I know what it is to be a "dreamer." Some days are wonderful. Other ones hurt like hell. I will ALWAYS remember and THANK the editor that sent me a rejection letter when I was 18. He didn't mince words. "You aren't worth the air you breathe." I didn't have much air left in my lungs after that. First I screamed! Then I sobbed. Then I wanted to prove the MF wrong. Not matter what's happened, the criticism, rejection, struggles, poverty, success, I never gave up on my dream. I lost a lot, but I gained so much much more! I learned to love myself, my tenacity and I wrote my ass off, studied, read, and all these years later I'm ready to soar. For those who kicked me while I was down, I will walk into that coffee shop, biz, gas station, etc. and smile as you recognize my face. Not because I'm bitter, or an ass. I'll smile because I chose the hard path and I'm still standing pen in hand. Words are my joy, my god, my family and my passion. #writers #rejection #keeptrying #dowhatyoulove #womenwriters #womeninfilm #producers #calartswriter #poetsofinstagram #writersworld #thisishowwedo (at California Institute of the Arts)