You know what I re-discovered after last month’s blog? Not only must we do the next thing to pursue the writing dream, sometimes that means jumping hurdles. Some large, some small.

My son Caleb is running track this year. Ask me about basketball and we can converse. Track? Not so much. Needless to say this Momma is learning a whole new sport. One of the races Caleb’s coach has him running hurdles is the 110m Hurdle race.

I was amazed to watch him jump the hurdles. The first miracle? That this chick has a son with legs long enough to run jump hurdles (I’m only 5’1″). He picked up speed and kept jumping them one after another. Some he sailed over, others he clipped.

It made me think about the writing journey. I want consistent victory–to sail effortless over every hurdle. Every. Time. But it doesn’t work that way. While parts of the writing journey, seem effortless. Others? It takes work and determination. For instance, editing was never my strong suit and it still isn’t. Those I tend to hit the hurdles on.

The important thing is to stay on track, focus and run your race. You probably won’t master every aspect of writing, especially if you’re like me, starting out. But you will eventually.

Here are three things to remind yourself of. They are simple, but necessary.

1. Write. You won’t be published if you haven’t written. Set aside time and write. Put it on your calendar. Close your door. Tape your door with Crime Scene tape. Hey, whatever it takes.

2. Try and try again. Finding time an issue? It’s the biggest hurdle for me. Keep trying until you find something that works. Remember there are different seasons in life. When my kids were little, I could only snatch pockets of time to read, much less pursue writing. My kids are now teenagers (and they are still needy) only now I can leave the house or threaten them with loss of limb aka taking their cell phone or car keys if they interrupt designated writing time. Determine your season and work with it.

3. Attitude. I ran across this by Goethe and pinned it on my desk as a reminder. It’s called, “I Am The Decisive Element”. Remember it’s you who chooses your attitude and you make  choices that not only affect you but others. It’s a quick read so I included it.

I Am The Decisive Element

I have come to the frightening conclusion that I am the decisive element. It is my personal approach that creates the climate. It is my daily mood that makes the weather. I possess tremendous power to make life miserable or joyous. I can be a tool of torture or an instrument of inspiration. I can humiliate or humor, hurt or heal. In all situations, it is my response that decides whether a crisis is escalated or de-escalated, and a person is humanized or de-humanized. If we treat people as they are, we make them worse. If we treat people as they ought to be, we help them become what they are capable of becoming.

How about you? What hurdles are you sailing over?