On December 6th 2022, I received an email from the Ireland Writing Retreat informing me that I had been selected as a finalist in the Wild Atlantic Writing Awards, in the Flash Fiction category for my entry ‘Reflections’. This was an exciting milestone to sneak in before the year’s end!
It was also the first international recognition I had received for my writing. Ireland is a place I love dearly and has significantly inspired my writing, which made this recognition extra special. so much so I am currently preparing to spend a year living there in 2024.
The happy news of my selection in the Wild Atlantic Writing Awards (WAWAs) was received with a request for information to include in an article to be published in the coming weeks with my story on the News section of the Ireland Writing Retreat website. I needed to send through a photo of myself holding my Finalist certificate, and some information to be included in the article.
When I got this happy news last year, I had just taken on the volunteer role of President of a not-for-profit organisation, and was preparing writing exercises for an associated fundraising event. I was also rehearsing for the end-of-term Performance Night at the circus studio where I train in aerial hoop. Work was getting busier at my retail job in the lead-up to Christmas. It was a busy time.
The fundraiser was only a few days away, so I prioritised finalising the writing exercises over completing the information request for the Ireland Writing Retreat article. I also had to print a copy of my Finalist certificate and have my photo taken with it. I didn’t have a colour printer at home, and had to wait until I could get to the local library. I then had to get my photo taken with the certificate to send through with the information. When I finally got to the information request finished, the certificate printed and my photo taken, I sent the items through only to receive an email the very next day with the write-ups of the other finalists and winner. Fearing I had missed my chance to be included, I sent another email through to confirm my information had been received.
I was kicking myself- I believed I had done the right thing by prioritising my tasks by their deadline. Thinking I had a few weeks before the News of the WAWA Flash Fiction category winners would be published, I had prioritised the fundraising writing exercises. I tried not to wallow in disappointment- after all, it was only a write-up on a website. I still had my shiny new Finalist certificate, and the bragging rights of being selected out of hundreds of entries. I decided it was a lesson, and that I would prioritise my own writing above all else in future.
Time heals all wounds, and eventually the sting of missing out on the write-up passed.
Jump forward almost twelve months to November 3, 2023. At the end of the day I quickly checked my emails before settling down for the evening. I noticed an email from Ireland Writing Retreat, from the same thread of messages as the year before. I opened the most recent message, and discovered a link to the News section of the Ireland Writing Retreat, where my write-up and winning story have been published at long last. This write-up was about the finalists and winners across Ireland Writing Retreat’s multiple competitions throughout the past year. I didn’t miss out after all!
The news of this write-up has come at a time when my writing heart needed some TLC. On Wednesday 1st November, I received the latest of many rejections from 2023. This was a big one.
Back in August I applied for a writing residency at the Storyknife Writing Retreat in Alaska. While I tried to manage my expectations, I held onto hope I would receive an invitation for a residency in 2024. Sadly, I did not. There were over 900 applicants, so I know many others shared in my disappointment this week.
The news from Ireland yesterday pulled me out of my slump. It was also a lovely way to relive last year’s achievement all over again.
It has also been a gentle reminder of a few of life’s truths. That good things take time. That some things that seem lost are not really gone. And what is meant for you will not pass you by.
I had hoped to be attending a writing residency in Alaska on my way to Ireland next year. Now, I am seriously considering an Ireland Writing Retreat instead.
I didn’t sleep much on Wednesday night, crying into the early hours of the morning. Tonight, I can’t sleep because of excitement, and I’m writing this blog post at 1am.
What a rollercoaster ride this writing journey is!
Here is the link to my article and flash fiction story ‘Reflections’ on the Ireland Writing Retreat website:
Finalists In Our WAWA Writing Contest Span The Globe (irelandwritingretreat.com)
Enjoy the read!
Kate Kelsen 