Destination

What thoughts go through your mind as you view this picture? Do you notice how the clouds stretch so far past the horizon you can't see the end of them? Is it the contrast of the open blue sky with the green cattle fields that catches your eye?

When I drove this road yesterday, and took this picture, I thought about how similar it is to my writing career...

I'm on this path, right? There's an ultimate destination, and it's beautiful I suspect, even though I can't quite see it yet.

I guess I'm headed the right direction, though I can't be sure. What if I find out I've taken a wrong turn somewhere? What if things - things I don't want a part of - await me over the crest of that hill? What if there are dips and turns or rocky patches? What if there's a road block? What if popping that hill lands me on a difficult stretch, and I struggle to navigate it?

Well, I won't know unless I drive on and find out, will I? I can't stop short of my goal just because I fear the unknown. And turning around and back-tracking isn't an option for me.

So I'll continue in my forward motion and know that even if I get waylaid ahead, it won't stop me. I'll keep going, stubbornly if I have to, and make the journey happen. I'll take it easy over the rocks or slow down around the curve - or take a detour if need be. But persistence will get me where I want to go.

I'll get there.

Do you feel the same about your destination?

As For Today...

I'm pleased to post that today things are much clearer. Has that ever happened to you? You express your thoughts and concerns to others and then, perhaps because you've laid things on the table and can get a full look at them, from every angle, the answer becomes as plain as day? Things just click?

Yesterday afternoon it was impressed upon me that I should proceed with my non-fiction proposal. I will pursue agents who represent narratives, and simply see where it leads.

And then, after having read yesterday's post (scroll down one), a writing buddy pointed me to the site of a well-known imprint. They publish romance and women's fiction (among other things) with an inspirational focus, and writers can submit directly to them. One of the best parts, though I've inadvertantly met nearly every one of their guidelines (because of my style and themes and personal morals), is that they take novels with as little as 55,000 words. This means, my dear friends, that if I take another looksee at Bliss Lake and flesh things out with just 4000+ words more, I can meet their requirement. And submit. And see what happens. And create (I hope) a longer manuscript in the meantime. THIS is what I needed to push me; a specific goal, with an outcome I could shoot for. I love that!

Now from (recent) past experiences, I've learned not to get my hopes up. I'm not going to get ahead of myself, for who knows what my plan holds. I sure don't. But I'm confident, as I've mentioned before, that each step I take gets me closer to my ultimate destination.

And I know I keep coming back to the metaphor of direction and signs and the path before me... but I'm going to step out in faith on that path. I'll see where this last set of directions takes me, and pray for guidance along the way.

How do you make your way?

A Written Mystery

I just happened upon this story on Yahoo today. Seems a postcard dated 1957 reached its destination only recently. The message and its author have been sleuthed out; the delay in delivery still a mystery.

Check it out!