My intentions were good. Two contests for unpublished authors loomed in front of me, but both required that my story be completed before I send off the required number of pages to each. Not a total surprise. What if they picked me??? I’d have to submit the entire manusript without delay!
And, so, I’ve been working with determined dedication to finish that final revision…dump the overwriting, be sure the strongest verbs are in place, eliminate those nasty buggers ‘just’ and ‘only’ and ‘then’ .
When I logged onto one of the contest websites…which had opened on May 1, and would not close until the end of June…I got a sinking feeling when I read the notice that the contest is closed! They had received the maximum number of submissions in a little more than a week. Slam, bam, thank you, ma’m.
Imagine my disappointment.
However, I did not dispair! On Friday, I submitted my pages to the second contest via registered mail.
I’d be happy to end up in the finalist pile. But ecstatic to be chosen as the winner.
Cross your fingers! Cross your toes!
Debi Graham-Leard 
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