Where do ideas come from?

My brain is soggy from all the ideas that flood into it daily and get stuck there because I haven't got the time to write. It's an unfortunate situation and it makes me realize how much time I used to have- back then when I had no kids, no house, no professional job and of course, no ideas when I actually did sit down. But I guess that maturity is maturity in many ways (more than just losing the ability to drink ten pints and counting wrinkles on my face)and over the years I've learned how to come up with ideas. They were there all the time, staring me in the face: a coffee stain on the table, that weird panel on the wall that you've always dreaded looking behind or that wimpy sandal-wearing middle-aged guy who lives behind you and drives a SMART car but never recycles.

Anyway, my point is that I personally don't have any trouble coming up with ideas, but if I did, I'd try Creative Writing Prompts, which I just stumbled across. It made me smile.

The CBC Literary Awards

The Canadian Broadcasting Corporation- otherwise known as the CBC have an annual literary award competition in both official languages- English and French, that has been running since 1979. Each language has three categories- unpublished poetry, short story and creative non-fiction.

To be eligible to enter this respected context, you have to be a Canadian citizen or permanent resident and can be living in Canada or abroad. There is a total of $60,000 prize money up fro grabs which works out at $6,000 for first place in each category and $4,000 for second place. There is a $20 entry fee and the closing date is Nov 1st, 2009. For more details and how to enter you can see their comprehensive website here.

They also have a facebook group which you can find here.

Good luck!

I'm back! I'm back!

I'm back....err.....I guess you got that bit by now huh? Well it's been a long summer filled with unexpected things and nowhere near enough sleep. That might conjure up images of me attending swanky parties, watching world cinema in all night smoky bars or sitting up in front of my latest novel all night, glass on wine in hand. Alas, it's nothing so glamorous.....more like milky boobs and baby sick and I know, I know, that was a bit too much information but obviously, I don't get out much. Anyway, if you're reading this- thanks for sticking around and in case you didn't get it, I'm back!