One thing that never fails to impress me is the Olympics. Every four years, countries send their best athletes to one location to vie for a gold, silver, or bronze medal. Citizens join together to support their country’s athletes in trouncing another country’s athletes. It’s crazy and fun and never fails to make sports lovers out of everyone. Maybe that’s why I couldn’t help thinking about authors.
Like Olympic hopefuls, writers serious about the craft spend countless hours alone, working on their manuscripts. They write in all genres, cover all tastes, striving for the right words, feelings, and conflict. They seek out “happily ever after” or deliver “holy smoke” mysteries and horrors. I love authors. I love how hard they work and how they keep doing what they love.
Being a writing champion takes a toll. Financial hardship is prevalent. Relationships can strain. Obligations abound. Yet serious writers never quit. Sure, some take a break to recharge their batteries, but they never give up. They can’t. Just choosing to write for a living is a testament to their strength and commitment and willpower. Authors know this road isn’t easy. For every writer for finishes a manuscript there are untold numbers who don’t. Yet the ones who can’t do it shouldn’t feel ashamed. They should be proud they tried their best. Like an Olympian.
There should be medals for authors. No, winning an award, landing an agent, or signing a publishing contract doesn’t count. Those result from the finished manuscript. What I’m referring to are the lifestyle medals: best multitasker, most productive while distracted by children, greatest parent who writes, fastest chore doer while on deadline, etc. Silly? Yeah. But look at everything a writer must overcome to get words on a page. Look at all the obstacles in front of them. Think about the statistics that scream how hopeless their dream is. Now imagine the Olympian who has to deal with a mountain of negativity to make it onto an national team, and then the colossal task of beating the best competitors in the world.
That’s what authors do every time they sit down to write.
So go cheer on Team USA (or another country of your choice). Then go to your local library or bookstore and look around. Think about all the authors whose works decorate the shelves. Think about all the writers who aren’t there (yet). And cheer them on as well.
