Ho Hum, Another Writing Award … Sort Of

June 14, 2024 ~ Jim Flanigan ~ Leave a comment

I was contacted a couple days ago by the guy who runs www.storyhouse.org. He wanted to verify that I was not a professional writer (couldn’t he tell by my writing?) as the judging for their animal nonfiction short story contest for newish writers was nearing the end. Putting 2 & 2 together to get … 4, right, definitely 4, I deduced I may be in the running to win the contest, which would get me … what? I really didn’t remember and didn’t care enough to look. And then today, I got the email notifying me that although I didn’t take first, and I was also not the runner-up, I was a finalist.

Quick, someone get me my sister to kiss. I guess I should be flattered. I threw the story together pretty fast, and it’s really the only nonfiction story I’ve ever written. If you care to read it, click this link.

But did I win anything as a finalist? Oh, I won something all right.

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An Unexpected Award

April 25, 2024 ~ Jim Flanigan ~ 4 Comments

In a recent post, I promised (threatened?) to share my 300-word micro-fiction short story with you that was comprised of dad jokes, a fart reference, and an invented word. I planned on copying and pasting the story here, but I don’t have to do that now. I received an email stating, “Your story ‘The Sarcopha Guys’ has been recognized by our curation team as exceptional in your category.” Exceptional? Me? What category, fart fiction?

I figured I had an outside chance for one of the $5 awards, but now my comfortable retirement is assured after securing a $60 award. Anyway, enough complaining about winning something. It’s time to share it with the world, regardless of the world’s recalcitrance toward reading it.

Click HERE to link to the page showing the weird prompt and my story that you can then click on to read. After the minute it takes you to read 300 words and ten minutes it takes you to stop guffawing, then click HERE to go to the current challenge. Pick a prompt and start writing. I think the first submission is free. Let’s see if some real writing can challenge my fart fiction. Yes, I do have a story planned in the Humor category. That’s another tough prompt, but somehow I have a story concepted about a librarian that involves flinging mashed potatoes. I think I really need to seek professional therapy.

Once Again, I Lost but Still Won

September 3, 2021 ~ Jim Flanigan ~ 2 Comments

If you recall, I came in 4th in the April elections, but still won a seat on my local township board. Well, here we go again, but this time I did even worse and still won. I entered my book of short stories in a competition, mainly to get a “professional” review. Well, I’m not sure how professional the review is, but I can’t argue with its accuracy. See what you think. Here’s the review.

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2018 Follower of the Year Award

December 31, 2018 ~ Jim Flanigan

I’m used to seeing the featured image on today’s blog, except normally with one less finger on each hand extended. But it is that time of the year to cross your fingers and hope to be the lucky one to be chosen the 2018 Jim Flanigan Looks at the World Follower of the Year. As I mentioned in a recent blog post, the 2017 winner went on to snare a high paying job in 2018. This could be you in 2019!

No, not a crossing guard, but undercover law enforcement or a drug kingpin in a speeding getaway car. Regardless of whether or not you score a high-paying job, you’ll always be the 2018 Jim Flanigan Looks at the World Follower of the Year. So, without further ado … oh, wait. We need a drumroll befitting this award.