A little encouraging history:  In late 2006, I entered my short story, "Cellmates" in a contest put on by Montana State University.  The winner was to receive $1000.  In less than a month after entering, I received a letter from the editor of the Montana college anthology, saying that the donor of this magnificent prize had withdrawn the money.  No special reason except that the big money was not being offered after all.  But editor's letter also said, "We loved your story and would like to use it in our Spring 2007 anthology, Writings From The River. Well, "flattery. . " etc  So I said okay.  the story was published in the anthology, and I received two copies.

Last year, I sent the story to the Decatur, Illinois Librarians' annual contest.  Their rules stated that they would consider previously-published work.  I received a critique of a full page, sinle swpace, telling me everything that is wrong with the story–from opening to charactrization to plot!

Yesterday I received an e-mail from one Barbara Cole of the Writer's Institute, Inc, a publishing company in Connecticut.  According to Cole, they wanted to use "Cellmates" in an anthology they are publishing (2009) that will be a tool for teachers of creative writing at the college level.  They will pay $45 and send me two copies of the published book.  Well, $45 is pretty good for second-time rights and I still retain rights to my story.  So the signed permission and the requested info from me as to how the story cam about, went off to Ms. Cole today.

Morale to the story?  "One man's meat is another's poison."  Write on!!  And let me know if you have had similar experiences.  Cheers, Willma

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