The other day, I was organizing my home office (mostly because books were taking over my writing space) and I came across the baby book my mom had preserved for me. This baby book is the type of book that grows with me, a place for me to add insights, information, and even pictures as I age. Thumbing through it, I stopped at the “Plans for the Future” page, wondering if it would give me insight into the day I discovered I wanted to be a writer.
I only had three dates written down. The first was when I was about nine or so and said: “I want to be a secretary (or business woman), a movie star, or a model like Christie Brinkley.” What young child doesn’t want to be a movie star or model, right? And I thought secretaries got to design and create fun and interesting things! I always loved to create fun and interesting things! By the time I was fourteen, my love for fashion (as for many children) blossomed and I thought I wanted to be a fashion designer. When I was fifteen years old, I finally admitted these words: “I am very interested in writing. Hopefully someday I will have published a popular novel.”
I can say with pride that I am a published author now, and I let so many things get in the way of those dreams for so many years. Almost twenty years if I’m counting! My one piece of advice to would-be writers is to never ever ever give up!
As Judy Reeves, a writer and teacher, says: “My grandmother used to tell me that when we’re born God puts His big thumbprint in the middle of our forehead and says, “You’re a musician,” “You make pottery,” and so on. To some of us, He says, “You, you’re a writer.” Those of us who are marked as writers (or musicians or painters or dancers) but have pushed aside the calling of the Muse might as well surrender and do the thing we’re meant to do. Otherwise, that longing inside our hearts will never be stilled.”
It’s a longing I never should have ignored. I wasted a lot of years ignoring the calling, hoping it would go away because I already had a fulltime job and didn’t have the emotional energy it takes to pour into my writing. There are still days I question my sanity, but I love what I do.
“Writing is the only thing that when I do it, I don’t feel I should be doing something else.” Quote by Gloria Steinhem.
I am a huge supporter of following your dreams, and I think that is true of any calling that you have which is inscribed upon your heart.