Depending on the heading, I tend to delete email from people I don't know. I am so glad I read Jenny Tai's email. Turns out, Jenny is the Features Editor for the New York University (NYU) student newspaper, The Washington News, and she was doing a review of The First Line magazine. She had enjoyed my story, "Weekend Escapes," in the Summer 2010 issue and wondered if I would give her a quote. Me? Me!
Yes, I know that when something of mine is published, whether online or in print, other people are reading it. That's the point. But sometimes it takes something tangible, like a nice note from a reader or a request for a quote for an article to bring that surreal concept home to me. When I write my stories, they feel so small and private. When I send them out into the world, they become something bigger, more universal than just "my story." I imagine it's what it's like when you send your child off to school or out into the world - you hope you've made them good, made them strong enough to stand on their own. You hope they leave a good impression on all they meet. You hope you've done your best, and you hope you've done enough.
(Unfortunately, I didn't make it into the final piece, but I was thrilled to be asked in the first place. If you're interested, you can read the article here.)
That's so cool, Madeline! You never know who will be reading your words once they are published. It sounds like you made an impression! Yay!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Stacy. It was very cool. It makes me think about all the words I read that I don't respond or reply to but that teach me or touch me in some way. My words might be doing the same for someone else and I'll never know it. There's a sort of bittersweet magic to that, isn't there?
ReplyDeleteI think you're right about the chilkdren analogy, Madeline. Well, except that so far, sending my kids out in the world has never brought a check back to me!
ReplyDelete(Cheering for you! No telling who'll be reading you next!)
Thanks, Cathy! Same goes for you - think about how many people heard/read your story on Smories!
ReplyDelete