Mahalo

Mahalo.
I discovered this word today, which means "thank you" in Hawaiian. And I believe it's the right way to begin this entry. I'd like to say mahalo to my fans, my friends, my peers, my teachers, my family, my muse, and above all, to God.

Several months ago I wanted to document my progress as a writer and so I signed up for a xanga account. I used xanga before but this time around, something feels different that pushes me away. Perhaps it's just the "new" look (I say new with quotations because the last time I had a xanga was in the 7th grade).
So I have transferred.

My purpose: to track my progress as a writer, as mentioned above.
A little more about me though.

My pen name is Alice Oiseau. And alas, the mask is coming down to reveal the identity my family and friends know me as: Ashley Byrd.
I've been writing since third grade. Ever since I won the Young Author's Award for writing a short story on friendship, I've had the desire to write. The years went by with short stories and miniature novels, and in eighth grade I took up poetry, which was absolutely horrendous. My first real poem that had potential was called Let me be your Willow. A good friend by the name of Tess Stortz helped me get started.
By the end of middle school I had completed my first novel, The Life of being a Teen (which was ridiculously awkward titling and poorly written, however the plot had some merit). I started high school and sophomore year was the year when things really kicked off.
I took a creative writing class which was wonderful to be able to sit down and write for at least an hour once a day. Sophomore year I joined an online writer's community called Booksie where I met many talented writers, many of which have become excellent friends. Booksie was one of the two catalysts for my major leap in writing. I learned how to review writing, properly, and learned how to take constructive criticism, and how to improve my writing. The second catalyst was a poet by the pseudonym of Punishment. He no doubt greatly influenced and impacted my writing and I am the poet I am today because of him and his help.
Fastforward to senior year.
I'm still in the process of writing a fantasy novel called Flight to Sryathindel (title subject to change) and am currently residing (writing-wise) in the community known as WritersCafe (WC). Over the summer before the school year I was chosen by the editorial staff at the America Library of Poetry to be published in Inspired, a book of very select cross selection of poetry featuring 2009's submissions. My poem Caged was published, though did not win the contest portion.

At the beginning of this new decade, I entered into another literary/poetry contest at the current community college I'm enrolled in. I submitted as much as I was allowed; 2 poems, 2 short stories, 2 essays, and a play. After having entered multiple contests in the past, primarily junior year of high school, I was determined to get something out of this. I was going to give it my all, and maybe, just maybe, all that hard work would pay off.

And it did.

My poem Pascal's Revolution was chosen as one of the winners in the poetry contest. Not just any winner, but the winner; first place.
In addition, two other pieces (a short story and play) were selected to be published with the poem in the literary journal Sycamore. Also, they would like to enter the play into another literary contest at a different community college.

When I received the news, my heart stopped. My friends, my readers, my fellow writers, listen and listen well: Never give up. I know what it's like to receive rejection, to try and try but only end up with discouragement in your empty hands, and most of all, to be told that your dream is foolish. But keep trying, keep writing, keep believing. One day victory will be yours, and you'll feel so accomplished, so proud, so happy. Then you'll come down from the top of the world, and settle back down to earth, and write some more.
Don't lose hope.
Spread your wings. And fly.

Welcome to a writer's littoral.