Of course I will. Never did I meet a quote that I could let stand alone. When this one flashed across my newsfeed this morning I thought Hmm…what a novel idea…duh. Of course you’re going to find yourself in a new place if you do something you’ve never done. What a great motivator to take that leap and do that thing you’ve been contemplating. It doesn’t have to be big. It could be something as small as opening that twitter account you’ve been so hesitant of doing. Or it could be taking that step and retiring. Or it could be fixing up your resume and taking that first step toward finding a new job. It could even be walking a different route on your daily walk. Point is, something new begets something new.
For me, personally, it’s this illustrating thing. The more I try to write, the more illustrating work comes my way. I’m currently working on a picture book for a lady from Minnesota who is a relatively new writer, but I fell in love with her story and I’m willing to act as editor, too. Children’s illustrator Jeff Pinkney said in an interview I read in response to the question of what advice would you give to a new, shy illustrator just starting out, “Choose each project because there is something in it that speaks to you in a personal way and sparks creative thinking.” I hung that quote in my work area and that is my compass for choosing new projects. Then yesterday (see What A Find for back story) I get a message from my rocker/writer friend. She was so excited to find I was a children’s author/illustrator because she is working on a children’s and teen’s book of poetry and wanted to know if I’d be interested in illustrating it.
By doing something new – something I’d never in a million years ever planned to do, I’m going new places and meeting new people everyday. Along with this comes new personal and professional growth as a result of not shying away, despite the fear doing something new can bring.
And so, as another day goes by, it’s time to leave my chair and go out there and try something new today, and…I have written.
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