Where Wishes Come True
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You're never to young or too old to make a wish
and go for your dreams.
If you can get past my recent birthday photo . . . it helps to focus on the cake . . . please take my point to heart. I'm an ordinary woman who's still making her wishes come true. When I was forty, I stood in front of the mirror and asked myself a hard quesiton.
Why am I dissatisfied with my life?
Because you aren't following your dreams, those intermittent God-whispers you've been ignoring. Why are you still resisting? Why aren't you writing?
Like weeds, rationalizations popped into mind, but I knew it was time to yank out their roots and venture into a more fulfilling path for "In Christ we find out who we are and what we are living for" (Eph 1:11 The Message)
Here are the steps I took to follow my dreams.
Step One - Stepped out in faith
I became vulnerable and shared my dream. One day a friend pulled a brochure for a local writers' conference out of her purse. I drooled over it. As green as I was about Christian publishing, I sensed this conference carried the creative potential of an entire season of HGTV, only geared towards writers.
I was a nobody mingling with professionals but the workshops spurred me forward. While those first steps were naturally cautious and faltering, in faith I tottered after my dream.
I didn't have a niche or a writing voice yet, but I tested my skills and produced a 45,000 word manuscript. I wobbled but kept placing one foot in front of the other until I completed that first manuscript.
Step Two - Determined to stretch myself, even if it killed me. . .
. . . A year later I dragged my nobody-self back to the same conference with a completed manuscript under my belt, and a proposal in my hand that I would take to a private appointment with an acquisitions editor.
How to write a book proposal - http://wp.me/p1H9QL-1GA
That particular conference was terrifying because I'd left sponge-mode and entered action-mode without knowing a soul. I hid out, spending an entire break in my car alternating between prayer and hyperventilation. You see, people didn't take me under wing because they couldn't find me.
But the important thing was that I didn't start the engine and head home. Palms sweaty and voice stuttering, I kept the appointment. By the way, it didn't kill me, and now I'm enjoying life more than ever with a network of friends in the industry.
Step Three - Sought professional help
Sure it was humiliating when the Bethany House Acquisitions Editor pointed out typos and suggested I get professional help. But I printed out my manuscript and took it to my daughter's English teacher. We eliminated the typos. Nine months and ten rejections later, I hired a professional editor. The next time I sent out my manuscript, it was accepted by Barbour Publishing to become a Heartsong novella.
Step Four - Entered the competition
I kept a proposal log. Whenever I got a rejection, I revised and sent out my proposal again. Here's a copy of my first log. I sent my proposals directly to publishers. Now they'd get emailed to literary agencies.
As my dreams progressed from writing to publication,
I set higher goals.
Now that I'm agented and multi-published, my writing dreams are even loftier, which brings us back to last month's birthday photo. I know I can acheive them, and you can acheive your dreams too. And if not, hey, the cake was good!
This post was part of a parade at the Watercooler - http://wordservewatercooler.com/2012/08/24/its-a-parade/
Categories: Writing, Personal life
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16 Comments
That's a beautiful cake. Is it a real flower on top?
Thanks for sharing your experience chasing your dream. I've got a similar dream but need to get focused. Plus, my priorities right now are family first, dream second, and family is taking too much at the moment. But I'll get there.
Thanks for sharing your experience chasing your dream. I've got a similar dream but need to get focused. Plus, my priorities right now are family first, dream second, and family is taking too much at the moment. But I'll get there.
When my daughter whipped out that cake I gasped, thought it was a real sunflower, but it wasn't. It was definitely edible. Anytime you want to talk about your dream, I'm here...see the contact me tab? But family is super important. And only you know what God's whispering in your ear. There's a time for everything under the sun . . .flower.
LadySaotome says...
That's a beautiful cake. Is it a real flower on top?
Thanks for sharing your experience chasing your dream. I've got a similar dream but need to get focused. Plus, my priorities right now are family first, dream second, and family is taking too much at the moment. But I'll get there.
Reply
Cheryl Ricker
01:03 AM on August 24, 2012
Hi Dianne!
I LOVED reading your story.
As you can see from my post, writer's conferences played a big part in my success as well.
This parade is so fun!
Praying many are encouraged to pursue their dreams!
I LOVED reading your story.
As you can see from my post, writer's conferences played a big part in my success as well.
This parade is so fun!
Praying many are encouraged to pursue their dreams!
Amen to this, Dianne: "You're never to young or too old to make a wish and go for your dreams." I began pursuing my publishing dreams AGAIN in my forties, too. And I don't think we're alone in our journeys, do you? I've met a lot of writers who began their writing careers during this season of life. Blessed to connect with you on this journey. And congrats on your books--God has blessed you with a gift!
There's something for everybody at those conferences. Thanks for sharing.
Cheryl Ricker says...
Hi Dianne!
I LOVED reading your story.
As you can see from my post, writer's conferences played a big part in my success as well.
This parade is so fun!
Praying many are encouraged to pursue their dreams!
Oh Karen, one of your gifts is that of encouragement. Thanks for sharing.
Karen Jordan says...
Amen to this, Dianne: "You're never to young or too old to make a wish and go for your dreams." I began pursuing my publishing dreams AGAIN in my forties, too. And I don't think we're alone in our journeys, do you? I've met a lot of writers who began their writing careers during this season of life. Blessed to connect with you on this journey. And congrats on your books--God has blessed you with a gift!
Angela,
Keep following your dreams. Remember it's never too late. Keep me posted how it's going for you. There's a contact me button on the side of my site. Would love to hear about your writing journey.
Keep following your dreams. Remember it's never too late. Keep me posted how it's going for you. There's a contact me button on the side of my site. Would love to hear about your writing journey.
Angela Brackeen says...
Thank you for sharing, Dianne! I am a debut writer and wish I had started down this road some time ago, but your encouraging words will help keep me going! I would love to win a copy of your book!
Reply
B.J. Taylor
01:42 PM on August 24, 2012
I love Step Three -- Sought Professional Help. Nothing like undertaking this journey with others. Critique group members, fellow writers we meet at conferences, authors online...all have something that can help another. Good job!
Reply
Gillian Marchenko
01:54 PM on August 24, 2012
I loved learning about your publication journey! Thanks so much for sharing :).
Yes, B.J., we learn so much from each other. Thanks for sharing.
B.J. Taylor says...
I love Step Three -- Sought Professional Help. Nothing like undertaking this journey with others. Critique group members, fellow writers we meet at conferences, authors online...all have something that can help another. Good job!
Hi Jackie and Gillian,
So nice to connect again! Thanks for stopping by.
So nice to connect again! Thanks for stopping by.
Reply
Dixie
05:10 PM on August 25, 2012
Thank you for your story....I am self publishing right now and your sage advice and experience makes me feel like there is someone who has "gone on before me" and found success......
Hi Dixie, I'm glad we connected here. We all have slightly different experiences but are headed n the same direction. Good luck with your writing!
Reply
Janalyn Voigt
09:18 PM on August 27, 2012
Dianne, you stepped out from the crowd when you asked yourself that question. Many people never stop to examine their lives. Congratulations on being willing to accept your limitations and learn. Look at you now. Well done.
Wow Janalyn, that feels good. Thanks for the encouraging words. As a fellow writer, you know what it takes. I pray for much success your way.
Janalyn Voigt says...
Dianne, you stepped out from the crowd when you asked yourself that question. Many people never stop to examine their lives. Congratulations on being willing to accept your limitations and learn. Look at you now. Well done.
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