I’m thrilled (and still shocked) to announce I ranked #1 in the inaugural Thomas Dabney Mabry, Jr Creative Writing Award for an excerpt from my unpublished novel “Overshadow.” It was an incredible honor to receive this award at the 19th Clarksville Writers Conference.
Who is Thomas Mabry, Jr?
I felt it was important to know more about the namesake for this award and wanted to share some of what I learned about this great writer. Thomas Mabry, Jr was born and raised in Clarksville, TN. He was an editor for the Times Magazine and was published in “The Best Short Stories of 1949,” and 1957. His short story, “The Indian Feather,” won first place in the 1954 O. Henry Awards. In 1959, he published a compilation of short stories in a collection titled “The White Hound,” with an introduction written by Caroline Gordon. (Source: https://mcarchives.libraryhost.com/)
Validations and Victories
Rejections have become so much a part of my writing life that this victory is enormously sweet! Almost too sweet, if that’s possible. And it’s the first time my writing has been rewarded financially.
Have you ever walked into a mom and pop shop and seen their first dollar earned framed on the wall? My parents had this for their small business. I’ve always loved this idea and for the first time since I began writing in those early elementary years (many moons ago), I can proudly say, I’ve got my dollar.
This isn’t to say I don’t still have a long road ahead. But for the first time in a long while, I sat and reveled in the vivid joy of winning. After publishing my “Rejecto-Acceptometer” post a few months back, it feels magnificent to receive validation. Of course, my personal worth isn’t tied up in my writing and what people think of my creative endeavors, but since keeping my nose to the grindstone and seriously pursuing my dream over the last few years, it’s helpful to know I’m trending in the right direction. Even when the victories are few and far between… Perhaps we need the lows to experience the highs. If I won every time, this accomplishment wouldn’t be as meaningful.
To everyone else who’s trudging through the lows and waiting for the taste of triumph: keep going! If you stop now, you’ll never know if, just around the corner, you would’ve found your victory.
Care to share some of your personal victories? Leave a comment below! I’d love to hear about it!
Way to go! Congratulations!