My first ever short story got published, and changed my life forever!

Back in 2022, I was scrolling late on a Sunday evening when I saw a short story contest advertising a $3,000 grand prize.

Wouldn’t that be nice to win?

At that time, I had been slowly working on the first draft of what became DragonGods. And when I say slowly, I mean about a chapter every other month. But I figured I was a writer now, right? Why shouldn’t I check it out?

You will find that my completely unearned confidence got me a lot of places on this journey. I highly recommend you try it yourself!

So I found the website, Elegant Literature Magazine, and looked up the submission requirements. 10 total prizes for publication, 15 more for honorable mention.

Oh and due in 2 days. What could possibly go wrong?

Now, had I ever written a short story? No. Maybe in grade school for an assignment. I had never written really before that year. But I liked the prompt, friendship and a ring, and it only needed to be 2,000 words.

So I brought my laptop to the couch and pounded away at the keys while my wife played a video game beside me.

The story just … flowed! I had absolutely no idea where it was going, or what was going to happen (I often don’t), but I loved the ride it took me on! And if I loved creating it that much, maybe someone would love reading it that much!

About an hour later, it was finished! My first short story! I showed my wife and she thought it was cute. That was all the confidence boost I needed!

I filled out the forms, created what might be the worst title to a story ever, and hit submit!

A month later, I got an email. It didn’t win first prize, but it was going to be published in the next issue of their magazine!! I couldn’t believe it!

Moments like these can change the entire trajectory of a life. I know this one did for me. After that, I committed to writing my first book. I was still ridiculously slow back then, but it was a start. And look at where it took me!

If you have inklings about what you are capable of, follow them! Follow them without doubts, without second guessing. If it wouldn’t pain you to try, then go for it! And if you are interested in writing, I recommend the Elegant Literature contest! I haven’t submitted in years now, but it was an incredible experience for someone getting started!

If you would like to read this story, I will post it below! As with all my works, I hope you enjoy the story, Shining in Any Light!

***

“In two miles, your destination will be on the right.”

Rebecca looked down at her engagement ring again as Phin drove them along the suburban road. She wanted to remember every detail. She had set a reminder on her phone for every hour of the day so she could see how her ring glimmered in the different angles of the sunlight.

“Do… do you still like it? I know the diamond isn’t as big as some of your friends’, but I promise after a few years, we can replace it! I just, need the time in the job to build up the extra funds.”

“Its perfect Phin! I love it almost as much as I love you! I wouldn’t trade it for the world,” Rebecca replied.

Financing an engagement ring on a part-time waiter, full-time student salary couldn’t have been easy for him. But soon, all that would change for the better.

Their graduation was a week ago, and Phin had landed a great new job out east. They spent the week packing all their essential items from their college years and tried to sell the rest for gas money to make the trip together.

They had spent all four years of college together, meeting at their orientation day. All their friends said they couldn’t be separated, and now they would never have to be. The night before they started on their cross-country escapade, Phin had taken her on the most wonderful date. He was so cute; he had always said that one day he would take her to the most expensive restaurant in town and let her order whatever she wanted. And last night, he made good.

They spent hours at the white tableclothed booth, laughing and smiling and reminiscing about all their stories from their great years in college. She could tell what was coming, he was sweating more than usual. Maybe it was just the fact he was wearing a tie for the first time. Gosh, he had looked so handsome!

The waiter must have given them nasty looks a dozen times, hoping they would get the hint to get out for another seating. They knew what he wanted, but they just couldn’t leave. It was too much fun to live a night out like they owned the place. Second dessert, more to drink, extra sides with their main course. Wouldn’t it be wonderful if that could be every night?

Rebecca stared down at the ring. Now that the sun was setting, the small diamond reflected all the colors of the fading sky. Red streaks, purple clouds, the bright pink backdrop of it all reflected beautifully through her diamond and onto the black dashboard of Phin’s truck.

“I just want to make sure I give you the best. Now and forever, darling.”

She looked over at him and tousled his hair. “I already have the best.”

“Hey now, no assaulting the driver. Who knows what could happen? It could be something like this!”

Phin jerked the wheel to the left, then back right, causing the car and its contents to all fly one direction, then the other. He laughed as she swung right into the door, then back towards him. As her head flew across the center console, he leaned over and kissed her hair.

“Don’t do that, Phin! We will lose everything in the truck bed if you keep it up!”

“Oh, don’t worry, we are almost at your parents’ house. If anything falls out, we can get it back in the morning.”

There it was, good old Phin. Always something crazy, but so optimistic.

Rebecca reached over to hold his hand. He only used one when he was driving anyway. It was something she had done hundreds of times, but today it felt different. As she laced her fingers between his, her new ring pressed against her skin.

“In half a mile, your destination will be on the right.”

Home, her home. The house that her dad had built and that she had spent all her young life growing up in. It had been last summer since she had been there. She declined their plane tickets to come home for Christmas break this year, choosing instead to stay back near school with Phin and his family.

His family were all so excited when Phin and Rebecca had stopped by the house that morning to show off her new jewelry. Of course, they knew what Phin had been planning. Planning for months as his mom told Rebecca that morning.

This was going to be a much different mood. Her parents had never liked her choice of Phin, and while she knew that he had asked their permission to marry her, he went against their choice and still proposed. But they didn’t have money for hotels along the way east, so this was the only place they could stop before driving the rest of the way.

The sun finally drooped below the trees that edged the family estate, making the sky dark and the mood in the car darker.

“It’s only one night, Phin. We will be ourselves and they will get to really meet you. Once they spend some time with you, and see how happy we are together, they will have to love you like I do,” Rebecca said. If only she believed it herself.

“It’s okay, Becs. Like you said, it’s only one night. For that little, they don’t have to like me. We will say thank you and keep on our way tomorrow.”

“Just remember, no matter what they say, I love you and I will always be yours.”

“And I to you, sweetie.” Phin glanced over and smiled. That big smile that used his whole face. The smile that she fell in love with on day one.

Rebecca held up her ring, facing her left hand towards his face.

“You know, I’ve spent all day looking at how this diamond reflects the sunlight, but I should have been holding it up to that smile. Nothing all day has made it shine more beautifully.”

Phin laughed as he turned onto the drive for her parents’ house.

“Your destination is on the right.”

Phin had to slam the breaks to keep from hitting the bronze gate. With a huff, Rebecca called the home number, but no one answered. The driveway wasn’t long, and she could see the lights on in the living room. She could tell they were home. She could see the game on dad’s massive television.

“It’s okay Becs. It’s only one night. We can find our own place to sleep.” Phin put the car in reverse and began to pull back.

“Wait honey,” Rebecca said. “You have been driving for hours and I know the town. Let me take over and I will find us a place we can rest. I can call Ginny, I’m sure her parents will let us crash on a couch there.”

“Okay baby, that would be nice.” Phin put the truck in park, smiled at her, and they both changed seats.

“Make sure you have your seatbelt on tight Phin, these roads can get bumpy.”

Rebecca put the truck in drive and floored the gas. The front of the truck slammed into the gate for her family’s property, breaking it off the hinges and sending it flying into their perfectly manicured lawn. As it landed, it gashed a long trench through the peonies her mother worked so hard every spring to tend.

“Rebecca!” Phin exclaimed, “What are you doing?”

“Making sure that we keep out guest list short. It’s never too early to start the wedding planning.”

The emergency lights aimed at the entryway flared on. As Rebecca put the truck in reverse, she brought her left hand up to the top of the steering wheel. She looked at how the light refracted through the small diamond onto the dashboard again. Beyond the windshield, she could see her parents running out the front door, shouting and looking aghast at the damage that had been done to their home.

“You know sweetie,” Rebecca said as she put the truck in reverse and pulled away, “this lighting might make the ring look the prettiest it has all day.”