Iron Pyramid's Latest Writing Contest Winner: 'Yours Truly'! New Contest Coming Soon!
March 17th 2007 01:19
Yes, I Won!
I found it most ironic that, not long after completing and posting my blog entry about MOUTH FULL OF BULLETS, a website that publishes crime-related stories, poems, and articles, I received a phone call from Ron "R.D." Peters of Iron Pyramid Publications informing me that my flash fiction piece, "Confession," a--you guessed it--crime-related story, had just won his website's current Writing Contest.
What a Surprise!
I must confess I was quite amazed by this turn of events, simply because, while I'd figured the story was worth entering into the competition, I truly didn't expect it to win--though, of course, I hoped it would. There's simply too much good fiction out there--and my story was, after all, competing against 63 other stories, many of which were very good. So, needless to say, I felt quite honored to receive both an e-mail and a phone call from R.D. this morning telling me not only that my story had won, but that it was 'superb' and 'writing at its best'! That was truly a great compliment!
You Could Win, Too!
The main reason I share this story here, however, is not simply to tell you that I have won the latest competition at Iron Pyramid or to gloat over the fact, but to share with you what R.D. told me this morning about the next short story competition he will be sponsoring on his website very soon. I was, in fact, surprised to hear how soon he's planning to do it all over again--but pleasantly so: it will run from April 1st to April 30th, 2007.
[UPDATE 3/19/07: I've just learned that the new contest is open NOW, as R.D. has apparently decided not to wait until April 1st to begin accepting submissions, after all. So, if short stories are your literary 'cup of tea,' sharpen those pencils, fire up those computers, and get a head start on your entry! As far as I know, the deadline is still the same: April 30th.]
R.D. also said, in response to my question to that effect, that he is giving some thought to the possibility of offering a Poetry Contest in the not-too-distant future; that is, however, not actually on the drawing board as of yet.
Some Contest Info
Iron Pyramid features 'dark tales,' though the contest is open to all genres! (However, according to R.D.'s Craigslist post publicizing the recent contest, neither erotica nor vulgarity are welcome and, if posted, will be removed from the Forum and disqualified from the contest.) If you haven't already got a story or three written and ready to go (multiple entries allowed,) you have several weeks in which to work on it! Check out the site for samples of the types of writing found there.
Site Navigation Tips
Iron Pyramid's contests are found in the site's Forum, which is where you'll also find info about upcoming contests. The Writer's Contest has its own section on the Forum page, which is where you will be expected to post any entries you'd like to submit for consideration as part of the competition. Check out and familiarize yourself with the Forum page, so you'll be prepared to post your entry when ready to do so.
Other I.P. Posting Opps
In addition to the Writing Contest, there are quite a few other categories in the Forum, such as Poetry, Politics, Business, Humor, and many others too numerous to mention, in which writers' thoughts or works may be posted--so be sure to check these out when you visit, as well.
Give It a Try!
Iron Pyramid Publications' Writing Contest just might be your way to get some well-deserved and much-craved recognition for your work. So, why not check it out!
And good luck!
Jeanne
P.S. Forgot to mention that there's a $50 prize--and no entry fee!
Check out Short Stories: 10 Tips for Novice Creative Writers. It's a great guide to short fiction writing!
And here are two online guides that can help make you more short story contest savvy:
1. Short-Story Competitions: Increasing Your Chances of Winning.
2. Writers-Editors.com Contest Tip Sheet.
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Comment by Wendi
Comment by Jeanne Dininni
Writer's Notes
Take care and thanks again for stopping by!
Jeanne
Comment by David
Congrats from me, also ...
(Don't worry about Wendi stalking me, either ... She's only doing it to aid my crime-writing ...
I'll check Iron
VulvaPyramid out to see if they accept sexual crime stories ... (the only problem is? ... I don't consider them crimes ... So they probably won't like my take on sexual depravity, when I don't consider it depraved at all ...I have to go now ... I've got a couple of rotting corpses to dismember ... (as soon as I finish playing with them, that is ... (and find some way of removing all the grave dirt ... [I wish the local Council would give me a bigger bin ...
David ...
Comment by Wendi
"Don't worry about Wendi stalking me, either ... She's only doing it to aid my crime-writing ..."
You think that's my only reason, eh? *mua ha ha ha*
Comment by David
This recent trend of everyone having convos on other people's Blogs? ... I love it ...
Jeanne? Hope you've got a sense of humour ... this sort of stuff? Blame DuskDevi and Tracy ... (oh, and Wendi [for continuing it ...
Wendi? ... Nup ... I reckon you want to perform some Magick ... teach me a few tricks ... that's my take on it ...
David ...
Comment by Wendi
You flatter me.
Comment by David
I'd prefer to flatten you ... (in a nice way ... just by lying on top of you, okay? ... I wouldn't hurt you ... promise ... unless you begged me to, of course ...
And this is why I can't commit a crime ... most women actually like these things that are considered crimes ... (and often keep their mouth's shut about them ... [if you get my 'drift' or 'flow' ...
David ...
Comment by Wendi
Methinks you may have to post some Erotica sources for our friend David, here to submit to. *winks*
David - you've always been above me.
W
Comment by David
The only reason I've always been above you is we haven't met yet ...
I'm sure you could cope with being on top ... I'm yet to meet a woman who doesn't
likelove it ...David ...
Comment by Jeanne Dininni
Writer's Notes
You must have posted your first comment before I added the 'no erotica allowed' portion to my blog post! So sorry to disappoint you, but R.D. will simply not go for it! Now 'rotting corpses' would be another thing entirely--as long as all you do is dismember them!
Thanks for dropping by! (And no, I have no problem at all with you and Wendi carrying on a running convo on my blog! In fact, I'm flattered that you'd want to do so here!)
Jeanne
Comment by Wendi
*cheesy smiles*
Aren't you supposed to be writing poetry or something?
Comment by Jeanne Dininni
Writer's Notes
Please feel right at home stalking David on my blog!
LOL!
Jeanne
Comment by Wendi
Much thanks, Jeanne. You're a delight!
Comment by David
The really strange thing about RD not allowing erotica? ...
True-Crime' novels are chock-a-block full of sexual depravity ... So, where does he/she draw the line between erotica and sexual depravity in a story .. when the criminal himself gets turned on in the most erotic way by a corpse? ... or the most important and erotic part of a dismembered cadaver? ...
I doubt I could write a sexual crime story without filling it full of erotica ... (and that's fine by me ... RD is free to publish whatever he/she likes ... It's his/;her prerogative ... No probs by me ... but it sounds like Iron Pyramid is not the site for me ... and again ... that's fine by me ... I plan on dying and taking all my works with me into my own grave and just waiting for some literature and blood-sucking, arse-kicking Buffy-type to dig me up and not even worry about what I wrote ...
David ...
Comment by Jeanne Dininni
Writer's Notes
I rather agree with R.D.....
...I think maybe it's all in the subtlety angle.
Comment by David
I would be writing poetry if I had time ...
Jeanne ...
Don't encourage Wendi's stalking ...
David ...
Comment by Jeanne Dininni
Writer's Notes
Many thanks for the congrats!
Jeanne
Comment by Anonymous
The sole purpose for his writing contest is to bag unsuspecting, amatuer authors who he hopes will vanity publish their work through his almost non existant publishing company.
Do yourself a favor, type the following in a Google search box -- "R.D. Peters" "Iron Pyramid Publications".
Comment by Jeanne Dininni
Writer's Notes
Let me just say: The jury's still out on this one. My usual practice is to give a person--or a website--the benefit of the doubt--until they give me reason to do otherwise.
I've been around the block a few times and have dealt with such 'contests' as the International Poetry Society/Poetry.com variety--with their low-quality, high-priced vanity anthologies--in which they place everyone's work, no matter how good or bad it might be (after sending them flowery letters filled with lavish praise--or rather, flattery--about the so-called 'quality' of their work--with everyone's poem gracing page one in their own copy, incidentally, (which, of course, isn't really page one, because the pages aren't numbered.) Gee, I wonder why that might be!
So, you see, I'm well aware that there are scams out there which are intended only to make money for the owner/publisher/website--but I am also 100% prepared for them and have absolutely zero intention of buying a high-priced anthology simply because it contains my "winning entry." You see, not only have I already read my winning entry, but it is also currently appearing on numerous websites besides 'Iron Pyramid.' I have absolutely no need to see it in print to know that it's good. It's already received quite a bit of positive feedback and four-plus-star ratings from readers on those sites who have nothing at all to gain by praising it.
R.D. has just informed me that my $50 check will be mailed out tomorrow, and this is where things currently stand. I will keep my readers apprised of further developments as they occur.
So please stand by.
And, thanks for the warning, Anonymous! I appreciate your input!
Jeanne