Get Your Oscar On

Get Your Oscar On

It’s Award season. You have the red carpet walk down, a night out on the town outfit in your closet that still fits, and your acceptance speech memorized. Why not grab the award and make the night yours and enter the National Society of Newspaper Columnists annual column contest?

Like the artists honored by the Academy of Awards, you have a library of work. Your voice is not on the big screen but the painter of words. You are a writer, a columnist, a blogger. Your voice is read. Like the Oscar artist, the writer, the columnist and the blogger are also honored with awards.

Your award may be just around the corner but you’ll never know unless you thumb through your 2010 collection of work and submit the best of the best for consideration. Today.

Deadline to enter the National Society of Newspaper Columnists annual contest is March 15, 2011.

Now may just be your year to walk the *red carpet*, pull that crinkled thank-you speech out of your pocket and make that award yours at the NSNC annual Detroit conference June 23-26, 2011.

Prestige, great friends, superb hospitality suite. Terrific speakers, columnists and journalistic community.

It’s time to get away from the computer, revisit your columns and enter. The time is now…

Cynthia Borris, NSNC Membership Chair

Pass the Blessings, Please

Pass the blessings, please

Turkey up, put down the fork and season the day with a compliment

In the Spirit of the Thanksgiving season, offer the gift of self for the season. Join me as I embrace the words of a fellow author, blogger and columnist and wish them a wonderful holiday.

Add spice to the moment and pick up that phone. Let your voice warm the kitchen of a family member, old friend or neighbor like hot apple pie.

In celebration of the meaning of the day, visit postings and wish the friend the gift of giving. Season your words with motivation, energy and mirth.

Make this the gift that keeps giving and when blessed, share the sentiment with a nearby stranger.

Remember to receive give with an open heart and you'll be surprised how one kindness multiplies!

Pass the blessings, please...

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

2010 National Society Newspaper Columnists Contest

A deadline is a writer’s best friend. It makes us excel and rise to the challenge of the midnight hour. Good news, it’s your moment to shine. The hour of decision is near.

March 15, 2010 is the deadline to enter the National Society of Newspaper Columnists 2010 contest. With seven categories including online and blog columns, there’s an opportunity for you to enter the best of your best 2009 columns.

Visit the National Society Newspaper Columnists for your entry form and contest guidelines. While you’re there enjoy the outstanding March newsletter and celebrate the accomplishments of fellow columnists.

Along with your contest entry, we invite you to join the NSNC and embrace new friendships at our annual conference, Get Schooled, in Bloomington, Indiana, July 9-11, 2010. You’ll be glad you did.

Now back to the NSNC 2010 contest…

You may have the winning entry in your hand but we’ll never know unless you get it into our hands. A deadline is a deadline. Package that entry, walk to the nearest mailbox and conquer that March 15, 2010 cutoff.

It's that simple.

Good luck and remember procrastination only puts off what you can do today until tomorrow...

Babes in Toyland

With Santa’s arrival just over the rooftop, I join my niece for the required visit to Santa Claus with her two sons. Strollers and diaper bags packed, we inch along the gold braided path. A Rudolph-themed village entices anxious children and our toes tap to the music of childhood.

“We are Santa’s elves…”I hum to the surround sound of plastic trees and shredded snowflakes.

Wes, a mere breath away from three-years old, waits in anticipation to present Santa with his wish list. The look on his face leaves no doubt – this is serious business.

Once on the red-velvet knee, Levi puckers-down and the magic dissolves into reindeer tears. Quick picture snap and exit baby until next year. A seasoned-pro, Santa remains cool like the frost on a Winter breeze.

Now one-on-one with the Man, Wes chats at length; engaged in intent conversation.

We shrug shoulders and wait. After all, a year’s a long time between good friends.

A nod of understanding, the two come to an agreement. With a tip of Santa’s hat, Wes waves goodbye; his list delivered now and safe in Santa’s keeping.

I bend down to kid-level and ask, “Did you tell Santa what you wanted for Christmas?”

An experienced Mom, I brace for the usual barrage of hot toys and must-haves.

With a twinkle he says, "I asked Santa to bring you a present."

Speechless, I hug Wes and embrace the innocence of childhood, letting it perfume my body with wonders old and new.

Pleased, I see Santa wink as he rubs his belly and lets out a cheerful jolly.

"Thanks," I whisper to the one-who-knows-all and then turn to Wes and say, "He already did."

And that is what Christmas is all about.

Merry Christmas to All

and to

All the Innocence of Childhood Awakened Anew

Tis the Season

Lift the eggnog and brandy in toast

Laugh a lot...

Dance a little...
Love a lot!

Best Wishes for the New Year

Love Cynthia