Holding Court opens a week from today. With that in mind I re-visited the first play I wrote. I had submitted it to Writer's Digest for their annual writing competition and was awarded second place. I was so stunned I wrote an email to the two judges. One wrote back to me within a few days. Basically, she said 'keep it up.' I never heard from the other judge.
Dear Miss Ryan,
As the final-round judge in this year’s Writer’s Digest playwriting contest, you selected my play, Living With Women, as second-place winner. The confidence this recognition has given me is immeasurable. The act of writing is a daily re-commitment fueled by mood swings caused by things as varied as nice weather, bad weather, finding love, losing pounds and especially receiving recognition.
I am currently in my thesis semester seeking my master’s degree in Creative Writing from the New School University. Grad students can be as miserly with praise as they can be grandiose in admiration of themselves.
Writing is a selfish act the writer is hoping (expecting?) to get praised for. We’re appalled when readers don’t get it, and somehow almost as appalled when they do, or at least surprised, and grateful. The objective affirmations one receives throughout their lifetime can usually be counted on one hand.
The only other personal experience I have with the stage was as an under-age bass player in a rock band in the late ‘80s, so I suddenly find myself being presented with one of the central questions in writing; What happens next? Do I seek an agent? Production? A director? There are innumerable and often unreadable how-to books written for a general audience of “writers.”
As someone who has seen my work, any advice or guidance you can offer is greatly appreciated.
Thank you.
Sincerely,
Pablo A. Rajczyk
Shadow8pro@yahoo.com
718.267.7733
25-76 44th Street #2F
Astoria, NY 11103
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