Write an article for a magazine and submit it for publication

This goal is really at the core of me, and what I always imagined I’d do when I “grew up”. From as young as I could remember I had a vision of me sitting at a coffee shop writing on some computer gadget and having my articles published. It’s so weird what we think of as kids, I had no real idea at the time what I was seeing, but now I know and that makes the picture clearer, but I’m still not living it. I’m slowly working toward it though and am starting with the business part, then I can write the articles and newsletters and make that vision my reality.

I’ve got a couple of ideas for a magazine story/personal essay. I’m not sure that I’ll actually go any farther than the idea, but it’s fun to think about. I’m also considering it being a web-series. I just started it yesterday so there is a lot more to develop.

I took my first step towards this goal. I went to a local Writer’s Circle and committed to sharing a piece of my writing at the next meeting. I’m pretty nervous about sharing my stuff because it doesn’t really fit into a format. So far the only writing I do is a kind of exagerated journaling or personal essays. O well, it’s a start. If I was already confident and going in the right direction, then I wouldn’t really need a group, would I?
I think I’m going to read some of the stuff that I wrote while I was in Paris.

I found a local writer’s circle that I’m going to go check out. It’s on Sunday mornings for 2 hours. I’ve always wanted to get into something like this, but they never work out how I’d like. I’m excited though, it will at least give me an outlet for writing.

I had resolved to at least complete a rough copy of this before I headed back to class. I sent it this morning to my father, who is in essence co-writing the article about our travels last year through Nicaragua. I write ‘in essence’ because he told me I could write the piece and keep any money we receive if it is selected. He is going to give me feedback and submit it to a medical doctor’s leisure magazine. But I will have a byline if we ever see it published.

I did leave it to the wire, finishing the final paragraphs this morning. Once I forced myself to stop procrastinating and focus on the task the words actually flowed quite fluidly. I loved retracing our journey through the words in my travel journal and the images in my photo collection. The memories returned so vividly, even now nearly a year and a half later. I was slidding on my butt in the mud while climing Volcan Maderas or walking through the chaotic markets of Masaya or sipping an ice cold beer while watching a technicolour sun set over the ocean in San Juan del Sur.

Perhaps that really is the greatest reward that comes from writing. The ability it has to reacquaint us with some of our happiest and cherished moments. That to me is worth more than ever seeing my name on a byline, though admittedly that will be a pleasure as well.