I am mentally drained. Working a 9-5 job looking the computer all day, taking an online course, writing my next novel, and trying to expand my business and branch off into freelance writing is a lot on the brain. As I am typing this, I have a headache. I want to save these couple of sentences and just go to bed. But I can’t. I hear the chant, ‘you can do it’ playing over and over in my head. My conscious keeps telling me to ‘keep going, you got this.’
Even with this headache, and my eyes slanting from the pain, I continue to get my thoughts out. Why? Well, it’s simple; I see the sacrifices I am making turning into rewards in the near future. Writing is my passion and has been since I was a kid. I didn’t know it was my passion until one night, while walking from my bedroom to the family room, that a story came to my mind. I plopped down on the sofa, grabbed my laptop, opened a blank word document, and typed the words “Bounded by Love.” This would become my first published novel a year later.
No, I’m not a best-selling author, yet. I’m not that well known either. However, I know my time is coming. I’m in the trenches now and must dig my way out. No, I didn’t think I would become an overnight success story. I knew then and know now, it’s going to take time to get the recognition that deserving. Having the bragging rights of best-selling author under my belt one day, is a goal of mine. Ultimately, what’s rewarding to me, though, is the positive reactions readers have after they finish reading or listening to one of my books.
Receiving positive reviews from the readers telling me how much they enjoyed my book, how they couldn’t put it down because they just had to know what was going to happen next, is what gives me purpose. It brings me great joy. To hear you did a great job, is what keeps that passion alive. It drives me to push forward. And with word-of-mouth, I know eventually that will lead me to the next level in my writing career.
In the meantime, I want to share my talent in other ways. So, I decided to restart my blog. As soon as I finished Bounded by Love, I wrote a short story, A Diva’s Revenge, and every week I would upload a new chapter. That blog became a success and one I wish I’d kept going. In just under a month, it had over a thousand subscribers. Back then, I didn’t understand the power of blogging. Now I do, and with this second time around, I hope to make it just as successful as the first one.
Because I have faith in myself and my vision, I trust you, the reader, will eventually get to know me, like my blog as well as my books and apparel, and trust the vision I want for my brand. So stay tuned. There’s more to come!
Until next time! Smooches!
Yolanda Williams