Follow Your Heart

This morning John and I were talking to the lady putting out breakfast at the Charlevoix Inn. People around here have been enjoying our story of “local boy makes good.” Our rental car has Illinois plates, which says “Chicago tourist” around here, and our billing address says Los Angeles. I’ve caught a few raised eyebrows and we’ve been quick to tell people we’re actually from here.

Today that led to the whole story – grew up in a small town, did the practical path at college to make our parents happy, moved away and decided to try what we really wanted to do. And succeeded! Every time we tell the story, it encourages us as much as others. Then I saw a story about “Ivy League romance writers” and felt encouraged again. My entire life I’ve struggled with being the small town girl who made it to the Ivy League (I went to The Wharton School at University of Pennsylvania – go Quakers!) who also wanted to waste her life writing romance novels.

The internal conflict has kept me from following my dreams with my whole heart. And undoubtedly, that has directly affected the outcome – as yet unpublished in novel-length fiction despite several “almost” moments. But re-telling our story this morning and then reading the article about smart women who love to write about love and romance – I’ve gotten a booster shot of encouragement. Maybe it’s enough to change the trajectory of my career path and change the outcome. I’m hopeful.

What is holding you back from following your dreams with your whole heart? (If nothing and you’re going strong, good for you!!) What gives you encouragement? What discourages you? Give it some thought. Share here. One of the things I love most about writing groups, whether my critique group or Romance Writers of America, is the encouragement to keep going. That’s what we want to provide for you here. And your comments encourage us to keep going as well.

Summer can be a busy time. You can lose your routines and get less done. But while you’re driving around, brushing your teeth, or staring at your computer screen, ask yourself why you started on this path. What about the writing life makes you smile? Get those thoughts firmly fixed into your mind every day, and follow your dream!