I am a writer.

My short story "The Manuscript" has been accepted for publication.

Does that make me an author now? Or do I have to get a book published to be called an author.

So, if "to be a writer, one must write" is true then is "to be an author, one must author" true also?

In the traditional sense, I don't think I can be called an author unless I have a book out there but things are veering so far away from traditional these days, who really knows. But when have I ever been accused of being P.C.?

I'm an AUTHOR now!!!!

Ok, I probably won't be screaming that from the rooftops anytime soon but I'm pretty proud of myself. I think I was lucky, mostly. I've only submitted that piece twice and got accepted on the second try. Plus, this is the first piece, other than a few poems, that I've submitted. I should hit it on the first try next time. NOT. I know that but now I'm spoiled. Wish I was that confident in myself and my work. Life here on out would be Easy Street. I could be as prolific as Stephen King, only prettier (sorry Stephen, but what can I say? See picture upper right-hand corner.)

Now you all know I'm not that conceited and I've never thought I was all that pretty. I may be the one writing the short stories (and novels, and poems, and scripts, and novels, and non-fiction, and etc., etc., etc.) but sending my babies out into the world is another story. (pardon the pun-really didn't intend that). My life has taken a turn for the better and I feel like a stranger in my own life.

I'm learning to be supportive off myself and my writing career, and let's face it, it is my career choice even though I still have the retail j.o.b.. (and I'm admitting this to myself for the very first time). I've always feared that if I made it my career choice, the fun would seep out of it. I have other career choices too but they're just not feasible at the moment so if I focus my attention and my free time on writing, it will give me the freedom to make a real choice, eventually.

And it's only now that I feel I have a real chance. Getting my first piece accepted has afforded me a paradigm shift. I'm looking at the world through a new set of eyes. I still see bitterness and cynicism, and still often within myself, I have an underlying, dare I say, confidence that I never had before. I've been validated in my endeavor, my efforts have been rewarded in direct correlation. (Maybe not so direct as I would like to believe at the moment though).

I'm exploring all these feelings as I write this, so apologizes to you, Dear Reader, if I meander off the path. This is all new to me, if you haven't guessed.

I definitely couldn't have done this by myself and I'd never dream of actually accomplishing my goals without help. I'm surrounding myself with friends who support me and my career and lessening the time I spend with non-supportive friends. I guess all the years of reading self-help books and attending seminars, classes and workshops are finally beginning to pay off. I think I've internalized most of the info and have begun to walk the talk. I really believe that 2011 is going to be the start of something BIG for me.

I've even begun waking in the middle of the night with poems pouring out of me again, even with only 2 to 4 hours of sleep consecutively for many days. I'm not sure how I'm functioning through out the day and long into the night. I'm realizing that what they say is true; living with happiness and joy gives you abundant energy. Don't know if I'm quite there yet but I'm well on my way. And it's about time.