Club -- a writing contest featuring head-to-head bouts between anonymous writers. It was a tremendous amount of fun, and that first contest stretched into March, 2012 with a culminating win by Tiana Smith over Julie Dao.

DL expanded the competition in 2012 and took in 72 entries.  That year, I entered it myself and my anonymous writing samples under the pen-name "RavenClaw" managed to survive a marathon that ran from July to December, and included a win in one of 36 preliminary bouts; then one of 18 playoff bouts; one of 10 round-2 bouts with edited submissions; one of 6 round-3 bouts with second entries; one of 3 round-4 bouts; and then one of 2 semifinal bouts with edited second entries before battling Mark Hough in the finals. I lost 6-4 to him but never really felt bad about it -- his work was simply fabulous (and Mark, if you happen to read this -- I'm STILL waiting for the chance to read more of your excellent writing! But, no pressure -- at least the world gets to partake of your incredible hand-made violins.).

Lat year, DL honed the format and presented a tightly-fought series of competitions between 32 excellent, pre-selected entries. This competition ran from July through October and resulted in a final battle win by Tex Thompson over Jane Lebak.

Well, guess what? 

DL is once again hosting WRiTE Club -- the 2014 edition!  If you're interested, it just takes an anonymous entry of a 500-word writing sample.  I would encourage you to visit DL's site and check out the entry info HERE.

But even if you don't enter, be sure to visit DL's blog beginning in June to watch the battles unfold and to take part in the voting!

8 comments:

  1. I entered WRiTE Club in 2012 and got voted out in the first round. It was a landslide in favor of the other guy. The following year, my entry didn't make the pre-selected gang--though it's gone on to other conquests. ;P

    Good on you for wailin' on the competition in 2012, boy-o! Is it fair to ask if you'll be competing again this year?

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    1. Hi Suze -- sorry for taking so long to reply. I'm very happy that you never let the fact that your piece didn't make the WRiTE Club pre-selection stop you from moving forward with it. So much of the 'judging' is really just personal taste, and what one person hates, another person will love.

      It seems like the formula for writing "success" is 5% inspiration, 20% craft, and 75% perseverance,

      And, no -- I did not enter the WRiTE Club fray this year, but I look forward to enjoying the entries!

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  2. Excellent synopsis of the WRiTE CLUB history! Can you now please write the synopsis for my WIP? :) The contest has grown so much over the years...but it remains just as fun. Can't wait for that first bell!

    Thank you for helping to spread the word, Chris!

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    1. Thanks, Don. And a synopsis for your WIP? Sure: "Creepy box shows up -- freakiness ensues."

      Looking forward for the start of WRiTE Club this next week!

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  3. I didn't submit this year. I'd like to have, but just don't have time. I plan to get over there and do some voting, though!
    Glad DL is back out and about.

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    1. Hey, David. I hear you -- I'm busy myself, but I can only imagine you're definitely swamped getting that book published! Really looking forward to it!

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