SPROUT: Grow Your Relationships

I love this month’s power word (okay, so I will probably say this about every power word), because it speaks to what I love most: people.

The comfort level varies for every writer on how much they share about the writing process with others. And when you get an agent or a publisher, so many of the details are confidential that sometimes it seems better to keep everything under wraps just to be safe. But for the aspiring writer, it’s a wonderful thing to hear from other writers about the process. The more the better, as no one person’s tale is the same as another’s. I will always be grateful to those writers who opened up and shared their journey with me. It made me feel more relaxed in a world that in the beginning felt like a pair of new shoes—pretty, but a little uncomfortable.

When I started writing seriously a couple years ago, I involved everyone I knew in the process. From my kids to my coworkers to my fellow Chicks (of course) to Twitter friends, at one time or another, everyone got to hear me complain about celebrate the sometimes wacky, sometimes wonderful, always wild world of writing and querying. Through writer’s block, query rejections, revisions – we were all in it together.

What this ultimately did was create a strong support system that has gotten me through both difficult and exciting times. These wonderful partners and friends celebrate, laugh, and commiserate with me. I can’t imagine this journey without them and will always be grateful.

So, if you’re comfortable with it, share some of your journey—both highs and lows—with friends and acquaintances. Let those relationships sprout and everyone will benefit.

On a related note, to celebrate this month’s power word, I spent two hours in my flowerbed tonight, planting. After lying here with sore arms, legs and back, I’ve decided gardening is overrated. I’ll stick to sprouting relationships instead.

SPROUT! Want to see humanity at its best? Watch a marathon!

“If you are losing faith in human nature, go out and watch a marathon.”
– Kathrine Switzer

So, you may be asking, what does this have to do with this month’s power word, SPROUT?

As a runner myself, after doing the Disney Marathon in January 2012, I had said that I will never do a marathon again.  Tuesday’s Boston Marathon bombing truly effected me.  I never have thought I would ever qualify to run the Boston Marathon and was not sure if I ever wanted to.

Then came this horrific event, which had me at questioning at first about the world we live in. But after reading all the stories of people coming together to help each other, I realized that is what gives me hope for humanity.

Yes, there will always be a rotted seed that sprouts up from the ground to cause damage to others, but it’s how we react to those situations and come together that will truly show who we are as human beings.

Are we scared? Yes, of course.  My husband said to me jokingly, “no more running events for you, my dear.”  It even crossed my mind.

But what the Boston Marathon proved is that when tragedy hits, we come together—stronger than ever.

So I will be training for the Boston Marathon. A few days ago, it wasn’t even in my bucket list of things to do.  But now I’m more committed to doing it, because I will never let fear or someone else take my freedom away.

SPROUT! Reach For the Sun

I struggled with the word SPROUT! for a while.  What does it mean to me as an artist? And as an action?

Initially, I felt as though once I’ve planted the seeds and given them nourishment, all I can do is watch them grow.  But that’s passive. There’s no power in that.  Then…I thought of myself as the SPROUT! instead of the gardener.

Glysiak 25 Sept 11 CCA-SA

What would I do if I were sprouting?  Why, I’d reach for the sun.  With each tendril unfurling, I’d reveal new parts of myself.  Pushing and stretching and striving toward the light.  Bringing forth something that did not exist in the world before.  So, that is what I am doing this month.

I’ve pushed myself in both my young adult and middle grade novels, writing new scenes, discovering new traits within my characters and getting words down on the page that bring my stories closer and closer to the light of day. And I will keep pushing, keep writing, keep reaching, keep sprouting.

What will unfold this month when you SPROUT?

April Power Word: SPROUT!

The spring weather is gorgeous, you’ve done some digging, and now it’s time for the seeds of your creativity to sprout! This might represent the project that you’ve started that begins taking on a life of its own. It could mean that you’ve outlined your book and are now ready to jump in and start writing. It could also be a sign for you to start reaching out to form new relationships that will fertilize your creativity.

Whatever SPROUT means to you, just remember to keep the weeds out. You know who/what they are. 😉

I look forward to seeing what my Chicks…and you…are growing this month!