Busier Than I Knew

A little while ago, I was feeling sort of blue because I had friends who were saying "I have 25 pieces ready to be put into the pipeline..." and things of that nature. When people say that they have tons of material that they've written and are sending out, I feel the lack of writing time in my life keenly. I'd like nothing better than to be able to do nothing but write, but it's unlikely to happen.

On the other hand, I was searching through my documents folder for something and I came across two pieces that I had written a few months ago and then utterly forgotten about.

It's like finding a fiver in your pocket.

We Have a Winner!

I came home from doing a reading at the California Writers' Club open mike to find two envelopes that had my address label on them - obvious SASEs from previous submissions.

"Ah, well," I thought. "Another couple of rejections."

The first one was exactly what I expected - the cover letter I had sent along with a rejection printed on something larger than a business card, but smaller than an index card. Not the worst thing I've gotten.

The second envelope had the word "yes" stamped in green ink on the front. I looked at it and thought "Wouldn't it be cool if that meant an acceptance," but dismissed the thought because acceptances are in thicker envelopes. Or something.

I opened the envelope and pulled out a pink photocopy, trifolded, called "List of Winners for the 2005 Soul-Making Literary Competition." I started looking at the categories, because I didn't remember off the top of my head what I submitted to them. Under "Sheila K. Smith Short Story Prize" was my name under second prize. Yup, I won second prize.

On the back of the pamphlet was this notice:

"In keeping with our ongoing tradition, every prize winner and honorable mention is invited to read from his or her winning works at the

Soul-Making Literary Competition Awards Reading
Sunday Afternoon (1:00 pm)
March 12, 2006
Koret Auditorium
San Francisco Main Library, Civic Center
Program includes dance and music performances and art exhibit and will be televised for future viewing on Access San Francisco Channel 29.
Event includes a reception and is free and open to the public."

Hint. Hint.