Celebrations

Being part of the larger writing community is essential for writers. We support each other, we learn from each other, and we celebrate each other.

In May, I joined the Florida Writers Association (FWA). A part of their monthly newsletter, The Florida Writer, is a celebrations page showcasing new publications by members. I took the chance and submitted Molly - and surprise! Molly the Mockingbird was highlighted in the June 2025 issue (Volume 19, Number 3). The accolade definitely fluffed my feathers, making me feel proud of the work Barbara Falvey and I did to make our book come to life.

Two months later and my feathers are feeling wet and soggy - similar to Molly’s when she tried to be like the anhinga. Two of four writing contests I entered this spring sent me their rejection letters on the same day. Double whammy. Arrow to the heart.

I should not feel so dejected. I have been on the winning side of contests - several. I cannot win them all, nor would I want to. I also understand that writing is subjective; not every judge will relate to my work. And yet, every time I submit a part of myself out to the world only to have it declined, I can’t help but fall into a funk. I worked so hard! I really thought this story/poem was the one! And I waited so long to hear back from the organization…

This is where the larger writing community comes into play. It might seem like writers are in competition, but that truly is like the comparison of apples to oranges. We just are not the same. We are unique. We all deserve celebration.

To my fellow writers - I see you. I hear your words. And I applaud you for baring your soul, for pushing yourself to greatness, for running the contest or publication gauntlet and surviving the flogging. Most importantly, I thank you for sharing your stories.