Going For It

Guys have I ever told you how much I love writing? Because I do. Half the time I’m making up random stories and dialogue in my head all day. So it’s no surprise I’ve always had a goal of being an author.

About two years ago I decided to go for it. I wrote and I wrote. I wrote when my kids were napping, when I was making dinner, when my kids were in bed at night—basically whenever I could find time. It was a romantic historical fiction, a genre I love reading. I put my whole heart in it. And guess what I’ve done with it? Nothing. That’s right, it’s sitting on my computer desktop in a nice little file labeled “Summer’s Book”.
And you know why? Because it stunk. It really did.

But it’s ok because I learned a lot from that experience.
1.) I’m bad at writing historical fiction. It’s just not my thing. I love reading it, but for some reason those words don’t just flow out of my mind like they should.
2.) A first draft is a always terrible.
3.) I’m never going to be great at something the first time I try it. Practice always makes progress.

But at that time I was so discouraged I tossed out writing as a whole out, labeled myself as a failure, and moved onto other pursuits. But that desire to write a novel nevermleft me.
So I’m back at it. This time though, I’m a little more realistic about it all.
First off I’m in my wheelhouse. I’m writing a romantic comedy. And, if you know me at all, humor is my lifeblood. It’s my jam.
Second off, I’m expecting this to take a while. I know my 1st, 2nd, and probably 3rd drafts are all going to stink but that’s ok. At some point I’m going to get it right. I love this quote from Rachel Hollis:

So what was the point of this post? I wrote this hoping to inspire you to go for whatever it is you’ve wanted to do. Even if you think you’re a terrible letterer, runner, dancer, baker—whatever it is, just go for it, no matter the outcome. I promise you’ll be happy you did.

​I’m on my 3rd draft of my new book and I’m going for it too. Fingers crossed guys.