Introducing Essays

Some of my most stylish photographs have been taken on these monkey bars, and both of them before 1979.

Here, my little sister Christie and I pose to celebrate their construction, a recent addition to the wooden swingset our father built for us. I’m the one in the souped-up collar, Dorothy Hamill haircut (almost), and wedge heels.

Somewhere another monkey bars photo captures me in my prized denim vest-and-slacks suit, complete with faux-leather stars on the vest, and pants ending in a bell bottom so beautiful, I used to gaze admiringly at their shadows on the playground.

Someday, I thought, someone’s going to want to read about these pants.

I declared my intention to become a writer not long after this photo, in the 4th grade, and poured my heart and soul into a book about a bunny. Recognizing my brilliance, I assume, Mrs. Marshall suggested I submit it to a youth writing competition, which I earnestly expected to win — so great was my story, so beautiful my crayon illustrations, and so carefully did I paste the yellow fabric to its cover.

Friends, I did not win.

And although the blow of not winning that contest did stymie my writing for a time — 35 years, give or take — eventually, I did become a writer, mostly of news, but also, editorials.

I still enjoy writing the news, and I never stop editorializing, but I wanted to try my hand at something a little different. So I assigned myself the goal of writing one essay per day, on any subject, from late August, until my birthday on September 18th.

The only rule is that they are written, finished, and published on the same day.

Thank you for reading along. - Sarah Craighead Dedmon