Why I Jumped....
There are many reasons people decide to sit down and write a novel. Most would probably say it is an inner calling of sorts; nagging voices inside their heads, screaming to be heard.
Those same voices have screamed at me for years now, but I’ve sat quietly on the sidelines, crafting my little stories and stockpiling them away like I’m preparing for publishing Armageddon.
What made me jump? What made me take the great leap from “I really want to do this” to “I really think I can do this”? Did I suddenly look at my writing and realize it was perfectly scripted Pulitzer Prize-worthy? Nope. Definitely not.
I’ve been asked this question a few times….why now, why not years ago….and the answer is easy and quick: it wasn’t my time. I wasn’t born believing in myself or my craft. Maybe that’s a good thing. Maybe that self-doubt will always keep me humble, keep my writing true to who I am. Regardless, I do believe without a doubt or pause that had certain events in my life not unfolded as they had, I’d not be sitting here working on the release of my third novel. Yes, you heard me right…my THIRD novel.
In case you’re wondering, I didn’t wake up one day and have the great light bulb moment you always hear about. Mine was much more subtle than that. And much, much more life-changing.
For those who have read my first novel, “Losing Faith”, you know that while it is a work of fiction, it is based on my own experiences losing my best friend to breast cancer. While not exactly a laugh out loud book, the work was cathartic for me in a way counseling never could have been. Losing my friend changed me. It changed the way I look at the world, it changed the way I look at each new day. Suddenly the future wasn’t years ahead, but merely the next day, and the day after that. Time wasn’t a given, it was a blessing. Because of that realization (and a bit of nudging from my sweet hubby), I jumped off the cliff, published my book and have never looked back.
Whatever your reason for taking this giant leap of faith and putting your work out there for all to see, I commend you. I support you. I admire you. And while I may call myself a writer, there are days I sure don’t feel like one. Days like today when my brain just cannot dream up any new characters or story lines. Years ago that would have worried me greatly, but now I think it’s a good thing to give my creative brain a rest. My characters will talk to me again, when they’re ready.
