Unshelved?
Eleanor Strata Blog, Writing Book, Digital Art, E-book, Published, Short Story 0
For the first time, my work had been accepted into an anthology!!!!!!!!!!
“In Certain Seasons,” a joint effort between CCP Intertextual Division and Philippine Pen, features literary pieces written by mothers during Covid-19.
My piece “Shelved” is both short story and essay on the struggles of a mother working-from-home due to the virus while she cares for a rambunctious toddler.
“The Bowl is Empty” is my digital art interpretation of “Shelved.”
Image Courtesy of CCP Intertextual Division
I am TERRIFIED. Of these works not being liked, read, or seen. Of my babies not being deemed good enough.
Some of the best writers in the Philippines are featured in this book, and as much as I feel honored to be in their company, I wonder—am I ready?
I’d been writing books since I was seven. And this has been my dream profession even before I knew it was an option. Thanks to distractions along the way, heart breaks, discouragement, it took me twenty-eight years to get here.
Twenty-eight years, and I’m still learning. I’m still doing my best to earn my place with the greats.
I do love attention and validation, which is why I often need to step back and remember what I love even more—the act of writing.
I write because I love to write.
I write because I have stories to tell.
I write to make my seven-year-old self proud of the writer I’ve become/I’m becoming.
So, am I ready?
Ready as I’ll ever be.
Here we go.
You can watch “In Certain Seasons” launch video here:
A free copy of the E-book can be downloaded here: