I've been telling stories since I could talk; that's not the same thing as lying by the way! I LOVE stories. Reading them, writing them, hearing them, living them - all the thems! I've wanted to be a writer since as long as I can remember. In elementary school our teacher would have us make books out of cardboard and wallpaper scraps, then fill the empty, lined pages with words. That was my first publishing adventure and let me tell you, it was magical!
I tried to publish my first novel right after my third baby was born. My timing wasn't impeccable, but the desire to live my dream bubbled inside me like shook soda. It was pre-internet, you know, back in the dark ages, so I printed and mailed my manuscript to as many publishers as I could find that would take a manuscript unsolicited. (That's without an agent.) My hopes were sky high and totally dashed.
It takes a lot of time to write a book, not to mention all the other stuff, waiting and rejections and editing and rewrites and the tears. There were many, in case you were wondering. I was spending A LOT of time and not seeing any dream fulfillment going down. One especially low day, when baby four was just a few weeks old, I sat in the middle of a mess of toys, watching my littles play and cuddling my baby. All I could think was - what the heck I was doing? I was so wrapped up in this publishing dream, I was missing out on reality.
I was missing everything.
That afternoon I packed up all my manuscripts and story ideas, closed the lid on that box and stuck it in a dark corner of my closet. I let my dream sleep and I played with my kids. It was one of the best decisions I ever made. (marrying my husband was the first, and buying an ice cream maker is for sure on that list). I've never regretted sacrificing that time for my family.
When my baby went to Kindergarten, I dusted off my dreams and started submitting manuscripts again, electronically this time - it was many years later! Only a little over a month after I started, I received a request to publish one of my books - Bake Believe.
My dream come true!
Now I live my dream during the free moments while my kids are at school and my husband is working. It is the funnest thing in the world to publish books and I feel beyond blessed for the opportunity to tell my stories. In fact, I think the reason I'm in the position I'm in now, writing and publishing, is BECAUSE I sacrificed that time all those years ago.
Sacrifice brings forth the blessings of Heaven, right?
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