Contest entry goals: Need ... public ... pressure ...

Everyone knows (or if they don't, they should) that one of the best ways to achieve goals is to tell the whole world what you're trying to achieve. Shame is a great motivator. It got me through NaNoWriMo and I'm going to try to use it again.

I've already mentioned that my goal for the year is to submit short stories to 20 contests. I'm not exactly on track to do this ... I've managed two. If you'll allow me to amend this goal a little, I hope to enter 20 contests that encourage me to write something new and creative, but not necessarily a full short story each time. And to help me on my way, I'm going to make a list of several contests I've got listed in my "to enter" database for the next couple of months:

• 15 April, 2008: The Delta-Sky Green Short Story contest
• 15 April, 2008: Casagrande Press's Fishing's Greatest Misadventure submissions (yes, I really have a fishing story)
• 1 May, 2008: Summer issue of the First Line contest - the first line must be "Nick had considered himself a lucky guy, until now."
• 14 May, 2008: On the Brighter Side's deadline for short fiction and humorous stories

So if you bump into me walking down the street shortly before one of these dates - and yes, I'm aware that April 15 is very, very close - hassle me. You have my permission.