Dear Me: 2011 - Take Charge!

Dear Me,

         You did amazing things in 2010, Rebecca. Can you believe the way you took charge of your writing future last June? You committed to chasing a single path along the road to your writing career. Others might not have agreed with your choices but ultimately, you did what was right for you. I think it is important you continue that trend this year.

         This year you focus on three primary projects. Each has an impact on your career and will play an important role in your continued success. Let's look at each of these goals separately and in greater detail.

Complete Your First Year University Units.

                    Why? You’ve always wanted to earn a Bachelor of Arts degree, Rebecca. I remember your telling me how you regret not remaining in school when you were younger so I swell with pride as I think of your decision to return to your education this year, twelve years after failing to finish high school.

                   Rebecca, you are a brave and talented woman. You’re intelligent and creative. These attributes will help you as you explore the units toward your coveted degree. The experiences you have over the next few years as you work toward this degree offer incredible benefits to your writing career.

                   As you move forward through each unit remember these key objectives. They are vital to achieving success at the level to which you aspire.

Focus on each unit individually.

         If you look at the course as a whole I know you’ll feel discouraged and lose motivation. Create a shorter focus to stay on track. Each unit is self-contained and leads into each other. Take advantage of this opportunity to build on your skills incrementally.

Enjoy the learning process.

         You’re a naturally curious person, Rebecca. You are also passionate about learning. Know that everything you learn makes you a better writer. Every time you learn something new you build upon the compost of your ideas and fuel the future of your writing.

Work together with others.

         You need the companionship of fellow students to keep you motivated and excited about your study goals. Use these resources and know that by sharing the experience with others you not only enrich your own learning experience but that of the people with whom you interact through your studies.

Commit to deadlines.

         You’ve struggled with deadlines in the past, Rebecca. Admit that to yourself but know that your past does not predicate your future. You can choose, right now, to commit to completing every deliverable in your course and to doing so on or before deadlines and to the best of your ability.

Strive for excellence.

         You’re not afraid of success, Rebecca. And you know the importance of aiming high. If you take action to perform to the highest standards of your own abilities, and to measure and maintain those standards, you have the potential to earn incredible results.

Believe in yourself.

         I believe in you, Rebecca. You must learn to believe in yourself. You are bright. You are talented. You can achieve greatness when you apply yourself and you have proven this in the past. When you need to remember this, reflect on your accomplishments, and look forward into the future you want for yourself.

Finish Writing And Editing "The Flight Of Torque".

                    Why? This book has already taken you far too long! Honestly, Rebecca, there is no good reason for you to be plodding along. You’re an excellent writer. You are brimming with talent and creativity. You’ve proven how well you can write and have received a great deal of praise. The fear you’ve experienced in the past is groundless. It’s time to harness your courage. It’s time to strive forward and complete this project. Remember, it’s a stepping stone not a mountain.

                   Rebecca, you know how important writing is to your life dreams and aspirations. This is all you’ve wanted for yourself since you were six years old and first learned to form the letter ‘A’. Stories have a power and magic that has always inspired you. And YOUR stories are rich and empowering. Your stories deserve to be told and your readers deserve to read them.

                   In 2012, you will be attending the Writer’s Digest Writer’s Conference in New York. You’ll have an opportunity to pitch your novel to highly influential publishers and agents. Embrace this opportunity! Complete “The Flight of Torque” before the conference and get started on the sequel.

It’s time to live into who you were always meant to be!

Focus on writing regularly.

         Write something every day. This may mean writing short fiction or you may choose to write a blog post or a memoir. Ensure that you also spend time each week working on “The Flight of Torque”. This specific project does not preclude progress on other projects but it is a priority project.

Enjoy the writing process.

         You love writing. Despite the fear you have faced in the past, you maintain your passion for language and creativity. Remember how you feel when your writing flows effortlessly. Embrace that emotion. When you experience anxiety, pause and remember how writing can make you feel. Remind yourself that writing feels blissful and that it comes effortlessly to you.

Work on polishing each chapter.

         The existing draft has a great deal of fantastic content already written. There are only about twenty-thousand words of the climax left to write. The existing sixty-thousand words can be shaped and improved. Let the true beauty of those words, and the story they tell, shine.

Commit to finishing.

         You began this book in December 2006. You have half-heartedly told yourself that you will work to finish the book every year of the four years that have passed. The only person you let down is yourself and you deserve better! Agree that there is no excuse for failing to finish this book. Remind yourself how important this project is to you and revisit your commitment to finishing frequently.

Strive to finish, not perfect.

         You are still a beginner, Rebecca. No one expects perfection from your first published novel. In fact, no one expects perfection from your fifty-first novel either. The true test of a talented writer is not in perfection, but in completion. All I ask of you, all you ask of yourself, is to finish.

Believe in yourself.

         You are a remarkable woman, Rebecca. You are a talented writer. Your ideas and inspirations are remarkable. Your insights into the human psyche and the world around us are phenomenal. The message you want to tell in this particular novel is awe-inspiring. This project is worth finishing. You deserve to finish it. These characters deserve to have their stories told. Believe in yourself and your power to do this. This project was given to you, and only to you, for a reason. YOU are the one who was always meant to write this book!

Prepare And Finance New York 2012 Trip.

                    Why? The Writer’s Digest Writer’s Conference in L.A. in 2008 was an incredible experience. I know you want to travel to New York next and the 2012 conference is the perfect time. I’m sorry you had to miss the conference this year but next year you are definitely going.

                   You’ll also have the opportunity to meet and greet a number of your American writer friends. You have standing invitations to get together with at least a half dozen of them and before you arrive in New York you’ll have a dozen more to hang out with. They’ll show you the sights and give you the insider's introduction to New York City.

                   Picture it! Bright lights, towering skyscrapers, Central Park, Broadway. The Big City! Are you excited yet? I know I am. Picture it, Rebecca. Imagine it! See it!

Now, make it happen!

Focus on finances.

         The greatest challenge facing you as you prepare for New York in 2012 is the financial expense of a trip like this. Having traveled to L.A. you understand how expensive airline tickets can be and the kind of money required for a high-class hotel. You will also want plenty of kitty for going out and experiencing New York. Because New York is such a big city nothing will be cheap. So be prepared to save several thousand dollars. Saving that kind of money is achievable (you've done it before), but it will require dedication and focus.

Enjoy planning an itinerary.

         Remember all the fun things you did in L.A., Rebecca? There are just as many things to do and experience in New York so you'll want to put together a list of the things you'd like to see and the places you'd like to go. Your itinerary does not need to be detailed down to the last moment, but you don't want to get home after traveling so far only to realize that you didn't do something you really wanted to do. As you create your itinerary also get in touch with your friends and include visiting them in your plans.

Work hard on your other goals.

         You'll be in New York in January next year so make sure you've prepared the way by working hard on your other goals. Your university studies will need to be completed in advance to give you the freedom to travel without clashing commitments. You also must have "The Flight of Torque" finished for this trip. The only justification for the expenditure is the pitching of this book at the conference. If you have not finished the book, you do not get to go. So, work hard! Finish!

Commit to making this trip happen.

         To reiterate what I said above: if you do not finish the book, you do not get to go on the trip. When you commit to making this trip happen you also commit to finishing the book. Be aware of this commitment to yourself and reaffirm it regularly. This is something you really want to do. So decide to do it!

Strive to be ready and prepared.

         There is plenty of time over the next twelve months to get fully prepared but those months will pass quickly. Set personal deadlines for planning and preparation. For example, you will need to book your airline tickets a few months in advance of your departure time to maximize your savings and minimize your expenditure. Work within your plan. Use lists to remain organized and do research so that you understand exactly where you are going, who you are meeting, and what you are doing.

Believe in yourself.

         You were amazing when you traveled to L.A., Rebecca. I couldn't believe how incredible you looked. You came out of your shell and were not only a social butterfly but a woman of the world. You stood on your own two feet and I knew you could accomplish anything. That you, is still you, Rebecca. Remind yourself of the power and vitality you feel when you travel. You can do this and you'll love every moment of it. Believe that, and believe in you!

         Are you beginning to see a trend here, Rebecca. Focus, Enjoy, Work, Commit, and Strive. But, most importantly Believe In Yourself! So much of your past has been inhibited by self-doubt and insecurity. You're a better woman than that, Rebecca. I believe in you and I know you can believe in yourself. You are strong, creative, talented, intelligent, self-empowered, and those are just a few of the incredible traits that come together to form the Rebecca I know and love.

         Now, go onward into 2011 and know that you are capable of anything you set your mind to doing. Every step forges into continued success. Your dreams are coming true in every breath. Take charge of your destiny!

                                                                                                             Love Always,
                                                                                                             Me


Written for "Dear Me: Official Contest"   by The StoryMistress
Total Word Count (rounded): 1980