First Five Pages longlist, Stockholm Writers Festival

In recent years, I’ve entered few contests, instead focusing on the craft of writing and generating stories. This year I decided to send my work to the First Five Pages contest of the Stockholm Writers Festival.

Longlisted for Unspoken History, I was thrilled to learn that my novel opening succeeded in making readers want more. Writing is a lonely pursuit, and recognition by readers beyond one’s own circle is incredibly encouraging.

Shortly after getting the good news, I visited the UK and Ireland to complete more research about the settings used in my novel. In London, I had the pleasure of meeting my Zoom writing group live for the first time. Three of my four colleagues were able to spend some time with me and we had a wonderful time. Though much conversation turned on writing, it was also great to get to know my fellow Dreamteamers as people. Writers need other writers, and for the past year we’ve come to depend on one another for encouragement, feedback, deadlines and more.