Just received my first rejection letter
in fifteen years
after fifteen years of creative celibacy
The (1) in my Gmail tab had my heart aflutter
before my brain could even say "Careful, girl,
We've been down this road before"
Nah, I welcome your congratulations
That prize money is in the bag
Yeah, I might fly out to do a reading
on my victory lap, to your adulation,
thank you
I assume my travel costs will be covered?
Click
I'd forgotten the sting of "Unfortunately ... "
A template personalized with just my initials
(Pen names are not shields)
at the top to let me know it isn't personal
It feels personal
Out of over 600 submissions
mine was not the best
It felt Nobel-worthy, writing it
Turns out, barely noteworthy
Didn't even make the short list
What a welcome back after 15 years
And yet
Thank you for your consideration
Because I wouldn't have written a word
had I not been enticed, challenged,
to allow myself back in
after 15 years of self-exile
For just a few minutes of your time
my words were center stage
kissed the limelight
Illuminating
I'd be a hypocrite in my upset
Unfortunately, I too could pick a favorite
out of over 600
knowing it will break
over 600 "Dear [name]" hearts
So who am I to judge?
I am, indeed, just grateful for the opportunity
to write again
not because it proves
I can.
Because it proves
I did.
About the Creator
M.J. Benjamin
English Lit graduate trying to reconnect with her creative enthusiasm after many educational yet spiritually-draining years of academics. Time for something supernatural, fantastical, occasionally maniacal. I welcome the challenge!
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Excellent work. Looking forward to reading more!
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Easy to read and follow
Well-structured & engaging content
On-point and relevant
Writing reflected the title & theme
Compelling and original writing
Creative use of language & vocab
Excellent storytelling
Original narrative & well developed characters
Heartfelt and relatable
The story invoked strong personal emotions
Masterful proofreading
Zero grammar & spelling mistakes
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More stories from M.J. Benjamin and writers in Poets and other communities.
Standing Still
There are very few moments in life where time truly stands still. When your breath is taken from your chest and your body hangs weightless in that moment. Just long enough for it to stay with you from that day onwards. Deep in the red sands of the Australian Outback, I found that moment and clung to it forever.
By Kevin McLaughlin6 days ago in Wander
Comments (18)
Congrats! We can relate to this!! ❣️
Congratulations on your top story .
Excellent! I have been there many times and you captured that feeling perfectly. The sting of “unfortunately” you got it exactly right. And how it hurts in that moment but I love the uplifting feeling of it in the end. This was great!
Congrats on top story! Just being able to write is a blessing in itself
Congrats on Top Story!!
nice
nice share
Nice poem
It seems like the more we put ourselves out there, the more "unfortunately" communications we are likely to get - perhaps amassing them is a trophy cabinet for our own willingness to try.
Great going! Keep up the fantastic effort—congratulations!
This is a beautiful poem. It is very relatable as well.
There is not much 'unfortunate' about it. Some arbitary bot filtered out whatever and less than 10% got to a human and even then. One like fries the other prefers a Ceasar salad. Yeah rambling. Sorry. You wrote. You can and you did. Great piece and so well crafted 🤍
Great going! Keep up the fantastic effort—congratulations!
I hear you loud and clear, M.J.! You speak so eloquently for many of us!
An acceptance letter can provide some validation and, hopefully, expand one's audience a bit. They rarely offer payment or quantifiable benefits, though. It's a double-edged sword, I suppose. Nonetheless, that "unfortunately" can sting a bit!
The way you crafted this piece allowed me to feel every moment, too. Been there too many times. It has taken a long time to feel that a non-selection is not a loss. Love how you conclude. Looking forward to reading more from you. Congratulations on TS.
This is a stunning work! A powerful reflection in the face of an undesired response...thank you for sharing!
Ah, the anticipation. Hoping for more acceptance emails for you!