You guys.
It’s here! We finally reached the end of October. It’s been bananas, hasn’t it? We finally completed this challenge to write everyday for a whole entire month. I say “we”, because even though I was the one writing, you guys were here, sticking it out with me and reading along. I’d venture to say we’ve both been through a lot.
Immediately after I signed up for the challenge I got to work writing some rough drafts to get me started. I messaged some of my fellow Clumsy Bloggers and said “Well guys, I just wrote a post about bikini waxing, a post about sex, and a post about a television show (Scandal), so it’s pretty safe to say this will either be some of my best or my worst writing.”
In the end, I think it’s been a little bit of both.
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Yesterday I confessed that fear has often held me back in writing. I’m not even really sure what defines “failure” or “success” as a writer, yet I’ve allowed the fear of failure to paralyze me at times and to keep me from actually pursuing the God-given desires of my heart.
Not anymore.
I know that God has drawn these dreams to the surface of my heart for a reason. Honestly, I don’t know what this path is supposed to look like for me, but I do know that for now I’m just going to keep putting one foot in front of the other. I’m going to keep moving forward by doing the next thing I know to do. And then the next. And then the next.
Right now the next step is to keep blogging. It’s to keep growing and improving. It’s to connect with other writers and to actively participate in that community. It’s to learn from how they tell their stories and to invite others into my story as well.
It’s to keep leaning in.
It’s having the gumption to humbly, “Know my shit and show my shit”, as Mindy Kaling puts it. It’s to quit waiting for something spectacular to happen before I’m bold enough to call myself a writer.
A writer writes words.
I am a writer.
There, I said it.
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Thanks for sticking it out with me for the last 31 days. I know I’ve said it before, but you guys really are the coolest. I don’t mean to brag or anything, but we do make a pretty good pair. If this was any real test of our relationship, I’m pretty sure this means we’re the equivalent of engaged now…
Now that October is over I think I’m going to take a little mental vacation for a week. Maybe catch up on some reading, work on my fantasy football lineup, or binge-watch the rest of Scandal before I get my butt in the chair and my hands on the keyboard again. I won’t be posting every day again until next October (because, sanity), but don’t worry, I’ll be here. Every week.
In the meantime, if you need me, I’ll just be over here like…
* This is Day 31 of a 31 Day series on Keeping It Real. You can find all of the posts in this series here. I hope you follow along and join the conversation! *
Melody Reid says
Love this Amber! You’ve done a spectacular job with this challenge. XXOO
ambersalhus@msn.com says
Thank you so much Melody!
Kristen says
Great job! If u have a fantasy football team is love to hear about it!
ambersalhus@msn.com says
Thank you Kristin! My fantasy team is a bit of an embarrassment this year. I’m on a losing streak. ?
Keri says
You did it! Love it!
ambersalhus@msn.com says
Thank you so much Keri!
Alyson Madison says
It’s been a joy following you on this crazy journey! You’ve encouraged me to find my passion. Enjoy binge watching Scandal. You’ve most certainly earned it!
ambersalhus@msn.com says
Thank you for reading along Alyson!
Barbie says
Woo Hoo! So proud of you. Keep writing!
ambersalhus@msn.com says
Thank you Barbie!