I should be in Abilene Texas right now, but I'm not. I had been told I would be forced to go, but then I spoke to my mom privately about it and told her I really did not want to go and she allowed me to stay home. I had a final for my playwriting class yesterday so that was enough to convince my dad that I had to stay. I mean, he would have made me go, but to have spent 75 dollars for this class and then have me miss the final. That he was not very comfortable with. So here I am to bug you all another day.:)

I got an email from the head of the Writer's Day Contest at my school announcing who had won the Writing competition. I submitted three articles. A critical essay I did on Edgar Allan Poe, A 16 line poem and a fictional story. Of all of the articles I submitted, none of them won. I will admit I was a little disappointed when I was not listed anywhere on the winner's list, but after a few moments I stood up and said, "I'll get them next year" and decided that that would drive me to write better. I came to an awkward realization. Yes, I say awkward because how it came about was incredibly awkward. I am convinced my future is in writing...and I believe it more and more as the rejection letters and bad reviews flow in. Why? I guess it's the whole drive to do better. Rejection letters mean no more than sand being thrown at my face. Yes, it's irritating for awhile..but it does not render me helpless. Bad reviews? I prefer bad reviews to good ones. Good ones are nice, but bad reviews push me to do better, to reach down into my being and twist my ears to do that which I hate. It is all in the name of getting a universal picture across and if that picture is foggy then I need to work harder. I take the fact that I did not win in stride. I would have never submitted anything to anyone if they had asked me a year ago. Jay can vouch for that since he practically begged me nonstop for a week before I finally caved and gave in. My writing was personal. It was therapy. It was the one thing that I could do no matter what mood I was in...and I did not want to share that with anyone.

Now what am I doing?
I have a website where I post my fiction.
I have a Deviant art which has various pieces of my writing.
I have a fanfiction that (though I rarely update) is still up and kicking
I have a thousand word documents containing some sort of fiction/writing of mine..which I do not feel self conscious and stand by.
I have four people who actively ask to read my fiction, and all of which I comply with.

What started out as a personal hobby is now making me blossom into a professional, and for that I am grateful.

I've grown up this year...and I can only be thankful for that. Sure, I didn't get three hundred dollars, but I will one of these days. That I can promise.

Let's see...what else has happened since I last wrote...

My beagle and I have started agility class together. She's a natural. She is still learning and is a little afraid of the see-saw, but so far her agility repretoire has been: weave poles, low jumps, high jumps, chute, tunnel, A frame and catwalk. All of that was learned in just one day. She's really loving the whole thing and I am too because now she is much easier to control when walking. I don't know why..but I guess she's finally given up her drive to be the leader and she walks beside me whenever I take her out on a walk. She doesn't pull, she doesn't jump, she doesn't bark. She's calm...and submissive...and for that I am grateful.

And last but not least...

Within a week I am to expect an email from my professor of Playwriting which will tell me what needs to be fixed about a certain play so that it will be performed in Winter 2009. Let's hope one of my plays makes it. I'm crossing my fingers.:)

Anyway, I have not much more to say so I'm gonna go ahead and let you all go. Hope you all are doing well and keep on gaming!!