Contest for Those Trying to Conceive

Just when you thought all you could do was blog away your pain - how about haiku?

Introducing the 1st International Infertility Haiku Competition!

That's right - now you can take those bundled up emotions and churn out a three-line ditty that'll express what you think and feel about that whole darned Getting Pregnant Process. Sponsored by My Fertility Plan, there are categories for both the silly and the serious, because after all, like they say in their contest announcement, "Infertility sucks."

They're serious about the competition, too. Bona Fide cash prizes are involved, and there's no entry fee. Seven judges, each knee-deep in the infertility experience at some point in life, stand by to comb through what is expected to be dozens of entries, all of which will be treated with earned respect.

I've said it before: writing has been my primary form of therapy. The Blog Boom proved that to be the case for thousands of other people who struggle to have a baby. A hundred years ago (wasn't it?) Carly Simon wrote and sang "Suffering was the only thing made me feel I was alive..." That song should never have been played in the range of my prepubescent ears. Oh, the drama!

Truth is, painful realities make great muses, don't they? My heart races from just thinking about the writer's fodder of misery. The wonderful thing about haiku form of poetry is that it's a heck of a lot easier to produce than your everyday sonnet. Quick reading, too. Be sure to follow the specific details My Fertility Plan. Submit as many entries as you like from now until November 24, 2008.

Tracy Morris is a freelancer who writes about consumer health and families. Visit her at howtomakeafamily.typepad.com.