Writing & Don’t Swap Your Backbone for a Wishbone

It takes courage to do many of the things we most want to do.

Sometimes, though it’s easier not to try. To wait.

Or is it?

If you’re someone who hesitates to travel outside your comfort zone, what if the larger risk is not trying and letting things stay the same? Not trying for something we want to achieve because we’re not sure we can achieve it? What if we then sell ourselves out?

Here’s my belief. Don’t spend your life regretting the risks you didn’t take. As Wayne Gretsky once said, “You miss 100 percent of the shots you don’t take.” As Eleanor Roosevelt said, “You gain strength, courage, and confidence by every experience in which you really stop to look fear in the face. You must do the thing you think you cannot do.” As T.S. Eliot said, “Only those who will risk going too far can possibly find out how far one can go.”

The above is how I feel as I transition into writing this second novel, which deals with a topic close to my heart. That it’s important, and if I have guts I’ll write it. Even if sometimes it’s hard. Even painful. Even slightly beyond my reach. Even if I haven’t yet found the right agent for my first novel.

And what about you? What’s your wish? How are you making that important dream come true?

p.s. Winter’s coming here; termination dust is on the mountains and the fireweed has turned to fluff. If you can send warm thoughts my way, please wish me luck:)