The manifestation of my blog was inspired by a truly wonderful foundation – A Room of Her Own – who is dedicated to women writers and artists. Their mission of “furthering the vision of Virginia Woolf and bridging the gap between a woman’s economic reality and her artistic creation” is not only extremely commendable, but an awesome undertaking. They provide the biennial $50,000 “Gift of Freedom” award to allow tremendously gifted women the financial means to pursue their craft who would not otherwise be able to do so. I hope to someday complete the application process and enter for a room of my own from their foundation.

Until then, I have this blog. I started it to hone my skills, to up my game, to keep me honest and, above all – to keep me writing, writing, and writing some more.

As of late, I have become discouraged at the slower-than-I-envisioned pace for building a blog of note. It is a lonely business – writing. When I was a performing actor, I had instant applause and other actors to garner encouragement from. As a writer, I have to put it out there first and wait an eternity to get a response back. I have come very close to convincing myself that I am not looking for praise, just a connection with other humans through our shared experience. Close, but not quite able to cross that divide. I am only human, after all.

There is that ever so loud, ego maniacal desire to have others validate my words and, therefore, validate me. I do not hide the fact that I would rather be a working writer, than a writer who has to work. I have honestly never wanted to be stupid rich but who wouldn’t mind having enough money to not ever have to worry about money?

That’s another post.

Today’s post is about a smaller contest they sponsor that I recently entered. I found out today that I was named a finalist in the “Sudden Fiction” and won for an e-message I wrote. They will publish excerpts from my sudden fiction piece entitled “Manifesting the Invisible” and my e-message, in which they asked for my message to the world of women writer’s (and beyond).

I am thrilled! Baby steps are all I need to keep going because I know only too well that my “journey of a thousand  miles” begins here. Always. (Thanks Lao-tse.)

I was going to post my entries here, but have decided to wait until after they publish on their website May 1st. It will give me a second opportunity to promote the AROHO Foundation and fodder for yet another post.

In the meantime, another baby step in my journey was Brain, Child Magazine‘s publication of one of my haikus. That I can post as it is in their current edition. It was fun, for Christmas – and I absolutely love writing haikus.

Christmas Fantasy

Christmas fantasy
WTF does Rockwell know?
Chaos twinkles bright

© Kathleen Vaught
December 13, 2008

Thanks for stopping by my blog and helping me create a room of my own in this universe.

Now, if I haven’t posted their link enough, stop by A Room of Her Own Foundation, to see if they can help you or you can help them…