Do you Remember the First Story you Published? 8/27/2011 6:22:45 AM
Do you remember how you felt writing and publishing your first story? Here are some reflections on my first published story, Tails of Sweetbrier. Were you nervous about writing your first story and submitting it for publication?
I remember fretting about whether or not I should even write my first story, Tails of Sweetbrier. Initially, I thought no one would want to publish it. Maybe it would be too boring. Yikes, that would be unfortunate. But then I remembered my dad always said that if you’re afraid to try something, you should consider the worst outcome you could imagine. When I did that, I figured if no one wanted to publish it, I’d just try to improve it and resubmit it. It turned out that I worried for no reason because the story was published.
When I wrote Tails of Sweetbrier, I knew the message I wanted to convey. I wanted children to realize that anything is possible if you persevere. That’s what my parents taught all three of their daughters. If you want something, just work until you reach your goal. That was my secret to success in achieving my dream of becoming a champion equestrian, as detailed in Tails of Sweetbrier. Doctors told my parents I wouldn’t be able to walk, but my dad was undeterred. He told me the doctors were wrong and he’d teach me to ride horses to prove them wrong. Fortunately, my dad was correct. Not only did I learn to walk, but also, I was able to compete in horse shows successfully. We had a great adventure on the road to success. There were days marked by victory, and times of disappointment, but I wouldn’t have missed it for anything.
When I wrote Tails of Sweetbrier, one concern is that I didn’t want to be portrayed as a hero. I didn’t accomplish anything extraordinary. All I did was keep working toward my goal. Here’s my closing sentence from the story: “You have the power to make your dreams come true, so reach for them and don’t accept anything less.” I hope this statement is an inspiration to children as they work to realize their dreams.
