A newsletter from Steve Harrison reminded me of a story I'd read before, in the book, "Unstoppable: 45 Powerful Stories of Perseverance and Triumph from People Just Like You." In that book Olivia Goldsmith tells how a divorce promoted her to rethink her life and consider giving up a successful career as a marketing executive in order to become a writer.
She says, " As I thought about what I really wanted to do, a tiny inner voice said, 'You've always loved reading.' That's all it said. I was afraid to admit to myself that I wanted to write. Another voice asked, 'Who do you think you are?'"
She ignored the negative voice and worked on her book for four years or so, then sent the manuscript out to about a dozen publishers. All rejected it.
She found an agent who'd represent it--if she changed it. She did. It got rejections all the way around again.
But in the meantime a copy went to some producers, which led to it being bought by Paramount Pictures. The only part they didn't like were the changes she'd made at the behest of the agent. The movie starred Goldie Hawn, Bette Midler, and Diane Keaton. Goldsmith shared the credit for the screenplay.
The book was "The First Wives Club." It was a hit as a book and as a film, too.
The moral of the story: You WILL hear that negative little voice. You do NOT have to heed it. Listen to the other one!
(For support in your writing, join my online Writing Breakthrough Strategy Program. It mentors you through setting and achieving your writing goal. You'll find more information at www.JurgenWolff.com.)
