Skip to main content

Ragged Nails: A Post about Artist Insecurities

Merry Christmas Eve!  I hope your holidays are bright!!!


     My contest entry has been in Rooglewood's hands for 5 days.  My mental status has gone from the over-the-top excited and relieved when I first submitted it...to a steady optimism that my story actually might have a decent chance this year...to a closed-off state where I was convinced that I didn't even need to worry about it until next April...to today.

     Today I am tore up with the certain feeling of my stories significant and amateur flaws.  Who would read this?  How can this compare to the other amazing authors chosen by Rooglewood?  What was I thinking to submit such a meager tale?

     I do this every year.  And it is a passing feeling. I know it is.  The artist cycle is something I've talked about before on this blog.  It helps to know that this is normal and that I will be excited about my story again tomorrow.

    But, oh, those other authors are so intimidating!

    How are you guys holding up?  Still feeling confident?  Having some emotional ups and downs?  Do share!  What do you do to keep from chewing your nails ragged while your story is traveling through the judges?


Comments

  1. You have no reason to worry, Esther! Your story was beautiful, deep, and layered. You are one of those intimidating authors to me. I can't see them not picking yours.

    I am still freaking out myself.

    ReplyDelete
  2. You don't need to worry either, Skye. Your story is going to impress some judges for sure.
    But, yes,... Yay for freaking out together. Here's some confetti for the occasion! :/ :D Only 86 more days of suspense!
    You are awesome, Skye. <3

    ReplyDelete
  3. You're story is a winner. I was AMAZED by it. Personally, I would read your story over and over again. You have no reason to fret

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

More Snippets from Snow White Rose Red

    One of the shadows moved.   “Were you just going to chuck it in there with no thought for the poor folks on the other side?”   Flip’s voice drawled out.   It was a deep voice and it made my heart skip a beat.      He moved away from the trees and came to stand in front of me.   “Some hard-working fellow is plowing his field and then – whop!   Out of nowhere, a poisoned apple flies out and hits him upside the head.”   He clucked his tongue reproachfully.

A Short Story Break

via Pinterest     It has been a while since I penned a short story.  Usually it takes something like a "short story contest" to inspire me.  But I have noticed my writing skills improve with each contest so there is something to be said for writing short stories.      I say all this to lead into the fact that I am going to try another short story.  There is no contest looming on the horizon, but it has been so long that I think I am due to write a short piece.  Life cannot be entirely devoted to novel-length plots...      I am rolling around different ideas in my head.  There is no one to give me the first three words or a picture to base my story on.  There are no restrictions, no props, and no judges.      Methinks I will try something that is both epic and ordinary...something I have seen before.  After all, personal experience, great things, and the expression of the...

The Countdown: Eight Days

Eight days.  Do you know what that means?  Barely over a week.  Tomorrow will be one week from the announcement date. Are you excited? I am. So, today, I want to talk to those who wrote something for the contest, whether or not you entered it in the end. What made you start writing your story?  What was the first inkling of an idea that tickled your brain?  What was it that you liked about your premise?  As you wrote, did you have a favorite character or a favorite scene?  And are you glad you wrote it down?  Do you feel like you learned and grew in your ability as a writer as you tried out things for this contest? And, if your story isn't included in this year's Rooglewood anthology (either because you didn't submit it or because it didn't fit with the other four stories selected), what will you do with it?  Will you market it elsewhere?  Or will you lock it away in a drawer?