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Sheila Bender's Writing It Real

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Sheila Bender's Writing It Real
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Category Archives: Contest Winner

“Sanctuary,” Contest Winning Essay by Nancy Lamb

Sheila Bender's Writing It Real Posted on March 28, 2019 by Nancy LambMarch 29, 2019

Our guest judge Holly Hughes, wrote this about Nancy Lamb’s essay: In this essay, the narrator recalls her first visit to Martin’s Ranch in the red rock canyons high above Santa Fe and her first experience with the landscape as … Continue reading →

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Posted in Contest Winner, From Our Contributors, Literary Gallery, WIR2019

Tender is the Harvest, A Winning Essay by Laurie McConnachie

Sheila Bender's Writing It Real Posted on March 21, 2019 by Laurie McConnachieMarch 23, 2019

Our contest judge Holly Hughes  wrote these words in choosing Laurie McConnachie’s essay as one of our three winners: This is a deeply moving account of a daughter who lost her mother to a brain tumor when she was in … Continue reading →

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Posted in Contest Winner, From Our Contributors, Literary Gallery, WIR2019 | Tagged contest winning essay, memoir, personal essay, women's voices

Moving an Essay Toward Completion — Pam Robinson’s “Table of Plenty”

Sheila Bender's Writing It Real Posted on September 6, 2018 by Pam RobinsonSeptember 6, 2018

Pam Robinson’s entry into the fall 2011 Writing It Real contest is an essay about her memories of her mother’s cooking and life on a farm. As I spend time harvesting onions, potatoes, tomatoes, cucumbers, various beans, Asian pears and … Continue reading →

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Posted in Contest Winner, Reading for Writing, Revisions - Sample Successes, Sheila Bender On Writing, WIR2018 | Tagged contest winner, personal essay, revising writing

“Talk Much?” by Morgan Baker 3rd Place Winner

Sheila Bender's Writing It Real Posted on April 26, 2018 by Morgan BakerApril 26, 2018

When our 2018 winter contest judge Kelli Agodon awarded 3rd Place to Morgan Baker’s personal essay “Talk Much?” she commented: As someone who loves finding words inside of words and who has struggled with dyslexia, I thought “Talk Much?” was … Continue reading →

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Posted in Contest Winner, Literary Gallery, WIR2018

“Driving Home” by Barbara Simmons, 2nd Place Tie Winner, Winter 2018 Contest

Sheila Bender's Writing It Real Posted on April 19, 2018 by Barbara SimmonsApril 19, 2018

Our fall/winter 2018 contest judge Kelli Agodon felt that two poems tied for 2nd place. We posted one last week, ?Grave Site Visit? by Nancy Levinson, and this week we are posting the second second-place winning poem, Barbara Simmons “Driving … Continue reading →

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Posted in Contest Winner, Literary Gallery, WIR2018 | Tagged contest winner, women's voices, Writing Poetry

“Grave Site Visit” by Nancy Smiler Levinson, 2018 Winter Contest Winner

Sheila Bender's Writing It Real Posted on April 13, 2018 by Nancy Smiler LevinsonApril 27, 2018

One of two writings tied for second place in our fall/winter 2018 writing contest is “Gravesite Visit,” a poem by Writing It Real member Nancy Levinson. Our guest judge Kelli Agondon described her choice this way: “Gravesite Visit” is a … Continue reading →

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Posted in Contest Winner, Literary Gallery, WIR2018 | Tagged contest winner, Trusting Images, women's voices, Writing Poetry

“Disturbing the Calm” by Judith Kvinsland, 1st Place

Sheila Bender's Writing It Real Posted on April 5, 2018 by Judy KvinslandApril 5, 2018

Our contest judge, Kelli Agodon, wrote this of her first choice piece in the fall/winter 2018 writing contest: Judith Barker Kvinsland’s essay, “Disturbing the Calm,” explores how sometimes, despite the ease of our lives, we need to take a risk. … Continue reading →

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Posted in Contest Winner, Literary Gallery, WIR2018 | Tagged contest winner, contest winning essay, personal essay

Contest Winner Linda Robertson’s Poems

Sheila Bender's Writing It Real Posted on May 25, 2017 by Linda M. RobertsonMay 27, 2017

In our final week of posting contest entries from the fall/winter WIR writing contest, we have seven poems by Linda M. Robertson. Our contest judge Sharon Bryan wrote this about selecting these poems as winners: These poems speak in a voice … Continue reading →

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Posted in Contest Winner, Literary Gallery, WIR2017 | Tagged contest winner, contest winning essay, Writing Poetry

Another Fall/Winter Winner: Afrose Ahmed’s “the world did end…we just didn’t notice”

Sheila Bender's Writing It Real Posted on March 24, 2016 by Afrose AhmedMarch 24, 2016

Our fall/winter contest judge Stan Rubin was struck with the lyric qualities in Afrose Ahmed’s entry, “the world did end…we just didn’t notice.” He wrote in his comments: “A gorgeous piece of lyrical writing. The odd but wonderfully sustained angle … Continue reading →

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Posted in Contest Winner, Literary Gallery, WIR2015, WIR2016

Contest Winner — The Meditation Room

Sheila Bender's Writing It Real Posted on March 17, 2016 by Amanda NobleMarch 17, 2016

Stan Rubin, our guest contest judge, shares these remarks about his choice of Amanda Noble’s essay, “The Meditation Room”: A nuanced portrayal of the shifting stages of private grief––and its gradual acceptance. This process is depicted with precision, intelligence, and … Continue reading →

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Posted in Contest Winner, Literary Gallery, WIR2015, WIR2016

Third Place Winning Essay — Winter Contest 2014

Sheila Bender's Writing It Real Posted on March 18, 2015 by LisaGHunterMarch 18, 2015

This week we present the third place winner in our 2014 Writing It Real Essay Contest. Our guest judge Midge Raymond selected Lisa Hunter’s essay, “Twelve Random Cards: A Self-Portrait in Archetypes.” Midge wrote this about her selection: “This clever … Continue reading →

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Posted in Contest Winner, Literary Gallery, WIR2015

Second Place Winning Essay — Winter 2014 Contest

Sheila Bender's Writing It Real Posted on March 11, 2015 by Maureen MistryMarch 11, 2015

We are pleased to post the second place winning essay in this past winter’s Writing It Real essay contest. Our guidelines said the number 12 was to be somewhere in the essay in honor of Writing It Real’s 12th Anniversary. … Continue reading →

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Posted in Contest Winner, Literary Gallery, WIR2015 | Tagged contest winner, personal essay, women's voices

First Place Winning Essay — Winter 2014 Contest

Sheila Bender's Writing It Real Posted on March 4, 2015 by Gillian HerbertMarch 4, 2015

We are pleased to post the winning essay in this past winter’s Writing It Real essay contest. Our guidelines said the number 12 was to be somewhere in the essay in honor of Writing It Real’s 12th Anniversary. Our guest … Continue reading →

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Posted in Contest Winner, Literary Gallery, WIR2015

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