Summary of The Prize Winner of Defiance, Ohio
I didn't know what to expect when reading The Prize Winner of Defiance, Ohio but boy, was I in for a treat. The book is a warm and engaging story about a woman who could have let poverty, an alcoholic husband, and a brood of 10 children drive her into despair.Instead, Evelyn Ryan used her effervescent spirit and her "knack for words" to create a better life for her whole family -- by winning contests.
Ryan specialized in writing contests, especially those where contestants had to create an advertising jingle or write an essay of 25 words or less on a specific topic. She also made extra money for the household by sending essays and poems to newspapers.
The tone of the book is really pleasant, and the difficulties of Ryan's life are portrayed without self-pity. The book remains engrossing to the end -- I found it hard to put down!
Why The Prize Winner of Defiance, Ohio is a Great Read for Sweepers
On top of the great storyline, The Prize Winner of Defiance, Ohio includes lots of tips on how to create winning contest entries. Ryan was entering contests in the 1950's and 1960's, but many of the tips in the book are still valid today. I love the concept of a "red mitten" in your contest entries, for example.Another interesting aspect of the book is that many of Ryan's contest entries are actually included. By reading through Ryan's entries, you can get a good feeling for what works in a contest and what doesn't. You may also feel inspired to try something new the next time you enter.
I also noticed many parallels between Ryan's "lucky" attitude and Richard Wiseman's The Luck Factor. For example:
- Ryan let bad luck roll off of her while appreciating the lucky things that happened to her.
- She looked for new opportunities to meet people, which increased her luck and her happiness.
- She refused to blame outside sources -- like the judges -- for dry spells, but instead changed her sweepstakes strategy when she wasn't winning enough.
- Most of all, she was always looking for new chances to win, and working on her next entry.
What I Didn't Like about The Prize Winner of Defiance, Ohio
I very much enjoyed the story as a whole, but I did have a few minor bones to pick. For example, author Terry Ryan said that most contests had died out in the 1960's. However, there are many writing, recipe, photography, and other contests that you can enter today. Check out the Creative Contests List for some that you could enter right now.Also, Evelyn Ryan also entered contests under a variety of different names, including variations on her own name and her children's names. I can't recommend doing that today, as methods of detecting duplicate entries have become much more effective. If you enter more often than the contest rules allow, you are probably just wasting your entry.
Conclusion
I'd recommend The Prize Winner of Defiance, Ohio to everyone, sweepers and non-sweepers alike, because of the inspirational way that Ryan created a warm and loving home from good humor, iron will, and lots and lots of love.
