Stephanie Elizondo Griest has done it. She has believed in herself, traveled, put in the elbow grease at the old keyboard, and will soon take to the road on her first book tour. We will talk more about Stephanie’s new book, Around the Bloc, when it releases in March. But first, I just had to point you to “the story behind the story.”
I know a few people who are working on their first book. And book proposal at that. I think we can all look to Stephanie’s story for inspiration. Myself included.
WOW…this should scare me away from ever achieving my goal of being a travel writer (even a tiny one)…but it does no such thing…it just makes me understand the passion and drive that must exist…and challenges me even more to make time for writing a priority. thanks for pointing out her incredible story.
Hi Kelly, thanks for the great comment. I’m glad that you are not deterred.
I think that no matter what it is, if you want something, try your guts out until you get it. If it’s not meant to be, something even more appropriate will find you along the way.
Timing is such a tricky thing. I’d love to talk to Stephanie about the hard days. The days when she didn’t want to write. The days when she was spouting questions to the mirror of whether or not any of this was worth it.
Anyway, another source of inspiration is a bookstore. Walk through the aisles, flip through the pages, and look at all the crap that gets published. It just might leave you with the excited feeling that if someone published THAT, then surely you could get publsihed too.
Bottom line, don’t give up if it’s what you really want.
thanks jen…some more great tips and advice…i have to make time!!! i have a few upcoming mini trips and i am going to practice writing something for or during each of them. i like your idea about looking at the “crap” to get me pumped. however, i AM also reading some GOOD stuff for motivation — Sand in my Bra is on my nightstand this week…giggling myself to sleep with fabulous tales…off to read another 😉
Well said, Jen. If publishers can publish a lot of the crap that’s out there, everyone has a chance, and a good chance at that.
Those hard days are what keep many from trying, others from staying in there and still others giving up just when they are on the brink of coming out. That’s the saddest of all.
The fact that Stephanie shared her low and lowest moments and that you can relate to that means her reactions and coping mechanisms are probably not that unique to her.
Hug and stay close to your dream. It’ll come through for you. Don’t let it down. It’ll do the same for you.
Well, it works the other way, too. I’m living proof that you can spend TOO much time enjoying the “now”, to stay focused on the main, or three main goals. I’m trying harder to balance, but I don’t experience as many lows, as I do far too many distracting highs.