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Tag Archives: contest winner

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

“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

A Writer’s Digest Prize-Winning Essay

Sheila Bender's Writing It Real Posted on March 8, 2018 by Vicki HortonMarch 8, 2018

Who among us wouldn?t envy the stamp of approval Vicki Horton?s personal essay ?Fishing with My Father? received from Writer?s Digest magazine in 2016? In answer to some of my questions about this writing and her writing life, Vicki responded: … Continue reading →

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Posted in Literary Gallery, WIR2018 | Tagged contest winner, reading for writing, women's voices

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

Writing It Real Fall/Winter Contest Winner Dorothy Ross’ “A Night at the Plaza”

Sheila Bender's Writing It Real Posted on May 11, 2017 by Dorothy RossMay 18, 2017

[I will be posting the work of our recent three winners this week and then for the next two weeks. I hope you enjoy their comments about the writing of their work, our contest judge Sharon Byran’s comments, and, of … Continue reading →

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Posted in From Our Contributors, Literary Gallery, WIR2017 | Tagged contest winner, Writing Fiction

Fall/Winter Writing Contest: Emma Hunter’s “God’s Breath and Bolognese”

Sheila Bender's Writing It Real Posted on March 10, 2016 by Emma HunterMay 19, 2017

Contest judge Stan Rubin, a master teacher, poet and friend of writing, wrote that Emma Hunter’s essay: Gracefully lives up to its rather daunting title, with wit and philosophical sweep. Concisely renders a dual vision — adult and child, the mundane and the cosmic — … Continue reading →

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Posted in Essay Contest Testimonials, Literary Gallery, WIR2015, WIR2016 | Tagged contest winner, personal essay, writing memoir, Writing Scenes

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

Grandma’s Fridge

Sheila Bender's Writing It Real Posted on November 5, 2014 by Jennifer WagleyNovember 6, 2014

Years ago, Jennifer Wagley entered a vivid, funny account of her perceptions of her grandmother’s attitudes toward food — buying, keeping, and serving it. It turns out she did this in 12 paragraphs, and as you know, we are celebrating our 12 year … Continue reading →

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Posted in Literary Gallery, WIR2014 | Tagged contest winner, personal essay

Beth Spencer’s Third Place Winning Poem “The Shipwreck Coast”

Sheila Bender's Writing It Real Posted on February 20, 2014 by Beth SpencerFebruary 20, 2014

In choosing Beth Spencer’s poem, “The Shipwreck Coast,” as the fall/winter Writing It Real contest third place winner, guest judge Molly Tinsley wrote: “Yes, poetry is memoir–at least in the case of this intriguing narrative poem. I loved the resolutely unpoetic, … Continue reading →

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Posted in WIR2013 | Tagged contest winner, memoir, Writing Poetry

Michael Shurgot’s 2nd Place Winning Essay “The First Time I Should Have Died”

Sheila Bender's Writing It Real Posted on February 12, 2014 by Michael W. ShurgotFebruary 12, 2014

Our guest judge Molly Tinsley’s notes about choosing Michael Shurgot’s essay for our second-place winner are these: “Great propulsion. The building of tension, the sense of time running out, the hints of questions left unanswered — all are the strategies … Continue reading →

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Posted in Literary Gallery, WIR2013 | Tagged contest winner, contest winning essay, personal essay

First Place Winning Essay – “Why I Write” by Mary Kurtz

Sheila Bender's Writing It Real Posted on February 5, 2014 by Mary KurtzFebruary 6, 2014

Our fall/winter writing contest judge, Molly Tinsley, chose “Why I Write,” a personal essay by Mary Kurtz, as our first-place winner. Molly said in her notes about this essay: “Emotional control of the narrative makes Mary’s experience all the more … Continue reading →

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Posted in From Our Contributors, Literary Gallery, WIR2013 | Tagged contest winner, contest winning essay, memoir, personal essay, women's voices

The Work of an Opening — To Achieve an Engaging, Smooth and Useful Beginning

Sheila Bender's Writing It Real Posted on August 28, 2013 by Julaina M. KleistAugust 28, 2013

Julaina Kleist-Corwin’s story is our third place winner in the spring/summer 2013 Writing It Real writing contest. Guest judge Terry Persun wrote to us that he chose the story because he liked the pacing and grew “to know the characters, … Continue reading →

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Posted in Literary Gallery, Revisions - Sample Successes, WIR2013 | Tagged contest winner, contest winning essay, Revision in prose writing, writing advice, Writing Fiction, Writing Scenes

2nd Place Winner in Our Spring/Summer 2013 Contest

Sheila Bender's Writing It Real Posted on August 21, 2013 by Cyndi LloydAugust 21, 2013

Our guest judge Terry Persun chose Cyndi Lloyd’s story “Recess” as the second place winner in Writing It Real’s Spring/Summer 2013 Writing Contest. He commented: I like the way this writer was able to draw out several different personalities in … Continue reading →

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Posted in Literary Gallery, WIR2013 | Tagged contest winner, contest winning essay

First Place Winning Essay 2013 Writing It Real Spring/Summer Contest

Sheila Bender's Writing It Real Posted on August 14, 2013 by Hildegard HingleAugust 14, 2013

This week we are proud to publish the first of three winning essays in our recent contest. In choosing Hildegard Hingle’s essay as the first place winner in Writing It Real’s 2013 spring and summer writing contest, guest judge Terry … Continue reading →

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Posted in Literary Gallery, WIR2013 | Tagged contest winner, contest winning essay, memoir, writing life, writing memoir

Our Third Place Winning Essay – Salvation by Pam Robinson

Sheila Bender's Writing It Real Posted on March 1, 2013 by Pam RobinsonMarch 1, 2013

Pam Robinson is our third place winner in the Writing It Real winter, 2012 writing contest. Our guest judge, Shanti Bannwart, sent these words along about Pamela’s essay: The piece begins with a quote that provides almost a summary of … Continue reading →

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Posted in Literary Gallery, WIR2013 | Tagged contest winner, contest winning essay, memoir, personal essay

I Grew Up in That Place – First Place Winning Essay, Winter 2012 Contest

Sheila Bender's Writing It Real Posted on February 13, 2013 by Kate AllenFebruary 13, 2013

The contest results are in and we are proud to publish the first-place winning essay in our winter, 2012 contest. Guest judge Shanti Bannwart sent these words about Kate Allen’s “I Grew Up in That Place”:  The essay is a touching example … Continue reading →

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Posted in Literary Gallery, WIR2013 | Tagged contest winner, contest winning essay, memoir, personal essay, personal essays

Expect It In The Casino by Diane C. Drury, Our Third Place Winner

Sheila Bender's Writing It Real Posted on October 17, 2012 by Diane DruryDecember 18, 2012

The recent Writing It Real contest provided the opportunity for people to write about the world around them, send in a draft, receive my responses for help in revising, and then re-enter a revision for our final judge, Betsy Howell. … Continue reading →

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Posted in Literary Gallery, Revisions - Sample Successes, WIR2012 | Tagged contest winner, Writing Poetry

Boating to Breakfast: Evolution of Mary Langer Thompson’s First-Place Winning Poem

Sheila Bender's Writing It Real Posted on September 26, 2012 by Mary ThompsonDecember 18, 2012

In our spring/summer Writing It Real contest, writers and poets sent in writing inspired by the world around them. That’s a broad topic as we might be looking at the world close up and intimately or from afar. In selecting … Continue reading →

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Posted in Literary Gallery, Revisions - Sample Successes, WIR2012 | Tagged contest winner, Trusting Images, Writing Poetry

Of Eucalyptus And Elm Trees And Fathers, Too

Sheila Bender's Writing It Real Posted on January 11, 2012 by Hildegard HingleJanuary 11, 2012

The guest judge for Writing It Real’s summer/fall 2011 writing contest was Susan Bono, who chose “Eucalyptus And Elm Trees And Fathers, Too” as our third place winner. Susan wrote about the work that it “flowed so naturally. The writer … Continue reading →

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Posted in Literary Gallery, WIR2012 | Tagged contest winner, personal essay

Making Peace

Sheila Bender's Writing It Real Posted on January 4, 2012 by Drew WilsonJanuary 11, 2012

Susan Bono, our guest judge for the Summer/Fall Writing It Real contest, chose the following essay as our second place winner. She writes of the essay: “I felt like the writer touched all the bases as she ran home. I … Continue reading →

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Posted in Literary Gallery, WIR2012 | Tagged contest winner, personal essay

I Know How the Wild Goose Feels

Sheila Bender's Writing It Real Posted on December 21, 2011 by Sher LaughlinJanuary 4, 2012

Our Summer/Fall WIR guest contest judge Susan Bono awarded first place to Sher Laughlin’s essay. Susan enjoyed the essay’s “many layers of emotion and craft.” She wrote that the essay “employed great use of scene, dialog, imagery/symbolism and moved effortlessly … Continue reading →

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Posted in Literary Gallery, WIR2011 | Tagged contest winner, personal essay

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