Apparently I can write sometimes?
Okay. So I know I owe you guys a legit update entry at some point, but I did want to make sure that I documented this one thing before I inevitably forgot to. ^_^; So when I got that e-mail that said I'd won that writing award, it came with an invitation to a ceremony for the people being published where everyone would read their stories. I said I would, because really, how often am I really going to be able to do that? In the moment, I thought it was pretty cool. I didn't consider my social phobia until later. Whoops?
The ceremony was this past Thursday. I got there and saw my English Comp teacher, who was the one who encouraged me to submit something to begin with. The following (somewhat paraphrased) conversation ensued:
Mr. K: HI :D HOW ARE YOU?
Me: Uh, pretty sure I'm going to be sick.
Woman at the table signing writers in: Let me guess, you're reading.
Me: *everyone laughs* Gee, how could you tell?
I got signed in and got my copy of the magazine (I will provide a flocked link when they update the site with the correct issue), which with the colors/font they chose looks a little... er.. 90's, but WHATEVER. XD I sat down and tried to breathe. There were a TON of people there. When asked on Facebook, I said that I thought it was about 50-60, but I realized after that it couldn't have POSSIBLY been that little and it had to have been at least 200 people. Holy christ. I must've looked green or something, because at one point before everything started, Mr. K sat next to me and was like, "Are you okay?" "No, not really." "Well, just remember that everybody here appreciates good writing. And you're a really good writer, so... enjoy the moment." Which I thought was sweet, if not a little misplaced. XD
Anyway, everything started, and first they had this writer they'd invited to speak, Marion Roach Smith, and she was a lot of fun. She also released a new book recently (The Memoir Project: A Thoroughly Non-Standardized Text For Writing & Life) and she gave a free signed copy to each of the 6 people who got an award, plus the girl that took the picture that got on the cover. So that was pretty cool even if I'd never heard of her before. XD (For the record, my inscription says: "For *real name*- A fine writer. Keep at it." She said something to each of us about what our stories reminded her about writing as she gave us the books, but I honestly couldn't tell you what she said, I was in a panic-induced haze by that point. I want to say it was something about being an expert in your subject every time you write, or something? But that's just a guess. XD I got the award (which also came with a $75 check, which I wasn't expecting, so that was nice!), and once all that stuff was done, was the reading. Oh yeah, and since I had first place, that meant I went first. O_O I shook literally from head to toe the entire time, I probably looked like I was having a seizure, but I made it through it without passing out or throwing up, so I'll count that as a victory. And I had several people tell me how much they loved the story, and "powerful" was used a few times, so that was pretty cool too.
So overall it was a pretty positive experience, even though it scared the living hell out of me and I was STILL shaking two hours later. And I declined the RSVP for taking part in the two ceremonies I was invited to for next week- I'm done triggering my social anxiety that badly for a while, thanks. ^_^;;;
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This has been crossposted to my DW account. You are free to comment either here or there, if you'd like to comment. Preferably here, but it doesn't really matter. Whichever one works for you. :D
The ceremony was this past Thursday. I got there and saw my English Comp teacher, who was the one who encouraged me to submit something to begin with. The following (somewhat paraphrased) conversation ensued:
Mr. K: HI :D HOW ARE YOU?
Me: Uh, pretty sure I'm going to be sick.
Woman at the table signing writers in: Let me guess, you're reading.
Me: *everyone laughs* Gee, how could you tell?
I got signed in and got my copy of the magazine (I will provide a flocked link when they update the site with the correct issue), which with the colors/font they chose looks a little... er.. 90's, but WHATEVER. XD I sat down and tried to breathe. There were a TON of people there. When asked on Facebook, I said that I thought it was about 50-60, but I realized after that it couldn't have POSSIBLY been that little and it had to have been at least 200 people. Holy christ. I must've looked green or something, because at one point before everything started, Mr. K sat next to me and was like, "Are you okay?" "No, not really." "Well, just remember that everybody here appreciates good writing. And you're a really good writer, so... enjoy the moment." Which I thought was sweet, if not a little misplaced. XD
Anyway, everything started, and first they had this writer they'd invited to speak, Marion Roach Smith, and she was a lot of fun. She also released a new book recently (The Memoir Project: A Thoroughly Non-Standardized Text For Writing & Life) and she gave a free signed copy to each of the 6 people who got an award, plus the girl that took the picture that got on the cover. So that was pretty cool even if I'd never heard of her before. XD (For the record, my inscription says: "For *real name*- A fine writer. Keep at it." She said something to each of us about what our stories reminded her about writing as she gave us the books, but I honestly couldn't tell you what she said, I was in a panic-induced haze by that point. I want to say it was something about being an expert in your subject every time you write, or something? But that's just a guess. XD I got the award (which also came with a $75 check, which I wasn't expecting, so that was nice!), and once all that stuff was done, was the reading. Oh yeah, and since I had first place, that meant I went first. O_O I shook literally from head to toe the entire time, I probably looked like I was having a seizure, but I made it through it without passing out or throwing up, so I'll count that as a victory. And I had several people tell me how much they loved the story, and "powerful" was used a few times, so that was pretty cool too.
So overall it was a pretty positive experience, even though it scared the living hell out of me and I was STILL shaking two hours later. And I declined the RSVP for taking part in the two ceremonies I was invited to for next week- I'm done triggering my social anxiety that badly for a while, thanks. ^_^;;;
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This has been crossposted to my DW account. You are free to comment either here or there, if you'd like to comment. Preferably here, but it doesn't really matter. Whichever one works for you. :D