For many years I have had an ongoing love affair with the Tulsa City-County Library system. Although I no longer live in Tulsa proper, I am still in the county and therefore still enjoy all the perks.
In the pre-Internet days I spent long long hours in the downtown location researching for my historical novels. And also for the many biographies that I authored for Chelsea House Publishing. Not only did I do the research there, I spent additional hours at the copy machines since Chelsea House required documentation of every reference used in their books, and I had no copy machine of my own at the time. The beautiful downtown library became like a second home. (I also loved the underground protected parking!)
Fast forward to 2014 — I get everything I need online. I search the library files from the comfort of my office; request what I need and am then able to pick up the materials at the local branch which is only a few minutes from my home.
But one of the perks that makes me most proud of our library system is their writing contest that is held in January every year. They offer four categories and the rules are quite simple. More info here.
On the wall of my office I proudly display three certificates celebrating my wins in three different years of this contest. I am a believer in legitimate contests for writers. As a confidence booster, it has few equals. (Second only to being published I would guess. My opinion of course.) Hurray for entities who give writers a helping hand! (I have additional certificates on my wall from wins in yet other writing contests from years gone by. I used to enter all I could find!)
I’m such a strong believer in contests for aspiring authors that I created this short video on YouTube to emphasize my point.
Does your local library help emerging authors in this way? If not, you may be the one to get the ball rolling!
It’s January and once again the contest is in full swing at the Tulsa City-County Library.
And once again, I feel a strong sense of pride in my local library!
Have you made a New Year’s resolution to get that unfinished novel out of the mothballs?
Are you resolved that this is the year that your novel WILL be completed?
Here’s your helping hand. Your motivator. Your encourager. Your cheerleader.
It is the Be A Novelist, Six-Month, Finish-My-Novel Challenge.
From now until January 18th, 2014 you can try out this unique writer’s course for only 99 Cents!
Details HERE!
In this six month course we talk a great deal about what might stand in the way of your novel creation! It will be like looking into a mirror as you see yourself more clearly. This course offers six full months of guidance and instruction. Guaranteed to light a fire under your novel-writing attempts and to launch you into a pattern of consistent writing! Details right here!
99 Cents for the First Month!
Offer Good Until January 18th, 2014