The Jimmy and Rosemary Breslin Award Jimmy Breslin met Rosemary Dattolico verishly scribbled what he saw and heard. while he was a copy boy at the Long Island “Journalism should be truthful and enter- Press in Jamaica, Queens. Jimmy knew taining. You know, with news and important right out of the gate that he was going to facts you can entertain people too, have a write a column for a newspaper in this city. little humor. Life isn’t all that deadly all the “Rage is the only quality which has time, but while you’re having fun, tell the kept me or anybody I have ever stud- truth. If every word of a column is deadly seri- ied, writing columns for newspapers.” JB ous, I can’t read it. It makes me throw up. “ JB Jimmy and Rosemary started out in Rich- Rosemary was his superhuman partner. Rosemary and Jimmy believed mond Hill Queens. They knew the key to get- Before computers, faxes, and texts she stood some young person will be the next ting a column was “legwork.” Going out day right next to him as he pounded the keys of his great writer with a voice in this city. and night, all over the city they loved, look- Hermes Standard Typewriter. Rosemary would “Look out...some kid is going to ing to the other side of the street for a story. come out of nowhere and be big.” JB “If you gather a lot of stuff, then you write grab the copy and quickly dial the city desk, it, write in scenes with dialogue. Somewhere meticulously enunciating,” new paragraph, capital, period, close quote.” The editors were The Jimmy and Rosemary Breslin in the middle, rising from all this research “American Writer Award” is to honor a bundle of nerves holding the paper’s print- like strong metal towers, is your opinions.”JB future writers and all their tomorrows. Their lives centered around constant ing to the very last second. Literary mag- deadlines. Rosemary drove as Jimmy fe- nifi cence was made from a Queen’s kitchen. “Anything that isn’t writing is easy.” JB “You get a little picture COLUMN CONTEST CRITERIA: • 800 Words or Less that refl ects the whole, • A New York Story- Any Borough. • Reality- No Fiction. You can get the readers • Moving Prose • Have a good Ear & Listen for Quotes. Write the way people talk. interested in the life of one • Be Inspirational-Humorous • Keep Sentences Short guy and he can refl ect the • Original in the Angle of the Story. Jimmy always looked to the other side of the Street. • Legwork whole life around him. And Go out and fi nd your story in this city • Rage • Your Heart and Soul into the Story it’s a better picture than • Sharp writing. The use of Verbs. • Who, What, When, Why and Where the politicians can give.” Essential in your story • Submissions Due: April 16, 2018 JIMMY BRESLIN.