Into the Fire

When you start out pursuing a career in novel writing, are your dreams big, huge, mammoth? Or paltry, defeated, and miserable? Do you think all that you've studied will allow you to compose the words and stories to send readers into making rave reviews or cause them to toss the book unfinished into a pile to take to one of the giveaway bins in a charitable facility? 

I would think people pursuing the challenge of writing fiction come in all variations ranging from physical stature and age to levels of education to social status to the gamut of dreamers or realistic hopefuls to etcetera, etcetera, etcetera. There's no telling what future storytellers might look like or be thinking. 

It's a strange vocation to anticipate. If you've always wanted to write, chances are you've taken a lot of voyages on the pages of creation and finally decided upon a genre or perhaps multi-genres where you want to invest your time and energy creating. You have close associates with whom you can dare to share your efforts encouraging them to tell you "the truth" about what you've written. Do make sure they're true readers. If they give you a favorable report and ask for more, at least you know you've piqued an interest in your work. Use it as encouragement, assuming you respect their opinions. 

The usual types of novice writers are either stars-in-their-eyes raging optimists or teary-eyed-never-will-make it pessimists or those who think they're realists in their expectations and will attribute their success on how hard they're willing to work. Well, my perspective is this: If you have somehow acquired strong connections in the publishing industry (traditional or otherwise), have successful authors willing to mention/recommend you and your work, and have a knack for marketing, you increase your chances for "success" enormously. And realize there are exceptions to every rule, every recommendation, suggestion, demand, etcetera, etcetera, etcetera. 

Most importantly: Keep writing. Until you are satisfied. 

Father, you give the talents and gifts. Contrary to what most people think, apart from you, we can do nothing. Thank you for every story you've given me. I know apart from you, I can do nothing. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.