Do The Write Thing -- We have a winner!

More than 200 entries made the deadline for our writing contest, representing an extraordinary array of striking voices, styles and experiences.

"There was something amazing about every single piece...," said our judge, acclaimed novelist Katherine Center. "Some had very strong dialogue, some had great rhythm, some had powerful insights and some were very moving.

"Having to pick just one was tough because different pieces were strong in different ways and for different reasons. I could argue myself one direction, and then turn around and go another."

So, who did Katherine chose? (Drumroll): "Aunts Get to Cry at Graduations, Too," by Jenny Appleseed, aka Laurie Boris.

Here are Katherine's glowing reflections on Laurie's piece: "I love the intimacy of the second-person voice...It pulls you in and lets you participate in something very personal. You feel like maybe you've stumbled upon a letter you maybe weren't supposed to read.

"There are so many specific details in the piece--from images to bits of dialogue--that bring this boy to life. The mohawk, the tie-dye, the monogrammed handkerchiefs, the victrola. Also the wiping scene!

"The details are so richly observed--you can't help but feel that this aunt was really paying attention, really trying to soak up every minute with her nephew. Even the way she calls him "dude" seems real and intimate. You can feel the tenderness and the bond between them. The warmth.

"I love the language--how it serves the piece but doesn't overwhelm it. Simple, clear. And I love the way you're learning about the nephew--all these details about who he is and how he's changed since the speaker first encountered him still inside his mother's body.

"But at the same time, you get a sense of the speaker herself learning and growing, of time passing, of the way really getting to know him over the years has had as much of an impact on her life as she did on his. It works on many different levels, and it's a pleasure to read!"

"I'm so excited and honored and humbled," said an overwhelmed Laurie, who notes: "I wasn't sure if I was going to be able to attend the ceremony because of a recent back injury. I thought that if I wrote this letter, it would muster up my 'stubborn' and help me do it anyway. And I went. And I cried. And it rained. And it was fabulous!!"

Congratulations to Laurie – and to the runners up who are:

ProComic Diva, for "Cora Mae." This piece has a very strong voice and evokes a real sense of place," Katherine said. "It feels like you are hearing a real conversation. And though the language is very conversational, it's highly poetic at the same time. I love the easy rapport between the speakers, and I can really feel the bond between them as they talk about love and and marriage. And when Henry Dodd comes riding up to them for dinner, I feel genuinely curious about what's going to happen next."

Annie B. for "Tracking Packy." "I love the quirky details in this story and the surefooted storytelling. It starts off strong with a vivid image of a grandfather literally trying to run from death, and it moves purposefully through the story of the funeral afterwards," Katherine said.

"The dialogue is very strong, here, and I love the grandmother character--especially the way she tries to fix up the body of her husband after it's been prepared for the viewing. I also love the tender detail of 'that thing' around the grandmother's neck--an anniversary present from a life now gone."

Sally G. for "Words Can Change a Life." Katherine was struck by the essay's "lovely final scene," and praised the way the piece "builds its way up to the elderly woman's poignant and life-changing words: 'How lucky you are!' "

Amanda Green for "A First Date." A "charming piece," said Katherine, with a "terrific and evocative opening line": "If the world's a stage, then I'd like to tap the mic and ask, 'Is this thing on?'"

Congratulations again to Laurie and the runners up -- and many thanks to Katherine, who took time out from the tour for her latest book, "Everyone is Beautiful," to be our judge.

And thank you to everyone who entered. You heard what Katherine said: You're all amazing!

Mom will love you -- and so will Mama Earth!

Pnn.com is partnering with Organic Bouquet to provide a way to make her day with special blooming benefits.

Here’s the deal: Tell us in 50 or words or less why your mom (or daughter, sister, aunt, grandma or friend) deserves to get this beautiful bouquet. For free. Enter by posting your entry here.

Then we’ll choose a winner on Thursday, in time to deliver the ravishing roses to your deserving recipient so she can bask in them all Mother’s Day weekend.

Plus, you’ll gifting her and giving to others. A portion of the proceeds from the bouquet supports Women for Women International, a non-profit that helps rebuild lives in war-torn locales around the world, though education, job skills and leadership programs.

And the bouquet is just one of many in Organic Bouquet’s Flowers for Good Collection that supports a bumper crop of worthy causes.

Plus, all choices from Organic Bouquet also are eco-chic; they use eco-friendly packaging and are sustainably grown in partner farms that embrace eco-friendly practices and support fair wages for farm workers, as well as promote the well-being of wildlife.

And even though there will only be one winner of the Mom’s Day Bouquet, we want everyone to experience Organic Bouquet’s offerings -- and that’s why we’re offering a special 10 percent discount on all orders.

Just click on this link and your pnn.com discount will automatically be applied:

Organic Bouquet

So you – and Mom – can share some affordable eco-luxury and foster good works.

And that feels pretty good, right?

Battle of the PNNers. $100 Writing Contest!

PNN is back we're well on our way to a fantastic 2011! To celebrate, we're going to kickstart those creative juices with our first official contest of the year.

Contest Details: In this contest, submit your best stories that communicate lessons and wisdom about living to the rest of us. Entries can draw from your life experiences, or those of someone close to you.Submissions can be in any genre and in any form of expression that is possible using the PNN site. For example, entries can be in the form of a short story, poem, photos, videos or a mix of all of them.

Entry Rules: To enter, simply submit your entry (or entries) and put them into the "living" category with the special tag "livingcontest" (without the quotes).

The winning entry will be selected by other PNN members based on community votes and comments. All valid PNN members can enter the contest and vote on entries. We will also take into consideration the community's response to the writing, so it is important to leave feedback and comments on entries that you like. And if you feel very strongly that a particular entry should win, please state why in your comments on that post.

You need to be a member of PNN to enter the contest, so if you are not a member but want to participate, create a free account and join today.

Spread the word about the contest and your entries to your friends and family. If they sign up for PNN, they will also be able to enter and vote in the contest.

Submission Deadline:The contest lasts from Feb. 16th until March 27th. (Updated: Original submission deadline was March 7th, but people said that they wanted more time.)

Oh by the way...Make sure to have fun! We're really looking forward to seeing your entries.