Twisted50 vol 3… From Inkling to Holding The Hardback

I don’t know where to start with how I feel about the book. It’s just been a flood of emotions since submitting my story, to receiving the email saying I’d been shortlisted, and then receiving my hardback copy on Saturday and it all suddenly feeling very real.

Holding it and seeing my story on a page felt like the end of one journey and the beginning of another. I’ve loved writing since I was a child, but over the years it took a back seat and whilst I would still write I would never let anyone read my stories, or pursue it seriously. There was always the feeling that allowing myself to do it would end in rejection and failure. The dream of one day being a writer is safe if you never fail at it. But I knew I wasn’t doing what I wanted to do.

Being introduced to Twisted50 changed my outlook completely. Reading everyone’s stories and seeing how the community provided each other encouragement and advice with no judgement, really eased my fears about entering a submission. The brief was also so helpful as a starting point to begin writing. Despite a few wobbles, and watching the calendar edge closer to the deadline, submitting my story felt like I’d achieved everything I’d wanted to. I’d finally taken the leap.

Finding out I was shortlisted and seeing my story in an actual book has been such an incredible experience. It’s given me a confidence I haven’t felt in a very long time, and I feel inspired to write, improve and never stop. I know there’ll be rejections in the future, but it doesn’t matter, because my self-doubt was the thing holding me back and that’s gone.

I was still nervous about sharing the news. Only a few people knew that I wrote. But the response from friends and family has been amazing. I’ve had comments and messages on Facebook, and friends, aunts, uncles, cousins ordering their copies of the book. It’s been overwhelming.

I wasn’t expecting anything and only wanted to overcome my own personal hurdle. But this process has given me so much more. So to you Chris and everyone at Twisted50 I really just want to say thank you. It’s been so much fun, and I can’t wait to read all the stories the community writes for the next book.