Have you ever had a dream?

Story has always been one of my biggest dreams. It’s drawn me from my earliest memories. Before I knew how to write, I spoke stories out loud and asked others to write them down for me. I loved it when my parents or grandparents would read aloud, and I was blessed because they did it often.

Once I was old enough to read on my own, I took off and never looked back.

Writing my stories didn’t follow as naturally. Though I tried in my preteen and teen years, I never got very far in recording the adventures that lived in my imagination. When adult responsibilities crowded in, story took a back seat. It never left me, but I began to wonder if it would always be a dream and never a reality.

Along my journey as an avid reader, I became aware of American Christian Fiction Writers. ACFW would often be mentioned in the author acknowledgement section of the books I read, and I began to pay attention. When I found out they livestreamed their annual awards gala that took place at their national conference each fall, I would tune in. As I watched the announcement of the Genesis contest winners, I would dream. Maybe someday that would be me.

The Genesis contest is for unpublished Christian writers who want to grow in their craft. It’s an opportunity for, as ACFW puts it in their website, “unbiased feedback on writers’ work by published authors and experienced judges, and the chance for the category finalists to have their work read by Christian publishing house editors and literary agents.”

I started my writing journey in 2018, and in 2019 I joined ACFW. I entered the Genesis contest in 2020 in the Novella category, and I advanced to the final round. That was exciting and I was honored, though it was also 2020. I was blessed to watch the online-only livestream with a circle of friends, but it was not the experience I had dreamed about.

In 2021 I submitted two entries to the Genesis contest. One advanced to be a semi-finalist, but fell short of the final round. My Historical Romance entry did not advance at all.

This year I also submitted two entries. I had a new Historical Romance to send out into the world, and I tried my Novella again.

Yesterday evening, as I played with my niece in the golden summer sunlight, I heard the news: I’m a double finalist in the 2022 Genesis contest! Both of my entries have made it to the final round. Wow!

Look out, St. Louis. Lord willing, I’m coming your way in September for the ACFW national conference, and this year we get to celebrate in person. I will not be watching the awards gala from my house, but will instead be an honored participant.

I don’t know if they will call my name as the winner, but they will have the opportunity. That in itself is a dream come true.

I’m thankful the Lord holds me in His hand, as He does you. He is good on days when our dreams fall short and on days when we rejoice. He’s the giver of gifts, both the ones we cherish and the ones we must work to find acceptance over. He’s good when He says yes. He’s good when He says no. May my story—my life and my writing—always bring Him the glory He deserves.

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