Best-Selling Author

by Tootie

Writing Contest Winner

There's a handful of women sitting in the lunchroom eating. The aroma of microwaved frozen meals, fresh coffee, and leftovers from dinners the night before fills the air. I sit among these co-workers while munching on a ham and cheese on rye and participate in the usual lunchtime chatter. It includes stories about husbands, boyfriends, children and pets. There are also some comments about popular actors and who's living with whom these days. I'm not up-to-date on these particular subjects, but still enjoy listening to the conversation. Just like reading a book, it's entertaining.

Speaking of books, another co-worker walks in carrying one. Everyone's attention turns to her. We all want to know what she's reading. The title and author's name aren't familiar, but she says it's a good read and worth checking out. This is another popular subject among the lunchtime crowd.

For some strange reason, I then decide to reveal to everyone that I'm currently working on my own novel. "Yep, that's right, I'm a writer myself." Now the attention is on me. They want to know what my novel's about. I give them a brief synopsis, and they still seem interested. I take this as a good sign. After continuing to talk about it, one woman comments, "Well, who knows, someday you might become a best-selling author." When I hear this, I smile and reply, "You're right, maybe someday I will."

My half-hour lunch break is just about over, so I say my farewells and head back to my desk. When I get there, it hits me that I really believed what I said to them--"maybe someday I will." This is the first time I've responded to my writing with such assurance. Because of this, I realize I've just reached another milestone--I've gone from hoping something could happen to really believing it can. The numerous rejection letters I've collected through the years haven't defeated me. After all, I'm not the only one to have received mounds of rejections; just read Stephen King's story about his beginnings as a writer, or Ray Bradbury's, or Anne Lamott's, to name a few.

So, fellow writers out there (co-workers so to speak), remember my name, because someday you may see it on the New York Times Bestseller List. You know, it's not an impossible feat--for any of us.

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Writing Prompt
Write a story or essay with the topic of "writing". Can be instructional or a character in the story can be a writer. Creative approaches welcomed.