Page 85 of Unconventionally, Elle
I stopped under a large oak and tapped the alert. My breath hitched and butterflies erupted in my stomach. It was from the writing competition. It was the announcement of the winners. Hands shaking, I scrolled through the message and scanned once, twice, three times before realizing what in the hell had just happened.
Dear Elle Watson,
Thank you for applying to the esteemed Literary Times Challenge. It was a pleasure reading through so many inspiring manuscripts! The competition was fierce, and we could only pick one grand prize winner. We are pleased to inform you that you have been selected as our FIRST RUNNER-UP and will receive a prize of $1,000 (USD).
Well done on a finely crafted story, and we wish you the best of success in your future endeavors.
Best regards,
The Literary Times Challenge Team
Oh my God, I was first runner-up. I won money for my writing! My thoughts were hysterical. But I didn't get a foot in the door with an editor. Now what?
I ran back to my house, wondering the whole time if I should be proud or disappointed. I truly couldn't decide. It was winning but not winning. I didn't feel the burn in my legs or the tightness in my chest until I got to my building, panting, with adrenaline bursting through my body. I ran upstairs, flopped onto my couch, and texted my updated group chat.
Me:First runner-up! I didn't win but I got $1,000!
Sarah:OMG, Elle, I'm so proud of you! That's incredible, especially for your first book. Even though you didn't win the competition, I bet you can fix it up and submit it to other publishers, right?
Rach:Fucking congrats! That's awesome. We are excited, right?
Me:I really don't know. Like, I'm happy I did get runner-up, and I did win big money for writing a first draft of something, but like, I really wanted to win, ya know? I didn't get the editor or my foot in the door. Now what? How do I really become a writer?
Sarah:Elle, shut up. You ARE a writer. Don't you get it? You wrote a damn book in just a few months. Your FIRST book.
Finn:Ellz, Ellz, Ellz! OMG, babe! Ahh! Congratulations, my love! Jackson is here and says he's so proud of you too.
Rach:You literally WROTE a book. What else qualifies someone for being a writer? Being published? But that's technical.
Sarah:Rachel, shut up. She could self-publish if she really wanted to.
Me:You think, Sarah?
Sarah:Definitely. You can try the traditional route if you want for a bit, but if that doesn't work, you didn't fail.
Me:I don't think I failed, I think. Not really, at least. I mean, I was runner-up, so that means they liked it...
Finn:How many people submitted, Elle?
Sarah:Yeah, how many?
Me:Thousands, I'm sure. It was open nationwide even though it's based here in Boston.
Rach:Holy fuck, ELLE! You placed first runner-up in a national competition. Do you realize how huge that is!?
Finn:Ellz, you are unbelievable. J and I are so proud of you. SO freaking proud.
Sarah:Same here, girl.
Me:But, Sarah, what were you saying about publishing?
Sarah:Oh, just that sometimes, well, don't ask me for stats, but I think a lot of times you can make more money self-publishing because you are more in control. It's just harder.
Rach:When has something being harder ever stopped you, though?
Finn:No comment, ladies.
Sarah: Omg, Finn.
