If you are going to do it; go all the way!

Today I sit in my new home surrounded by boxes I should have unpacked by now, but I'd rather write and connect with my followers than hang pictures and arrange my bookshelves. And who could blame me, youse guys are some pretty spectacular people. No really. I'm being serious. 

It's seems like it has taken me a lifetime to finally find my tribe and that is how I have come to see all of you. My big beautiful writing family. Today I also watched my followers list roll around to 1,000 a phenomenal number I frankly never thought I'd see.

Who would have thought just three short months ago I'd be where I am today, but I wouldn't be here without you so I want to take a moment to share with you some inspiration a writer friend of mine shared with me.

I had the good fortune of meeting Farley Mowat when I was very young and I told him of my plans to become a writer. He chuckled and said, "You've chosen a difficult path for yourself. A path rife with pitfalls, rejection, and criticism of almost everything you do, but." he said," As long as you never let any of that discourage you from loving what you do; you'll do just fine."

I took his words to heart. And now I want to tell you all never let rejection discourage you. You've already done the bravest thing possible. You poured your heart out in the pages of your stories, and you laid yourself bare to your readers, you opened yourself up to criticism from your peers, and rejection from your betters and you still continue to love what you do. 

And most importantly of all, you are an inspiration to the young writers that will come after you. 

Whether any of us go on to find success in the traditional sense we've already succeeded in doing one thing, we can proudly proclaim to the world, "I AM A WRITER!" I've succeeded in telling my story and no one can ever take that away from me. 

Now I would like to share with you some other writers who never gave up and the literary world is better for it. 

1. Lord of the Flies by William Golding was rejected 20 times before it was published.

2. Gone with the Wind by Margaret Mitchell was rejected 38 times before it was published.

3. Anne Frank's The Diary of a Young Girl was rejected 15 times before it was published.

4. Carrie by Stephen King was rejected 30 times before it was published.

5. Louisa May Alcott was told to stick to teaching.

6. Rudyard Kipling was told he didn't know how to use the English language.

7. A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L'Engle was rejected 26 times before it was published.

8. Animal Farm by George Orwell was rejected because "there is no market for animal stories in the USA."

9. Dune by Frank Herbert was rejected 23 times before it was published.

10. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone was rejected 12 times and J. K. Rowling was told "not to quit her day job."

So always remember:

Be proud of your work.

Never stop trying.

And kick some butt!

Eventually, you'll make it.

I love you all my big beautiful writing family!

This chapter is dedicated to all my 1,000 followers.