Getting ready for Submitting

It’s been a long year as I decided to move 6 hours away from home to go to school and actively pursue writing even if I did not know what I wanted to write, other than it’s something that I needed to do. I’ve had good adventures and made so many friends and have found a community to discuss and evaluate writing to help each other because they love to help each other, which is incredible and I’m so happy that I choose to do something with a community that is full of support and safety, both in school and the online community I’ve begun to dive into.

The work has all been worth it as I have enough scraps of short stories and poetry that have been edited enough to submit to magazines and get some experience in the publishing world. It’s scary to send the deepest part of myself to be reviewed and inspected under a magnifying glass, but it’s finally put my work to the test and scrutiny of people that have also made writing their life’s work, and there’s something so excited about that as much as it is terrifying.

Unfortunately, it’s going to take some time before I get the results back, and I’m not the only one submitting and every has amazing pieces, so if you’re submitting or try to publish your full complete book (which is absolutely incredible btw I’m so proud) I wish you the best of luck, and will update any news or update what’s happening in my life when anything comes up or anything else I’ll use this page for.

To arming the world with pens.

“And by the way, everything in life is writable about if you have the outgoing guts to do it, and the imagination to improvise. The worst enemy to creativity is self-doubt.” -Sylvia Plath

So it’s been a while…

I know I don’t have a big following on my blog, and only have a few poems on here, but I’ve been thinking about it a lot, and I’m no longer going to be putting poems or short stories on this page. At first I thought posting stories on here would just help me get my name out as I dive into the writing community, but I realized that it’s not going to help because I’m putting my stories on my page, and it’s not really showing that I’m a good writer because it’s all me. So I’ll be doing updating blog posts on here and maybe eventually reviews of books if people want to hear that. The poems I have on the page I’ll keep on, but I won’t be putting any more up. Thank you to those who have checked at my page, and made it through the end of the post, and I hope you stick around to see my growth and in and out of the pages. I love you all!

– “You don’t start out writing good stuff. You start out writing crap and thinking it’s good stuff, and then gradually you get better at it. That’s why I say one of the most valuable traits is persistence.”

Octavia E. Butler

It’s (Not) Christmas (Yet)

All Hallows’ Eve has ended

Winter has not blown through the door

And while sweaters continue to gather dust

Christmas has already begun

Shops fill with Mariah Carey

Windows flocked with red and green

And while cold weather is laughable

Snow is still seen in the mind’s eye

There’s already discussion

Of where to find their trees

There’re sightings of Santa

In every shopping mall

While I love the scent of spruce

Sounds of carols in the air

And the visit of friends and family

That are seen seldom and far between

The air is still humid

The leaves are still green

Papers are pilling high

The stress building underneath

While I’d like to hide

In baubles and wrapping paper

I’m buried in work with

The upcoming finale in sight

Instead of ugly sweaters

And twirling in dinner dresses

I’m still in summer attire

With t-shirts and tennis shoes

The feeling is not evident

Christmas does not linger in the air

Yet people try to force it onto me

With their red lipped smiles and cheer

So I’m standing my ground on these holidays

Despite the anger that’s pushed my way

I’ll hold off welcoming Saint Nick, waiting on

decorating the tree with yule-tide cheer

Writer’s Block

I hate you

You remind me of my roommates house guest

That stays for weeks and then months and then years

 

I hate that when you’re here

I only see what I’m missing

And that I’m losing function without him

 

I hate how apart of my life you are

While you’re here I’m going through the motions

Without him I’m unimpressed by anything

 

I hate that you take everything

My food, my water, my will

You take what I need to live

 

I hate you

Writers block

Because you take away my words

To My Fear

An open letter to my demon knight

Wielding swords named fight and flight

Atop your steed, patiently waiting

to attack, leave me suffocating

 

Close my eyes, start counting

Hear my breath, too close to drowning

Though not drowning, nothing’s wrong

Then why do you last so long?

 

And that’s being gentle

If your attacks turn mental

My limbs began to tremble

My mind starts to disassemble

You make my friends my enemies

Turn my family into foe

 

And I hide away shaking

Fix the smile that I’m faking

Seperate from all my peers

Me and you, hide away for years

 

and I know, you can’t fully claim

Can’t fully hold all the blame

Because I feed you my tears

I hand you all my fears

 

And while I’m locked away

You’re out and ready to play

In home, school, a restaurant

You are ready to prod and taunt

A shadow that falls over me

I can’t hear past my sorrow

 

I must learn, must realize

To stop listening to your lies

Become aware of the cage I made

See the map, how far I’ve strayed

 

The voices that are against me

Is you shrieking with glee

The people that I’ve turned away

Trying to keep me from becoming prey

 

I need to start fighting your control

And to start climbing out the hole

Scrapped and cut and bleeding

I see the light I didn’t know I was needing

To hear voices, sweet laughter

I’m an addict, craving a hit

 

And you want me to stay

Make me your figure from clay

Keep me under your manipulation

Paint my fear for decoration

 

Yet I managed to get away

Eyes open to the sun’s rays

And bodies pushed against me

As an anchor against the sea

 

Not forever, not always

But for now you’re away for days

And I’m trying to find my place

Don’t want to leave in haste

See the world I can create

If I keep back you, my demon knight

The Journey Begins

Thanks for joining me! I’m excited to be able to share my stories  and experiences with everyone, and can’t wait to see my writing grow. I will also do post on books and articles that I’ve read, as a way to do research and gain insight through other authors. I can’t wait to see this page grow, and would love to have you along with me.

And to those who know me personally, this will be a deeper part of me that many of you may or may not know, and it is so much harder sharing with people you know than strangers, so please be open and understanding to what you read here.

Allons-y!

Deedra

There is nothing to writing. All you do is sit down at a typewriter and bleed.                -Ernest Hemingway