For years I had a story that rattled around in my head. It started when I had trouble falling asleep as a teenager - the story would play out in my mind like a movie as I slowly drifted off to sleep. Over the years of going to university, traveling to see my family, and then later on in my adult life, this daydream movie continued. Yet it did not only just play in my mind but it evolved and grew. Characters were born and changed over time. Plot lines were thought of, 'perfected' or, as in the case of many, discarded.
All the while, I unconsciously categorized this as a daydream. Something to help me pass away time when I was alone, bored but could not delve into reading a book. Until one day about 5 years ago, I had the a sudden thought jolt me into a greater consciousness.
"Holy crap, this is a book."
What an amazing, enlightening, but holy shit scary, concept. I was stunned. Not necessarily for my awakening moment but WHY had it taken me this long to put 2 and 2 together??! I was filled with excitement and anticipation.
Then my greatest enemy reared its ugly, nasty head. Self-doubt.
"I can't do this. Why would I think that I could ever be an author? I don't have any formal training - I do not have a literary degree, I haven't even taken a creative writing class. You will have to put yourself out there to be judged. What if it's terrible?"
And on and on it continued. Until I slowly began to share my idea seedling with a few of my closest peeps. What happened next was incredible. Met with positive encouragement and excitement from loved ones, this acted as the nourishing environment for that little seedling to take root and begin to grow. I finally embraced the fact that I could be an author. That I could do this. That it could be really great. And I am excited to bring Severyn's story from my internal imaginative world and to share her journey with others.
