I used to have this quote on my Instagram profile, back before you had to optimize your page and do all the right things to be “seen”. I’m not really sure where it came from – it’s was just something that made sense to me, a phrase that embodied how I thought people should be. At first glance, it seems very self-serving and kind of rude, but I promise you that wasn’t the intention. It was more a reminder to myself to live an authentic life, to take chances, to be brave and honest about who I am. Maybe we can’t embody those principles every day, but we can try. The more “you” you are, the happier you will be, and the more of yourself you’ll be able to give to others.
When I started writing my book, I wasn’t thinking about authenticity. I’d been working for years to get into the Local 706 makeup union in Los Angeles, and within a week of getting accepted, I was jetting off to New York on my first union job. It was such a high, I was in complete disbelief as my life changed overnight. Something about reaching that goal, having it catapult me into a whole new adventure, made me feel brave. It made me feel like I could do anything, and so, I did. I started outlining and writing a book.
A few things came together at the right time to help push me along. First of all, I was working on Becca Syme’s “Write Better Faster” course when all of this happened, so I already had writing on my mind. Her course is all about evaluating your personality (your strengths and weaknesses) to help you become a better, faster writer. To sum it up, her course gave me “permission” to throw away the traditional outline model of writing and just go for it. I’ve discovered a lot about my process by ditching that way of thinking, and I honestly think I’m a better writer for it.
In addition to her class, I was also living alone in a new city. My particular job had me on a shortened schedule, so I had plenty of time at night and in the mornings to write. During my time there, I zero drafted an entire book which, funny enough, isn’t even the book I’m publishing this year. BUT, I learned a lot, and I created something I was proud of and will probably come back to in the future.
Bottom line, that experience gave me the courage to write another story, and now I’m getting ready to launch my first book.
I’m not sure I would be doing this right now if things didn’t fall together the way that they did. I’m so very grateful for all of it.
But this isn’t happening just because I had a perfect storm of events. It’s happening because I want it to and I’m fighting every day to finish it.
I’m going to write and publish this book because I chose to live a life that embodies that message:
be selfish, be honest, be reckless
The bottom line is: if you want to do something, do it. Follow your gut and don’t look back.
Be sure to take chances, do things simply for your own happiness.
And remember to stay firm about the things that are important to you.
Thank you for being with me as finish my first book, this is a dream come true for me.
I hope it inspires you to push forward on your own goals and aspirations, big or small.
Lots of love – Megan