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The winner is in!

Last month's challenge:

"What is the smartest piece of writing advice you've ever received?"

Congratulations to the December-January OSCAR winner...

NICHOLAS LESHI!

Nick wowed us with this entry:

The best writing advice I ever received came from my high school English teacher, Mr. Martin (who was famous for his crazy theories, like his firm belief that LORD OF THE FLIES was a symbolic representation of a wet dream).

Mr. Martin told me that one of the secrets to writing is to proof read your material straight-through after you've written a first draft. A day or two after you've finished writing the last word of that first draft, read it, he told me, from beginning to end. And then revise, revise, revise.

Wiser words were never spoken. I've learned that if *I* can't finish a read-through of my scripts without interruption, how could I expect other readers to do so? Also, even if I'm not the best proof-reader in the world, that first reading of my story will likely reveal to me where the awkward spots are, where the pace comes crashing to a halt, where the loopholes in my plot rear their ugly heads...

The first and greatest critic is often yourself. Thank you, Mr. Martin, for teaching me that writing is rewriting.

And here's what Nick had to say when he found out about this terrific honor:

Wow, I'm thrilled beyond belief. This was really unexpected. Coming the day after those OTHER Oscars announced their nominees, all I have to say is I'm honored and touched. Before this turns into an unintentional schmaltzy parody of all those acceptance speeches that make us laugh, cringe, and occasionally cry, I'll thank all the teachers, family, and friends in my life who continue to help me and encourage me as I follow my creative (and sometimes silly) dreams. (I bow and attempt to exit gracefully...but of course I trip and fall flat on my face as I walk off the stage!)

Find out here about the current contest!