Jeania Parrish gets runner-up for first-quarter contest ending February, 2005

Michael Moore takes first place for May, 2005 contest

Lee Ann Sontheimer Murphy is runner-up for May

Congratulations Writers!  We have a winner (long-overdue) for the February contest.  There wasn't a first place winner, but Jeania Parrish from Alpharetta Georgia took runner-up for her unusual poem that read like a story, Codependency.   I had to give her a prize; she met my criteria.  I couldn't stop reading it until the end.

I'm sorry for the delay in announcing that contest winner and the May winners.  I was in Germany getting a new back.   I had two artificial discs placed in my lower spine at the Alpha Klinik in Munich.  Recovery has been slow, but so far this innovative surgery is looking 100 percent successful. 

Okay, now for our most recent contest.  After a long dry spell in first place winners, Michael Moore takes the May honors for his short story Cars.  An unusual plot, excellent writing and editing along with meeting the "I can't stop reading it" criteria worked for Michael.  I hope you find his piece as much fun to read as I did.

We also have a runner-up for May.  That award goes to Lee Ann Sontheimer Murphy for her short story Ghosts -- another story with a creative plot about an  interesting subject that I couldn't stop reading until the end.

I want to thank all of you for participating in this contest.  Accolades to the winners and to each of you who took the time to sit down and write a short for our contest.  Keep writing.  Keep listening to that inner voice.  Edit, edit, edit.  And keep those shorts coming.  There will be one change in the contest.  Due to the long draught of winners, I am expanding the time period for announcing contest winners.  After the August winner or winners are chosen, the contest will then run for six months, instead of every three months.  

Thanks again,

Melody Beattie

Maybe you've written one or more and tucked it away in a drawer or a computer file. Or maybe you've just thought about writing a short story, wondering if you could. Short stories are an art form. Because there is such a shortage of publication opportunities for short story writers, MelodyBeattie.Com will run an ongoing short story contest.

Every three months, one winner and one runner-up will be chosen from submitted short stories. The winner will receive payment of $50.00 in return for the ongoing right to publish the short story on MelodyBeattie.Com and publish the story in the on-line and regular-mail newsletter. Runner-up will receive $25.00 and publication of the story. Winners and runners-up will have the right to sell their stories to other publications, but MelodyBeattie.Com asks for exclusive rights for three months following the date of publication.

Winner and runners-up, and other entrants, may be contacted at some point and offered an opportunity to publish in a collaborative work. This is not guaranteed, and all entrants, winners, and runners-up have the right to refuse such publication/collaboration offer.

Stories must be the original work of the entrant. They must be a minimum of 1,500 words and maximum 5,000 words. Submit by Word email attachment only or cut and paste into the actual email.

MelodyBeattie.Com reserves the right to make editing changes before publication, with final approval by the author.

Winners will be chosen every three months from submitted manuscripts, beginning on November 1, 2003. Checks will be mailed via regular mail after winner signs an on-line and newsletter publishing contract and provides his or her social security number. Contest judges may declare any three-month contest a no-winner if entries don't meet publishing criteria. No feedback or critique will be done on entries. Judge's decisions are final. Winners will be notified by email and results will be posted on www.MelodyBeattie.Com. Email submissions will not be returned. Good luck, and have fun.

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