On the surface, a writer’s life may look ‘lonely.’ Because we spend a lot of time alone writing our stories and bringing the characters to life. It is in those quiet times—late at night, early in the morning, or in the middle of the day—when we go into hiding. We have that special place, a room of our own, to create. And we do it until we’ve taken the manuscript as far as we can on our own, knowing then that it’s time for fresh eyes, and we ship it off to our editor. Yes, writing can be lonely, but writing and publishing a book takes a village.
Believing Mirrors
When I first read Julia Cameron’s The Artist’s Way more than twenty years ago, a concept that stayed with me was ‘Believing Mirrors.’ As Cameron explains, believing mirrors are the people in our lives who “mirror us back to ourselves as powerful, strong, and in our most positive light.”1 In different domains of my life, my believing mirrors help me—most of the time unknowingly—get through the toughest periods. A well-timed card or e-mail of encouragement arriving at the moment I’m slogging through a difficult rewrite. The new running shirt that appears shortly after I’ve signed up to run a marathon. Believing mirrors remind us of who we are, and that, in turn, helps us to remain focused on our why.
It Takes a Village
Bestselling books become bestsellers because of editors, proofreaders, beta readers, booklovers, spouses, and friends who support us along the way. Athletes like Michael Jordan, Martina Navratilova, Kobe Bryant, Serena Williams, or Michael Phelps (to name just a few) became great because of the trainers they surrounded themselves with. The master carpenter earns that title after years of apprenticeship. While we use our talents and skills to become great at what we do, we get there through the help, support, and encouragement of others.
It really does take a village. “Because no matter who you are, part of success means recognizing the people who can help you get where you want to go, putting all the best pieces in place,”2 Tim Grover writes in Relentless: From Good to Great to Unstoppable.
Who’s in your village? Take a moment to give thanks.
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