the burst of energy I got from the acceptance has dissipated over a weekend of childcare etc...it's like winning the lottery and not being allowed to spend the money, really. what's the point of being any good at this if I don't get to actually do it?

ran into some friends and mentioned it; of course they were only mildly impressed, and one said "good on you for sending it off", ie the story. and I don't know why, but I felt a tad patronised. I know he meant well, and in my heart I think I'm pretty brave to send this stuff to real magazines, but at the same time, as he hasn't seen it, how does he know whether it's brilliant or just passable? I don't know myself; just that it's going to be printed in a respectable forum.

and of course now I'm worried: is this going to be the peak of my literary career? pretty sad if so.