REAL SIMPLE LIFE LESSONS ESSAY CONTEST

Finish this sentence: “I never thought I’d. . .”

Enter Real Simple’s Third-Annual Life Lessons Essay Contest and you could have your essay published in Real Simple; win round-trip tickets for two to New York City, hotel accommodations for two nights, tickets to a Broadway play, and a lunch with Real Simple editors; and receive a prize of $3,000. To enter, send your typed, double-spaced submission (1,500 words maximum, preferably in a Microsoft Word document) to lifelessons@realsimple.com . Deadline September 24, 2010. Open to legal residents of the United States age 19 or older at time of entry.

NOTE: I love it when magazines come out with these contests. Family Circle, Woman's World, Seventeen, even Playboy have these contests. To me they represent a chance for anyone who likes to write, and maybe doesn't write for a living, to be considered for real publication and a real prize. And they never charge entry fees.

DOUBLE NOTE: Had a critique group member rip up one of my chapters, then the novel as a whole. I pouted, stewed and slept on it. Then I realized he was right.