The Pursuit of Greatness

After mulling it over in my head for a bit, I finally decided to do it. I figured I may as well take the chance. Blog world, I am submitting my story into the 16th Annual Writer’s Digest Short Short Story competition. The entry fee is decently cheap, and it’s something I feel I need to do as a writer with big aspirations. I need to push myself out there and get my writing read more. Do I want a bunch of random, possibly know-it-all judges to criticize and break apart my story? Ehhh….I don’t really mind. May as well get used to that since publishing a book can be a harsh experience with a lot of rejection.

I did a little research to see what the judges were looking for. I read several of the stories that placed through the years. Honestly, I didn’t like most of them. In fact, a lot of them were slightly boring. Their redeeming factor was the excellent writing and description, but if I were judging, I’d want a story that not only has great description but is superbly interesting enough to draw me in from beginning to closing sentence. I didn’t see that with most of them. I guess if I don’t place I can just say that my story was too interesting for them? Just a thought 😉

Thinking about the thousands of submissions that are going to be read by these judges deters me a bit. What if mine is forgotten in the milieu? What if mine isn’t fairly judged because the person that reads it isn’t into the subject matter I chose? Those are the silly things I ponder on as I write my story. Either way, I can look back and be proud of myself for being brave enough to do it.

I did it once before actually. I submitted a long poem into the poetry category. Of course, I mainly chose this category because I was too lazy to come up with a story. This time around, I’m putting thought, care and excellence into my story so that when it’s all said and done, I can sit back and know I gave it my best. I chose to go into the thriller category, because thrillers are on my list of favorite genres. What I have so far is pretty good if I say so myself.

If someone with a perfectly boring story can win it, why can’t I? I have to stay positive in such a competitive field. I have to make myself heard and make people desire more of my words. I have to try and try and try. Through all the failure, rejection and tears, I will learn strength and persistence and patience. I will grow stronger in my pursuit of being an author. In fact, I will make it. I will make it there some day because I never quit.

So join me in making it happen. Join me in saying, “Impossible doesn’t apply to me.” Join me in the pursuit of making our dreams come true.

Advertisement