Blonde Ambition

I made the finals in Accentuate’s short story contest.

Phew! I was nervous. I still am. There were a lot more entries this time and I am competing against some very talented writers.

The writing contests have grown each time at Accentuate. As the forum grows, more writers try their hand at competing. More members are getting up the nerve to submit an entry. It has been amazing to watch. It is inspiring to see people grow with their writing.

I joined Accentuate in February of this year. I remember feeling like I was walking in shoes that were too big for me when I first joined. I was a dabbler…I dabbled in writing. I had the dream…I still do. But the thought of turning it into something lucrative was so far down the road in my mind that it was just a hazy dream.

Now I have started turning it into something. I have learned so much in such a short amount of time. I think I have shown improvement.

With each contest that I’ve entered there, I have advanced further. Even if I don’t make it any further than where I am right now with this contest, I still see it as an improvement because there was so much talent submitted by other writers.

Of course, I’d still like to win. Who wouldn’t? First place gets $300, their story published in the anthology due out in February, and their name on the cover of that book. I think my name would look damn good on the cover…but maybe that’s just me (hehehe).

Winners will be announced Friday. Woot!

Every once in awhile, if you listen with your heart, I think you can hear the Universe talking to you.

Thirteen years ago, I started dating a man that I loved deeply. We had dated before, but due to circumstances beyond our control, it didn’t work out. A couple years after that, we were given another chance to make it work.

I ended up pregnant immediately.

I’ll admit, at first it was an “Oh, sh*t” moment. But I soon realized that it was the Universe telling me, “Here…don’t screw this up”. Even though we are no longer married, he is still a wonderful father and I know I am lucky to have had children with him.

Now, thirteen years later, the Universe has once again spoken.

I have been wishy-washy about quitting my part time job to see what I can do with my writing. It’s something I’ve always wanted, but have dragged my feet on. I have multiple resources available to me, and several people telling me that I can do it and be successful. But still I hesitated.

Until this week.

This week, I found out that they will be closing the doors to my part time job in less than two weeks. So my choices are to either find another part time job to fill the financial void, or actually follow my heart and start writing.

I’m going to follow my heart. I’m also going to listen with my heart…because if I’m quiet enough, I can hear the Universe telling me in that mysterious way…

“Here, don’t screw it up.”