It’s back to school season! Our very own Christina Ledbetter reminisces about her college days and reflects on how times have changed.

Why Not to Ask, “How Do I Get Published?”

On the night before my first day of college classes, my roommates and I sat in the hallway of our dorm, nervously laughing and nearly crying about everything that could possibly go awry the following day. Back-to-school kids, I’m with you. I hope college goes well and you don’t show up forty minutes early for your first class and stand awkwardly outside the wrong auditorium door waiting for a non-existent professor to open it for you like I did. (I finally found the right class just in time, and made a solid B in music theory, thank you very much.)

On day two of college I found my beloved English class, and things started looking up. I knew I wanted to write, but it never once entered my mind, “How do I get published?” Looking back, that was quite naïve of me. But looking forward, I’m okay with the fact that I didn’t put forth much, okay, any effort on the matter. It left me to focus more on my writing than what I’d actually do with the writing. Granted, I have far, far to go before my writing is anything beyond adequate, but at least today, still, I can focus solely on my writing instead of the pesky “How do I get published?”

If you’re in the same boat as me, I’d love to hear how you’re focusing on writing. Have you found a creative writing class you love, discovered a writing practice that’s stretching your skills? Let’s hear it! Next,  send a thank-you note to Kbuuk for making publishing free and easy (all thank-you notes should be in the form of creating an account and penning your first novel). Happy writing! And for those of you starting classes this week, good luck in geology.