This is the front of a card that one of my dearest friends and critique partners gave me. I’m sharing the words ‘begin anyhow’ because I’ve been struggling to start a new project that’s been on my mind for a while. Lots of writers wrestle with hesitation and self-doubt but that doesn’t make it any easier to overcome. I keep tip-toeing around the idea, convincing myself it’s not worth the effort or the time, that it will surely come to nothing and perhaps I ought to be doing something more worthwhile, altruistic or at least useful with my time.
There is a lot happening in the world that needs time, attention and effort. I’m always wondering if writing is the best way to contribute something constructive or even necessary. The needs of the world are so great, especially now. But the more I think about it, the more I keep coming back to the idea that the world needs stories. People need stories to connect, to empathise, to understand, to question, to find a way though, to make change. Young readers, all readers, need stories that are authentic, that speak of human truth, of the things that help us make sense of it all and ultimately, act.
And so this month I will do my best to ‘begin anyhow’. To pay attention to what is happening in the news without being consumed by it. To do the work. To write a story that will speak to the power of hope, come what may.