Nine bodies of water

Back in October, I joined the Online Writing Workshop, an international community of science fiction and fantasy writers who critique each other's work. It's overseen by a cadre of professional writers and editors, all with famous books, awards and/or anthologies to their name. Every month, they each choose one submission as an "Editor's Choice":

The Editors' Choices are chosen from the submissions from the previous month that show the most potential or otherwise earn the admiration of our Resident Editors.  Submissions...receive a detailed review, meant to be educational for others as well as the author.

Then a month ago, I got an email saying, "Don't take down your submission. It's been selected as an Editor's Choice." I was absolutely beside myself. Especially because "Nine Bodies of Water" was the very first thing I'd submitted! But then I had to wait for a month to see the review. It finally came out on Saturday...and, to my delight, it was penned by none other than Kelly Link, a writer I greatly admire - and so does the entire rest of the sci-fi community; not to mention the mainstream literature community!

She wrote an incredibly helpful, thoughtful, three-page long review. The main bone of contention - as I knew it'd be - is the ending, and I have a pretty good idea of how things are going to change. But more than that, it's positively thrilling to get attention like this, especially from a writer I like so much! The previous link was to her Wikipedia entry; you can see her personal web page here.

I can't post the review, because I don't want to toy with copyright issues; but private email is okay if you want me to send it to you. It's pretty awesome. Especially where she says that the writing in the passage about burning the ticket is "almost perfect, a tour de force." 

* SHIVER *

Comments

[Michelle]

Congratulations, Monica. You are amazing.

[Maria]

Richly deserved, Monica. Best of luck!
Maria