If you’ve been around this blog since before Atti was born, you read a whole lot of my angst about making my dreams come true and how I longed to be a capital W-Writer. It’s kind of mind boggling to me now, but believe it or not I was actually blogging away for over four years before I started regularly sharing my craft projects. I get so much enjoyment out of my craft life, but in my secret innermost heart, I’ve always been a writer.
And now I really am.
After writing a couple of pieces for the Guardian UK (American readers don’t usually appreciate the big fat honkin deal that is, but it’s roughly equivalent to writing for the NY Times), and even been paid for them, I am a professional writer by whatever standard you want to measure.
My dear dear friends Sara and Elisabeth recognized what a special moment this was for me, so while they were at the airport they went to a money exchange booth and got me an English pound to symbolize the first dollar I made in my new dream career.
I ran out to Big Lots to find myself a frame and came across this hilariously tacky shadowbox. I opened it up and took it apart, and then it was just a matter of mounting the pound coin.
I cut a gray piece of cardstock to size, a really thick piece is best to hold up against that coin, and used rub-ons for the word. I was worried about mounting that coin without it falling off the paper, but I used a little GOOP glue and I haven’t had a problem. And with the thick cardstock I used, I didn’t get any warping either.
One of the things that has always stopped me from pursuing serious writing, is being intimidated be the thought of how hard it is to find publication. But now that I’m a little further down that path, it doesn’t seem so insurmountable. I think I may just overcome my fears and make my dreams come true.
Congratulations!!!! That's fantastic – yeay you! If they are online, would you share the links? I'd love to read them. x
Congratulations, Reese! I enjoyed reading the link you posted to the Guardian post last time.I'm a writer too. (I write fiction, mostly–I've published some memoir writing in the SJ Merc and short fiction in literary journals, and right now I have a debut novel on submission.) And I totally relate to being afraid to call myself one. Very excited for you, and I love the commemorative art your friends made you! Lovely.
Congrats girl! I think you are a fantastic writer. When your name pops up on FMH or anywhere, I always make sure to read. You have an exciting way with words.
P.S. It's not a perfect correlative, but I just blogged about that fear of what it means to put myself out there as a writer, and the overwhelming sense of failure that can come with writing: http://startupmarriage.blogspot.com/2010/09/on-fa…
Well done! You inspire me to do more than stagnate in my stay-at-home-mom existence.
You are an absolutely awesome writer and I am so glad that you framed your first 'dollar'. I am so glad that I have 'met' you online and that my life is enriched with your writing. You really have an amazing talent and I am so glad that you share it! 🙂
I know you are NOT familiar with me ….yet….but I read everything you write. I LOVE your style, imagination, energy, ideas, peace with your life's challenges, oh dear me, I gooshed mushy ! Well, dear si'ta, you have arrived…at the starting point of a GREAT career. No doubts. Never give up. We are ALL behind you cheering.Love to your whole fam. and to all out there.
Congrats. That's quite the accomplishment!
That's wonderful news!! You're right, it's a great start, and yes, you should be excited about it. You're published! Congratulations and here's to the fulfillment of that dream!
Congrats! It's a SUPER big deal. And, BTW, I LOVE the "tacky shadowbox" frame and what you've done. It's beautiful!
T, this post is just flat out AWESOME. I LOVE it and I love that you are doing what you love doing.Keep sharing it with us, will you?<3