To Be Found Worthy

I know . . .

Hey, I’m just as flabbergasted as you are.

Almost a year since my last post.

Which rock was I under?

Clearly a massive one—harder to move from under.

But (and this is a big but), di I was not snoozing. Among other things, I was writing short stories for pickneys and young youths.

Guess who won four awards for said stories?

I know, right!

The Jamaica Cultural Development Commission (JCDC) found my stories worthy. Yes, mi luvies, mi win three medals plus a trophy for Best Junior Short Story Writer.

Mi glad-bag buss! It shred up! Especially when mi name announce fi di trophy. Apart from the one story here (click yah soh, please), I ‘d never written for children before.

I know, I know, I know. You’ve heard this claim a zillion times:

“Oh, my gaash! I am so surprise! Dis was my first time h’entering dis compitishan. I wasn’t going enter but blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah. And I’d like to thank my sister, my brother, my mother, my cousin, my third-grade teacher, the stray puss weh always come siddung pon mi verandah ah night time but run when mi turn on di light . . .”

But it’s true . . . for some of us. For many of us. Maybe for all of us at some point in our lives. A reward comes after throwing caution to the wind and trying our hand at something outside of our comfort zone.

For those who don’t know, the JCDC is a cultural agency of Jamaica’s Ministry of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport. It encourages citizens, whatever our ages, to highlight Jamaica’s culture through the creative, performing and fine arts. It holds annual workshops and competitions. Many creative Jamaicans have received validation through this organization. And it’s a God-send for shy and doubtful writers.

This year, I also spent many, many (and I do mean many, many) hours polishing my first novel (women’s fiction) and then pitching it. I await the industry’s gatekeepers’ responses.

And this time, while mi is waiting, I am NOT looking back at the manuscript. I am done! Done-done-done! Mucho done-o!

I are delivered from the web of perpetual editing!

Instead, I juk away, rather slowly, at my keyboard, weaving my second novel. I’m about a third of the way through.

It shall be scandalous!

It’s about a man who . . . heh-heh-heh 🙂 . . . Yuh really think mi going tell yuh and jinx it?

Anyway, beautiful people, listen mi. Whatever your dream, please keep putting one foot in front of the other towards it, even when your feet feel heavy (and yuh heart too).

I’ve had innumerable tough days. So I’m aware of the discouragement that comes with pursuing that thing that you know that you know that you know you’re meant to do.

Time and time again, I’ve had pillow meetings with God; I’ve walked away; I’ve torn this writing-thing from my craw and tossed it over my shoulder. Up to last night mi fling it down.

And Him fling it back.

So I march on with my nuff-year-old laptop in my left hand, my right hand holding up mi guts and the JCDC trophy reminding me, “Yes, yuh have talent.”

Peace and love,

Angie

 

Acknowledgement:

Image of “Kid Holding the Golden Trophy” courtesy of winnond at FreeDigitalPhotos.net