Erma Bombeck Writing Competition 2010

I just finished watching Julie & Julia this weekend and I can relate. Not to the obsessive foodie schtick Julie was doing but to the tiny bit of hero worship Julie had toward Julia Child. Heck, who couldn't love a gregarious 6ft woman who made the process of cooking funny and relatable? While Erma wasn't quite 6ft, she did bring the plight of the housewife under a glaring and hilarious spotlight for years. My favorite columns included toasting herself with a cocktail for having another "no baby" month and picking a baby pacifier out of the garbage, covered in coffee grounds, only to rinse it off and give it back to Junior. Seriously. This woman taught me a healthy portion of how to handle raising five daughters (and not a therapy bill in sight for them or me).

So it is with great affection that I faithfully enter the Erma Bombeck Writing Competition for the last few years. Do I win, no. Come close. Not even. But every time I enter (it was my very first competition as a professional writer) it reminds me that I'm writing for an audience of folks very much like myself - real, struggling, imperfect people that laugh during the hard times and embrace the good times with gusto.

So, who's with me?

Competition starts: January 4, 2010
Cost: free
Length: 450 words or less
Theme: Humor or Human Interest

For more information on how to enter, click on the link above and good luck!

5 comments:

  1. Now would I let you get hip deep in all those punchlines all by yourself? I don't think so. I'm in. I'm not sure what I'll use for bait, but I'm in.

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  2. Warm up those keyboards, it's almost time to rumble! Seriously, warm up your computer. You don't want to catch cold before the Erma deadline. ;)

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  3. I would love to join you in this competition. I do have a small problem though: I'm Dutch. My English is quite good (if I may say so myself) but it could do with some help and maybe some editing.
    When I join, would you be my editor (do you have time for that with 5 daughters?!) I would be very much obliged :-) and will be happy to return the favor in a social-media sort of way.

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  4. Hey there! I'd be happy to help where I can. Write me at stacey.i.graham AT gmail.com and we can discuss what you need. :)

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