October the 4th Is Not Too Late

The title of this post is based on the title of the book “October the First Is Too Late”, by Fred Hoyle.  One of the many books of my late grandfather’s which I read many years in the past, and thoroughly enjoyed.  One of the books responsible for the fact I now write primarily in the genre of science fiction.  It is also possibly partially responsible for my interest in science-y things in general.

However, this post is not about it being too late.  This post is specifically about the fact it is NOT too late.

But not too late for what?

It’s NOT too late to begin following your dreams.  It’s NOT too late to figure out what’s important to you and to start working toward that future you’ve been putting off for far too long.

It’s time to put away those excuses.  It’s time to begin living the life you’ve always wanted.

Exactly one year ago as of October 4th, I officially began working in the direction I had dreamed of heading in for near sixteen years, but had as of then still failed to fully follow through on.  Finally, last fall, I’d had enough.  I put my foot down, I set a goal.  I plotted the stepping stones that led in that direction, and I began following them.

Yesterday was my ONE YEAR anniversary of actually actively pursuing my dream of becoming a published novelist.

I’d talked about it for years beforehand, of course.

But last year, I finally began doing something. 

Lots of things, in fact.

I finally began moving in the right direction, instead of just standing still and talking about how someday I would start on that magical plan to get somewhere.

So, on this one year anniversary, I’d like to take a moment and reflect on everything I’ve accomplished.  I’d like to recognize how far I’ve come, despite still having no publications, because recognizing everything that has been done is very important.  Both to me, and to anyone else who is along on this same journey, or who is about to begin this journey themselves.

It’s a very long one.  (I read somewhere it took the average career authors 5-7 years of writing/querying/submitting to get their first break.)  It’s sometimes a very, very hard one.  It’s a rollercoaster of emotions and motivation, but in the end the successful authors are those people who didn’t give up, who just kept going.

So let’s take a moment and tally this up, shall we?

Starting October 4th, 2012…

 I took the Writer’s Digest online workshop with instructor Stephen Mertz.  I learned a WHOLE LOT during that workshop, and I feel it was a fantastic launching point for everything else.

But what else?

I participated in National Novel Writing Month 2012 and wrote 52,000 words in 30 days.

I met my fellow writing-partner-in-crime for this past year, A Girl Who Writes.

Applied for and was accepted into the Institute of Children’s Literature (although I did not enroll…)

Attended craft panels over two days at the RT Booklover’s Convention.

Attended craft panels at the local sci-fi convention ConQuesT 44.

Attended weekend-long workshop at UMKC’s New Letters Writing Conference.

Attempted Camp NaNoWriMo in July 2013 and wrote 25,000 words in 31 days.

Currently attending an eight-week long Creative Writer’s Workshop with Deb Sturgess.

Attending a writing workshop in Springfield, MO next weekend as well.

Co-founded a local writing group that began with three members and is now up to eight.

Watched three online Tutorials from Writer’s Digest.

Started this website/blog to officially track progress in March 2013 and have gained 64 Followers along the way.

Finally joined Twitter September 2013 and have gained 58 Followers.

Finally created an official Facebook Page September 2013 and have 19 Likes. (So you should probably go there and LIKE the page right now, yes??  YES!)

But, even more important than all of the above….

I wrote 133,977 words on novels alone.  That equates to roughly 367 words/day for 365 days.

When I look at it that way, it doesn’t seem so bad!  And then I have to remember that word count isn’t even taking into account the short stories or the poems or the other random exercises and Writing Prompt Wednesday projects!  Or the blog posts.  So really, it’s a lot more than that.  Which seems … inconceivable.  Especially considering most days of the past year I felt like I got absolutely nothing done on the writing front.

In addition, since March 2013, I have:

Written 5 short stories.

Written 11 poems (not including Writing Prompt Wednesday poems) + 4 from January-February.

Made 16 submissions of both poetry and short stories.

Received 12 rejections on both poetry and short stories.

When I think of the past year, I sometimes feel like I’ve hardly accomplished anything.  But when I start actually thinking about it, I realize that’s not true at all.  I’ve gotten a lot done in the past 12 months, and I don’t plan on stopping.

Some days it’s harder than others to juggle the job, the kid, the husband, the family and friends, the house chores and maintenance, the grocery shopping, the cooking and storing and eating of healthy and non-frozen/boxed meals with the writing life – having to constantly be writing something, editing something, submitting something, planning the next project, socializing with other writers, maintaining the online presence, trading beta duties…

It requires sacrifice, for sure.  Spending a lot of time alone with your own thoughts, worlds, characters.  A lot of self-pep talks.  Leaning on and venting to other writers.

There have been days when I wonder why I’m even trying this, why I’m putting myself through so much trouble.  Days when I wonder… is this even worth it?

But at the end of this first serious year, I can say it is definitely worth it.  The things I’ve learned, the friends I’ve made, the progress in the quality of my own writing, the forward momentum gained with each small step along the way, makes all the uncertainty and struggle and sacrifice and second-guessing and self-doubting worth something.  Because I have accomplished something.

I have accomplished a lot, considering the rest of my life’s demands on my limited time.

This list makes those accomplished things visible, memorable.  Another stepping stone.  A bigger stepping stone.

So whatever that thing is that you wish you were doing, you wish you knew how to do, etc … make time for it.  Whether it’s a job, a career, a hobby, a trade, a skill…

You can do it.  Starting today.

Because someday might never come.

All you have is right now.  So make it count.  Every single day, make it count.

Get started today.  Right now.

And best of luck!

(quotation photos by me, words by Lao Tzu, created on picmonkey)