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.)
Showing posts with label Weekend Escapes. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Weekend Escapes. Show all posts
Wednesday, September 8, 2010
Tuesday, June 15, 2010
Weekend Escapes in The First Line
The First Line is one of those little magazines with a big concept. Their mission:
The purpose of The First Line is to jump start the imagination-to help writers break through the block that is the blank page. Each issue contains short stories that stem from a common first line; it also provides a forum for discussing favorite first lines in literature. The First Line is an exercise in creativity for writers and a chance for readers to see how many different directions we can take when we start from the same place.
Don't you love that? It really is amazing how many different stories can come from the same line.
My story, Weekend Escapes, appears in the Summer 2010 issue. The first line is "Paul and Miriam Kaufman met the old-fashioned way." As soon as I read that line, I had visions of sock hops and soda fountains. Then I wondered if that scenario was ever really true or just one of those made-up nostalgia moments. Who would yearn for that story to be true? Why?
You can see how winding - and wonderful - a road that can be! To see where my road ended up and to see where the other authors traveled, check out the Summer 2010 issue. It's available for purchase on The First Line website and in select stores.
(For all you writers out there, check out the upcoming "first lines" and submission guidelines!)
The purpose of The First Line is to jump start the imagination-to help writers break through the block that is the blank page. Each issue contains short stories that stem from a common first line; it also provides a forum for discussing favorite first lines in literature. The First Line is an exercise in creativity for writers and a chance for readers to see how many different directions we can take when we start from the same place.
Don't you love that? It really is amazing how many different stories can come from the same line.
My story, Weekend Escapes, appears in the Summer 2010 issue. The first line is "Paul and Miriam Kaufman met the old-fashioned way." As soon as I read that line, I had visions of sock hops and soda fountains. Then I wondered if that scenario was ever really true or just one of those made-up nostalgia moments. Who would yearn for that story to be true? Why?
You can see how winding - and wonderful - a road that can be! To see where my road ended up and to see where the other authors traveled, check out the Summer 2010 issue. It's available for purchase on The First Line website and in select stores.
(For all you writers out there, check out the upcoming "first lines" and submission guidelines!)
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