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"Brass shines as fair to the ignorant as gold to the goldsmiths."
Even though she inspires me to write historical AND contemporary fiction these days, this quote of hers fits perfectly in what I wanted to share on the Alley today.
When I was fresh out of college, I assumed I was going to rock the world of Landscape Architecture. I mean, I had so much to offer a firm out there. They were going to continually have their "socks knocked off" by my brilliant ideas and hard work ethic. I poopoo'd everything I saw that was a non-Angie Dicken and was sure that I had all the answers and the perfect design. I was the gold that they needed to shine.
Needless to say, I was pretty full of myself back then, and it took a-a-a lot of miserable work days to realize that I might have had in mind a better design or a great idea (which I most likely only had a bunch of brass), and yet...NOBODY CARED TO HEAR IT...ACTUALLY, I WASN'T EVEN ASKED!
WHA'?!?!?!
What I WAS asked, was "fix this mistake on so and so's drawing", "add dimensions to this other person's design", "count the shrubs in this suburban neighborhood entrance"...etc.
Busy work, boring work, tiddly widdly stuff that needed to be done and I had spent five whole years in college to do it.
Pfft. I was just polishing someone else's gold.
"Brass shines as fair to the ignorant as gold to the goldsmiths."
But I thought I was something. I just assumed that my bright idea needed to be read by everyone out there and that everyone would want to side with me to get the story into reader's hands.
Wow. I can't believe the evolution my writing has taken. I would never ask a publisher to look at something I wrote five years ago, let alone ten. That's just ridiculous. There is a reason that a rookie needs to prove themselves, isn't there? The learning curve is huge and beautifully refining.
Brass is no longer fair to me. I've seen the gold flecks as the refining fire continues to strengthen my writing.
If I had that passion and didn't settle for brass.
As a writer, I have learned that there is so much too learn, and I can't quit because I am not published or acclaimed. The cool thing is, during the process, I've had the chance to come up along side some pretty fantastic authors and be a small part in their journey. And it's okay that I am not there yet. My passion is deep enough to not quit it altogether.
Someone might settle for brass. It's tempting, believe me. But when it comes to my writing, I want gold. I want it to shine and not come up short. Elizabeth I's reign is considered England's Golden Age. It was a time of flourish and growing knowledge.
Perfect inspiration for my perfectly "me" passion.
Brass is for the ignorant, no need for a goldsmith. I am willing to continue and learn, and become a skilled smith of golden writing.
How about you?
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Angie Dicken is a full-time mom and lives in the Midwest with her Texas Aggie sweetheart. An ACFW member since 2010, she has written six historical novels and is represented by Tamela Hancock Murray of The Steve Laube Agency. Angie also spends her time designing one-sheets and drinking good coffee with great friends. Check her personal blog at angiedicken.blogspot.com and connect at:
Facebook: www.facebook.com/dicken.angie,
Twitter: @angiedicken
Pinterest: www.pinterest.com/agdicken/
6 comments:
Angie, you are right and I find this truer than ever as I pursue my writing dream and God's plan. I was arrogant when I started out and I blush to remember, but He has refined me and gently made me over, bit by painful bit, to pursue not my dream but His for me. I will not cut any corners, it isn't worth it compared to the joy that awaits.
Kathy Bailey
Wow I needed to read this. One big lesson God's knocked me over the head with is humility in the area you speak of--being willing to continue to learn, accept edits and critiques and never settle for brass. There's pain in refining, in the waiting--but we, and our writing, come forth as gold. Thank you for sharing this, Angie. And like you said--it's such a great thing to be able to come alongside other writers/authors in their journey even though we're not quite there yet.
Love this!!! I've always loved the refining by fire analogy in the Bible--I think it works well for both our writing AND our life as a whole! Sometimes that gold refinement isn't easy, takes a long time, and HURTS many times. But so worth it!
It is easy to be tempted to cut corners, but for me, it usually ends in disaster. I am so glad you are growing! Thanks for commenting!
Humility is truly golden, isn't it? It makes us think beyond ourselves and realize this calling isn't our own. But oh, it's a hurtful process! Thanks for sharing!
Such great analogies all over God's word for so much of what we experience in life! I love discovering more and more!
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