Adventuring Online

I wonder if I fail as a blogger because I don't post regularly? Hmm well I have never promised anything except sharing my adventures. Aaaages ago I did a lot of looking around online to find out what opportunities there were.

It all started out with me visiting the local library and discovering a postcard advertising the QLD Young Writers Award. I resolved to enter the competition dreaming I'd win the $2000 prize money, or even the $500 runner ups. Needless to say I didn't place but I wrote my first "finished" short story. I got a letter saying I entered it and how many other people had entered. I was thrilled!! And disappointed. Left wondering; what was wrong with my story?

Since then I have chopped, changed and polished that story so much that I really can't improve it any more until I acquire more skills!! I have also completed another short story (motivation to finish it was a university competition which I didn't place in either), half written another and have bundles of ideas for more. Through entering writing competitions I learnt that there is always going to be a better writer than you out there! Every year I read the stories that win the YWA and I agree that they are better than my stories. I just have to keep writing and eventually (with hard work) I will produce a winning short story!!

Back to the topic of adventuring online. I found that each state of Australia has a Writers Centre! They do classes and competitions and all kinds of writerly stuff. The place that I should join is the Queensland Writers Centre. Which I haven't become a member of. Yet. Do a search online and see what Writers Centre is near you if you aren't a member of one.
Also there is the Australian Writers Marketplace Online!! Its for all of Australia. Go to their website here. Its got EVERYTHING!

That is all I have for the moment. One of my goals this year is to write regularly and churn out a few short stories. Wish me luck!

Dancey