The dumbest thing you never knew I did

Last year, I entered the first chapter contest at the LDS Storymakers conference. It was a good chapter so I was pretty sure I would place. Probably even win, because it was that awesome. I wore an extra cute outfit on the day they announced the winners because there would be at least 350 people watching me walk up to the stage to receive my "You are awesome" certificate of proof that I can write. It was a bright pink cropped jacket in a cute tweed with a crazy flower applique. Oh, and I had on my skinny denim capris and killer pink high heels. Total business-casual-lunch/who, me?/give-me-my-prize fashionable hawtness.


The announcements were scheduled during lunch and as they previewed the prizes, I thought about how much I would enjoy having the AlphaSmart Neo for the grand prize. I plotted my path up to the front of the ballroom, noting which tables I could most easily weave around. I debated how to get rid of my gum before being called up because we had real plates and cloth napkins, not the convenient paper kind good for stashing used gum.


But the best part, the very best part, was how I teared up at least four times in an hour while I imagined it all. I teared up once because I was imagining the sense of validation I would feel for the countless hours I had spent writing. I teared up another time when I thought of how proud my parents would have been over my win. I teared up again when I thought about making the phone call to my husband. "Guess what, honey? I won!" I teared up a fourth time because I was embarrassed that I kept tearing up.


Finally, they began calling the winners. They got to my category (romance, the largest by far, I think) and the third place was . . . not mine. Oh, wow. Second place? That would be pretty awesome. Did I mention this was a great first chapter? They called second place and it was . . . not me.


Oh, my gosh. I WON. I mean, I thought I had a pretty good chance, but the reality was SO MUCH BETTER than the day dream. I teared up again just from pure emotion.


Then they called the winner. "The winner is . . ."


STILL NOT ME.


And I teared up again. Because I had to excuse myself to the outside foyer where I collapsed in a chair and laughed until I cried at what an idiot I am. If this writing thing doesn't work out, I think I'm going to give "drama queen" a shot. 


P.S. The writing thing is totally working out. I found out three hours later that day that my novel had been accepted by Covenant, and you can all read that first chapter for yourselves this upcoming March when my first book comes out. I hope you like it but just FYI, I will not be preparing any acceptance speeches or planning any acceptance outfits ever again. If I ever win a writing thingy in the future, no doubt I will be accepting the prize in something frumpy with food stuck in my teeth.