6/10/2024 — Happy almost-summer! I’m currently in the process of moving, and—like every other time I’ve moved—I’m feeling nostalgic. I love my room messy and scattered with all the things I forgot I had. If you were to look in on me “packing”, I just might be wearing a cowgirl hat wrapped in my great-grandmother’s shawl while rereading pen pal letters from middle school. Moving brings up so many memories and objects from the past, so today’s email is going to be a letter to my past author self.
Dear Abby/Gail/Abigail,
Hello from the future! To start, I want to let you know that you have not been swept into a fairy portal and transported to a fantasy land… although you still do wish for this to happen. Life is different than you’d expect, but not bad. You’re getting close to publishing your first novel, and I am so proud of you. Me. Us.
I know that at this point in life you refuse to call yourself an author, or even a writer. You are simply “a girl who likes writing”. I know that you don’t feel like you’ve accomplished enough to give yourself those labels. I want you to have them anyway because you are an author when you put your pen to paper. You are a writer when you create characters in your mind. Whether you are great at writing or have published anything does not define that piece of yourself. You are an author whose writing journey will become one of the most fulfilling aspects of your life.
Your love of writing and reading will connect you to some amazing people who will be supports and sources of joy for the rest of your life. Lean into it! Don’t be ashamed of the fantasy shows and the paranormal books you enjoy because you will run into others who share that. Embrace it all. The experiences with the people around you and the things that you love will be foundational on the path towards publishing your novels.
I won’t lie to you… it may take a while to reach those goals. That’s okay! You have a story to tell, and you want it to be ready when you share it with the world. Whatever you do, keep writing a little story about a princess named Carina.
Don’t stop dreaming,
You/Me/Us
I hope this little email made you think back to how far you have come in reaching your own goals. Give yourself a hug and celebrate yourself!
Much love and happy reading,
Gail ❤
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