Making this a bit short today, but want to congratulate so many friends on their success in the Arkansas Writers’ Conference competition.  Members of my writing group – Kim, Dot, Patsy, Del, Gary, and Jason –  brought home a total of 26 awards…that’s just awesome.   I’ve seen photos on Facebook of other friends who were there - Faye, Dorothy, Jim,  and many others.

It takes courage to expose your work and let it be judged.  That first contest.  The first submission.  It’s like a mother standing in a doorway, watching her baby board the school bus. You know you have to let them go, but it seems way too soon.  Whether it’s for this conference, or the next, or a competition you heard of in a magazine, it’s still a little scary – yet invigorating.

There is so much competition in writing that you’d think we’d all be stabbing each other in the back and sulking when others do well and we don’t.  But it seems (at least, in MY circle of writer-friends) that just the opposite happens.  When a friend does well, we all celebrate.  Every time a friend’s name is in a byline, on a book, or mentioned in an article. we do a little victory dance in our hearts.

I’m proud to be in the company of writers.  Writers who share their experiences.  Writers who share knowledge.  Writers who know creating is a process, and who work hard at it.  It’s a craft that is often not fully recognized.

So….Kudos to those who take home awards, from anywhere.  Hats off to those who enter or submit.  You all have accomplished something.