I was driving in Newport Beach a few years ago as the sun was coming up on a Saturday morning.  I saw an empty spot on the curb and figured I had better snag it, and trust I could find a place to eat within walking distance. I stopped a passer-by, clearly a local.  “Is there any place open to eat?”  He looked over his shoulder from whence he came before dispensing his advice.  “Yeah.  There is always Wanda’s.  But you don’t wanna go there.”  He left it at that and continued walking.

And so the inspiration for our new contest, A Dish Called “Wanda.” Weave these words about Wanda into story: “The locals warned me about Wanda’s, but why was there …”

750 words max, but somewhere you must include the warning just as it appears.  Doesn’t have to be a pancake parlor, pub, or pizzeria (but it could be).  This is a writing exercise.  Let’s go heavy on dialogue.

Our usual rules apply: Each submission must be attached to your email as a separate Word doc, and each page must contain a title to your story and your contact information, which we don’t share except with federal authorities and your creditors.  Limit two submissions per writer. Contest ends August 15, winners announced September 1.

The prize? A gift certificate of  $50 to the eatery, pub or pleasure palace of your choice for the winner, and a $25 certificate for the two runners up.

And here’s a twist: In order to win, you must make a comment on at least three of the other entries, and must have at least eight comments posted on your own story.  Threaten to take your friends out to dinner if they comment on your story.  That’ll work.

Wanda is a made-up name.  I didn’t want to sully a reputation.

Cheers!

thorn

sully-er-of-reputations-in-chief