I feel like I’ve been fortunate when I see how many competitions there have been where I’ve had my work recognized. But then, I look at the list I keep of how many places I’ve sent material. The ratio of stories submitted to stories rejected is testament to the thick skin a writer needs to have. However, my mentor, Christy Ann Conlin, offered a great analogy to me one day when I was lamenting my latest rejection. She asked me if I liked every book in a bookstore. I said of course not. So then, she asked, why would you expect every publisher to like what you write. This made sense and keeps me submitting.

So far I’ve been recognized with:

On the Head of a Pin (runner up) – We Are Many Festival, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, 2008

Rita’s Wish (runner up) – Atlantic Writing Competition, Halifax, Nova Scotia, 2010

Calico Lady (runner up) – Random House and University of Toronto Short Story Competition, Toronto, Ontario, 2012 (*)

(*) Watch for updates on the blog about this competition. I have been invited to Toronto in November, 2012, to do a reading of The Calico Lady. We’ll have to see if this will be a manageable trip as the date approaches.