Confidence and Courage

I'm a complex person. Aren't you?

Set me in front of a group of third graders and watch me regale vast knowledge in their language.

Tempt, much less encourage me to enter a writing contest and watch me fizzle into nothing. "I can't. It's not good enough. Look at the competition. Who am I?"

Have you seen the chatter on FB, Yahoo writing groups, and blogs across the United States announcing:

The Genesis is coming!  The Genesis is coming!

The dream of a lifetime sat in my computer. 

Two weeks ago I sent encouraging notes to all who heralded they'd pressed the mighty send button and whisked their baby through cyberspace to the gates of Genesis. 


"What courage. Well done."  


In my heart I had, and still have, such respect for those brave souls.  And then I thought: someday, someday that will be me. I can't wait.

Last week a treasured friend sent me her first chapter to critique. She had put a few finishing touches on her work and wanted a fresh opinion before sending it off to the infamous Genesis land.  I read her practically perfect-sure-to-win work, sat in awe for a few moments then emailed: "You better send this one in, for sure"

        --along with a question....
                                 "Ummmm--would you read my first chapter? 
                                                         It's OK if you say 'no'. 
                                                                                         Honest. 
                                If you have the time, could you--would you--do you think it might--possibly--sorta be good enough to think about sending to Genesis--say a year from now?"

A day later she, emailed super fab suggestions. Each one a golden treasure to improve my story.  I couldn't bring myself to open the attachment, though. It had to have been splattered with corrections, suggestion, ideas, etc. Perhaps one or two words passed inspection. Gack!

I walked away from my computer and frumped to bed seeking to soothe my anxiety with someone else's well-written, published book.

At 5:00 am the next morning, my heart, mind, and fingers had been drawn from the clutches of my warm blankets, to my computer. God basically had a talk with me. "Open the attachment. Learn from what she said."  So I did--slowly. 


To my amazement, there was little red!?!  And many of the tracking notes had words of encouragement: "Good word" and "This works".

Granted my quite less than perfect chapter had many improvements and corrections noted as well, but the encouraging words she shared durng her precious free time meant the world to me. 

I sent her a thank you. To my surprise she responded later that evening:  I think you should enter the Genesis. 

This year? Really? But the due date is moments away! March 4. That's Friday! No! Dare I?

Choosing to take the risk, I scrambled to make the corrections she suggested, rewrote the whole chapter, burned the midnight oil to write a synopsis-

and

             pushed

                                 send.

I did! 
I push SEND Tuesday, March 1 at 7:15 pm Mountain Time.

Have you? 

If not Genesis then what about a different contest?  Maybe you need the courage to finish your WIP, send it to a publisher, find an editor, or start a new work. You can do this. We, here at the Alley, are your cheerleaders, an ear, and your supporter.  

What will you leap out and do--starting today?

Joshua 1: 9  "Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go.”



Photo Thanks to http://pixdaus.com