I remember those teas we drank in Lake Placid
and the warmth of the sun on my face.
I remember the days I wore short-sleeved shirts
and sandals with my hair waving loose.
And my irritated throat protests
from my change in habitat
as my head sinks into my scarf.
She washed away the stale taste of alcohol
with toothpaste and mouthwash.
She smothered her lips with lip balm
and wore scarfs “for the cold”
with makeup to conceal her eyebags.
But it was just that: cover up.
The memories couldn’t be hidden;
her mind whirled with their dancing,
her body clung to his scent of cigarettes,
their conversations followed her.
Her eyes drooped and, behind them,
the scenes were replayed.
And no toothpaste, mouthwash,
lip balm, scarves or make up
could take those away.
In order to know where to submit your work, I recommend you find an author that you like and look up to in order to try to follow in their footsteps. Once you find a writer who you idolize, try to find out what their other works are and where they have been published. I recommend these works are the same genre as yours (if you’re writing a short story, look up other short stories).
For example, I read Stuart Dybek’s short story “We Didn’t” and loved it. I therefore researched his other works, and what magazines had previously published his work. I came across some such as “Tin House”, “The Atlantic”, “Harper’s” and “5 Points”. This was a good start because then I could read up on the magazines criteria for submissions and see if I was interested in submitting my own work, and whether my writing fit what the different magazines were looking for.
Personally, this was a major step for me to know where I should submit my work. From this, I did similar research on other writers, poets and playwrights I’ve always looked up to (as well as ones I recently began liking) and now have a list of where I can submit my works in the future. I hope this helped!
171 Days Left
The button “Submit” is charged.
I feel the energy coursing through me,
my heart beat coinciding with the tremors
as my hands shake over the mouse.
My finger presses the button
with such carefulness
I almost redo the entire process.
But then the screen refreshes
and I know I did it:
I submitted my work.
And I know it’s nothing to be
proud of, submitting does not
mean being chosen or being
good or even being liked-it just
means being read.
But, for now, that’s good enough for me.
173 Days Left
The time approaches.
In between each good-bye
I know my time is near too.
My breath quickens,
my heart rate is up.
But I push it out of my mind.
I don’t have to think about that
until summer ends.
176 Days Left
The goal is set.
The bar is up,
my inspiration high,
the “effort” button
turned on.
It’s time to go do
something to this world.
177 Days Left
It’s disappointing.
Every single time,
every single surprise-
it always hits me hard.
The only way to avoid
it is to always think
the worst of people;
the rest disregard.
But I just can’t seem to do that.
So I brace myself
for the next disappointment
although I know it will
hit me just as hard.
180 Days Left
I was never drawn to the creatures of the night.
They frightened me-
I hid under my bed covers and
switched lights on before entering rooms.
I checked under my bed
and I kept watch over my shoulder
but I never saw them coming.
They got to me anyways.
Now I walk among them
and follow their footsteps
through the night,
joining my partners in the
shadows, frightening others
out of their sleep.
181 Days Left
The friend of a friend
of an upperclassmen
-who knows one of my
best friend from high school-
invited me to a
dinner that began
twenty minutes ago.
Nobody texted me to ask
whether or not I could make it.
Now I am at home.
At least it’s by choice,
right?
183 Days Left
They are born.
We pick them, we buy them,
we feed them, we vaccinate them,
we walk them, we play with them,
we pet them, we care for them.
And then my dog turns around
and bites me.
Is it our fault
for trying to tame them
in the first place?
Writer's 365 Day Challenge 