Reading short stories, the blues, getting published

A one-and-a-half month gap on any blog is a big gap. On an inconsequential space like this one, it is enormous.

I have been away, and while part of it was sheer inertia, the rest was not such a rosy picture. I spent most of the time watching someone I loved die, little by little. Stuff I thought happened in books or movies. If in real life, it happened to others.

And instead of reacting, of doing something to come to terms with it, I have been sitting around blankly, most of the time.

This morning I read a few short stories, and of course was touched by the winner, for more than one reason. Besides the obvious beauty of the story, it struck a strong personal note.

And it also gave me that added push. Here was an author that has been hacking away at writing for a few years without being published and rewarded. So, there is nothing really wrong with plugging away at it everyday, is there?

The blue fog that was my constant companion for the last two months has lifted a little, and I am off to do my piece of daily writing. My imaginary reader has begun to peep around the nooks and crannies of my home.

P.S.: I did recently get a piece published at a small but honest platform, the Quarterly Literary Review Singapore. My piece is called Peeping Toe.

Many thanks are due to Sharon Bakar who pointed me to this place, and has been a constant source of encouragement, and to Sarah Butler, who helped me helped me revise (see flashing bulbs of realization in my head, lol) it during the MPH advice surgery.