I recently wrote a short story for a contest. I didn’t win, but I’m glad I wrote it. The process took me on an interesting journey of the soul.
If you stop by this journal with any regularity, then you know I’m turning 50 this year. My parents are healthy, but showing signs of their age. My daughter is about to get married. All these realities looked over my shoulder as I wrote.
Long before the contest results were announced I e-mailed the story to Grace and Curtis. They read it separately and both cried. Neither could stop thinking about it. So they talked. About who they are now and who they will be and what it will take to live the promises they’re about to make.
Words serve many purposes, and I think I understand why I wrote these. By the time the results were posted, I didn’t mind not winning the contest.
If you’d like to read the story, you can find it here. Feel free to leave a comment and let me know what you think.
My goodness, Jean, this was gorgeous. Thank you for sharing. It was beautiful. I hope one day I’m this lucky.
A
Thank you so much for taking the time to read it, Allen. And thanks for such a lovely response. It means a lot to me.
Contest
Where else are people posting their stories from the contest? I would love to read others and maybe put mine out. I agree wholeheartedly with your comments on the FIF comment board. I think I may have been too literal with mine, but I would still love to hear what people think about the story and would love to read other stories that were a little more literal than some of the stories of merit.
Really liked your story, btw.
Also, my name’s Gina, I’m a friend of Mike Snyder’s, just so you won’t think I’m some weird crackpot, lurking on your blog. Well, I’m friends with Mike, so I AM a little bit of a weird crackpot. But then, so are you – friends with Mike, I mean.
Re: Contest
Hi, Gina! Nice to meet you. I happily own both labels: friend of Mike and weird crackpot. Welcome to my weirdness.
Dee Stewart posted her story on her blog. I don’t know of any others posted, but I’d love to read them. It’s fascinating to see how people interpret a theme and where their thoughts take them once a story seed is planted.
Thanks for stopping by, Gina. Let me know if you post your story.
Re: Contest
Love to post it, however, I don’t have a blog – so can’t post it cuz’ I’m a lurker that hasn’t made the time to enter the blogosphere with anything but a smart alec comment here or there.
I’m a sad writer with no readers or writers in her own life, so alas, nowhere to post nuthin’ – doomed to wish I had MasterArtist or FIF type people in my own city.
I have recently met Michelle in the world of blog, however, and of course, Mike reads stuff. But here at home, I’m my own little weirdo whose friends wonder what is up with reading 3 books a week and trying to write.
So I won’t be a Daily Sacrament story poster unless there ends up a place to post without creating my own blog.
Love your blog though, started reading it after I read your comments at FIF. Plus, I always think your posts on MA are terrific. Maybe we’ll run into each other at a conference one day!
Re: Contest
Thanks so much, Gina! I’m always honored to find out someone reads my blog or appreciates what I’ve posted elsewhere.
Maybe you should get Mike to post your story. He never updates his blog, so you’d be helping him out by giving him something to post. 🙂
No way!
Did you say 50? I don’t believe it!!
Your beautiful story gave me goosebumps. Thanks for sharing it.
Melanie D.
Re: Contest
Hah, I finally come out to play in blogland again and find my name being smacked around like a tetherball…in a good way of course. (Hi Gina.)
Just wanted to say what an awesome story you wrote Jeanne. Loved it. Thanks for sharing it with the rest of us.
Mike