Cindy, yes, I pay entry fees--these things are basically big fat fundraisers for RWA chapters.

As for how worthwhile it is...that all depends. I think the feedback I got from one contest alone (the Molly) was worth the entry fees for all five of the contests I entered this year, because I got four judges who all understood what I was trying to to do and had ideas for how to strengthen it. 90% of the changes I just made to my first chapter came from their suggestions.

But the judge draw is a crapshoot. In another contest I had three judges who liked my writing but didn't understand/enjoy what I was trying to do with it. Other judges liked what I was doing, but not enough to give it a perfect score, and with few if any suggestions for improvement. Very frustrating.

Basically at this point I'm looking for whatever will improve my chances of getting published. I'd like to know if the edits I made to my first chapter improved it. Finaling in this contest would be one way to find out, but so would giving it to a fresh set of beta readers to see how they react.

Part of the reason I'm considering this is that the entry fee is the exact amount that I bid, and lost, on critiques from various authors and editors donated to help authors who lost their homes to Katrina, and the contest is sponsored by a Louisiana chapter who'll be donating a portion of the proceeds to hurricane relief. So it feels like it's just using money I'd already set aside. OTOH, I could just write a check to Habitat or the Red Cross and count on beta readers for feedback.

So I explained my current dilemna to my beta-readers and asked for feedback on some very specific points. Only one person has responded so far, but she brought up something that surprised me. She saw the protagonist as being rude and confused when interacting with one of the other characters, when I was actually going for "flusterred". Which I suppose is close, but rude implies more antagonism than I was going for. Guess I'll have to give their interaction a closer look.

Sometimes I think it would be easier to kill someone myself and get away with it than get that written murder right. but I have patience that's not.

Well, the murder might be quicker. Takes a lot less time to kill someone than write about it, but I'm not so sure about the getting away with it. (As far quickness goes.)

Plus, a murder mystery can entertain many, while an actual murder is sort of self-indulgent.

Of course, you don't really have to worry about someone giving your murder a bad review.

I don't think the DA would be too amused though. that counts.

True.

Our county attorney is a real right-wing douchebag...I think the death penalty is like a 12-gauge for Spike...makes him feel all manly. Better finish the book then.ETA: I apologize to every douche I may have insulted by comparing it to Andrew Thomas. That wasn't fair to feminine products.

I want to write an article about the often awful treatment I have received over the years at airports when I have asked for wheelchair assistance at airports, but I am not sure where to start. Any suggestions?

Usually a good place to start is an anecdote, sj. Think of an incident that was both dreadful and representative, and start by describing that. A structure I often use would go something like this:

• Anecdote

• Why this incident is representative of a larger problem

• Facts about the problem (X number of wheelchair users; X airports say they accomodate people needing wheelchairs)

• Call airport/airline PR persons to get quotes about their wheelchair polices. Ask them about some of the things that have happened to you.

• More anecdotes

And, Ginger nails it. Definitely a personal anecdote to start off: if I was writing about the misconceptions about being handicapped and not looking it too obviously, I'd begin with the Daly City cop who told me I "didn't look crippled enough" to merit that blue parking placard.

I am CRANKY:

The Publications Committee of MWA is delighted to invite you to submit stories for "Burden Of The Badge", Stories of Cops on the Job, the second of three MWA anthologies contracted by Little Brown. The first Anthology, "Relationships Can Be Murder", was edited by Harlan Coben and will be published in October. The second Anthology will be edited by Michael Connelly. The third will be edited by Linda Fairstein in 2007.

"The best detective stories are not about cops working on cases, but of cases working on cops." This phrase, coined by Joseph Wambaugh, is the theme chosen by Michael Connelly for this anthology. Ten new stories "heavy on character" by MWA members will be commissioned by the editor, and ten new stories will be selected by a MWA panel from a pool of open and blind submissions by MWA members. Members in any category of membership may submit stories -- you do not need to be previously published, but you must be a member in good standing (dues paid).

I don't write that kind of crime story, damn it. Might have to try.