Last spring, when I was on book tour, I was in Houston and met a lovely young woman by the name of Tiffani Storck. She confided to me that she longed to do exactly what I was doing, and I was so touched by her enthusiasm that I dedicated the book that I had just completed to her.
So inside the cover of If Wishes Were Earls, you will find the following dedication:
To Tiffani A. Storck,
and all the young women like herwho dream of jobs in writing and publishing.
Believe me: work hard, study, and never stop daydreaming.
This one can come true. I know.
And I do. I began writing my first book when I was in my 20s. I knew only two things about what I was doing: 1) that I loved historical romance novels and 2) I loved telling stories. As I plodded along with my works in progress, I made so many mistakes, but also did a couple things very right.
For one thing, I never stopped learning about the craft that is writing. It is a craft—one that can take a lifetime to perfect. Even armed with a double degree in Literature and History, I knew I needed to know MORE. I took writing classes at my library, my community college, the experimental college at my local university. I went to writing conferences, I joined Romance Writers of America. I listened to some amazing multi-published authors. I took copious notes and I learned more and more each year and applied it to every journeyman page I wrote. And rewrote.
Debbie Macomber (who is wise beyond anything) once said, that to achieve something unique you need to dedicate a part of each day to achieving that dream. So no matter what you want to do with your life, whatever your secret desire may be, wake up each day and ask yourself, “What am I going to do today to get closer to seeing it come true?” Then comes the hard part: you just do it.
And now? I still wake up each day and ask myself that question. Each year, I consider what I am going to do to make myself a better writer. Every time I start a new book I consider what challenges I can bring to the storytelling to keep the writing fresh and push my muse up a higher mountain.
I put that same sort of determination and stubborn ambition into my heroines—take Harriet Hathaway for instance. Not even Roxley’s impending engagement to another woman is going to stop her from gaining the man she loves—one she knows loves her in return. Nothing should stand in the way of your heart’s desire. And if it does, find a way around it.
So, I want to know, what are you going to do today?
