by Beth K. Vogt @BethVogt
“I wish I had taken a risk. You have everything to win and nothing to lose.” Elise Cranny (1996-), American Olympian, middle and long-distance runner
I watched the Olympics as I wrote this blog, specifically the Women’s 5000m, where American middle- and long-distance runner Elise Cranny competed in her second Olympics.
As the elite female athletes competed, one of the commentators talked about Cranny’s previous Olympic performance—specifically how she said, “I wish I had taken a risk. You have everything to win and nothing to lose.”
Would Cranny do it this time? Would she take a risk on that purple track in Paris?
A few moments after I wondered what Cranny would do, she made her move, attempting to catch up with the race leaders. She matched their pace for a while, and then the frontrunners once again moved ahead of her. Ultimately, Cranny placed eleventh overall.
Yes, she took that risk.
No, she didn’t win.
Was the risk worth it?
Absolutely. Cranny ran to win.
Writers, when’s the last time you took a risk?
Maybe your biggest risk today is to show up and keep writing. Choose to persevere when you’re tired, when your story’s not working, when your word count is way-less than what you’d planned on by this time. You’re not guaranteed things will get easier, but you put forth the effort no matter what the outcome.
Maybe your biggest risk today is to celebrate who you are as a writer. Step away from the comparison trap. Take a moment and recall your strengths as a writer. Better yet, write them down. Are you good at crafting dialogue? Can you pen a strong devotional that ministers to others? Are you undaunted when it comes to developing a synopsis? Today’s the day you step back and applaud your strengths.
Maybe your biggest risk today is to finish what your started. Finish that manuscript—which happens one word, one sentence, one scene, one chapter at a time. Finish that proposal. Finish that pitch. Toss the word “perfection” out the door and aim for completion. Rewriting is always part of the writing game, but first you must finish whatever you’ve been working on.
Maybe, my friend, you just need to finish today holding onto hope. Sometimes that’s the biggest challenge we face: Finishing today believing we can get up tomorrow and begin again. As writers, we’re always balancing the challenges in our real life with the challenges we face in our writing life.
I hope you share in the comment section what risk you’ve taken lately—or what risk you’re taking today. Go ahead, take that risk. Remember: You have everything to win and nothing to lose! I’m cheering you on!
TWEETABLE
Such great wisdom, my friend. "One word, one sentence, one chapter at a time." I'm working on organizing a book now--so many ideas, so little progress in building the skeleton to use for each chapter. It gives me a headache just thinking about it. But I know the answer is not in wringing my hands or feeling sorry for myself. It is in moving forward, and watching God take a mess and give it form and clarity. You encouraged me today with this post. Thank you!
ReplyDeleteJulie, I'm so excited to hear you're working on a new book. I know it will encourage so many readers. Praying for you today as you move forward "on word, one sentence, one chapter at a time" with God's blessing.
DeleteI have taken the risk to finish my first non-fiction book! I will self-publish it Oct-Nov! Little by little, with perseverance, I finished the book that has been on my heart for 12 years! Thank you for this post!
ReplyDeleteBrava, Ellen! That is so wonderful that you fulfilled your dream! I'm thrilled for you! may God bless the work of your hands.
DeleteBeth,
ReplyDeleteThank you for this encouraging article. Many aspects of the publishing world are outside of anything that I can control but I can handle my own actions--my own follow-up phone calls to authors or my continued pitches to my colleagues to possibly get a contract for new authors or my own writing. Many times I get feelings of resistance but then I lean in and take a risk and do it anyway. It's only through our continued actions (or risks) that God can open the door of opportunity. We have incredible opportunities if we take the risk.
Terry
author of Book Proposals That $ell, 21 Secrets To Speed Your Success (Revised Edition) [Follow the Link for a FREE copy]
Thank you, Terry, for your insight about how our decision to risk -- to lean in and make that phone call or pitch that idea -- can make a difference in God opening a door of opportunity.
DeleteThank you, Beth, for your words of wisdom. Several years ago, after a long time of writing nonfiction for major and minor publishers, I took the risk of diving into the fiction-writing world. Fiction-writing had been a deep desire of mine for a good while, and I had a strong leading from the Lord to move in that direction.
ReplyDeleteSoon after I plunged into fiction-writing, a close writer friend of mine severely chastised me for sinking into the fiction-writing world. She said that my doing so was an affront to my "higher education" and a waste of my time.
Her words were a punch in the stomach.
I ran to the Lord for a confirmation of His will. He graciously reassured me that I was doing what He wanted by writing fiction and that I should continue along that path. Today, nine published novels and three published novellas later, I can say with certainty that I am writing what God has called me to write. I took the risk, and I've never looked back. Praise His Holy Name!
MaryAnn, thank you so much for sharing your story of daring to risk as you followed God's leading in your writing journey. It encouraged me so much -- and I know it will encourage others.
DeleteBeth, thank you for this beautiful post on taking a risk! I've been working on a book about our parish when I saw a call about a book team, so I took a risk to join them. As you can imagine, it's not easy collaborating with others when we all have different opinions, but I have even greater respect for everybody on the team and best of all, I get to hear all the little stories, miracles really!
ReplyDeleteVijaya, what a brave thing to do! Collaboration is such a risk -- and so worth it!
Deletethanks so much for the encouragement to keep on keepin' on!
ReplyDeleteSo glad you were encouraged to keep going, Laurie!
ReplyDelete