A Published Writer’s Key to Creativity and Success

First action, then inspiration~ those are the words that drive me whenever I am looking for that elusive muse called inspiration.

I’ve learned that if I show up first, whether it’s at my computer, a meeting, or a workout, she will most likely show up too.

After all, one of my favorite quotes is this one, attributed to German writer Goethe: “Whatever you can do, or dream you can, begin it. Boldness has genius, power, and magic in it.”

I recommend reading that first paragraph again. (I’ll wait here for you.) Note that nowhere in there does it say, “Wait for inspiration, and then your action will come easily, and you’ll achieve your dreams before you know it.”

There’s something to be said for leaping before you look.

I’m pretty sure that if I believed that waiting was the way to approach inspiration, I wouldn’t have accomplished much in my life. On the other hand, acting first and expecting inspiration to follow has helped me to start working toward many of my dreams — and then achieve them.

This was certainly true of writing a children’s story, which began as a dream over ten years ago.

I’ve always loved children’s picture stories and filled bookshelves with them even before I had a child, but I never imagined writing one.

That changed when, in preparation for my first child, I read a book on parenting, Everyday Blessings: The Inner Work of Mindful Parenting by Myla Kabat-Zinn and Jon Kabat-Zinn.

It contained the story of Sir Gawain and the Loathly Lady; I loved the story, but I was a little dismayed that it seemed to hang so much on physical beauty and romantic love.

I wanted to tell a story that focused more on friendship and freedom. I shared my dream with my husband and with my dear friend (and extraordinary artist) Daniel Nevins, and they were both enthusiastic about it.

Daniel even agreed to create the illustrations if I ever managed to get the story written. Of course, it would have to wait, because my baby was born soon after I asked for his help.

Sometimes being “haunted” by something can be a good – no,  great! – thing.

I still thought about the story often, especially during those late-night feedings when it was just my son and me.

As he nestled against my breast, I thought about how precious he was to me, and how I wanted more than anything to support his freedom to become exactly who he wanted to be and to find his own path to happiness.

Even though it was painful to consider, I knew that I would support him even if he chose a path that would take him far away from me.

The first two years of my son’s life passed quickly, but the story stayed with me. I knew I still wanted to write it, but there were so many other matters to attend to. Commitments to my family and my work as a nurse-midwife seemed to take up all my time.

The few moments I carved out for myself seemed best spent doing mood-elevating exercise, which helped fuel me up for all of the other demands on my energy.

I felt I had no time to do anything more. And I doubted that writing the story would pay off even if I were to find the time, because then I’d either have to pay Daniel to do the illustrations or get a publishing deal that would pay for them — and both options seemed well nigh impossible.

Still, the idea of the story haunted me (in a good way) and I realized there was nothing to be done but to “show up” and write the story.

So I carved out the time. I sat at my computer. And I wrote. And I waited for the muse. And I wrote a little more. And sure enough, the muse arrived. I finished the story in February of 2007.

Taking a huge risk can pay off in a big way.

I sent it out to publishers hoping they would love it as much as I did. I got a few positive responses, but nothing close to a publishing contract.

After six months, I realized that if I was going to see this story “fully fleshed” – that is, illustrated — I was going to have to pay Daniel myself to illustrate it. It was the most money I had ever spent on anything other than the down payment on my house, and it felt like a huge risk, but it was worth it to see my dream become a reality.

I sent the manuscript out, now with the illustrations, and (still many months later) got a publisher interested in the book.

So, after perhaps the world’s longest gestation, my baby, Ravenna, was born. But she would have stayed a twinkle in my eye had I not been willing to take the action before inspiration struck.

So to anyone who has ever had a dream, but felt she lacked the inspiration to see it come to reality, or doubted that anything would come from it even if she did commit to it, I can only say, do it.

The best-kept secret – there is power in action!

That’s the best-kept secret to achieving your dreams — the boldness of acting on your dream really does have genius, power, and magic in it.

What about you? How are you taking steps toward your dreams? What are your secrets of success?