I’ve only recently started down this writer’s journey with any true destination in mind, and boy, is there is a lot to learn! Not just about writing, but also about what to do with that writing once it’s been written.

The point of telling you that, is to tell you this: I went to WorldCon (Sasquan) this year in Spokane and it was fantastic! I learned so much and had a great time doing it.
And the point of telling you that, is to tell you this: While there I met an author who had won the Writer’s of the Future Contest (wonderful contest; kind of a big deal – learn all about it and start submitting!).
And while I had heard about this contest already, I credit this moment for when I made up my mind that this was what I was going to do: I am going to win this contest!

And so it began. I had a goal, a deadline, and a story idea.

I started writing at the beginning of September, while the deadline for this particular quarter was Sept. 30, 2015. Which means…I had a lot of work to do and a short amount of time to do it in.
I worked all month on the story idea I wanted to submit, and I worked, and I worked, and guess what…I worked. And no matter how hard I tried, I just could not get that story to work; it was broken.
One day when I have more experience I know I’ll be able to go back to it, dust it off, and fix ‘er up all shiny and workable. But it just was not going to happen in time for this quarter’s submission deadline.
Also during this month, as a challenge to myself, I decided to write a story about the first thing that popped into my head one morning. The idea was, A girl and her dog (based on the fact I hike with my dog. You know, just a girl and her dog in the woods, la la la…you’re following this complicated line of thought, right?)

And I did. Write the story. It was a fantasy story, and the dog was a wolf, but it was pretty okay; short, sweet, nothing fancy; it worked. Okay good, done, put that one away and back to work on the broken (OMG, IF I HAVE TO READ THROUGH THIS STORY ONE MORE TIME, I’M GOING TO STAB OUT MY EYES WITH A DULL SPOON!) story.
And when I just could not look at that broken story a single second longer, I did what any halfway intelligent (read stubborn) writer that has one broken story, one written story, and a deadline looming that I hadn’t the heart to miss out on, would do. I submitted my ‘girl and her dog’ story. And that lovely judge gave me this, an honorable mention. It was more than I could have even hoped for, and harder to wait for then I would have thought possible.
Thank you Mr. Farland, from the bottom of my crooked little heart 😉

I’ve already gotten the next story written and it will be ready to submit before the next deadline at the end of December. I suspect this story may not be what the judges for this contest are looking for, but it’s a great story. I had too much fun writing it and I adore the characters in it. And that my friends, may just be one of the greatest secrets in the Universe.

Love what you make, the rest will come. -xo