People say everything happens for a reason. I think that's true, but most of the time, that reason is simply that a human being did something to make it happen.
Last year, it was my dream to get a creative writing MFA. I couldn't think of anything better than spending two years with nothing else to focus on but writing, and I couldn't think of any other practical way to do that than by getting an MFA. For whatever reason (it probably had something to do with the fact that I only applied to four top schools and had absolutely nothing to show for my so-called destiny to become a writer...but who can say for sure?), I didn't get in. I was secretly devastated, even though I'd told everyone I'd never expected to get in.
Fast forward to now. I am a New York Times-published writer. Would it have happened if I had gotten into an MFA program? Probably not, or at least not at this point. But do I think fate had anything to do with this? Nope. I did it all on my own. And honestly, it feels a lot better that way.
(And even if fate did help out a little, no way am I sharing my glory with that lazy bastard. You hear that, fate? You can't just ignore me for 27 years and then swoop in and expect to share the by-line.)
I discovered you in the New York Times today (yes, I'm a little late). I have never tried to find a writer on the internet after reading a Modern Love essay but your writing style grabbed me and pulled me in. Your blog is going in my reader!
ReplyDeleteThanks for the nice words, Andee! That means a lot.
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