About seven years ago, I submitted an essay to an anthology. The editor accepted it! My first acceptance! I told everyone. When I checked the publications website, my essay wasn't there. I sent the editor and email, and she apologize profusely. The postings were still in progress. Of course it would be there. She assured …
Continue reading neurotic writer encouraged to new neurotic heights
I've been staring at a mountain of words. Maybe it is a pit of words. No. An ocean of words. Everyone says to just start. Pick up a story and start the rewrites, the editing, the polishing, the reconstructing. Yes. I know. Take baby steps. Take a deep breath. Dive in. I feel a bit …
My husband and I are in the car on the way to his mother's house. It is my husband's birthday. I'm driving. He calls his to tell her we are about half an hour away, and I hear mention apple pie. When he hangs up, I ask, "She made apple pie for your birthday?" "Yes," …
I saw who the email was from and sighed. How will this rejection be? I wonder and click on the message, face slightly turned away, wincing. We would love to have your story appear in our 13th issue, scheduled for publication in May 2011. It will be another week or so before I can send …
Memory is a trickster. Your memory is likely not what you think. Mine doesn't half tell me what I want to know, and sometimes it holds my present mind hostage. You may know that old post of mine about the man at my window. Like with many life stories I've posted here, I did not …
New Year's Eve I finished reading Girls of a Tender Age, a compelling and disturbing memoir. Mary-Ann Tirone-Smith writes about her childhood and the murder of a childhood friend. The story would've caught me even if a classmate of mine* hadn't been murdered back when I was in the eighth grade. She was not my …
A pain expands in my chest when I read or hear great writing I wish I had written. This is not a metaphorical pain. And like wishing for money to solve financial problems or for a pill to vanquish food poisoning, I wish to have written something brilliant. Why does it matter?
I've watched this new Sherlock series--and enjoyed greatly. Since childhood I've loved mysteries: Sherlock Holmes, Perry Mason, Agatha Christie,... Scooby-Doo. But anyway, Sherlock is possibly the most filmed literary character ever. What makes this character fascinating? And when I watch the new Sherlock dash across the screen, I wonder about the ability of Sir Authur …
When my son was five, he made friends with a boy who was nine. We were neighbors. The boy lived in a one-bedroom apartment with his dad. The boy spent a lot of time with us. One day he showed up at noon and didn't go home until eight. Not once in those hours did …
Today, I got see a few of my Saudi students without their veils. The women had a private party--no men allowed. Windows were covered, doors blocked off, signs of no admittance posted. They wore pretty dresses, make-up, jewelry, and they prepared special food and they danced. I missed the dancing, but I got to see …
Marta Bacon 