As most of you know I am an aspiring author. I am writing a novel about a princess who realises she is developing magical powers in a world where the use of powers is strictly prohibited and is punished by death. After she, and all the other noble kids, are found out they have to flee from their cushy lives and see the reality of the empire their parents have created.
I really love this work. I love fleshing out a thirty second idea into several pages of prose. I love finding new words to bulk up my vocabulary. I love reading and seeing how others have phrased their ideas.
A trap I have to remind myself not to fall into is the belief that I must be an overnight success. Through my daily scrolling, I’m constantly taking in information about the youngest person to do X or about the first person to do A in B time or about the latest person to blow up on social media. I find myself trying to apply those standards to my own life but success isn’t like the Jack and the Beanstalk story; it doesn’t sprout out from one day’s work.
Back in the 1990s, when Oprah interviewed JK Rowling and asked how she felt about her overnight success with Harry Potter, Rowling replied that there was nothing overnight about it. People discovered her work overnight but it took a long road for her to get to that success.
I’m learning that there is only so much you can control. You cannot control the rejections or acceptances you get. You cannot control how other people see you or interpret your actions. You cannot control what other people think about your work. All you can do is show up and keep learning.
We all have big dreams that really do seem impossible but I’m writing this as a reminder to both you and myself that slow and steady does win the race. We cannot be everything we are called to be before our time so allow yourself to grow into being ready for the next opportunity.
And remember, we may not be little toddlers learning to walk but this is still our first time living life so give yourself grace when you fall flat on your face.
As always let me know what you think. Leave a comment, email me back or like this post.
With Love,
Maxine Riike Brigue