Right to Be Here

Below is a simple piece, a sort of prose poem, that I had jotted about belonging some time ago and forgot about. I recently stumbled on the writing, reread it, and liked it. Rather than keep it tucked away in digital limbo, I figured I would share it. I think anyone who hasn’t felt like they belonged might find some meaning from it.

Here it is:

You arrived, after an unimaginable journey, disoriented and shy and looking wrong for arriving.

You belong here, we said, but, No, you don’t, they said. So we showed them. We showed them your smile, your frown, the way you blush and pale, just like us, but, No, you don’t, they said. We showed them your bruises, your stories of crushing loss, of small gains, made them feel as you had, but No, you don’t, they said. Finally, we stopped showing them. We dressed you. We fed you. We housed you. We connected you to others. And now, when we see them, we don’t even ask, because we already know, You belong here.

Writer's of the Future Honorable Mention

A short one today to share that my short story, “Directions to Paradise,” was awarded an honorable mention in the Writer’s of the Future Contest. I received the certificate in the mail this month, and I opened it this week—yes, if you notice the date on the photo, I’m a little behind on mail.

I was going to file this away without mentioning it, but I’m also someone who encourages others to share their accomplishments, big or small. So I’m taking my own advice, hopefully inspiring others and maybe even teaching some of you about a contest you can enter.

Fingers crossed I can get this short story published. It’s one of my favorites.

Short Story Win and Writing App Giveaway

You can now read my children’s superhero short story, Sparks, and some kind words written about it. The story was chosen as one of the winners in Ulysses’s writing contest celebrating Disney's Flora & Ulysses.

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Continuing the celebration, I’m giving one Twitter follower a voucher for a one-year subscription to Ulysses, my favorite Mac and iOS writing software. To enter the drawing, all you have to do is

1. follow me on Twitter, and

2. retweet this tweet

by the end of Thursday, July 1. The winner will be randomly chosen and announced afterward.

Ulysses writing app shown across iPhone, iPad, and Mac screens.