Yesterday, over on writing.MadeByMark.com, I confronted one of my worst fears — being a “C+ novelist” — in a very public way. I admitted that being afraid of writing a hum-drum novel has kept me from finishing more than two dozen novels. And I resolved, once and for all, to get past that fear and get back to writing fiction.
In other words: I threw down the gauntlet. I decided, once and for all, that I matter, and my stories matter. I made a public, heartfelt commitment to making the novels happen.
Many weeks ago, I proposed a vague idea for a fantasy novel to this particular publishing house — a sort of “spin off” book connected to a research project I’m doing for them. They very politely filed the idea away.
Oh, well, I said. Maybe next time. Weeks passed. Late last week, the publisher contacted me again with an assignment that I hesitated to take on … but that paid well. I picked up the contract, knocked the assignment out of the ballpark, turned it in, and moved on.
And then, this morning — the day after I commit to finishing and selling some fiction — I get another email from the publisher. As it turns out, the Big Boss, delighted with work I did on the emergency project, said, “Hey, tell that McElroy guy we’re ready to talk seriously about that fantasy novel idea he pitched us.”
Just like that.
So: let me ask you a question. What is it that you really, really want to do? What is it that you would love to do, but don’t think you can do? What is it that you’ve always meant to do … but that you won’t let yourself do?
Throw down the gauntlet. Draw the line. Make the commitment. Tell the Universe, “The procrastination ends here.” Tell the Universe, in plain English, what you really want.
The answer you receive may surprise you.
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