After years of writing and only ever getting published in very small, specialized places (if at all) I just made the Top 50 list in Glimmer Train Stories contest Best Start. Yes! True, I didn't publish a whole story (Best Start is just what it sounds like- the start or a certain section in a story limited to 1,000 words) and true, the piece won't actually be published in the magazine itself, just listed on their website but still: Glimmer Train! They are a great magazine with a great reputation and they told me only five percent of the entries made it. Maybe it will help me get published somewhere else. Even if it doesn't, it's a great encouragement and trust me, in the lonely, thankless world of a writer that is gift enough!Here's a link the list. That's me that wrote Juanita. :)
Congrats! It is always nice to be recognized! I hope you had a big fancy dinner to celebrate! (or at least some icecream)
ReplyDeleteThanks! Recognition definitely is a nice thing. :) To celebrate I'm buying a somewhat pricey old book about the history of Sierra county so I can do some research (the piece I wrote is historical which is one of the reasons I put it on ice for a while. Too intimidated to really dive into the research/afraid I might get some of the facts wrong.) But now is the time to reawaken it. I will also eat some ice cream to celebrate for sure. Yum! ;)
ReplyDeleteThe Writing itself is a prize for the writer and it isnot important to publish because to talk to yourself is one of the most beautiful entertainment in our world.
ReplyDeleteHassan, I agree with you, but writing can also just get damn lonely. You throw yourself into these stories and thoughts and worlds and yes, they are beautiful to you but still; it's nice to know that maybe it might also matter to someone else or bring them something/touch them or move them/make them think about something they hadn't thought about before. But you are right, just being published for the sake of being published shouldn't be the goal!
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