My first novel was rejected by over twenty publishers. This coincided with
me being made redundant from the management consultancy where I worked and getting unceremoniously dumped. Unable at the time to deal with the shame of rejection, every day, I put on a suit and pretended to go to work. I would end up at the library.
After many months of this “suit routine,” one day, I took out a blank sheet of paper and I filled it with a new narrative that went something like this…. “I am a bestselling novelist, my books are translated internationally, I write plays and films, I teach creativity……”
At first I laughed at the absurdity, audacity even, but every day, I continued writing out this narrative until it became real to me.
I went on to set up my own publishing company and PR company, hyped my rejected novel under an alias, got it into the book charts and signed a three-book deal with HarperCollins. Pru, my alter-ego was shortlisted as publicist of the year! I didn’t go to the award’s ceremony, fearing that if I won, I would have to thank the various parts of myself who were a joy (not) to work with. The publicist who won ended up being my publicist!
I completed my three novels and then set up my own consultancy taking creativity into organisations.
Then there was loss, an untidy mess and another ending. This particular ending felt so big that it required an audacious new beginning.
Having never acted before, I wrote and produced a one woman show. It was for me one of the scariest things I have ever done. It opened up a huge window and is currently being adapted for television. I wrote my fourth novel (currently going through the redirection process) and began teaching again (seems to be a constant) but this time, from a very different perspective.
Back to that list; all the things that I wrote on that blank sheet of paper have pretty much materialised. There has heart break and rejection along the way and for the purposes of this article, I have edited them out but I have felt them — deeply. But what I know is that where there is an ending, there is always the possibility of a new beginning.
So to the things I have learnt and would like to share:
1) The stories we tell ourselves are the most important.
2) At any point along a journey, we can change the narrative and tell a different story.
3) There are two things that are hugely underestimated
a. The power of intention
b. The imagination
4) Put endings to rest with whatever ritual they need so you can start again.
5) We are meaning making machines. X happened therefore x=y. NO! X could equal z or a, b, c or any other letter.
Choose the one that is the best for your spirit, the one that that will make it soar.
May your new beginnings be bold.