I wish there was a mixed feelings icon on this thing. I just had my MA coursework back, and as a dirent result I am feeling all of the following things:

Relieved

I admit I would have liked slightly better marks - just a little bit better - but the numbers don't mean as much to me as the accompanying comments, and I've had almost nothing but praise about my prose fiction writing abilities. I mean, I've had constructive criticism too, obviously - but my confidence has grown in that particular medium, anyway.

Discouraged

I have had pretty bad comments about the drama and the poetry. It cut me pretty deep to read that one of my poems was 'over-written'! Apparently it was my prose fiction that stopped me from getting bad marks in that one class.

Recently I've been losing confidence in those two media anyway. I've entered a couple of poetry competitions this year, both of which were won by a teacher on my course. Not winning is okay, but losing twice to somebody I know personally... it's very frustrating!

I'm putting the finishing touches to my script for `Beccalicious's contest, because I really feel that I should enter, but I have very little confidence in it.

Annoyed

As well as my own coursework, I also got all the coursework of another student. I know her, and I got quite friendly with her, but that doesn't affect the issue. It's a serious breach of confidentiality, sending coursework to the wrong people. I've e-mailed the course administrator, and hopefully she'll send me a pre-paid envelope or something. It's three thick folders - it would cost me a fortune to send it back all on my own. They won't expect me to do that, but anyway, it's an inconvenience for me and this other student!

They really are very badly organised on that course - I notice it, like, all the time.

Pimp Corner (newest on top)
~machinerage299 is running a Science Fiction Contest for short story writers. Hurry - you don't have much time to enter!
You still have time to enter *resuki's Summer 2008 Writing Contest, which asks you to take inspiration from this image.
This contest hosted by ~vgaer asks writers and visual artists to collaborate, and has a new deadline of August 30th. It needs entries!
How could I forget?! Keep an eye on ^GeneratingHype and his activities for Nonfiction Writing Month, such as this (potentially controversial!) Political Editorial Contest.
~NejiIsMINEDAMNIT is holding a Song and Poetry Contest.
~Lit-Lovers is running a literature contest for entries of any form, style and content.
~spinalSHIVER is now running the Seeds of Evil Contest. How intriguing does that sound?!
^StJoan gives us a reminder and update on lit. DDs here.
How's your breast cancer awareness? Well, there's always room for more. ^JunkbyJen is now running her third annual Think Pink Contest.
Remember, *simplyprose is always looking for submissions!
~Nakamura-Sakura is in the mood for love. Check out her Romantic Poetry Contest.
Don't love triangles make for great stories? Check out ~Booshgalxx's Love Triangle Contest.
One genre, any medium: fantasy fans should definitely check out *onceuponatime08's Spindle's End Contest.
Create something on any or all of *OlgaC's three themes for this contest.
If you haven't had enough of scriptwriting contests yet, *deviantLIT is hosting another one here. Read the rules carefully!
The Create a God/Goddess Contest is a great idea by *faith-npp32. Everyone welcome, including writers.
~CGholy is running a short story contest for totally original fiction or fanfiction. It is called the Short but sweet romantic tales contest. Need I say more?
=RainbowStarDust presents The Great War Literature Contest. August 3rd deadline is looming!
`Beccalicious is finishing off Script Writing Month with an awesome big contest. Check it out here. August 4th deadline is also looming!


Features


Box of Words Feature 2: Escape







Tots and Teens: The Children's Literature Contest

First Place Winners

In Poetry

'Bff' by ~tricksyriver



This is a sweet, childish poem that becomes increasingly more than a sweet, childish poem every time you read it. I love the imagery, the evocativeness and the quirky turn of phrase. The poet makes excellent use of recurring images of nature and food that allude to the growth of the child, both physically and mentally. This poem takes me right back.

In Fiction: 12 and Under

'Magic' by *ElectroBaby



As we know, the line between reality and fantasy becomes increasingly sharper as we grow. This is a timeless theme in children's literature, and here *ElectroBaby finds yet another new way of exploring it. She tells a charming story of a girl who is growing up, but is determined never to let go of her belief in magic.

In Teen Fiction

'Because...' by ~RockerLane1110



What impresses me most about this, next to the quality of writing, is the amount the author is able to achieve in such a very short piece. There must be so many stories inside every school. Did you ever think about who else might have sat at your desk on any given day? We have here five pieces of flash fiction in which five characters are quickly and skilfully carfted to their full, and which all come together to form one complete story.

Second Place Winners

In Poetry

'The Dragons' Way' by `Rushy



This is a fun, well structured little poem that I can just imagine lavishly illustrated in a tall, wide, thin paperback. `Rushy's descriptions of dragons can hardly fail to appeal to a child's imagination.

In Fiction: 12 and Under

'The Together Rings' by *msklystron



Jewellery can have immense significance to little girls. Sometimes entire friendships can rest on it. This is a charming, beautifully written story that explores this theme, with a balance of fantasy and realism that the author gets exactly right.

In Teen Fiction

The Green Dragon - Chapter 11 by *BlueShadowM



I don't need to tell you how popular fantasy stories are with children and teenagers these days. I was touched when I learned that *BlueShadowM had gone to the trouble of translating a chapter of her novel from its original Swedish just for us, and when I read it, the piece latched right onto my imagination. The characters, the settings and the intriguing mysteries come together to make this a rip-roaring good read!

Honourable Mentions

In Teen Fiction

Claire's Journey: Chapter 6 by ~TheEyeShield only narrowly missed out on second place. The author shows us a glimpse of the life of a teenage girl going through some hard times, and he manages to do so without being sensationalist. I find this character, her problems and her relationships very believable.

Bad Accent by =illuminara beautifully captures the teenage voice. The author has gone with the tradition of following a male/female friendship and, of course, the problems therein - and she's done it better than a lot of published authors can!

The Black Forest: Part 1 by ~darkelfrising caught my attention because I'm a sucker for the old classic fairytale with a twist. I recommend that you take a look at what this very skilled fantasy writer has done with 'Hansel and Gretel'.

In Fiction: 12 and Under

I Love You Mother by ~IrrevocableFate is a sadly sweet little story that I know would appeal to the imaginations of children. Like our two winners, it has a fantasy element that adds real charm to the tale.

Shaking Dreamcatchers by ~RockerLane1110 deals well with a sensitive subject, and tugs on the heartstrings.

In Poetry

War Memories by =Yuskity, according to the author, still needs some work. If that's true, she at least has a promising start with this jaunty, well-structured poem whose macabre element I am sure children would relish.