Hello, Elaine Morrison here. The blogs on world-building have been outstanding. I have nothing to add to them. So I thought I'd share some links to contests and conferences. I don't know about these personally so can't offer an endorsement, but many seem to be legitimate. The list is a tiny sampling of what's available on the web. Just trying to whet appetites because the more we write, the better we write. There also seems to be a general consensus that entering contests is overall a positive thing for writers to do. If you are interested in any of these, please note the deadlines.

First, a link on how to enter and win contests:
http://publishingcentral.com/articles/20040219-87-2e24.html?si=1

CONTESTS:

Various contests by Writers Digest:
http://www.writersdigest.com/annual

What would you do if you only had 72 hours to live?
The Last 72 Contest:
http://writingcontests.wordpress.com/

Have an interesting story about a past love?
http://ourpastloves.com/contest

Non-fiction humorous story:
http://www.gigglegig.com/index.php/submit-your-story

Info for writing for different magazines:
http://webupon.com/money-making/attention-writers-earn-500-or-more-per-article-with-these-magazine-writing-services/

A chart listing several contests. Great in-depth information. Offered by Stephie Smith:
http://www.stephiesmith.com/contests.html

Contest by the Kansas Authors Club:
http://skyways.lib.ks.us/orgs/kac/contest.html



A list of contests AND conferences:
http://www.writersrelief.com/blog/post/Anthologies-Contests.aspx


CONFERENCES:

Writing Convention in Lawrence, KS, October
http://skyways.lib.ks.us/orgs/kac/convention.html

Nebraska Summer Writer's Conference, June:
http://nebraskawriters.unl.edu/

Must be the year for writer's conferences in Lawrence, lol. This one is science fiction, July:
http://www2.ku.edu/~sfcenter/campbell-conference.htm


And, finally, one last link about how to make money writing online:
http://writinghood.com/writing/writing-online-the-best-way-to-earn-online/