The First Step

I entered a picture book contest. My very first one.

After weeks of reading the rules, checking deadlines, and looking through past winners, I finally chose a story and submitted it.

I won’t name the contest, and I don’t know who the judges are, but it felt like the right place to begin. Something about it made me pause and think, maybe this is where I start.

The manuscript I submitted is one I’ve loved for a long time. I’ve revised it more times than I can count. I gave it another slow, careful read, sat with it for a while, and when it felt ready (or as ready as it was going to get), I hit submit.

It was quiet. No fanfare. Just me, the screen, and a small leap forward.

I think contests can be a meaningful part of the journey, not because of prizes or recognition, but because of the discipline it takes to prepare. It's the act of choosing one story and saying that this one deserves a chance. It’s the chance to see how your work holds up outside your own hands. It’s the chance to practice sharing, even when you’re not sure where it will land.

I don’t know what will come of this, and that’s okay. I’m learning to move forward with curiosity instead of fear. This journey is still new, and I’m just getting started. But I’m in.

More soon,
Sherley L. Mondesir