My local newspaper has a weekly column called “Prairie Talk.” I would eagerly look forward to reading it each Tuesday and often wondered how to become a writer for the column.
I finally worked up enough nerve to send an essay I had written on being a grandmother to the editor of the page. I didn’t hear anything, so I thought, “Oh well, at least I tried.”
Imagine my complete surprise when about a month later, I opened the paper to read the column and it was mine! I was so excited, I had been asked for a face shot in case they decided to use the article. What a thrill to see my face above a column I wrote with my very own byline! I lived on that high for many days.
I was getting ready to send in another one, but was unsure of how often they wanted someone to submit. I went to the mailbox and there was something in there I didn’t recognize. I thought it was a bill, or maybe one of those “send this check back in” scams. I opened it per the instructions and lo and behold, it was a check for $20! I was so amazed and excited. I think I called or e-mailed everyone I knew about that first check. It has spurred me on to contribute regularly to this column, and so far, everything I have submitted has been printed. I write one, send it in, wait for the check, and send another one.
Also imagine my surprise one day when a woman I had just met said, “My God, you’re the woman in the newspaper!” I was tickled to be noticed and remembered.
Writing was now something I was hooked on. I’ve been working on my craft and am happy to announce the publication of my first novel. Bitter Water is now available and I have readers asking when the second book of the series will be coming out! Woo Hoo!
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