New Rungs, New Ladders

So it's been nearly a year since I posted. That is what it is, and I'm going to move forward from this point.

To recap, I tried NaNo as mentioned in my last post. I didn't get very far, though I did teach it to my creative writing class and had several students who reached their goals. I still consider that a score. Fast forward to June 2011. I once again attended the Tinker Mountain Writer's Workshop at Hollins University. It was more amazing this year than last. While I did not take full advantage of all the opportunities that landed in my lap, I have not exhausted those opportunities, and I kept writing all summer.

Then, just over a week ago, I once again took a little trip to heaven at the Appalachian Writer's Workshop at the Hindman Settlement School. This year was different, amazing like always, but different. My work received much better attention and even better constructive criticism.  While attending I wrote (in three hours) and edited (in another three hours) and read (in an excruciating five minutes) my first piece of flash fiction.  While everyone at Hindman is always very nice after participant readings, this year my responses were... different.

I will say that, Hands, is the darkest piece of fiction I have ever written.  I was so terrified of offending people that I almost didn't read it at the participant readings, but I am so glad I did.  Later that evening, while I was still receiving congratulations from my fellow participants, an esteemed editor of an honest to goodness literary magazine approached me and asked for my work!  And as if that weren't enough, when I hesitated only slightly in my emphatic head shaking and stammering "yes, yes, of course" he added the statement of all statements. "Oh, unless it's already committed elsewhere."  I was/am still stunned.  Not only was I personally asked to submit my work to real lit mag, it was assumed that it might have already been accepted by another.  I got two other requests for my work before leaving.

Let's just say I did NOT let that opportunity slip by.  The work was submitted and while I hope against hope that it will be accepted, if it isn't I am completely OK, because it was the asking that got me to where I am now... the bottom rung of a new ladder.

Since coming home from Hindman I have written EVERY DAY.  I have completed two stories and now have work out to six different lit mags.  I have started two new stories and have chosen four other places to submit between now and November 1st.  It has begun.  And no matter where it leads, I'm hanging on for the ride.

I go back to school tomorrow.  I've always loved my job, and feel more secure in my surroundings when I am living the organized (stop laughing) life of a regular schedule.  I will be good tomorrow.  I know that it will be difficult to keep up the writing pace, the submission schedule, the work that is required to lead this life, but each new height shows the bottom of the very next ladder.