When Big News Hits...

You know, you read posts from writers and they practically scream the good news with their words and grammatical style when they get published. If you follow (or know...) any writers and they get a call or an e-mail letting them know that what they've written will be published, they can hardly contain their excitement.

And we--the followers, friends, family members, acquaintances--we share their joy. They make the moment sound so exciting, because, of course, it is. Sometimes we wonder what it's like to get that kind of news. Sometimes...

Today, I got one of those e-mails.

Xchyler Publishing chose a short story I submitted to be in an upcoming anthology. It still hasn't really sunk in. I must say when the e-mail arrived, it wasn't like I had imagined. I was at work when the e-mail came. I was clearing out my cubicle, boxing up all the stuff I accumulated over the past couple of years and put them in my car. Saying goodbye to friends and memories was weird enough.

Then came the e-mail. I didn't scream and jump up and down. I didn't run out and celebrate by buying stuff I only marginally need. No, I told my friends, and my wife when we went out to lunch. Then I went back to work and finished up the job I've had for five years. After work I went to a play rehearsal and finally got home around 10am, completely tired.

Maybe tomorrow I'll jump up and down and scream tomorrow. Yeah, that sounds like a plan... So, that's how getting my first big news went for me.