Something Good


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This week something good happened to me. Let me explain...

I try to define my identity as a writer as first a novelist, second a blogger, and third, a sporadic submitter of articles to magazines and websites whenever I feel sufficiently inspired. I have to keep this pecking order straight in my own head as to ensure I am putting the majority of my time toward the projects that will mean most to me in the long run. But this week the universe got that pecking order all mixed up.

I've been toiling away at my novel for more than five years, and each year I think, this has to be my year. And then December turns into January and I realize that I can do better. It's just not quite there yet. In this way writing is like hiking. You see the "summit" ahead of you and climb like crazy to get there, only to find out that it was only a ridge, and the true summit is still miles away. I'm told that that is how most novelists feel most of the time, so I guess I'd better get used to it.

And what can I say about my blog, except that I love doing it. The 27 notebooks stashed around my house are suffering from dust and neglect these past few months since blogging seems to be the quintessential Notebook of all notebooks.

And that brings me to my random articles, which brings me to my good news. A few weeks ago I submitted an article to the website The Power of Moms and it was selected as their feature article for the month of May. In case you aren't familiar with The Power of Moms, here is a blurb from their website that summarizes what they're all about:

Just as members of other “professions” have their professional organizations and websites, we see The Power of Moms as the “professional organization” for mothers everywhere who take their “job” as a mother very seriously and desire a network of other mothers that can provide ideas, inspiration and empowerment.

I think it's so important to support and affirm the role of mothers, their creativity, their responsibilities, and all of the complexities that come with the job description. I'm particularly excited to write for The Power of Moms because it's an opportunity for two of my "worlds" to intersect. I am a mom, and I am a writer. And suddenly those two things are going to be happening on the same page!

I'll post the link to my article when it comes out in May. But in the meantime, this was a great reminder to me that sometimes things don't happen in the order I've prescribed. And even if it's not the exact summit I had in mind, the view from this ridge is one that I'm enjoying! 

Comments

  1. Woo hoo! Published author! Congrats!

    I've got an article sitting here on my desk that I'll be sending out this morning to Cricket magazine. It's a bit of a daunting task, but you know what they say ... just like a turtle, you'll never get anywhere if you don't stick your neck out.

    Very proud of you, Lauren.

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  2. Keep me posted about Cricket! It's fun to have a writer friend taking the same sort of risks!

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  3. I'm so proud of you! Can't wait to read the article!

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