Martha’s First Contract!

It hasn’t even been a year yet since Martha was in my summer creative writing class at the college. She was studying computers, but she loved to read and write and thought she’d take my class and see what happened.

What happened was Martha really liked writing. In six weeks she finished 100 pages of a novel. And it was good. So good I told her she should finish it, join RWA, and enter the Golden Heart. I figured since I wouldn’t be around to guide Martha anymore, RWA could help her learn the serious craft stuff that takes a little more than six weeks;-)

Then a funny thing happened. Well, for me it was funny, because I never “make friends” with my students. I have a lot of teacher-friends who do and I think it’s just great, but it’s not my style. I’m a kind and interested teacher, just not a teacher to go have drinks with after class.

Plus Martha is way younger than me. She could be my daughter. Still, I offered to read her ms. when she finished it, but never expected to hear from her again.

But there’s something about Martha…I was the teacher, but she lit up something inside me. She inspired me. I decided to join RWA again and enter the GH myself.

I was perplexed by this turn of events, but it felt right, so I went with it. I also went with the flow when Martha and I began exchanging manuscripts for critique and sharing rides to our local RWA chapter meetings.

Almost a year after we met, Martha and I aren’t student and teacher anymore, we’re friends. Two writers, working on getting published. I knew it wouldn’t take Martha long to get her first contract, and it didn’t. Just the other day I got an email from her saying a story she’s been working on will soon be for sale by a major e-publisher.

Martha has her first publishing contract! I am soooo happy for her. I predict that this is just the first in many successes!