Lightin'n Ridge, a Great Gift Idea

Every day of December seems to have its own agenda, and the days are slipping away—pleasantly so. But I realize two things: I am not writing and January is coming which means heavy writing! I need to get a worksheet of ideas started somewhere between Holiday Teas and delivering poinsettias. I was reminded of this when I got notice of a new (to me contest) that ends in mid-January. I will post the info for you writers below.

I also want to call attention to a great publication that is done right here in Missouri. It would make a great gift for someone on your list. This little sports journal is slightly different than the usual “how to clean your gun” and “what foreign land I shot my biggest duck” publications. For one thing the editor is a woman! Don’t see that very often in the sports magazines. Publisher Larry Dablemont started this publication, called Lightnin’Ridge, and it is packed with interesting hunting and fishing stories, real Ozarkers and others doing their sports in common folk land. I won a writing contest for the magazine a couple of years ago and Larry published my story—and he thought women couldn’t write about hunt’n and fish’n!

This Christmas issue is outstanding. Be sure and read Dablemont’s story Grandpa’s Knife where he recalls a Christmas knife gift but really muses over what it takes to make a man-a good dad and grandpas. I wept after I read this poignant piece. Editor Sondra Matlock Gray’s column Camouflage and Hairspray also deals with Christmas memories. You can order this issue or a subscription (reasonably priced) at http://www.larrydablemont.com/Books%20&%20Magazines.htm. But if I were you, I would call up old Editor Larry at 417-777-5227 and chat a spell.




 Spring 2011 WRITING CONTEST


Entries to be accepted from 9/15/10 through 1/15/11 (postmark)

_________________________________________________________________________________________________



Poetry and Short Story Winners to be Published and get $500!

Both winners will get $500 and their winning work will be published (print and online) in the Spring 2011
Homestead Review produced by Hartnell College.* Finalist judges will be Maria Garcia Teutsch (poetry),
editor-in-chief for both Ping-Pong magazine and the Homestead Review, and J. Roderick Clark (fiction),
publisher and editor of Rosebud magazine.

Contest Rules
Eligibility: Open to all work not previously published. Simultaneous submissions allowed, but you must notify us immediately if your work is accepted elsewhere. Our contest is open to all writers—you do not need to be a member of CCW to enter.
Entry Fee: Short stories: $15 per story. Poetry: $5 per poem.
Multiple Entries: Enter as many times as you wish, with separate fee for each entry.
Maximum Length: Short story: 4,000 words. Poetry: no restriction.
Submission Period: September 15, 2010 through January 15, 2011 (by postmark).
Format: Typed, white 8½ x 11 paper, single-sided, numbered pages, with title only (not your name)
on upper left corner of all pages. Short stories must be double-spaced. Poetry should be formatted as
you want it to appear. We prefer staples over paper clips for stories and poems longer than one page.

Cover Sheet(s): Include a separate, single cover sheet for short stories and a single cover sheet for poetry.
The cover sheet(s) must include the title(s) of your entry, your name, address, email address, phone number,
and word count for short stories. On your cover sheet, please let us know how you heard about our contest
(website, magazine ad, newsletter, flyer, friend, etc.).

How to Enter:
Make check payable to: Central Coast Writers
Send with submissions to: CCW Writing Contest
P. O. Box 997
Pacific Grove, CA 93950
Keep copies of your submissions, as no submissions will be returned. Winners will be notified by March 31, 2011and announced in Scribbles, the Central Coast Writers’ newsletter. See website: http://www.centralcoastwriters.org/