Because I am a very remiss blogger, I figured that the A to Z blog challenge would be just the thing to get me into a rhythm, doing what good little bloggers do. Not to mention that the entire concept brings back fond memories of one of my all-time fave programs, Sesame Street. So today, A is for Action.
No matter how big or small our dreams are, nothing gets done without action. Common sense, no? So why do we so often find ourselves dreaming big, but doing very little to bring those dreams to fruition?
I’ve been an avid reader who loved stories for as long as I can remember. But when I read Jane Austen’s Pride & Prejudice, I knew I’d found the thing I wanted to do for the rest of my life–craft story of strong, witty women, the men they love, and their supporting cast of characters. It was fabulous to have this big dream in my little head. Making it happen, that was a different story.
Back then it wasn’t the writing itself that was the issue, it was the action of putting myself out there, and the possibility of being rejected.
Fast-forward nearly twenty years. I renewed my dream of being a fiction writer. The action I struggled with then was completing a novel. I had several partial manuscripts, including a couple of ambitious affairs featuring ensemble casts. However, it took me several years to get it together and finish one of those stories. That action prompted me to complete two others in a relatively short time. But that was only the beginning.
I’ve had to continually force myself beyond my comfort zone in order to advance toward my goal of being published. Taking writing craft classes. Joining a critique group. Attending local writer events. Submitting queries to agents and publishers. Volunteering in my local RWA chapter. Each action helped me move forward. At first it felt like I was inching along, but later it felt like leaps and bounds.
My debut novel, Making the First Move, will be published this summer by Carina Press. But the number of actions required of soon-to-be published authors (and multi-published authors) is no less. Instead, the added responsibilities of building a platform, guest blogging, and finding ways to connect with your audience are added to the mix of plotting, writing, revising, submitting, etc. So I’ll keep moving forward, remember that each action is bringing me closer to my ultimate goal.
What are some of your dreams or goals? What actions are you taking to achieve them? Please share in the comments.