Memoir Contest

I have been lamenting the fact that I cannot afford to purchase a Vita-Mix blender. I mean, really, I don't know many people who have that kind of money to spend on a blender. They cost around $500, for Pete's sake. But I really want one. I sometimes fantasize about the kinds of things I can do with one. The raw foods, smoothies, drinks, soups, flours, dressings, sauces, etc...the potential is mind-boggling.

I thought about saving my money to buy one in the future. This is hard. The money that I make I need right now. It would not take long to set aside all of my checks from the newspaper and have enough money for one. I could have it in a month. But right now we are saving that money for a family vacation in August. It's possible that after that I could try to save...

Then I thought of another idea. How could I just get the money all in one chunk, without having to do a lot of work?

A short story contest. Of course!

I have entered so many in my life...and never won anything. I used to enter the Writer's Digest Short Short Story Contest almost every year. Well, like five times. I LOVE writing short stories, and the short short ones were a majorly fun challenge. I think it was less than 1,000 words or something. I remember one I wrote for the contest...I was at the post office about the mail it out but I couldn't think of a title (remember, I'm terrible at that). It reminded me of REM, and how they named their album Out of Time because they were out of time and couldn't think of anything else. Then on the heels of that, it made me think of Bob Dylan's album Time Out of Mind. I quickly named the story "Out of My Mind." It totally fit.

I bet that story is on the freaking floppy disc...

Another story I wrote on the day it was due. I was driving down the road listening to Elvis Costello when it popped into my head. Have I told this story before? Anyway, I came home on my lunch break, wrote it up quick, printed it out, and mailed it. I didn't win the contest, but that is one that eventually did get published.

The really short stories are so much fun...stuff has to happen now, there has to be rising action, a climax, and falling action all in like three pages. There has to be sufficient character development. You have to show it all, and show it quick. God, I love that.

Anyhow, I found a contest that has a $1,000 first prize. For the contest I need to write a memoir. It has to be something I witnessed or experienced. As you know, I like to do this. I have (like everyone else) a ton of stories to tell. The thing is, which one do I choose? There are so many options. Do I combine a few of them?

I have a challenge, and it feels good.

Do I write about meeting my biological father for the first time at age 15? (I have tried to write about this and have not been happy with it.)

The poetry reading in a cave at night with two friends? (I have done this one. I could make it better.)

Violence and alcoholism witnessed as a child?

Going through infertility treatments?

Becoming a mother? Or some kind of parenting story? (Seems so overdone.)

Certain family members I don't want to mention here in case they are reading this?

Writer's group - when I was a 22-year-old woman in a group of retired men?

That one relationship I don't like to talk about? (No. I don't think so.)

April and I touring Minneapolis College of Art and Design with our art portfolios? (I have already written this one, too. I would just have to improve it.)

The hospital? (Meh.)

I am starting to develop some ideas as I sit here and type. This could be so much fun. It's highly doubtful that I will win, but always fun to try anyway.

What would you want to hear about?