I always knew I’d one day write novels. But first came poetry and short stories.
I wrote about my first ever published poems over here.
My first ever short story success was with a story about a tortoise, which won me the school writing competition for prose in Year 11 (back then called sixth form). It was called ‘The Story of How … The Tortoise Improved Itself’, and is somewhat typical of my writing as a teenager – existential and dark.
I was of course thrilled when it was published in the school magazine. An illustrator even drew a tortoise to accompany my words.
I now have stories published in over 40 anthologies, magazines and publications around the world, and every publication I achieve is an absolute thrill. Not just because it means others are agreeing that my words are worthy enough to share with the world, but because I get to offer readers a chance to reflect on that worthy something.
In the case of my tortoise story, it’s the idea that we can be our own worst enemy, failing to achieve our dreams because of our own perspective or problem-solving approach.
When I reflect on the literary works my English class studied for our senior years, I can see strong influences in my tortoise story from Thomas Hardy, a famous English novelist who wrote bleak stories about characters with tragic fates, and who lived 40 minutes down the road; as well as the famous poet T S Eliot, who wrote equally bleak poems, most famously depicting a character called Prufrock who endlessly procrastinated.
Not everyone took English in their senior years, however, because (unlike Australia, where English is compulsory throughout high school) students could select any combination of A-Level subjects for study. So a part of me wonders if, had it not been for my tortoise story in the school magazine, many students might not have been exposed to the idea that procrastination can sabotage your goals in life. A poignant insight for young minds poised on the precipice of pursuing their dreams!
But also a poignant insight for any mind yet to embark on their own journey towards a goal, big or small. Goals only ever get closer when you make a first step towards them, then another, and another. The worst thing you can do is not take a step at all.
I guess that’s why one of my favourite things to do is to mentor other writers. I can only imagine how much easier my own writing career would have been if I’d had a personal one-on-one writing and publishing coach, someone to bounce ideas off, able to use their writing experiences to ward me away from pitfalls only an experienced author would know, someone to keep me taking steps forward.
Like a tortoise, those steps can sometimes be slow, the end goal might seem far away. But unless we begin, we won’t get there. So whatever your dreams, don’t be like my tortoise! If you need to get a mentor, tutor, trainer or teacher to help you, then find one – get started today!
[Message me if your dreams involve writing!!]
