Opportunity

Opportunity is missed by most people because it is dressed in overalls and looks like work.
~Thomas Edison

You know the phrase “Opportunity knocks”?  Well, opportunity recently visited me.  At first I didn’t recognize it, like many of us fail to do.  Having just gotten done with a busy sewing schedule right before Christmas, I was looking forward to taking things a little easier, so I could focus on our wedding this summer.  So, when I was invited to write a blog twice a month for Writers Who Kill, the initial thought was “Will this be too much for me right now?”

A pessimist sees the difficulty in every opportunity; an optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty.
~Winston Churchill

After I let my inner worrywart run amok with thoughts of why I shouldn’t accept this opportunity, I discovered that underneath it, I was really excited about the prospect.  I’ve read the blogs on WWK (as it’s endearingly called) for a while now, and all of the bloggers are members of one of my writing groups, so I knew it was definitely an honor to be asked.  I was also told that they have a large following and that being part of a group blog can often get you more widely known; a strong incentive to an aspiring writer.

So, I asked many questions and thought about it over a couple of days.  I consulted Craig and my mom, to get their take on things.  Some moments I worried that it might be too much for me at this point in time, but other times I saw the many things I could learn from being a part of this group.

The first positive thing I saw, was that I wouldn’t be blogging by my lonesome.  At WWK, we’re encouraged to share our upcoming blogs with everyone, for any editorial tweaks; kind of like a critique group.  So, I’ll be able to grow as a writer based on the feedback they give me.

Another benefit is that I’ll be surrounding myself with people who are also working on careers in writing.  I believe that if you want to succeed at something, you need to be with others in the same field.  Many of my new blogging colleagues are published authors, and hopefully I’ll learn things from them through osmosis.  It will also be good experience for me to have to be accountable to someone other than myself.  This will help me when I get into the world of publishing and have more demanding deadlines to meet.

Seize every opportunity along the way, for how sad it would be if the road you chose became the road not taken.
~Robert Brault

After seeing the numerous pros to this undertaking, I ultimately accepted the invitation to be a part of their group.  In addition to the benefits I just described, I’m sure there are other things I’ll learn from this experience that I can’t even see yet.  Besides, I’d much rather take the leap and see what comes from it.

 

I will be posting there every other Wednesday, starting on January 18.  Since it’s only twice a month, I’ll be able to continue writing here, too.  At first, I wondered if I would be able to find enough things to write about, but since accepting the gig I’ve had a flurry of ideas race through my mind.  For now, at least, I’m good.  🙂