My adventure began when one of my students, whom you know as penguincaptain18, told me about this great online writing community called “Ficlets.” I asked her, “Well, what’s a ficlet?” I couldn’t conceive of a place that mandated how long your fiction needed to be.

But I was curious. So I went home and tried it out. The first thing I wrote was something about a reluctant bride (go figure). I couldn’t believe it when people actually read it and wrote positive comments.

Not a day has passed since, barring illness, marathon bouts of grading, or vacations away from home, that I don’t log on to see who’s written what and what’s been said about my work.

The best part of my experience is that I’m actually writing again, more in this short time than I’ve written in the 6 years I’ve been teaching. But at least I’m happily reconciled with my muse, now. A lot of the time, I write stuff that’s best left in “draft” form, but I’m grateful for the comments and critique you guys provide. I wouldn’t be here without it.