A few weeks ago, on March 25th, I vicariously enjoyed the excitement of all the writers receiving calls about the Golden Heart and RITA contest. Even though I hadn't entered a manuscript, I felt the same tingling nerves and jittery anticipation as people awaited calls. I shared the joy of those who got calls and felt the pain of those whose phone didn't ring. I've been on both sides and know the feelings well.
Fast forward to this week. Or maybe rewind to the end of February. It's been a long time since I entered anything in a contest, but back in February, I made the decision to submit an entry to ACFW's Genesis contest. It was a risk, a leap of faith to seek feedback for a new direction I'm taking in my writing. I didn't have high expectations, just hope.
I was brave enough to hit send, but a total coward about the results so I purposely didn't pay attention to the date when the semi-finalists would be announced. No pressure, no expectations, right?
Wrong!
Two days ago I was reading something on the ACFW website and noticed that semi-finalists were due to be announced this week.
I really didn't want to know that.
Good news - Thursday was so busy that I forgot all about it,
Bad news - I woke up this morning and remembered.
But then a funny thing happened. I was sitting reading a Lenten meditation this morning and the message was all about not needing approval from others. Timely reminder, I told myself. This is my clue not to be disappointed when I don't get a call today.
Um, sure.
I need to pray more for help with that!
Today was another busy day at school, but I have to admit, every once in a while I'd glance at my phone to see if maybe, by some impossibly remote chance, I'd gotten a call.
Nope. Nada. Zilch.
Then it was lunch time. Still no call. Now I resigned myself to not making it and deliberately put it out of my mind. Tried to remind myself about not needing the approval of others.
And there I was, standing at the Smartboard, teaching a lesson on fractions, when all of a sudden the phone in my back pocket started ringing. The display was a number I didn't know. Dare I hope???
The kids must have wondered what it was about fractions that suddenly had their teacher grinning like a fool.
Oh the suspense until I had a break and could actually listen to the message.
"Congratulations!" the voice said.
WOW!!!!!!
What a feeling.
Suddenly I was no longer worried about the state of publishing or the many solitary hours spent staring at a screen.
That thrill, that absolute euphoria that comes from knowing that someone has read your work and liked it enough to give a great score, that is an absolutely indescribable joy.
I'm still smiling.
Oh - the black beans part of the title - today is my day over at Healthy Writer.com and the topic is healthy recipes for black beans
Let's chat.
Saturday, April 9, 2011
Saturday, March 19, 2011
Busy Busy Busy and Eating Healthy Food
My apologies for not being a better blogger. School is very busy at the moment and the children deserve my full attention.
However, it's Saturday so it's a Healthy Writer Blog day. Today - the superfood - Avocados.
Hope it's a great day for you!
However, it's Saturday so it's a Healthy Writer Blog day. Today - the superfood - Avocados.
Saturday, March 5, 2011
Healthy Writer Day Again and Borders
1st Saturday in March and I'm blogging over at Healthy Writer about great recipes and reasons for eating cabbage!
In other news... I just visited the Borders at 100 Wall Street, probably for the last time since that store is closing. So sad. :(
Over break last week I was cleaning out a cabinet and came across an old writing journal. I had this entry - "June 12, 2003 - Borders opened today."
The entry goes on to wonder about possibly seeing my books on the shelf there. That won't happen now, but that's a minor point. I love the diversity of books at this store; there's such a fabulous selection. I felt very sad shopping there today - such a different feeling from the last time I was there which was the day before the closing was announced.
In other news... I just visited the Borders at 100 Wall Street, probably for the last time since that store is closing. So sad. :(
Over break last week I was cleaning out a cabinet and came across an old writing journal. I had this entry - "June 12, 2003 - Borders opened today."
The entry goes on to wonder about possibly seeing my books on the shelf there. That won't happen now, but that's a minor point. I love the diversity of books at this store; there's such a fabulous selection. I felt very sad shopping there today - such a different feeling from the last time I was there which was the day before the closing was announced.
Monday, February 21, 2011
Whatever you are, be a good one.
Yesterday I walked past a sign posted outside a shop. It said -
"Whatever you are, be a good one."
— Abraham Lincoln
As I walked, I couldn't help but think that finally I had a topic for this blog for today.
Hard on the heels of that thought came questions.
What am I? And am I a good one?
I'm a wife. I try to be a good one. Sometimes I am, sometimes I could do better.
I'm a mother. My children think I'm a good one. They're adults now - lovely, hard working young women and they're still happy to be at home, so I guess in trying my best to be a good mother, I succeeded (though I'm only too aware of all the ways I could have been better).
I'm a teacher - again I strive to be the best for my students, to meet their needs and infuse into them a love of learning. Their parents consider me to be a good one, but again, I'm all too aware of what I could do better. I keep trying.
As a writer - let's just call me a work in progress.
As a blogger - not so good - more on that to come tomorrow (aaah - another blog topic! YAY!!!)
As a child of God - another work in progress and something I'm better at some days than others.
What about you?
What are you? Are you good at it?
I hope you have a wonderful day!
"Whatever you are, be a good one."
— Abraham Lincoln
As I walked, I couldn't help but think that finally I had a topic for this blog for today.
Hard on the heels of that thought came questions.
What am I? And am I a good one?
I'm a wife. I try to be a good one. Sometimes I am, sometimes I could do better.
I'm a mother. My children think I'm a good one. They're adults now - lovely, hard working young women and they're still happy to be at home, so I guess in trying my best to be a good mother, I succeeded (though I'm only too aware of all the ways I could have been better).
I'm a teacher - again I strive to be the best for my students, to meet their needs and infuse into them a love of learning. Their parents consider me to be a good one, but again, I'm all too aware of what I could do better. I keep trying.
As a writer - let's just call me a work in progress.
As a blogger - not so good - more on that to come tomorrow (aaah - another blog topic! YAY!!!)
As a child of God - another work in progress and something I'm better at some days than others.
What about you?
What are you? Are you good at it?
I hope you have a wonderful day!
Saturday, February 5, 2011
Another Healthy Writer Blog
This has been one of those busy weeks at school that leaves me crawling home in a state of exhaustion at night. Hence no new blogs here this week though I did meet my writing goal each today.
Since it's Saturday, there's another vegetable blog over on HealthyWriter.com.
The vegetable du jour is Carrots!
I have to admit, I was stunned to find they had so many health benefits.
I'm also amused by some of the advertising to entice kids to eat carrots.
Since it's Saturday, there's another vegetable blog over on HealthyWriter.com.
The vegetable du jour is Carrots!
I have to admit, I was stunned to find they had so many health benefits.
I'm also amused by some of the advertising to entice kids to eat carrots.
Saturday, January 29, 2011
Healthy Writer Day
Blogging over at HealthyWriter.com today about fabulous kale recipes.
Love Kale, come share your recipes.
Never tried it? Come find out about this delicious superfood!
http://www.healthywriter.com/
Love Kale, come share your recipes.
Never tried it? Come find out about this delicious superfood!
http://www.healthywriter.com/
Wednesday, January 12, 2011
Honoring Books
You could feel the excitement brewing in my classroom on Monday morning. The kids were watching the clock and kept asking, "Is it time yet?"
They weren't waiting for gym class or snack or lunch (the things that usually prompt that question).
No, they were waiting for me to say it was time to turn on the webcast for the 2011 Newbery Awards.
How cool is that? My 4th graders were so excited to see what book had won the coveted award.
I was absorbed in something else when 10:30 hit so one of the children came over to tell me, "It's time to log on."
They promptly sat glued to the computer for the next hour and a half as one after another, the ALA Youth Media Awards were announced. They cheered when they heard a book or author's name they recognized. They commented when an unknown title caught their attention.
Some drifted away from time to time to read independently or work on some math problems as it became apparent that the BIG awards wouldn't come til the end, but a surprising number (mostly boys) hung out to the very end, even begging to eat lunch in the classroom so they wouldn't miss the Newbery Award.
We're doing a unit on award-winning books this month so the children plan on reading as many current and past award-winning books as they can. Their enthusiasm for the project was fueled by watching the webcast. That's the power of exposure.
Sadly, today I learned that not everyone shares the excitement. Forgive my rant.
This message was posted today on the YALSA blog:
I'm tempted to look at what was on Today, but that will likely only depress me more. Instead, I'll choose to celebrate that my 22 students were nourished and supported as readers by watching the webcast. If enough students learn to love literature and develop a respect and enthusiasm for books, then hopefully, in the future, shows like Today won't cite "lack of interest" as a reason for not featuring and celebrating authors.
They weren't waiting for gym class or snack or lunch (the things that usually prompt that question).
No, they were waiting for me to say it was time to turn on the webcast for the 2011 Newbery Awards.
How cool is that? My 4th graders were so excited to see what book had won the coveted award.
I was absorbed in something else when 10:30 hit so one of the children came over to tell me, "It's time to log on."
They promptly sat glued to the computer for the next hour and a half as one after another, the ALA Youth Media Awards were announced. They cheered when they heard a book or author's name they recognized. They commented when an unknown title caught their attention.
Some drifted away from time to time to read independently or work on some math problems as it became apparent that the BIG awards wouldn't come til the end, but a surprising number (mostly boys) hung out to the very end, even begging to eat lunch in the classroom so they wouldn't miss the Newbery Award.
We're doing a unit on award-winning books this month so the children plan on reading as many current and past award-winning books as they can. Their enthusiasm for the project was fueled by watching the webcast. That's the power of exposure.
Sadly, today I learned that not everyone shares the excitement. Forgive my rant.
This message was posted today on the YALSA blog:
Yesterday, many a fan of children’s and young adult literature tuned into Today, expecting to see a segment on ALA’s recently announced Youth Media Awards, featuring the authors of the Newbery and Caldecott, as well as a representative from ALA to discuss the awards. This year, along with the authors, YALSA’s own Sarah Debraski was pitched to lead viewers through a new year of outstanding books for children and teens, just as many ALA leaders have for the past eleven years.
Unfortunately, this year, Today turned ALA’s pitch down, citing a lack of interest and scheduling problems.
It’s a unfortunate that the YMAs weren’t able to make the cut this year, but we do appreciate the many years that Today chose to feature the awards.
I'm tempted to look at what was on Today, but that will likely only depress me more. Instead, I'll choose to celebrate that my 22 students were nourished and supported as readers by watching the webcast. If enough students learn to love literature and develop a respect and enthusiasm for books, then hopefully, in the future, shows like Today won't cite "lack of interest" as a reason for not featuring and celebrating authors.
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