Write Stuff Cafe

As I was thinking about who I am as a writer and continuing to do the work of knowing myself better through my internship, this image from the movie “Finding Dory” kept popping into my head. Dory gets trapped in a fishing net with so many other fish and Nemo helps save her by getting everyone to swim in the same direction. I wasn’t really thinking of that specific scene, just the image of being one small fish among so many other fish.

As I read submissions from so many different writers, I can sometimes get overwhelmed with the thought of being one small writer among so many other writers. And the literary magazine is just one net. But as I read other voices, I am starting to hear my unique writing voice a little louder. When I started the MFA program, I felt like my writing style, my writing topics, my writing structure was a little all over the place. Now, after having read so many other pieces, both published pieces from collections and reading assignments, as well as the unpublished submissions, and working on my own writing at the same time, I am learning from others, sinking a little more into my writing skin. There are times when I can begin to see myself standing out within the writing community, like Dory and Nemo stand out in the net of all the same fish.

Eventually Dory and Nemo find their way home, but they encounter challenges and setbacks, and accept support and guidance. I am still on this writing journey which will involve rejections and blank pages. But I know it has also included feedback and encouragement.

I need to just keep writing.

Just keep writing.

Just keep writing.