There’s a well-circulated Virginia Woolf quote that says, “For most of history, anonymous was a woman.” A reference to the fact that some of our female literary greats first published under male pseudonyms, this quote has always stuck with me. The Brontë sisters? The ones famous for works like Wuthering Heights and Jane Eyre first published under the pen names, Currer, Ellis, and Acton Bell (instead of Charlotte, Emily, and Anne Brontë). This quote always acts as a tangible reminder to me of how far we have come in many ways.
When I learned my college campus had a literary magazine, I asked if I could submit anonymously. When I couldn’t, I chose not to submit at first. I lived for my anonymity.
I’ve come a long way since then – wearing my literary heart on each Smile Project blog post that comes out. I have found my voice and I’m not afraid of it anymore.
I was blessed with the opportunity to not be anonymous. And I’m going to do something with that.
Love always,
Liz
