As we gear up for the launch of our 2024 Writing Contest, we’re thrilled to shine the spotlight on some of our brilliant former winners.
Let’s hear from one of our 2021 winners, Natasha Lopez.
Where do you live? Arizona
What year did you win the Storyshares writing contest? 2021
Tell us about your book. 5 Steps to Win Her Heart is a coming-of-age story about a boy named Mateo who briefly dated his childhood best friend Kat. Mateo is desperate to 'win' her back. It seems like a 1950s How-To book might be the key to winning her heart. As Mateo fumbles through the steps in the book, he learns, and experiences more than he anticipated.
How did you find out about the contest? I saw the contest advertised many years before I entered on a website called Reedsy.com
What gave you the idea for your story? I work up from a dream with the final scene in the story. I saw two friends parting ways below a treehouse in a beautiful sunlit forest. There was a bittersweet story between them. I knew they're parting was not just literal but symbolic of growing up and shedding parts of childhood. I kept the scene in a writing app where I keep other story ideas. So, when the contest came up, I knew exactly what story I wanted to flesh out.
What made you want to participate in the contest? I wanted to break my chronic case of procrastination. I loved writing and writing for such a good cause was an even greater incentive to get out of my head and finally finish something!
How has your life changed since winning the Storyshares contest? I've been able to write even more stories and passages for StoryShares which has been a real pleasure. I also have improved significantly in finishing what I started.
Anything else you want to share? If you're like me and have watched the Storyshares Contest roll around year after year but never submitted anything- do it! There is satisfaction in finishing a work and putting it out there even if it doesn't win. Just knowing that you can finish something pushes you to finish even more projects. And, if you've entered the contest before but have never won or been published- keep on writing! There are so many stories in this world that need to be told. That includes yours.
Natasha’s book, 5 Steps to Win Her Heart, is one of Storyshares’ best-selling middle school stories. It can be found in our eLibrary and in our Best of Middle School Book Bundle.