Inspiration: On being scared of fighting for your dreams...

Hello darlings, 

See that right there --> 

My life right now. 

      It's amazing how one little change in your schedule makes the rest of it go into haywire. Work has been more than kicking my butt lately, and needless to say I haven't been doing as much writing. *Insert the SADDEST face ever* 

     I've started a new project, which is totally different from anything I've ever written and it's a bit scary. Scary and exciting. 

I love new beginnings. It's like the smell of a new car or freshly baked cookies (which I now kind of want). Yet, at the same time, I'm terrified of not being able to deliver the way I'd like to deliver. Obviously, I don't want to be a failure. No one strives to be that right? 

On the other hand, I'm still querying agents and yes, this is pretty much how I feel about it. It's a crazy competitive world out there, and the journey to get your work out there is very hard. I've been watching The Voice (pretty much the best voice competition ever) and it really makes me stop and think of the way I react to rejection. At least my tears are in private, can you imagine getting over being rejected on national television?

     There is a lesson in that which I wanted to share with you. When you fall down, get back up. When you feel like a failure, keep on going. There is nothing standing between you and your dreams but your own self-doubt. This is a lesson that I have to keep reminding myself of, because I am one of the worst self-critics out there. My challenge to you, and to myself, is not to give up. You never know if your success was in the next query letter, or the next audition, or the next interview. Everything is a battle, it's up to us if we're willing to fight it. 

Much love, 

Valia