When you enter the world of writing and publishing books you soon find out there are two ways to write; as a plotter or as a pantser. A plotter plans out the whole book before starting any writing. You plot out themes, chapters and key messages so when it comes time to write you merely just have to follow your outline and expand on the notes you pre-laid out. If you are a pantser you just dive right in, no plotting, no planning – you write your book flying by the seat of your pants.
I am a plotter. Not only in my writing style, but in my entire life. I love to dream about all the things I want to achieve, and then I plan out exactly how I am going to make it all happen.
This is a great technique if you are writing a book. Planning your life, I have learnt, is a little less forgiving.
I have a plan to publish two books this year. One is a fiction novel I have already finished and the other is a teaching memoir about my journey solo navigating a big lap around Australia. I planned it down to a T. I was going to find a traditional publisher to take on the novel and I would self publish the memoir on my own. A great opportunity to test out both publishing options and find out what route I would take for future books going forward – see, I told you I was a planner.
I had signed up to an online writers community which gave me a couple chances to submit my manuscript to a huge publishing house in the US (a rare opportunity because most publishers require submissions from an agent). I prepared my book proposal, submitted to the contest then waited patiently for the date they would be announcing the winners. I even practised the art of manifesting and spent every day visualising the call coming in and what it would feel like to be announced the winner. I was one hundred percent confident I had it in the bag.
So when the date came around I was honestly shocked to find out I didn’t win. I wasn’t even selected in the group of honourable mentions.
Normally this would have gutted me. I had spent months planning and hoping and visualising and came up completely empty handed. But did I really?
I believe in the idea that what is meant for you will always find its way to you. And if it doesn’t come about it’s either the wrong time or it was never meant for you in the first place.
There is a famous quote at the end of the movie The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel. It’s taken from an old Indian saying… ‘Everything will be all right in the end… if it’s not all right then it’s not yet the end.’
When I think about my novel I’ve come to realise that there are things I have learnt from being a part of my writing community that could make my story even better. Sometimes when we plan too deeply we miss out on the beauty of allowing things to take a different direction.
You’ve all heard a version of the saying, ‘If things are not going as planned don’t be discouraged. Life has a much better plan for you.’ Think back to all those times in your life when you desperately wanted something to happen, and it didn’t. You didn’t get that job, the person you wanted to date didn’t want you back, or you never did buy that house you really loved. Every one of these examples have caused me heartache over the years but if I had received all of those things I had desperately wanted at the time, I would be in a very different place to where I am now – and I wouldn’t have crossed paths with all the wonderful people, places and experiences I have in my life right now.
Being a plotter works for a writer but even writers can change up their style whenever they see fit. For me, I’m glad I didn’t win that contest. In years to come I would have been disappointed that I didn’t wait that little bit longer to make sure my book was the best it could possibly be. And… I still have one more chance to submit my book again in a few months.
When something doesn’t go your way learn to trust that it wasn’t meant for you at that particular time. The important thing is what you choose to do next. Will you stay stuck believing that you need it now, or will you be open to seeing another path.
“If at first you don’t succeed. Then dust yourself off and try again”
Aaliyah
Only you can make the choice to keep moving forward.
Trust that everything will work out in exactly the way that is right for you.
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