That Time I Won a Prestigious Award
I’ve been a member of the League of Utah Writers for many years. To be honest, I’m not terribly active in the month-to-month chapter meetings, but the people are great, and I love the spring and fall conferences!
Each year they have a writing contest with a bunch of categories. Last year (maybe the year before…can’t remember) I won third place for a children’s book I wrote, and an anthology I was in won first place.
This year I decided to enter a novel. Not just any novel, but my cautionary tale about how predators lure kids into bad situations over the internet.
This novel means a lot to me. It’s by far the hardest book I’ve over written, and if anything of me is left behind after I die, I hope it’s this story.
All profits from this book go straight to organizations that fight child trafficking. I want this book to sell a zillion copies! This story is my first contribution to this cause. I hope there are many more.
I had a heads up that I should watch the virtual awards ceremony last Saturday night.
I figured I’d gotten an honorable mention or something.
Nope.
I won the most prestigious award that the League of Utah Writers gives away!
The Diamond Quill Award!
I was sitting alone in my office, so no one saw the little dance of joy that I did.
There’s something about having your work (your art) validated by an outside source. Judges for this contest have no affiliation with the League, and they’re from all over the country.
I didn’t get this award because a friend is married to the former president of the League, or because I know the guy who was president after that well, or because I know the current president. (This makes me sound way more exciting than I actually am, BTW.)
This award is for the book. Yes, I wrote it, but all the judges saw were the words on the page.
I won a first chapter contest some years ago, and that was my first outside-source validation. That was good. This was better!
I’ve been published for seven years. I’ve released books through traditional publishing and indie publishing. Until recently I wasn’t making enough money to cover my own expenses.
The process took longer than I wanted it to, and it is ongoing, but I’m here to tell you that you can do it!
As they say at my dojo, a black belt is a white belt that never quit.
I’ve earned by black belt, and that statement is 100% true.
