In it to win it

Sometimes I only get the chance to blog once a week. And since I can't always get up the motivation to think of a topic, it's nice to have other friends to blog with so we can take turns. I enjoy being challenged to write about stuff that might not normally come to mind and also reading everyone else's thoughts on the same topic. Blog Project 3.0 has been going on for about a year now, even though one of the group members changed after a few months. I love blogging with this group and I hope we can continue to inspire each other.

This week I chose the topic: Have you ever won anything? If so, tell us about it. If not, tell us about something you'd love to win.

First, read what everyone else had to share on this topic:
Darwin Shrugged
Froggie
Moma Rock

Over the past few years, I've not only been giving away books, but I've also entered a lot of book giveaways. There have been times when I actually won a book or two...or three. It thrilled me to no end each time that happened. A few of my favorite book prizes were The Brightest Star in the Sky by Marian Keyes (from Novel Escapes), Fly Away Home by Jennifer Weiner (from a contest Sarah Pekkanen was having and she liked my idea the best at that time), The One that I Want by Allison Winn Scotch (from Manic Mommy...it was even signed!), Stay by Allie Larkin (from this website about dogs) and The Love Goddess' Cooking School by Melissa Senate (her son picked my name at random on Facebook). I've won numerous others, but those giveaways stick out to me for some reason. I've also won bookstore gift cards a few times, which has been nice. I remember winning one for $50 from Josie Brown a few years ago. I was thrilled!

I wouldn't say I've always been this lucky at winning stuff. The times I'd win something would be few and far between. I remember how hard it was to place at any level at speech tournaments. When I placed third for Verse Reading during sophomore year, I was over the moon. I placed a couple of times during senior year, but third was my highest. (Somehow I still liked doing speech team anyway. I think it was for the flirting aspect.) During junior year, I didn't get cast in any plays, but I assistant directed two of them and had a lot of fun doing that. At the end of the year, during the theater awards ceremony, I was elated to hear my name called out as one of the recipients of the Len Gustin Theater Service Award. I didn't see that coming at all and was so pleased to have won it.

I've won radio contests a few times, which is definitely a challenge. (There's that nervous feeling when the phone actually rings but then I just end up being caller number eight.) The biggest of the prizes was tickets to see Alanis Morissette and Barenaked Ladies in concert (10 years ago). Otherwise, I just got keychains and T-shirts for knowing random trivia.

A couple of years ago at work, our names got put into a raffle every time we actively participated in the database training program (like by answering questions correctly out loud). At the end of all the sessions, they chose a name and guess whose it was. Yep! I got a $50 Visa gift card and used it to buy a pair of boots (just for fashion, not for walking in snow). I always enjoy winning little things like this and am usually pleasantly surprised when it happens because I feel like it hardly ever does.

Even though I've won things, I'd like to talk about something I'd LOVE to win. While a large sum of money would be very much welcomed, I'd actually love to win a writing contest, either fiction or personal essay. I've entered a few in the past year or two, but haven't won any yet. I did get an honorable mention for the fiction piece I wrote this past summer and they sent me a swag package. I feel like my biggest success with writing, thus far, was during senior year when a play I wrote was published in the school's literary magazine and two different people directed it for directing class. That was 20 years ago and I think my writing skills have become more fine-tuned since then. (At least I hope they have.)

Since I like when people win things, I'm going to do a little giveaway right here for some random swag (and maybe even a book...) Just comment below and tell me about something you'd love to win. Please include your e-mail address or a way to reach you if you win. (US/Canada only. Ends October 30th at midnight EST.)