Well, my dream of almost twenty years (that’s right, twenty years) has finally come true. My handsome prince has arrived. His name? Book Contract. On April 1, 2014, I signed my very first book contract. I will soon be a published author. I am still pinching myself.
Sleeping Beauty waited either twenty or one hundred years for her prince, depending on which fairy tale version you choose. I’m betting he was worth the wait. I’m glad I waited, too. Of course, I didn’t just close my eyes and expect it to happen. Here’s how it all came about:
God gave me an idea for a fantasy book and I started writing. Soon I learned a God idea was not enough. I had to study how to write.
I learned the craft of writing through conferences and a writers group. Publishers only consider writers who write well.
I didn’t give up my dream when I had to give up writing for a while. I taught school for four years and didn’t have time to write. I read my fledgling book to my students and dreamed of someday perfecting my story.
When I finished my story and couldn’t sell it to a publisher or an agent, I sought the help of a writing mentor. My mentor, author Joyce Magnin, taught me things the conferences didn’t, such as how to enhance your setting and develop your voice.
I was willing to give up one dream to embrace a better one. Joyce asked me to write one historical fiction chapter about a minor character in my book. This turned out to be the best chapter I had ever written. She suggested I write an historical novel about this character and put the fantasy novel on the back burner. Of course I asked myself, but God, didn’t you give me that fantasy idea? I decided that he did indeed give me the idea, and it was a great avenue for learning the craft of writing. But God’s ways are higher than my ways, and his thoughts than my thoughts. And I cannot limit the way he brings me into his plan for me. I have since learned that many writers have a first book that never makes it. But it is a valuable learning tool.
I was patient, and wouldn’t give up.
The principles of my writing journey will work for everyone. God has a destiny for each one of us. He will plant that destiny in our hearts. We must learn the disciplines necessary to complete the vision he has given us. We can’t give up when obstacles come our way. We need to seek help, be teachable, and be willing to expand our vision beyond what we have assumed it would be. Finally, we must wait for God’s timing.
So keep at it, dreamer. Although the following scripture applies to spiritual growth, I believe it applies to our God-given destinies, as well. Phil. 1:6 Being confident of this very thing, that he which has begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ.