I remember that Sunday afternoon so clearly. I sat down at my computer desk, logged into my Whyville account, and checked the Whyville Times like I usually did. I glanced at the front-page stories, wishing that I could someday I could be published there, and then I read a few of the articles. I was slightly discouraged that none of my submissions had made it in the Times, but I was used to not getting published.
Later that night, I logged back onto Whyville, and noticed I had one new y-mail. I opened it up, and saw it was from a friend of mine. In the y-mail, she congratulated me on getting my first poem published. I was confused at first, until I looked under the "Creative Writing" section of the Times. There, I saw something I couldn't believe: my very first published poem.
My jaw dropped as I clicked on my piece and read it over again and again. Was it too good to be true? Was my first step to becoming a Times Writer complete?
I remember being so excited; I told my mom all about the publication. She simply smiled, and told me she was proud of me. Neither of my parents really liked to write, and it was hard going to them with suggestions or asking them for advice. I slowly started keeping my writings to myself, and I didn't submit anything after that poem for quite some time.
Four months later, I started thinking about submitting a novella I was writing. I started writing it for a creative writing class I was taking, and I got lots of positive feedback from my teacher. I asked their advice on whether or not I should submit it to a website where kids and teens can comment on writings, and he said I definitely should. The Sunday after I submitted, I saw it in Times. I was completely shocked, but even more surprised after I saw the assorted positive comments on the article. It was through their kind words that I began to consider submitting again.
Ninety-eight articles later, I feel as if I have grown a lot as a writer. I've had my hit articles, and my not so popular ones. I've been given the opportunity to not only become a Times Writer, but to meet and befriend other young authors like myself. Writing is definitely something I would consider a hobby, and it has helped me in so many positive ways.
I would highly recommend submitting to the Times if you want to learn more about who you really are and what you stand for. I have figured out many things about myself that I have never known, and I have expressed more feelings through writing than in any way else. In a way, writing has given me self confidence, because I know people are reading what I have to say, and thinking about it. Writing has been a great stress reliever, and has helped me mature.
I would like to thank the people I have collaborated with, and the people that have helped me create interviews. Because of your love of writing, I have been able to find mine.
On a final note, if you are a beginning writer, or if you are thinking about submitting to the Times, I highly encourage you to not doubt yourself, and submit, submit, submit. The Times is always looking for new talents to be discovered, and you never know - you might realize that writing is something you enjoy like I did.
Editor's Note: Thanks Kittieme for submitting this article. It has been a joy and an honor to watch you grow as a Times Writer. Also, I'd like to thank you for being such an incredible role model for all the aspiring Times Writers. It takes a lot of hard work and dedication, but in the end, it all pays off. You will definitely go down in history as one of the best and most memorable writers for the Whyville Times.
