A Life with Dragons
After yesterday’s post on photography, I’ve decided to try an experiment–to post an image a day, and a short blog post on that image. We’ll see if it’s something I stick with.
I received an envelope in the mail today from one of my Viable Paradise friends, Kelly Lagor. Inside was a very sweet card, and the last issue of Locus Magazine. My name was inside it–my name, inside of Locus.
And who was on the cover? None other than Anne McCaffrey. There’s a certain eerie synchronicity in that.
I wrote a bit about Anne on the day of her death. What I didn’t mention then–couldn’t–was that I had heard that my book sold just a few days before. In some ways, this made the sale especially bittersweet–my greatest artistic influence, and I would never get to write her a letter telling her just how much she meant to me.
But it was also a reminder of why I’m doing all of this. Someday, my words might have a life that outlasts even mine. They might impact a young writer who will find success after I’ve died. It’s a legacy, but it’s more than that. It’s participating in the immortal conversation of literature.
Which is pretty darned great, isn’t it? I think so, at least.
Phoebe
Phoebe is a 20-something writer who lives in New York State with her husband and cat. She is a dork, not a geek or a nerd.
Her debut novel, Starglass, will be released from Simon and Schuster Books for Young Readers in Summer 2013.
5 comments
Great idea (and yay for being in Locus!!). Is your experiment going to be a new pic every day, taken that day, or one from the archives?
New pic! Taken either that day or, like, the night before. Previous 24 hours, at least.
I like this idea! Your pictures from the last entry were beautiful, btw. Imperfect, maybe, but beautiful to meeeee.
I love this thought. I'm sorry you never got to write that letter, but what an amazing thing for her to leave in her wake nonetheless.
Thank you on both counts, Steph! <3
I love this idea! And you're in Locus!
It's the best part of writing, isn't it, knowing that your words will be immortal even if you won't? And if you influence a young writer, even better. You live on in their writing.