I’m thrilled to report my entry in the 2019 Colorado Gold writing contest based on “Small Town News” was selected as one of five finalists in the mystery category and received an honorable mention. I really was honored to be mentioned.

Rocky Mountain Fiction Writers conducts the contest, which offers the best practice I’ve yet encountered for preparing submissions for agents and editors. Polish those first pages and refine that synopsis. Then there are the critiques entrants receive from the judges. It costs $45 to enter the contest — plus another $30 for those who want to receive a critique. The process and evaluation are priceless.

Rocky Mountain Fiction Writers conducts the contest as part of its annual conference. The conference also offers a variety of workshops, panel discussions and keynote speeches geared to everyone from writers working on first drafts to those who’ve been published many times. The 2019 conference was my first, but I’ll be back. I was impressed by not only the breadth and depth of information offered there, but also the friendly and supportive environment. For an aspiring novelist, the experience was incredible.

I’ve repeatedly heard membership in Rocky Mountain Fiction Writers described as the best investment writers can make in their craft and their efforts to publish their work. I couldn’t agree more. A number of published authors who belong to the organization and have been there and done that with their writing careers have been so gracious in sharing their time and expertise. I can only hope to pay it forward at some point.