Open February 25th: An Honest Letter to The Hopeful Finalists

Today is February 25th and the Vocal+ Fiction Awards Finalists will be announced. Twenty-five talented writers will be ecstatic! The other one thousand will be disappointed. There's a 97% chance that I will be a part of the latter. Call it damage control, this is a reference letter to return to as needed.

To myself and all the other writers who pour their souls into their work,

I'm proud of you. You've put in the work to create one of a kind stories from a blank page. You've worked tirelessly into the night to tie up loose ends to a story that never got read. The skills you've acquired took blood, sweat, and tears. You achieved that through sheer grit. And I'm proud of you.

The path to success is paved with thorns

Everyone has heard the story of J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter being rejected twelve times by publishers. The same Harry Potter that has 7 books, eight films, 2 theme parks, and millions of die-hard fans. Every success story comes with rejection. Whether it's a letter, a list, or a demeaning comment from a veteran in the business. It's a universal experience for those pursuing their aspirations, not a sign you can't accomplish them. Someone somewhere will fall in love with your voice and if you don't put yourself out there, you'll miss those opportunities.

We are writers

As writers, we are compelled to write. We're drawn to our craft because it gives us the expression we crave and ignites a passion from within. Have you ever stopped what you were doing to jot down a plot idea or character arc? Do you remember how excited you felt when you wrapped up a chapter so perfectly you surprised yourself? If challenges or Vocal were gone tomorrow, we'd still be writing on napkins in restaurants. It demands our attention because it's what we love to do. And we will do it with or without notoriety because it's not what we do it's who we are. Writing is our pathway to relating to the world around us.

Art is seen through many lenses

If one hundred different people walk into an art museum and were asked to pick their favorite and why the answers would all be different. Each individual will prefer colors, visualizations, textures, or stroke styles. Some will favor the message it conveys, while others like the irony. To say one painting is better than another is comical. It's up to the observers to decide.

Think of your writing as your painting. Your words are your strokes, your colors are your emotions. Each piece is necessary to complete the full picture. Not everyone will see it or understand it. Many will walk right past your painting. But imagine the few who notice the brilliance you crafted in the frame. It was your painting that stopped them in their tracks, made them think or feel something indescribable. That person is your audience, and you've given them a gift by sharing yours. To attempt to please the masses won't work, it's much better to serve your unique audience with a style only you can provide.

What managing disappointment looks like

It will look different for everyone. For some, it's as easy as focusing on the next project. For others, the sting of the situation lingers. As for myself, this is uncharted territory. It's the first time I've been acknowledged as a writer. I haven't won any challenges or outside writing contests. I did get a Top Story once!

As much as I know what this would mean for me, I know I'm not the only one with a dream to fulfill.

Writing this letter is a cathartic first step. You might be wondering how I know I will lose, I don't know that for sure. I only know the statistics. Personally, I feel better having prepared for the worst. My advice is to be mindful in caring for yourself, both leading up to the announcement, and afterward. I knew either way I'd want to be with my family. The good news is that February 26th is my Mom's birthday and so I'll be on my way to spend quality time with my family right after the results come out. This feels extra special because my mom is the one who has supported my writing from the beginning. It's only fitting to be with her when I win or lose. I wouldn't call myself a writer today if it weren't for her love and encouragement.

My path to get here

I began writing in elementary school. I remember my first major story was written on fourteen pages and I proudly gave it to my teacher. She smiled warmly and was so impressed! Unfortunately, she ended up losing it which crushed me. I wasn't shy about my writing subjects either. For one project I wrote the story of when I was nearly kidnapped. I'd continue to write on and off since then. Life had a way of separating me from writing but I'd come back with determination. What I've accomplished in my seven months on Vocal is leaps and bounds ahead, and for a reason. I have a real platform with access to an audience (instead of my solitary endeavors). Before this, my writing was saved to my computer and read by me. There were times I sent it out to friends and family, but it was rare. Part of me took comfort in keeping it to myself, I felt safe not opening myself up to possible critique or comment. That could wait until my book was finished. Or so I thought.

Now, Vocal has affirmed what I already knew to be true. That writing is what I want to do, it is more than a hobby. I need to share it if I ever wish to accomplish my goals.

So here I am. The little girl who wrote those fourteen pages is the same girl who wrote 12 articles for Vocal. One winning top story and one making it in the 1,025 finalists list. The same girl who was crushed by her teacher losing her hard-earned story is the same woman who will survive today if I don't make that list.

There are more battles and successes to come, I've seen enough to know that it comes with the territory. As an aspiring writer, I accept these terms and conditions.

Congratulations are in order for the 25 finalists, if you didn't make it this is only a thorn in your success story. Never, ever give up.

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Thank you for reading! You can check out my Vocal Fiction Awards entry here: