Horror writer dominates April poll; and, a new contest!

It was really no contest... Stephen King reigns supreme as the writer you would most like to see write fortune cookies.

King, the world's most famous author of scary fiction, received a whopping 57 percent of the vote, , crushing the competition. Ernest Hemingway finished a distant second with 19 percent of the vote (although Hemingway's succinct sentences would probably fit on fortunes the easiest). JD Salinger was third with 14 percent, and John Steinbeck and Jane Austen chimed in with a measly five percent of the votes.

Which leads us to a new writing contest for the month of April: the person who can write the best Stephen King-style fortune wins a prize!

The rules are simple: this has to be a true fortune, not a short story. So the word count is limited to a miniscule 15 words. And, it has to be in the style of a fortune. See this blog for 122 examples.

E-mail the entries to mattkelseyauthor@gmail.com.

NEW POLL: Don't forget to answer the May poll question, which asks readers to choose which fortune they would want to receive to determine their mortal fate. Check it out in the upper right corner of the page.

Today's fortune: April 11, 2011

Today's fortune: Be prepared to modify your plans.

Yesterday was a milestone day for My Daily Fortune. I opened the 100th fortune cookie of the year!

Since Jamie hijacked the blog yesterday (and didn't she do a wonderful job?), I didn't get much of a chance to commemorate the occasion.

If you were wondering, and I know you were, here's what 100 cookie fortunes looks like:

U.S. Presidents are usually judged in one way or another by their first 100 days in office. So I'll let you be the judge of this blog's first 100 days. How do you think it's going? Would you like to see any changes? What was your favorite fortune? Your favorite post? Just post something in the comments to let me know.

By the way - the first person who posts with their favorite fortune in the first 100 days wins a "Key of Success" FortuneKeeper!

Now... on to today's fortune - which, as you'll see, is incredibly precient.

I've been running into the increasingly frustrating problem of duplicate fortunes. This is a problem I did not anticipate when the project started. In fact, I naïvely assumed that buy buying 400 cookies before the project started, I'd have more than enough to make it through to the end.

Wrong.

It was getting to the point over the last couple weeks that I'd have to open seven or eight cookies each morning before I would find an original. And the cookies I purchased at Aldi last month? Turns out they're made by Fortune Cookie Factory, Inc., the same company that manufactured my original supply. Hence, the fortunes were the same.

Yesterday, I decided it was time to buy a new supply from a new manufacturer.

I was in Liberty, Mo., yesterday afternoon, and on my way home I stopped at a Liberty Chinese restaurant. I asked to buy a case of fortune cookies, and they brought out a case identical to the supply I already had - Baily Fortune Cookie (manufactured by the aforementioned Fortune Cookie Factory, Inc.).

I said no thanks and drove across town to Liberty's other Chinese restaurant. They also brought out a box of Baily fortunes.

On the verge of giving up, I started to drive back to KCK. But I decided that since I was out, I may as well stop by every Chinese restaurant between Liberty and KCK. There are a lot.

I'm shocked Fortune Cookie Factory, Inc., is not a Fortune 500 company. But they have the Chinese restaurant market cornered in Kansas City. Every gol-darn one of them uses Baily Fortune Cookies.

Except one. On North Oak in Gladstone, I found a hole-in-the-wall buffet that uses Shang Pin brand cookies, manufactured by Asian Foods, Inc. I bought a case for eleven bucks. I should have known the restaurant would be good to me when I saw this happy fella in the window.

Buddha and I have the same build.

The very first cookie I pulled out of the box revealed today's fortune: "Be prepared to modify your plans."

I'd say switching cookie manufacturers is a pretty big modification. I mean, who knows what will happen? Maybe these fortunes will make me do even crazier stuff.

Free gourmet hot dog winners!

A couple days ago, I wrote about the great new restaurant Cafe Chilingo, operated by my friend Elena.

By commenting on the story, Angel, Dawanna and Missy Lala each won a free hot dog! Ladies, e-mail me at mattkelseyauthor@gmail.com to find out how to claim your free dog.

Rethinking the writing contests - and open to ideas

Well, folks, it seems that your interest has fizzled in the My Daily Fortune Writing Contest concept.

After a strong showing in January and an incredibly touching winning entry, I received only two entries for the month of February. And not one single entry has been submitted for March.

I want this blog to be an interactive experience. We're offering great prizes, like a FortuneKeeper and a signed copy of Jennifer 8 Lee's excellent book The Fortune Cookie Chronicles. The rules are very simple, and you don't have to be a good writer. All you have to do is take one of my fortunes or one of your own and write about what it means to you. That's it. Post it in the comments or click on the "Post your fortunes here!" tab on the right-hand side of the page, and you're done.

So I think what I'll do is cancel the March writing contest, and we'll do a big push for April. We'll give out a first- and second-place prize. I'm going to try to publicize the blog and the writing contest elsewhere on the internet to see if I can drum up some more interest.

But I'm definitely open to ideas. If you know how to make this contest - or this blog - better, don't hesitate to let me know. You can send me an e-mail at mattkelseyauthor@gmail.com.

Thanks for reading, and I look forward to your thoughts.

DAY 59: February 28, 2011

Today's fortune: Your courage will guide your future.

Today's lucky numbers: 3 4 6 9 19 24

NOTE: Today is the last day to submit your writing contest entries (See rules here) as well as the Readership Promotion Contst (See rules here). Also, don't forget to vote in the February poll!

CONTEST: Hawaii on a budget?

Frequent reader Layne posted a fortune he received while dining on Chinese food recently:

Resist the temptation to overspend! Frugality is good right now.

This is how Layne interprets it: "Oh, how frighteningly appropriate for me ... especially now! I'm leaving for a 17 day trip to Kauai in the morning; this morning; in about 4 hours in fact. It is a sad but true fact that I very fond of creature comforts, replete with fine wines and rich cuisine. I will endeavor to curb my indulgences."

I saw screw that, Layne. You can be frugal on the mainland.

Readers, don't forget to get those writing contest entries in no later than Feb. 28!

New ways to participate! (and old ways, too...)

My Daily Fortune is now Your Daily Fortune.

You now have a great new way to participate in the fun. Over on the right-hand column, underneath the poll, you'll see the words Your Daily Fortune - Post your fortunes here! If you click the link, you'll be taken to an open forum where you can post the fortunes you come across. This can include fortune cookies you enjoy at a Chinese restaurant, a favorite fortune you have taped to your cubicle wall at the office, or even a bit of wisdom you run across that sounds like it could have come from a fortune cookie. If you'd like, feel free to write about what that fortune means to you, and you'll be entered in the monthly My Daily Fortune Writing Contest.

Speaking of the contest - be sure to get your February fortunes in by the end of the month. All you have to do is write about one of my fortunes or one of your own. The entries are not judged on writing ability, but rather content. And remember - you could win a signed copy of Jennifer 8 Lee's wonderful book, The Fortune Cookie Chronicles. Click here for contest details.

Other ways to participate:

* Don't forget to vote in the February poll at the top right of this page.

* The Readership Promotion Contest ends on Feb. 28.

* "Like" the blog on Facebook and follow the blog with Google Friend Connect, on the right-hand column of this page.

CONTEST: Fast-food efficiency; plus, new prize announced!

Today we announce a new sponsor and a new prize for the February writing contest.

The winner of this month's contest will receive a SIGNED COPY of the terrific book "The Fortune Cookie Chronicles" by Jennifer 8. Lee!

Here's a description of the book, from its website:

There are more Chinese restaurants in this country than McDonalds, Burger King and Kentucky Fried Chicken combined.

In The Fortune Cookie Chronicles, author Jennifer 8. Lee takes readers on a remarkable journey that is both foreign and familiar: penetrating this subculture by traveling the world (and almost every American state) in her quest to understand Chinese food and the people who make it.

Her journey took her to the hometown of General Tso (a military hero immortalized as much for crunchy chicken as his conquests), the surprising origins of the fortune cookie (it’s not China), and to six continents in search for the world’s greatest Chinese restaurant. The book also sparks debates as to who really invented chop suey and why Jews love Chinese food, or as she puts it: Why is chow mein the chosen food of the chosen people?

The book is a tribute to immigrants and to America. If our benchmark for Americanness is apple pie, ask yourself, how often do you eat apple pie? Now how often do you eat Chinese food?

Thanks for sponsoring the contest, Jennifer.

Now, about that contest: let's get cracking, people! We've received only one entry so far, and remember, this is a short month! You have a great chance to win this terrific book.

Here's the entry, from my good friend and frequent reader D'Erin. She was writing about yesterday's fortune, Appreciate the caring people who surround you, and she also has an appreciation for efficient fast food workers:

I had a great experience in Subway once. We were getting food for me, my friend, her 3 kids (who kept changing their minds every 15 seconds), and her fiance. There was one lady behind the counter and she whipped up 3 kids meals and 3 footlongs without so much as a misplaced ingredient or topping. (And, she was patient, polite, and accommodating.)

After we paid, I told her that she was extremely talented and efficient; the best I had ever encountered at a Subway. She said she'd only been at it 6 weeks! Wow... I was impressed.

I think you're setting a good example by appreciating the minimum wage workers who really do give 110%.

Thanks, D'Erin. Good luck on the bar exam!

We have a winner!

The results of our January writing contest are in, and the winner is...

JACKSON!

A reader who goes by the handle "Jackson" submitted a truly heartfelt entry, and the independent third-party judge selected his out of six terrific entries as the winner.

Congratulations, Jackson! You win a FortuneKeeper! E-mail me at mattkelseyauthor@gmail.com for details about how to claim your prize.

We have so far received a grand total of ZERO entries for the February contest. So start writing! Click here for contest rules, and get those entries in by 11:59 p.m. Central time on Feb. 28.

For those of you who missed it, here's Jackson's entry, which was based on my fortune "Someone is looking up to you. Don't let that person down":

Before thinking of whom might be looking up to me, my father came to mind, and how much like him I have turned out to be. I don't remember ever thinking "I want to be like my father," but it happened, for better and for worse. The older I grow the more of him I see in me, and the more proud I am for having unconsciously emulated him.

A couple of years ago I wrote this for my father on his birthday:

As I looked at myself in the mirror this morning,

Goatee sprinkled with gray,

I saw you looking back at me.

I found myself thinking of how much of me comes from you.

My way with people, ability to persuade, to build consensus, comes from you.

The gift of language, of vocabulary, and a love for reading are gifts from you.

The way I pause and think of just the right words…

The way I withdraw when I’m depressed…

The ability to stay calm when those around are agitated…

The deep abiding love for my children…

And for my father…

And the difficulty I have expressing that love,

All come from you.

I am my father’s son.

And I am proud.


Now I see my 23 year-old son adopting my strengths and foibles, and I wonder will he pass them on? I hope he has looked up to me as I have my father.

CONTEST: A son's love for his father

We received a beautiful contest entry from a reader who goes by the handle Jackson, responding to the Jan. 28 fortune, "Someone is looking up to you. Don't let that person down."

I wish I had written this myself, because it echoes how I feel about my own father. Be sure to grab a box of tissues before reading. Thanks for sharing it, Jackson.

Before thinking of whom might be looking up to me, my father came to mind, and how much like him I have turned out to be. I don't remember ever thinking "I want to be like my father," but it happened, for better and for worse. The older I grow the more of him I see in me, and the more proud I am for having unconsciously emulated him.

A couple of years ago I wrote this for my father on his birthday:

As I looked at myself in the mirror this morning,

Goatee sprinkled with gray,

I saw you looking back at me.

I found myself thinking of how much of me comes from you.

My way with people, ability to persuade, to build consensus, comes from you.

The gift of language, of vocabulary, and a love for reading are gifts from you.

The way I pause and think of just the right words…

The way I withdraw when I’m depressed…

The ability to stay calm when those around are agitated…

The deep abiding love for my children…

And for my father…

And the difficulty I have expressing that love,

All come from you.

I am my father’s son.

And I am proud.


Now I see my 23 year-old son adopting my strengths and foibles, and I wonder will he pass them on? I hope he has looked up to me as I have my father.

New contest! One more way to win a great prize

So you say you're not a scribe, and you have no interest in entering the monthly My Daily Fortune Writing Contest.

That's okay, because now you have another great chance to win a prize.

Announcing the My Daily Fortune Readership Promotion Contest!

It's simple: you have from now through Feb. 28 to promote this blog to your family and friends by any means necessary. By the end of February, whoever gets the most friends to "Like" the blog on Facebook wins a prize.

All you have to do is e-mail me a screenshot of the My Daily Fortune Facebook page. If you're signed in through your account, the page should tell you how many of your own friends "Like" the page, as shown with the red circle below:

Whoever has the most friends liking the blog wins!

Submit your screenshots to mattkelseyauthor@gmail.com by midnight on the night of Feb. 28 for a chance to win!

CONTEST: Flying high

My Daily Fortune reader Layne was inspired by yesterday's fortune: Someone is looking up to you. Don't let that person down. To share with us what that message means to him, Layne started with a confession:

"I'm going to be 63 this year, Matt. I learned to fly just six years ago, and just months after getting my license had the remarkable opportunity to meet and fly with two remarkable aerobatic pilots, Wayne Handley and Ken Erickson.

"Ken, who most recently has been chief pilot and chief mechanic for an aerobatic school in King City, California, introduced me to the Pitts aircraft and started me down the road of unusual attitude flying. His calm and positive attitude in a plane is truly inspiring, and the same can be said for Wayne Handley, who is almost the father of modern aerobatics... at least in my mind, anyway.

"Both inspired me to strive for excellence and precision. And both kindled and nourished the idea that if you could imagine something, you could achieve it.
"I may never achieve their prominence, but I am an avid competition aerobatic pilot, and hope that I may inspire someone else to pursue a dream and not accept age as a deterrent."

Thanks for the excellent message, Wayne. Aerobatic flying sounds amazing, and I'd love to see you fly sometime... from the safety of the ground.

Last chance to participate in January activities!

Today is the last day to vote in the January poll at right, and the January writing contest will end at the stroke of midnight on the night of January 31.

We've received 89 votes in the poll as of today. I wonder if we can push it into triple digits by the 6 p.m. deadline? Send your friends, family and co-workers to mydailyfortune.net to vote!

As for the writing contest, we've received a handful of really great entries, bu there's still a good chance to win. You have two ways to participate: write about what one of my fortunes means to you, or write about one of your own fortunes. And remember, this contest isn't being judged on writing ability; it's being judged on the content of the story itself. (That means you don't have to be a good writer to win.)

Here's the best part - the winner of the January contest wins their very own FortuneKeeper!

Since I know some of the people who have entered the contest, I'm handing off the judging duties to an impartial third party.

One last bit of housekeeping. I'm looking for ideas for a February poll question. It's gotta be fortune cookie-related, but that's the only restriction. If you have an idea, let me know by submitting a comment to this post.

Thanks for reading, and get those votes and writing contest entries in today!

Writing contest prize announced!

One of the terrific prizes for the My Daily Fortune monthly writing contest has been revealed.

As you can see from the display ad on the right-hand column of this page, the winners of some of the writing contests will receive a FortuneKeeper!

These cool keychains and necklaces are the perfect place to store your daily fortune, or a favorite message that holds meaning for you. I know I love mine:

Thanks to the fine folks at FortuneKeeper for providing this great prize. Stay tuned for announcements on more of the prizes coming soon!

CONTEST: The race against procrastination

My friend Elena, who goes by the handle Latina Undercover, posted the following about today's fortune, which is Tomorrow will be a productive day. Don't oversleep:

"When I sleep late, I don’t accomplish as much. The mental defeat of feeling like I’m the last one off the starting line, combined with my tendency towards procrastination, usually leaves all things in my mind and on my to-do list better started tomorrow! Until recently, I’ve always been the one up early and then waiting for hours for everyone else to get up too. Perhaps the difference now is the snow or the cold. Whatever the reason, it all lends to my workout DVD remaining un-played in its player while I snuggle deep into my warm covers, stealing sleepy peeks through one eye at the clock.

"Today's fortune, 'Tomorrow will be a productive day. Don't oversleep,' is a fortune I can work with, and I think it wants to work with me. I believe that energy flows where attention goes, and I am certain that when supported with good intention, the powerful combination can certainly lead to victory in a race with procrastination and mental defeat. Thanks for sharing your fortune, Matt!"

CONTEST: Birthday fortune speaks to Aimee

Birthdays are a good time to take stock of your life, and My Daily Fortune reader Aimee said today's fortune - You will be showered with good luck before your next birthday - could help her get her diet back on track.

"That is good news," Aimee said about today's fortune. "My birthday is 34 days away, when I turn 41! When I turned 40 last year, I decided to change my life by exercising and eating right. Things went swimmingly until the Christmas season arrived, and now I am in a tailspin. Back to night eating and making poor choices.

"So I making my own luck for the next 34 days and returning to my healthy ways.

"Thanks for the inspiration!"

CONTEST: Tina had a bad day... but her son's having a good night

Thanks to "tina" for posting her own take on today's fortune! She's now eligible for the January writing contest.

"Ha!" Tina wrote about today's fortune, which was You will soon bring joy to someone. She continued: "Someone took $7 out of my tip jar today! I worked very hard for my $7 tip today. I'm a manicurist. JOY! How can a person be joyful about stealing? I'm hoping I didn't bring them joy."

But Tina's day was bound to get better:

"I would like to go home and see the joy on my three-year-old's face when I bring home this LEGO box. Even though it's recommended for ages 7 and up, his joy is priceless."

Thanks, Tina, and I hope your son enjoys his LEGOs and keeps them out of his mouth.

Audience participation - win cool prizes!

I shouldn't be the only one having fun with this fortune cookie thing. I'd like you, my millions of loyal readers, to get in on the action.

And the best part is, you could win great prizes!

There are two ways to get involved:

1. If you eat Chinese food and crack open a fortune cookie, post your fortune in the comments section of that day's blog post. Also, write about what the fortune means to you or what you did that day to follow the fortune. The best entries will be posted on the main site! (If you don't want to write anything, you can just post your fortune and lucky numbers.)

2. Follow one of my fortunes. If you see a fortune on the blog that particularly inspires you, write about it. What does it mean to you? How did you or how would you apply it in your own life? Again, just post it in the comments section of that day's blog, and again, the best ones will be shared on the main site.

While these are technically "writing contests," don't think you have to be a brilliant writer to participate. I'll be judging the entries not on how well they are written but on the message you're putting across. I want everybody to participate in this, regardless of their writing ability.

You may post your fortunes anonymously, and I still may use them on the main blog, but anonymous entries will not be eligible for prizes.

Speaking of those prizes - They'll be fortune cookie related, but that's all I'm saying about them for right now. I'd like to give out at least one prize once a month. If I get enough entries in January, I'll announce the month's winner in early February (if not, I'll probably wait to give out prizes until after February). So get those entries in now!