There’s a school of thought that says: When you start to feel afraid of taking a leap or making a change, that’s when you know you’re making the right decision. I’m choosing to subscribe to this school of thought this week, because I’m starting to feel nervous about an upcoming leap of faith.
A couple of months ago I had a brilliant idea. You know the kind I mean. It came to me in an instant and I immediately wondered why I hadn’t thought of it sooner. I began thinking about this idea all the time and planning out how it would work. And the more I thought about it, the more it seemed like a really great idea. So, I told a couple of people and they thought it was a good idea. So I told a couple more. And before I knew it, I was committed.
Then, this week, things started to get real. The pieces of my plan began clicking into place, money changed hands, and I passed the point of no return, or at least the point of no return without humiliation. Suddenly, I was really nervous.
All the reasons why this was the best idea I’ve ever had suddenly got a little fuzzy at the edges. I woke up in the night with a list of all the things that could go wrong, all the reasons why this was a stupid idea, and I knew I had to make a decision. I could:
A) Call the whole thing off, cut my losses, and go back to my old safe, but ineffective, way of doing things.
B) Put it off a couple more weeks, give myself some time to firm up a few more details and mitigate some of the potential disasters.
C) Pinch my nose, close my eyes, and leap in feet first, hoping that I’d figured out quickly how to swim.
I’ll admit that all these options looked good, but finally, I made a decision. The only way I would ever truly know if this was the best idea since sliced bread was to commit and go for it.
So, here goes…
Next week, Wednesday July 27, I will launch a new serialized novel, A Strange Companion. I will publish a new chapter of the novel every single week until I get to “The End”, sometime in early 2017.
I’ve never done anything like this before and honestly, it goes against all my beliefs about how to go about publishing a book. I’m afraid it won’t be good enough. I’m afraid people won’t like it. I’m afraid I’ll get to Chapter 5 or 10 or 20 and realize I started in the wrong place or that there’s an important character or set-up that really needed to appear in Chapter 7.
Regardless, I’m doing it. I’ve had enough of fate deciding what I will or won’t be in this life. My future lies in writing fiction and I’m taking matters into my own hands.
If you happen to be a fiction lover and want to come along on this adventure with me, you can find out a bit more about the project at LisaManterfield.com. If you don’t happen to read fiction, then all I ask is for your good wishes and sharp shove out the door.
How exciting! Congratulations! I really appreciate your bravery & willingness to share your story about your story.
So glad you’re taking the leap. Good luck! I’m all signed up. I may not believe in reincarnation, but I do believe in your ability to deliver a good story and can’t wait to go on this adventure.
Wednesday Update: I just read the first chapter on the Wattpad app and was not disappointed. Totally loved the video of the South Wales campus! Poor Kat in the downpour. The writing is so good, I feel like I was on that soggy journey across campus with her. Love Kat already and look forward to next chapter.
Good for you!
What a great idea! You never know until you try. (And your energy and courage are putting me to shame). All the best!