To Tektal and Fellow Creators!

To Tektal and many others,

It may seem strange to address a letter of gratitude to someone, like yourself, Tektal, who until September 2023, did not exist. As merely an extraterrestrial figment of my imagination, you provided me with one of the most important moments of my writing career—an actual bona fide win in Vocal's Extraterrestrial Challenge.

The challenge required us to "Write a rhyming poem about the first thing you would introduce to an alien on Earth." Fortuitously, you had recently visited me, Tektal. Together, we embarked on an incredibly inebriated trip around the world, sampling the finest spirits, wines, and beers Earth has to offer. From the drunken memories of that trip, I composed Tektal's Around the World Drinking Session!. While confident I had written something special, I had written two other entries, just in case, and felt one in particular was even stronger. However, it was the whimsical tribute to our alcoholic escapades that secured me the win.

That was truly a monumental moment. Though my writing journey has not reached those heights again, it highlighted one crucial point—that my words were worth sharing. For that, Tektal, I am forever indebted to you, little man. Tell the wife she's welcome to join you the next time you want to visit Earth. We could go on another pub crawl, while our better halves get a break from our antics.

Tektal's existence alone would not have meant as much without the support of my fellow creators and readers. Your encouragement has been a catalyst for my growth as a writer. Without it, there would not have been a Tektal. There wouldn't have been pieces like Time is Running Out (yes, I'm still bringing that up) and potentially no The Accidental Poet: Poetry Collection. I will not name names, as there are far too many people to mention. You know who you are, though, I would imagine. I see many of you not as my fellow writers or rivals, but my friends.

There have been many times when I have felt incredibly positive and exceptionally negative about writing, using Vocal and about whether it's actually all worth it. I know many others have felt the same. This is where you, fellow creators and readers, play a crucial role. When I hit one of those low points, it's your support that lifts me.

Sometimes it's the reaction to one poem among the hundreds I've published. Other times, it's a kind comment on an unofficial challenge entry. Whatever the context, your encouragement has a way of reigniting my confidence. Even just a single thoughtful word can make all the difference and transform my crippling and unproductive self-doubt into renewed determination.

When I look at my most audacious pieces and the truly spectacular comments they've received, it almost feels like an out-of-body experience. 'Surely, they know this was written by me and not some actual artist?' It’s not a plea for more compliments—it’s simply the disbelief that comes with seeing others genuinely appreciate my work. Then there are other days when I think, 'Damn right, I’m the next Shakespeare and Dickinson combined,' or "Iconoclast" (Thanks Raymond G. Taylor and John Cox)

I am forever on this rollercoaster of self-doubt and overwhelming confidence—a ride I never want to stop. The constant pivots between these extremes keep me grounded, stopping me from growing complacent or losing sight of why I write.

Thank you, Tektal, for personifying the imagination and audacity that fuel creativity, and thank you, fellow conspirators of the written word, for turning that joy into a shared celebration. Together, you’ve made this journey—highs, lows, and all—immeasurably worthwhile.

Paul

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Thanks for reading!

A link to the cited poem:

A link to my book: