I saw the email…
Curious, I clicked the link to explore what this could be. It has been a long, long time since I have done a link up, let alone a Write on Edge link up. On its page Write on Edge shared the release (October 30, 2012) of Precipice which featured twenty-one short stories and essays by seventeen authors from the Write on Edge community. Volumne Two was now open for submissions until April 2013.
“How cool is that!” I instantly thought and forwarded the information to a friend knowing that if she was interested this would be an amazing opportunity for her…
“What about me…maybe…” my mind drifted. “Seriously, Laverne, who wanted to read about mommy, 5 and 7 year old kid trials…”
As quickly as the email was sent a few Facebook updates shared the same link and their personal excitement to have a chance to be an author in the next book. Excited for the chance for a friend’s voice to be published in a book, to see her stories, I type how excited I was to see what she would write in the upcoming year.
I smiled as I hit the POST key and my mind began to swirl.
Write…Wow, I haven’t seriously written in a long time. I think to myself. I love to draw though. I’ve had so much fun drawing. I never want to loose that. It is so hard to balance both. Shouldn’t I just focus on one? How can I focus on one when I love both so much? My thoughts continue to swirl. Is it really about the drawing? Have I lost my nerve? Is my voice enough? Are my words special enough? Will anyone hear them? Will anyone see them? Will they matter to anyone but me?
My thoughts begin to consume me, their evil whispers, the words that keep me from writing, that tell me not to bother.
A text comes in on my phone.
My lips curl into a half smile as I read it and I close my eyes.
She’s right, I thought. Let the fear go. Write for yourself. Write often. Just let it go. Remember all of the healing, the joy, the pleasure stringing together words to paint a picture for others to be embraced by brings you. It is this voice that has given you so very much, I remind myself.
My eyes surprise me and swell with tears.
the words say…
