Still Sticking Around

Still Sticking Around

To my Friends and Fellow Writers on this Online Platform,

Hi, Everyone. You may have noticed I haven't submitted anything for several weeks. Some of you have been asking about me so thought I should drop you a line letting you know I am fine. Thanks to all who have been concerned. And thanks to all who have been continuing to catch up reading on many of my past stories or commenting on my latest one.

I want you to know what a blessing you have been to me for the past three years. I know! I find it hard to believe I have been submitting short stories to this site for three years, seldom missing a week until recently.

Last summer our community suddenly lost a dear friend to many and a favorite contributor, TJ. She was approximately my age and even though we communicated off line once in a while I have no idea if she was suffering any illness before she passed away. I believe it shocked most of us and we dearly miss her sharp wit and smooth pen.

Therefore, I decided to let you, my friends and followers, know there is nothing seriously wrong with my health other than normal aches and common conditions of aging. I have failing knees, some heart issues leaving me living with A-Fib and have recently been told my sugar numbers have passed into the diabetic realm, something I refuse to own so am dieting profusely. None of us know when our time on this earth will be up so we need to be prepared by repenting of our sins and believing in Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior. I am and I pray you are, also. Enough said.

I know some people have expressed their dissatisfaction with certain aspects of Reedsy. Those unhappy have probably already stopped participating. Although all is not perfect, nothing ever can be, I didn't want anyone to think I've been an unhappy contributor.

Even though I came close to winning with only one shortlisted story in three years whereas many get recognition much more frequently, I've been a winner in many ways. I've enjoyed reading all of your amazing writing. So much to the point I get very little else accomplished throughout the day. I surprisingly find myself at the number eight spot on the leader board, even surpassing Thom with an H who gave me my very first comment on my very first story. I am not a trained or seasoned writer, yet people like my stories. So thanks once again. Hopefully, I have grown and improved somewhat with my efforts. My husband keeps reminding me I have a medal hanging on my wall proving I'm not half bad (although my book still remains unpublished :).

Considering all things, I noticed prompts recently have often been reruns very similar to previous ones used over the past three years. Many of you are so talented you could easily come up with a fresh take. Some of you even write to more than one prompt in a week. I tried once, amazingly hitting all five. Not something I could do continuously. It takes me most of the week simply to come up with an idea for one prompt. Seeing these repeats I'm tempted to re-enter one of my old stories. Especially because new members come aboard who haven't read them before and long-time members drop out. Not all stories remain on a profile as time go by and new stories are added.

No complaints here. I understand a company does whatever works for them. I believe, but don't know for sure so don't quote me, the contest serves as kind of a marketing tool capable of drawing writers into the site hoping they will use some of their other services. It's okay with me. The contests are useful, can be a lot of fun and help a writer hone their craft. But it may explain why newcomers are so frequently the winners. May have always been true and I simply didn't notice before. Of course, most of the time the winning writers are tremendously talented.

Anyway, openly sharing my thoughts with you, my fellow writers, because I plan on not contributing for some time so I can focus not only on finally getting my award winning manuscript published but also my son has a writing project with which he wants help. It's ambitious and will involve a lot of research. This unfortunately means I will miss so much of your writing. I'll dip in, as they say, once in a while but can't keep up with everyone's anymore. If you make a comment occasionally on one of mine (an old one you never got to read maybe?) I'll try to reciprocate and look at one of yours.

If you are curious, my son, Kent, wants help writing a detailed history account of the town we live in Ronald Reagan considered his place to come home to. Other books exist, one newly written by Tom Wadsworth, a local historian, touching on well known points of interest popular with residents. A very deep thinker, Kent wants to attract more attention nationally. In research I've done so far I am amazed at all the connections our small area in Illinois has to the nation and the impact it has on the whole world.

I told him I would be happy to help if I can and suggested he give me one instance of an event or person I could research and write a chapter about. I started with Luella Parsons. Within a few days he sent me seven pages of relevant material and never even mentioned the columnist.

When I think about it, some of my submitted stories were about our town. 'Run, Forest, Run'; 'Hometown Boy'; and 'Quiet Hero' come to mind.

Oh, and did you know how and why duct tape came about? Don't be surprised if someday you can travel here and celebrate a special event with your very own duct tape trophy. Started here in 1943 by a woman and eighty-three years later it's still sticking around!

Yours sincerely and ever grateful,

Mary Bendickson