New York Times Best Selling Author, HAYWOOD SMITH
The Secrets We Keep From Ourselves
When I was forty and run out of the real estate business because of the S&L crisis, I called my friend Carolyn and wailed, “What can I do? I have no college degree, so I can’t even get a job selling computers. My arthritis is so bad I can’t be a greeter at Walmart for the benefits, and I’m so numerically challenged, I can’t even check groceries at Kroger.
Her responce was , “If somebody told you you were going to die in two years, what would you do?”
Before I could even think, I heard my voice say, “I’d write a book and try to get it published.” And suddenly, i knew what I wanted to be: a published author. Amazing, the secrets we keep from ourselves.
She chuckled, then asked gently, “Why are you waiting for a death sentence?”
So that day, I decided to become a writer–full-time, full speed ahead. I loved historical novels, so I decided to write one. I tried to get it published, but nobody wanted a straight historical with no love scenes. So I joined Georgia Romance writers and spent the next seven years learning and doing seven major rewrites, and then having to cut 55,000 words from the finished product. But that book became my first published novel, nominated for four national awards and winning one. Stubborn did that for me, plus a willingness to learn through all those rewrites.
Haywood
Great post – and it’s funny how we can, as you say, keep secrets from ourselves. I think I always wanted to be a writer, I certainly wrote stories from a young age, but I also loved horses and my ambition to own my own horse took me five years to achieve after leaving school and starting work. During the next several years got married, bred a foal from my mare and broke her to saddle a few years later, and did endurance riding. All the time my first novel languished in my bottom drawer, neglected. It took a long time for me to realise I wanted to be a writer, and learn to combine my love of horses with my love of writing.
Thank you for such an inspirational post, I’m sure it will encourage anyone who isn’t sure if they should invest their time in a novel to ‘bite the bullet’ if they really want to write.
Very inspiring story! Thanks for sharing.
Love the message. Thank you.
What a great story and I love the hat! Striking. I posted on fb and twitter. Hope it helps. And thank you Casi for featuring us this month and next.
Note to you all from Haywood:
Thanks to all for your kind words. Perseverance is the good side of the stubborn coin. Once you know what your dream is, make plans to follow it as much as you can. Most of the writers I know carved out whatever time they could while still working and taking care of kids. Writers write. Even one page a day done at six in the morning yields a book in a year.
So don’t wait to start. I have written through the many crises of my life, and the cool thing is, my stories have given me insight and gratitude.
Also, joining legitimate writers’ groups where you can interact with professional writers will give you a huge leg up.
Wish you all the best. Haywood
Haywood, congrats on your success! I’m inspired.
Inspiration comes from everywhere! Congrats,Haywood, on going with yours!
Great post. I always enjoy inspiration stories. Thanks for sharing.
What an inspiring story, Haywood! I love what your friend said that kick-started your career. Congrats on your success.
Why wait for a death sentence, indeed. Having taken numerous creative writing classes in college, I didn’t even try to get a novel published until I was in my 60s. Too often we wait for life to throw us a curve ball before taking to the field.
A very inspiring story, Haywood. Not everybody has the determination and plain old stick-to-it tenacity that you’ve shown. Congratulations!
Loved your story, Haywood, and your tenaciousness. Perseverance pays off! Congratulations on your success.
What an inspiring story. Thank you for sharing!
What an inspiring story! Thank you for sharing.
Great story, Hawyood. I wish you all the success. Thanks for sharing!
Hooray for Haywood. She obviously has talent, but the key is the determination. I know several very talented writers who participate around the edges of writing, but get little of the work done. It takes “must do” or “want to” to get it done. I don’t expect to boost our retirement income by enough to make a difference, and might wind up living under a bridge or in a big box in the woods. God forbid. But I am going to write as long as I have the fortitude for it.
I love your attitude. It’s always great hearing how people go after what they want. Thanks for sharing your story.
Haywood, A combination of talent like yours and sheer, female stubborn intention can never be beat! Thanks for the inspiration.
Haywood your life story is very inspirational. So glad you became a writer. Congrats on your accomplishments.
I wonder if I’d have had the same answer! I know the first thing I’d do is figure out how I could quit my job and still live and do the things I wanted to do! 🙂
What a wonderful inspirational post!
I love inspirational stories like that. Thanks for sharing.
Haywood, you’re not only a wonderful author, you are an amazing person and mentor! Thank God for your tenacity and willingness to help new authors.
Love your story Haywood. You are an inspiration to both published authors and those who are inspiring to become writers. I can’t wait to read your book.
The rest of us are lucky you gave up real estate! Thanks for sharing, and glad you never gave up on your dream!
Your story is very inrpiring, Haywood. Congratulations on all your success.