Last week I was asked to read my poem “Forgotten Home” at my local writer’s guild’s annual Pen & Paint reception.

The Pen & Paint competition is my favorite. In the first round (at the start of the year), writers submit their most visually stunning work and then local artists create images to accompany it in an art show.

In the second round (toward the end of the year), artists create images and writers can submit their work that best fits the art.

Then, in November, all the artists and writers come together for this event.

My daughter was my date to tonight's writing event, where I was asked to read one of my award-winning poems.

She's my favorite videographer. So you only get a snippet.#NotAPoet#KindOfAPoet #writerslife pic.twitter.com/cHSGRLoVT7

— Jessica Marie Baumgartner (@jessmbaum) November 14, 2024

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This was my first year submitting, winning, and attending to read one of my winning pieces. I chose the poem since the story that won is a bit longer and I haven’t done a reading in a while.

It truly is a gift to be a part of something like this, and I encourage every artist and writer to always submit their work no matter how they feel about it!