What If. . .

My 10-year-old son recently asked me if I would dedicate my book to him and his sister. I said, Sure! Then he let out a gasp * What if it doesn't get published? another gasp * What if you're doing all this work for nothing??

I had to smile as I thought over this question. What IF it never gets published? Can I live with that? At this point in time, I would say yes because things would really be no different than they are now. But what if, when I hit that point where my work is polished, and I have a creation bigger than anything I've ever created, something that came from my heart and soul, and stole hours of time away from my family--What if no one wants it then? After all the dreaded rejections and efforts made in finding the right agent at the right time? Nights of lost sleep? Jealousy every time I walk into a bookstore? I guess I'll have to find out at that point. 


But I can honestly say that I'm not doing all this work for nothing. For one thing, I've already accomplished more than I thought I could. For another, I've met wonderful authors and friends, gained a writing mentor, and joined a group of writers, willing to help me solely on the basis of who I am and what I'm attempting to do. I've educated my brain with more on the writing craft and industry than I ever thought I could absorb. I've written some book reviews, whereas in the past, I never really thought these important and didn't take the time. I'm putting words on a page, one after another, that have never been put together in this combination before. I've followed a passion which has given me a bright new outlook on all of life, a goal to follow which has brought me joy already.


It's NEVER for nothing. There's a reason I picked up a book off the shelf at the library last October that was the first spark in this blazing fire. I hope that if you have a dream, you can begin to follow it. If you're following it, never give up. It's not in the arrival where you find your joy. It's along the road if you know where to look.