Living your life to the fullest.
Going after your dream.
Being true to yourself...it's risky business.
One of the million and one reasons why I am lucky to be a member of the WWWPs (an infamous writing critique group) is they are all risk-takers. None of them are afraid of their next step.
Beth quit her high-paying job to start up her own business. Three kids at home (two of them teenagers) and single motherhood added to the scary factor. But she continues to hammer away at getting new clients and going after new opportunities...
Linda has enough grandkids...in her spare time she could be content to make cookies for her grandbabies (or just eat the raw cookie dough herself and deprive them of goodies, which is what I would do), and yet she submits to more places by 5:17 in the morning--every day--than most people do in a week. Linda doesn't think, 'What if I lose out on this chance?' Instead, she thinks, 'What do I have to lose?'
Tammy is the quiet one, the one who does things unbeknownst to the group and then when we get wind of the results of her work, we're blown away. Everyone knows the phrase "still waters run deep," right? Well, Tammy submits stories and enters contests without talking about them. She doesn't just talk the talk--she walks the walk as well. Recently, she was a Reader's Digest winner. The flashy true story was just like what she brings to our critique meetings twice a month--we all become fly-catchers as our mouths gape open--but she quietly crafted it and sent it off...without a thought to what her chances were. There are writers I know (I just looked at one of them in the mirror this morning) who heard of the contest but shot themselves down before they even had the chance to try. Tammy was willing to take the risk.
And if you haven't had the chance to read her winning story, check it out.
Lynn was the first of our group to try NaNoWriMo--many years ago. Writing a novel-length manuscript is not for the knock-kneed, and Lynn has successfully "won" with NaNo more than one year. She also is brave enough to never turn away from her personal journey as a writer. Lynn has several long projects she's juggling, she goes to conferences to grow as a writer and as a human being, and--of the five of us--I think she lives the truest writer's life. She writes/journals/sketches/revises every day. It's part of her daily ritual. And putting one foot in front of the other--taking that first step every day--takes a lot of courage.
What kind of risks have you taken recently (or at any point in your life)?
or
Who is the biggest, most bad-a** risk-taker you know? (My nosey nose wants to know.)
Sioux, that woman you see in the mirror is pretty successful herself! Thanks for the praise. I feel so honored to be a part of the WWWPs. I'll have you know though, that someone you know, thinks the first "W" stands for wacky.
ReplyDeleteLinda--Only a true wackadoo knows what is truly wacky...
DeleteWhat an inspiration you and your wild and wacky group are. I am on the cusp of pushing forward with my writing, but several fears are holding me back. Thank you so much for this post and showing me that we all just need to keep putting one foot in front of the other until the work is done. Then we can start work on something else! Kudos to everyone's accomplishments and best wishes for many more in the future! Liz
ReplyDeleteLiz--I don't always know that--that I need to put one foot in front of another until the plodding becomes automatic. However, surrounding myself with writing friends and colleagues--both real and "digital"--reminds me.
DeleteBest wishes when it comes to YOUR accomplishments and your "walking" towards achieving your goals.
Wow, you make me sound good. Baaaaaahhhhhhhhhhh, haaaaaaaaaaa. But really I needed that - thank you. Love the group and all you gals! You, my dear, amaze me.
ReplyDeleteLynn--You should know me by now. I don't sugarcoat anything. You don't "sound" good, you ARE. (And our group is amazing.)
DeleteSioux, you've been pretty bad ass yourself lately, what with all your pubs and completing your first novel! And you WWWPs are all amazing. What a talented group. What's in the water up there?
ReplyDeleteAs for risk taking . . . hmm. The biggest risk taker I know would be my son, because he knows himself well, knows what he likes and doesn't like, and isn't afraid to make decisions true to himself even when it might not be a popular choice. My Dad was a risk taker, too, excited by new challenges. Me? Not so much. I take risks when I have no choice if I want to further my writing career---like pitching at a conference, which honestly breaks me out in hives, and actually attending conference at all because crowds make me claustrophobic. It's easy to say, "I'm attending a conference," but so easy for me to do. I really have to push myself to do it.
Sorry for the typo -- that was supposed to be "NOT so easy for me to do." Gak. I need to go put my glasses on so I can see what I'm typing. :)
ReplyDeleteLisa--You're doing things that I don't think I'm ready for yet (like a writing conference). Perhaps next spring or summer I'll take the plunge. Perhaps when Lisa Ricard Claro says she's heading to Missouri...THEN I'll say yes to a conference...
ReplyDelete(And I hate when I make a typo when making a comment. Too bad we can't edit our comments like we can our posts. ;)
Wow - thank you so much for the kind words and for printing that link! Sorry I'm so late getting to my blogging lately.... Which brings me to how YOU inspire me with juggling a full-time job, golden rescue, granddaughter and family, and all of your submissions on top of it all. OH, and that novel you happened to squeeze in there somewhere. Amazing!
ReplyDelete