Redefining Success // Teen Writers’ Rally FINAL Post
Heya, TWNers! Wow, I can’t believe that this is the last post in our Teen Writers’ Rally. The last two weeks have just flown by!! So because of that I have a couple of things I need to go over!
- If you’ve been following us every day, you may have noticed that we didn’t get a post yesterday. We apologize that we didn’t have Melanie Cellier’s interview yesterday. She has been very busy, and so the interview will be delayed. But we will be getting that to you as soon as we can, though I can’t say exactly when as of right now. Thank you for your patience and understanding.
- Entries for the giveaway will be closing soon as we reach the end of the rally. If you haven’t entered or want to get in your extra entries, you have until midnight EST tonight to comment and answer the giveaway question for it to count as an entry. However, because this post is going up late, for THIS post only, you have until tomorrow night, Sunday Nov. 6, midnight EST, for your comment on this post to count as the entry. So if you want in on a pretty awesome giveaway, now’s the time to catch up on posts!!! To enter the giveaway for this post, make sure to comment afterwards and let me know: What’s your greatest writing goal?
- The winners, who will be chosen at random drawing, to the giveaway will be announced at the beginning of TWN’s next post, Friday, Nov. 11th, and will the be notified via the email you comment under. Winners will have 48 hours to claim their prize. Three winners will be chosen.
- I want to say a THANK YOU for joining us in this first ever rally!!! Y’all, you guys just made this far better than I was anticipating!!! The response was wild, and I cannot say a thank you enough for coming alongside, joining the rally, and for all the support you give to this site. I truly believe TWNers are the best community of writers out there!!!! *high fives all around* And because of y’all’s excitement and support, I am SO thrilled to announce, that I do plan to do this again in the next Preptober season!
- I know I’m slightly behind on comments, but I plan to have them all up by the end of this weekend. Thank you. =)
Well, like all good things, there comes the time of its end. You guys have truly made this the best writers’ rally EVER, and I have enjoyed reading y’all’s comments and spending this time with you. If you are doing NaNoWriMo, I want to wish you the best of luck!!! If you found us during the rally, I want to extend a personal invitation for you to join the TWN community. The posts these last two weeks is just a glimpse of the support, encouragement, and advice we give here for writers, whether you’re young in age or in heart. We post every Friday (at least, we try to) with a new writing post, and we encourage you to subscribe to Teen Writers’ Nook via email to receive a notification for ever new!!! (Form can be found to the right if on a computer or at the bottom of the page if on a mobile device.)
Alright, though the rally is drawing to a close, it’s not over yet! I have one more post to give y’all, so enough announcements, let’s jump right on in!!!
Dearest reader,
When we think of a writer’s success, we’re usually picturing Shannon Messenger’s Keeper of the Lost Cities series or the extraordinary movie adaptations of J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings. If you’re like me, you’re really just thinking about all the amazing books on your shelves and the gifted writers who created them, but that didn’t sound as awesome for the opening of the post.
Either way, our idea of success, if we’re being real with ourselves, is never something we can hope to achieve. But still we dream. If I can just get publish… if I can just be a bestseller… if my book can just win an award… if it can just get a movie adaptation, then maybe I’ll be a great author. Maybe, just maybe, I can defeat every lie of this “starving artist” idea and be successful. Deep down, I am sure none of us have ever lived a moment when this thought hasn’t at least crossed our mind. Isn’t that what all artists want? But what if we’ve been thinking about this all wrong?
What if, you’re already a successful author right now?
I know what you’re thinking. Um, Issabelle, this is just going to be one of those cliche posts about chasing after your heart’s dreams and you can do anything you set your mind to. Blah, blah, blah. We’ve been there and heard it all, and the problem is, those words might sound nice, but we can’t chase the thoughts of what if they aren’t true? What if it just doesn’t matter? What if I’m wasting my time?
I know, because I’ve heard every doubt. I’ve believed every doubt. And I let every doubt stop me. But you know what? This is my declaration to say no more, and I hope, dear readers, that it will be yours, too. Because this is the thing, that doubt is only as true as you allow it to be.
Let me back up.
Hi, readers. I’m Issabelle Perry. If you’ve been following me for a while, you probably know all about my chocolate-obsession, prone to insanity, and exclamation mark overuse. If you haven’t, count yourself as one of the blessed. I’m a historical fiction novelist, a co-editor of two anthologies, a college student, a blogger, and usually known for my work done here at Teen Writers’ Nook. Oh and a Skillet Panhead, but that’s a topic for another time. But most of all, I’m a writer just like you. I’m still trying to figure out my way in the world, I’m still searching for the path my writing journey will lead to, and most of all, I’m a girl who at 12 years old had completed her first novel with big dreams and even bigger plans to accomplish them. And then I learned how hard writing is. Then I realized how hard publishing is. And then I determined it was just easier if I gave up right now and go back to when my only problems was trying to remember how to spell “decide.”
Long story short, it took over five years and nearly five novels later before I realized that I was chasing my writing dreams the wrong way this whole time. Reader, you don’t have to have all your dreams figured out right now. You’re allowed to change your genre, try out new styles, write a couple of short stories if 50K is too daunting of a number. You’re allowed to mess up.
You’re allowed to fail.
See, I’ve had in my mind every year since I finally took my writing seriously at 15 years old, that there was no room for failure. If I mess up just once, that’s it. I’m done, my writing career is over, and I will never be that “successful author.” And because I set unrealistic expectations on myself, it wasn’t long before I became highly discouraged.
You know what our problem is, dear reader? Our problems is that we’re comparing ourselves to our favorite authors. We’re taking our messy first drafts and trying to match them up to a completed and polished published novel! We’re taking the first steps of our journey and comparing it to our favorite author’s final steps. We’re too busy trying to be a completely different author, that we’ve forgotten to just be a writer. And we do this in different ways. We’re either aiming for perfection that we never give ourselves room to grow. Or we’re so caught up in the writing standard and rules that we never let ourselves create a masterpiece outside of the lines. We’re too focused on moving forward, we miss the view of where we are right now.
I am here to take that pressure off you. Right here, right now. Because somewhere along the way, we forgot that this was supposed to fun. This was supposed to be our writing, not the publishing industry. It was supposed to tell the story we had on our heart to create, not the one that is the easiest to sell and market. Earlier this year, I almost stopped writing. I had grown so unsatisfied with the work I was creating, that the idea of just walking away from it all grew so tempting to where I nearly did just that. I actually told Kat I was done with writing for good. And you know why? I was so caught up in trying to write a book I could sell to a publisher, a book an agent would want to represent, that writing was something I hated, not enjoyed. It was all about pleasing the audience, and not the desire to create this tale. It was about being “successful” that the stories I wrote, yeah, they might’ve been marketable books, but they didn’t have any meaning. They weren’t real, because they didn’t have a piece of my heart embedded within, like all good stories do.
So I stopped writing. For almost a full month.
And then it happened. This new story idea hit, and I immediately rejected it. It was a new genre, a new style, it wasn’t a story anyone would ever want to read. It wasn’t a unique idea or an outstanding tale. But I couldn’t help it. My heart was quickly falling in love, and there was no hope to ever forget about it. For the first time in years, I had to write this story, and I knew since I could never sell it, I would only write it for myself. That story became Project: Defender (real title to be revealed).
We would be here forever if I began to tell you half of what has happened for the rest of the year, but to sum it up, I found my center again. I rekindled my love for writing. I wrote the book I wanted to write, the book I needed to read, and I intend to sell this book to a publisher. I intend for it to sit on bookstore’s shelves and be read by hundreds of readers. Yes, that dream sounds outlandish, but it’s no longer a dream. It is my goal. Because this is the story of my heart, and I have to share it. And you know what? Those are the stories worth writing and sharing to the world.
I will let you in on a secret. That day when I chose to write Project: Defender. That day, I became a successful author.
You’re probably scratching your head right now. I know you are, dear reader. You’re thinking, Issabelle, you’re not a successful author. You haven’t even sold this novel, much less made thousands of bucks from it! Successful? Yeah, right.
In the rest of the world’s eyes, you’re absolutely right. I am not successful. But I’m redefining success because, reader, it’s not about the money or the fame or just feeling good. It’s not about having that number one fan or even to get to hold the book you have given all your blood, sweat, and tears for. It’s about writing the story God has given you, it’s about pushing through every long and hard night. It’s about telling that story you don’t want to write, the one you’re afraid to create because you will bleed so much of your heart onto the pages, that every rejection will cut deeper than a blade ever could. It’s about stepping out of this tiny comfort box we’ve built for ourselves, and writing a book that is hard. One that doesn’t fit the standards and will challenge the world to see life differently.
A book that is bold, courage, and unashamed of the God you write for.
I became a successful author, because the day I decided to write Project: Defender, I knew that I couldn’t do it on my own. I was not qualified to write such a story, so completely different from anything I had ever written before. I was scared, worried, that’s why I didn’t say a word about this WIP here until four(ish) months after I had finished the first draft and was nearly finished with the second. But I gave the book, this crazy story, to God, and I realized that I had gotten so caught up in writing a book worthy to sell, I forgot Who I was writing for. Whether your a Christian or not, if you forget the center, the foundation, the reason why you’re writing this book, then you must find your way back, because without that foundation, why are you even here? Why are you even reading this or doing NaNoWriMo or writing a novel? Why, dear reader?
Find your purpose. Write the story on your heart. And you will be more than just a successful author. You will be the author you were always meant to become.
I challenge you right here to write that story you’re scared to write or take that next step you’re terrified to do. I challenge you the same time I’m challenging myself, because the next steps for me to take are very scary ones for me. But they’re the ones worth taking.
So, dear reader, pick up your pen. Open your computer. Flip through that notebook. Write that next word. And know no matter what you feel like or the world says, right now, I see you as a successful author. Which means you have only one choice:
Keep writing.
Sincerely,
A Fellow Novelist
Issabelle Perry
Issabelle Perry is a proud Jesus follower, an extroverted writer, and a homeschool graduate. When she's not writing, you can find her reading, jamming to Skillet, studying history, hunting for Narnia in wardrobes, or envisioning herself wielding a magnificent sword (but due to her clumsiness, let’s hope that never happens). This self-proclaimed exclamation mark enthusiast can be found hanging out at Teen Writers’ Nook, a community of teen authors Issabelle co-founded in 2020. She is the author of Don't Let Me Go (Sky's the Limit Press 2024), May We Make Them Proud (2023), and a co-editor for two anthologies. What she’s probably doing right now is fangirling about her favorite books to random people or scanning the pantries for chocolate.
42 Comments
Katja Labonté
Girl, this post is “the bomb dot com,” to quote Livy Jarmusch. Well said. Well said.
My greatest writing goal is to write what God lays on my heart. Whether the words are for me or for others. If He uses them in some way, that’s all that counts. Even if it’s just one person. <3
Issabelle Perry
AWWWWWWW KATJA THANK YOU SO MUCH. Like, truly, SO much. That just means so much to me!!!!
Girl, I LOVE this writing goal!! Simply beautiful!!! And I just know that He’s gonna use you, because all God needs is a willing heart, and He works amazing wonders through people just like you!!! Keep writing for Jesus, sister!!! He’s got a purpose for your stories!
Gemma
Such an amazing, inspiring, and extremely supportive post! I absolutely love it!
I am so glad you decided to continue writing. You are truly inspired. Don’t ever give up on it because it is really an amazing talent you have. Not many people even can get the guts to write something down let alone be willing to share it with the world. The fact that you’re willing to take that leap automatically makes you a successful author.
My greatest goal is to get my books out there. Regardless of the way I publish them. Because knowing they’re out there is enough for me.
Keep Writing. That’s all that really matters.
Issabelle Perry
AWWWW GEMMA YOU PRECIOUS SOUL. THANK YOU SOOOOO MUCH!!!!!!! I am smiling SO hard over here!!!! Yes, I’m glad I continued writing too. I mean, I think I would go crazy with all these story ideas and be unable to write them. D’aww, sister, you are so sweet. THANK YOU!!!! And I won’t give up! Or at least, I will try very hard not to for you!!! Amen to that. You are SO right, Gemma! Awwww, seriously, Gemma, this comment was just what I needed. THANK YOU SO MUCH!!!!!
Girl, that is an AMAZING goal, and I wish you the best with it!!! You’re gonna do great things with your writing! I just know it!!! Cheering you on all the way!!!
Yes, same back at you sister! THANK YOU!!!!!
Gemma
Whenever you need encouragement I’m alway there. 🙂 I’m glad if my words helped at all.
Thank you! Your encouragement was very much needed.
Issabelle Perry
Awww, girl, you are the sweetest. Thank you SO much, and I shall definitely take you up on that offer sometime. <3333333
You're welcome!!! Aww, I am SO thrilled to hear that. <333 *hugs*
Mary
Wow.
In a lot of these posts I’ve generally found a few sentences that have hit me hard.
But, like, every sentence in this post was impactful for me.
…I just sat here for 3 minutes trying to think of something better to say, but I seriously can’t. You’ve blown me away, Issabelle!
…I guess I’ll just answer the question haha. My greatest writing goal is to read my novel. I want to sit down and read it, knowing that everything I’ve plotted out is put in there – a strong plot, impactful characters, woven in themes, etc. In that goal I’ve always just imagined myself sitting down with a printed-out copy of my novel, not even a published copy. I just want to see and feel all the years of work in my hands in my own writing and font; words I’ve fought to write down all on the page.
Yeah, that’s my goal 😉
Issabelle Perry
Awww, Mary, THANK YOU SO MUCH!!!!!! I am SO glad to hear that it was impactful for you!!! That is just what I was hoping for!
Hahaha, wow, I’ve made ya speechless!!!! I’m seriously impressed. XD I didn’t think it was *that* good. THANK YOU SO MUCH!!!!! *beams*
Hahaha, sounds great!! AWWWW, Mary, girl, I LOVE THAT GOAL LIKE SO MUCH. It is amazing, and I do hope one day you’re able to complete it. I just know you will!!! *waves pom poms and cheers you on* GO MARY GO!!!!!! And let me tell you, that feeling of holding your work in your hands and reading it, is one of the greatest feelings ever and you don’t want to miss it. So keep writing and never give up on your dreams and goals!!! YOU’VE GOT THIS!!!!!!!
Vanessa Hall
Yes, girl, this is so true!! I love this – and I can’t wait to watch the future of Project: Defender!! 🙂
Issabelle Perry
Awwww, girl, you’re making me smile SO hard right now. THANK YOU SO MUCH VANESSA!!!!!!!!! Awww, I think Project: Defender will have a very interesting future, if not at least an exciting one. XD THANK YOU, sister!!!
Grace A. Johnson
WHOO GIRL! YOU ARE ON FIRE!! This post is PURE GOLD!!! Thank you SOOO much for sharing, twin sister o’ mine!!! <33333
And for the record…DON'T YOU DIS PROJECT: DEFENDER!!!!! THAT BOOK IS ABSOLUTELY FABULOUS, PEOPLE ARE GONNA LOVE IT, IT'LL PROBABLY BECOME A MOVIE…I MEAN. C'MON. IT IS AH-MAY-ZING. I literally don't have words. *now begins to consider how she's gonna write her testimonial for it when Is publishes it…*
Anyway. Be nice. It's a very worthy novel. 😉
Issabelle Perry
AWWWWWWW GRACIE I AM JUST MELTING IN A PUDDLE OF HAPPINESS OVER HERE. THANK YOU SOOOOOOOOOOOOO MUCH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Girl, you are SO welcome, twin sister! Thank YOU for reading!!!!
Aaaaaah well, I sadly can’t make any promises but how about I SHALL TRY MY ABSOLUTE HARDEST TO MAKE SURE THIS BOOK GETS OUT THERE SOMEHOW???!!! Does that work? XD LOL. A movie…? hmmm. *starts picturing my book on the big screen* *pauses* Nope, can’t picture it. XD I can barely see it as a physical book in my hands BUT the fact that you have that much faith in it means SO much to me and I cannot say enough thank yous!!!!!!!! THANK YOU A HUNDRED TIMES OVER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Aaaah *bounces with excitement thinking about what Grace’s testimonial will be when it is published*
Hahaha, I shall try. XD THANK YOU!
Grace A. Johnson
AWWW GIRL YOU ARE SOOOOOOOOOO WELCOME!!!!!!!!! IT’S MY PLEASURE!!!!! <33333333333
Well, I guess that'll have to do. XDDD WHAAAAAAA???? GIRL I CAN TOTALLY SEE IT!!! WE NEED TO START CASTING PRONTO!!! AHHH OMGOSH I CAN'T WAIT TO HOLD IT IN MY HANDS!!! Do you have any ideas for the cover??? OH WAIT I DOOOOOO!!!! PSH GIRL YOU ARE SO WELCOME!!!!
Yay! Haha, of course, sis! <33333333333333333
And since I forgot to say it my previous comment, THIS RALLY HAS BEEN POSITIVELY WONDERIFICAL!!! I AM HONORED TO HAVE BEEN A PART!!!!!!!!! THANK ALL Y'ALL FOR PUTTING THIS TOGETHER!!!! <3333
Issabelle Perry
<3333333333333333333333333
Good cuz it's all ya gettin' sister. XD YOU CAN???? I was trying to picture actors and actresses but I think I'm too picky because I found something wrong with all the people I thought about. XD EEEEEK I KNOW RIGHT. Ah, just thinking about that... *gets all giddy* I DO. It's like a super rambling explanation that involves images and examples for explanation, so I'll have to explain the cover idea in Chat or something. XD I am very through when it comes to this stuff, you know. XD OOO WHAT IS IT????? I AM SO CURIOUS NOW.
AWWWW GIRL THAT JUST MEANS BEYOND WORDS THAT YOU THINK SO SO THANK YOU SO SOSOSOSOSOSOSOSO MUCH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I AM SO HONORED TO HAVE YOU A PART OF IT. Your post for the rally was just *chef's kiss* perfection!!!!!!! YOU ARE SOOO WELCOME. Thank YOU for everything, sister!!!! <333333333333
Grace A. Johnson
<3333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333
PSH YES OF COURSE!!!!! Ahhhh, I totally get it. OOOH I VWANT TO KNOW!! I VWANT TO KNOW!!!! Um. I kinda forgot??? Oops. I'll definitely let you know if/when I remember! XD
YOU ARE SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO WELCOME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Awwww, thank you so much, sis!!!! I am SOOOOOO glad you liked it!!!!!!!!!!! MY PLEASURE!!! <333333333333333333
Issabelle Perry
Hahaha I like totally forgot whatever we were talking about and what you forgot, but if you do remember it, YOU MUST LET ME KNOW!!!!!!!!!
You’re SO welcome!!!! I really need to start replying to comments MUCH sooner than I do. XD I’ll put that as one of my new year’s resolutions. XD
Emma
*blinks back tears*
This…this was beautiful, sister. <333 I don't really know what else to say except that this was the encouragement and advice that I needed to hear today. This post is what every writer needs to hear. Redefining Success…I love that. <333
It's crazy lol, cause this post reminded me of a school paper I wrote a few months ago. In that paper, I actually ended up talking about writing goals and what my version of a successful writer is. And from looking at that paper again just now, I found my answer to the question of what my greatest writing goal is. I said that "I desire to write books teeming with hope and light to positively impact, encourage, and embolden readers." Yes, it would be amazing to finish lots of novels and try to publish some, but for me, I want to write a book that comes from my heart and shows the Light of Jesus. I want to write, like you said, a book that is bold, courage, and unashamed of the God you write for. Now, I still got goals of developing my writing craft more, finishing drafts and getting beta readers lol, but none of that is worth it unless that story really comes from inside of me and that it has an actual purpose and need to be written. I want to enjoy the process of writing and have fun and come out with something beautiful. I guess I'm kinda rambling now lol, but this post really helped me remember about why I write. So thank you for sharing, sister. It was the perfect post to wrap up the rally with. <3
Issabelle Perry
*sends tissues*
AWWWW, girl, I don’t even know what to say but THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU!!!!!!!!!! I am SO glad that the post could be of some encouragement to you!!!! That is more than enough for me!!!
Aaaah, girl, that is AWESOME. I love that!!!! That paper sounds like such a fun paper to write!!! Girl, like, is it even possible to express how much I love this goal? JUST YES YES YES!!!!!!! Girl, that is the most beautiful and precious goal ever! And I just KNOW with absolute certainty that you are gonna be able to make it to that goal!!! All God asks is for a willing heart and to trust as He works all the specific details out. He’s got you and He’s got your stories! Never forget that, sister! That’s awesome that you still want to make the book the best it can be, but like you said, if isn’t first about Jesus, it doesn’t matter. None of it. Girl, you have such a precious soul!!! You’re inspiring! Girl, I know you’re gonna do just that!!! GO EMMA!!!!! I am cheering you on!!!! Nooo I love the rambling! Rambling and long comments are both allowed and encouraged here. XD Aw, you’re so very welcome. Thank YOU for reading!!!! It truly means a lot to me!
Rylie
Awww Issy, I love this SO MUCH *hugs* I’m SUPER glad you found your story and your story’s purpose! This post was very encouraging, and hey, you can also read it as finding purpose in our own lives and stories. My biggest goal is just to finish a novel. Once I do that I may have more goals but ya know for know, it’s finishing a novel. XD And I’ve told you this and i’ll tell you again, DEFENDER IS AWESOME. XD You found your purpose and in doing so, you’ve already given people an amazing and encouraging story! <3333 These last few weeks were INCREDIBLE! Thank y'all!! *hugs*
Issabelle Perry
AWWW RYLIE THANK YOU SO MUCH. I am like beyond happy that you loved it. *squeezes* Awww THANK YOU!!!!!! Just seriously. You have no idea how hard I am smiling over here!!!! YAAAY!!!! I am SO glad it was encouraging!!! YES, that is SO right. It has like a double meaning. XD Two posts in one. XD Girl, I think that is an awesome goal!!! I love how you’re just focusing your sights on the next step instead of big, huge goals in the future. That is awesome! YOU CAN FINISH A NOVEL. I BELIEVE IN YOU!!!!! *waves pom poms and cheers you on* THANK YOU A THOUSAND TIMES OVER!!!!!!! Girl, you are so sweet. I just needed to hear that today. THANK YOU!!!!!!!!! WOHOOOO!!! I AM SO HAPPY YOU LOVED IT. I had SUCh a blast with this rally! We are definitely doing it again! *hugs back* You’re welcome! Thank YOU!
RJ
This was so encouraging and inspiring! I totally agree—I’ve been setting my sights too much on how to *successfully* publish my WIP without focusing on the actual writing of it! Thank you!
Issabelle Perry
Awwww thank you SOOOOO much, RJ!!!! I am SO happy that you loved it!!!!! It just means SO SO much to me!!! Ah, you are so not alone. I have been there, and still sometimes get so caught up in publishing, I forget about taking the time to make my novel the best it can be!!! But you’ve got this and I’m cheering you on all the way!!! GO RJ!!!! *waves pom poms* You’re welcome! Thank YOU for reading!
Saraina
*cries* *REALLY cries* IZZY. That just spoke to my soul!!! It was so encouraging and powerful and just, ahhh!! THANK YOU FOR SHARING THIS!!!! <3333 You really ended this rally with a bang!! *winks* To answer the question, my greatest writing goal at the moment is to publish my WIP and see it really affect readers (strengthen their faith, give them hope, etc.).
Issabelle Perry
*sends lotsa tissues* *hugs* SARAINA. GIRL YOU ARE SO SWEET. THANK YOU SO MUCH!!!!! I was just really hoping this post would be an encouragement! I am smiling so hard over here!!!!! YOU ARE SO WELCOME. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR READING!!!!!! Aaaaah, I am SO glad you think so. that was the plan. *winks back* Girl, I think that is an AWESOME writing goal and I have no doubt you’ll accomplish it. You’ve got this, sister!!!!!!!
Joy C. Woodbury
Issabelle, this was such an inspirational post. SO glad you didn’t give up, girl, because the world needs your beautiful stories and the beautiful heart that lives within them. <3
And THIS line – "It’s about telling that story you don’t want to write, the one you’re afraid to create because you will bleed so much of your heart onto the pages" – I feel that. So. Hard. Thanks for giving voice to so many things that so many of your fellow writers feel but are unable to express so eloquently! XD
My greatest writing goal is to get to the point where I'm able to write and publish 2-3 books per year.
Issabelle Perry
D’awwww, girl, you are SO sweet. THANK YOU SO MUCH!!!!!! I am just SO happy to hear that!!!! Awwww, THANK YOU SOOO MUCH!!!!!!! Seriously, a thousand thank yous. <3333333
Aaah, girl, that is AWESOME. Those stories are the best and most impactful to both author and reader alike!!! Awww, girl, you're so welcome!!!! And, hey, I'm just glad my rambling mess is seen as being expressed eloquently. That just means a lot!!!!
YES!!! That is FANTASTIC writing goal, and I have no doubt you'll be able to accomplish it!!! YOU GO SISTER!!!!!! *waves pom poms and cheers you on*
Lorelei Angelino
*hugs* *can’t think of anything to say because this was just so beautiful that now I’m speechless, so just hugs* <333
Issabelle Perry
*hugs back* *is so, so happy that you loved reading this post* THANK YOU SOOO MUCH LORELEI!!!!!!!!
Mary McMinn
My biggest writing dream would definitely have to be to just get published. I am working on a novella through NaNoWriMo and if I can get that done it will accomplish more than I ever thought possible for a 13-year-old. Thank You Soooo Much!
Issabelle Perry
YESSS!!!!! Girl, that is my writing dream, too!!! Hopefully one day we will have both accomplished it!!! I know you can do it!!! OOOOO a novella is a great story to write!!!! YESSS I KNOW YOU CAN GET IT DONE. I BELIEVE IN YOU!!!! GO MARY!!!!!! You’ve got this!!!!! *waves pom poms and cheers you on* YES!!!! 13-year-olds can do so much more than anyone gives them credit for. ;P You are SO welcome. Thank YOU!!!
Corrie.S.P
When I think of successful great authors my mind skips to Agatha Christie😂
I guess I had better stop trying to check every little thing in my book and just write!😁 I will give it a shot and see how it goes!
What ever happened to HTHC? I know I got wayyy, (WAYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY) behind on beta reading it and partly because I got busy with life. But I have not seen you mention it in a while.
What’s your greatest writing goal? I just hope my writing can impact someone for God’s Glory and the message of Christ.
Issabelle Perry
Hahaha, I still need to read Agatha Christie. XDD YESSSSS!!!!!!!! There’s always time to edit a book later. Your first draft is more about just actually getting words down!!! Something that dramatically transformed my whole writing life was this quote: “You can edit a bad page, you can’t edit a blank page.” YES YOU’VE GOT THIS!!!!!!
HTHC? Heheh… *awkward cough* Yeah, that book is toast at this point. XD I decided HTHC wasn’t the book I was meant to publish, so sadly, we had to part ways. Aw, girl, that’s totally okay. I completely understand. <33333 Sadly, HTHC just wasn't *that* book for me. Some of the hardest things in writing is when you have to part from a project you love, but sometimes you just have to do it because there's an even better project waiting for you.
Awwww, girl, I think that goal is so beautiful and precious. I LOVE THAT. You keep writing for Jesus because I know He's gonna remember this goal and do something awesome through your writing!!! I believe it!!! Cheering you on, sister!!!
Corrie.S.P
Nope, them blank pages aren’t gonna edit themselves!😉
LE GASP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Toast!!? Ahhhhhhhhhh!!! 😱
I suppose you are right, I hope you have lots of good ideas in the making! Ya never know either, you may decide to redo it one day.
Hey, at least I got to beta read 11 chapters! I did also look up that “frytour blanched” food that you mentioned in the book. I am going to try to make it.
Thanks!! Also, I sent you an email about The False Prince.
Issabelle Perry
That’s exactly right. XD
Hehehehe!!!
YES!!! Awww THANK YOU!!!! I have been working on several new projects that I am just giddy with excitement over and hope to share with you all one day!!! *crosses fingers* Yep, coming back to the story and redoing it is definitely something I would be open to considering one day in the future. You never know. 😉
Hahaha hopefully those were 11 AWESOME chapters!!! OOOOOOOO girl that is AWESOME!!! If you make it, I want pictures and you must let me know what you thought of them!!! I’ve actually never tried it myself, surprisingly. ;P
You’re welcome!! Yes, I received it!! It’s one my list of things to get done within the next week or two. 😉
Lillian Keith
Eek! What a fun rally. Thanks so much, Issabelle, to you and TWN for working hard to put this all together. It’s been such an encouragement, especially this last post!
Issabelle Perry
AWWW THANK YOU SO MUCH LILY!!!!!!!!!!!! Awww, you’re very welcome. Thank YOU for your super sweet words. They made my day!!!! Awww, I am SO SO SO happy to hear that. That was exactly what I was hoping for so THANK YOU SO MUCH!!!!! <33333
✨Chloe✨
Hey Iss, I just want to say thank you for sharing this beautiful message! I have struggled with writing too, and this post really touched my heart. I love how you tied in God to our writing, and that we should write the story that is meant for us. I’ve enjoyed this rally, so thank you so much for all the hard work that was put into it! <333
Issabelle Perry
Awwww, girlie, you are SO very welcome!! *hugs* I am so glad it meant a lot to you. That was exactly what I was hoping for!!! Girl, I feel you. Just know you are not alone. I think it’s struggles like that, where we chose to keep on writing even though we don’t want to or it’s hard right now, that truly solidify us as great writers! Awww, girl, THANK YOU SO MUCH!!!!! I can honestly say that without God, I wouldn’t be writing right now! I owe Him for everything, and so I must give back to Him everything He has blessed me with. Girl, that just put the hugest smile on my face. Thank YOU for reading and for your precious, sweet words. <33333 Keep writing!!!
Addie H.
I LOVE this post, Issa!! How are you doing?? Sorry that it’s been literally forever since I’ve been on here! I’ve made the decision to get into blogging, which means I need to catch up on everyone’s posts, lol. Hope you have an amazing rest of your day!! <33
Issabelle Perry
EEEEK THANK YOU SO MUCH, Addie!!!! That just means SO much to me!!!!! Aw, girl, that’s totally okay. I completely understand. Life is SO crazy and demanding at times. *sighs* AAAAH GIRL I AM SO PROUD OF YOU. WAY TO GO FOR MAKING THAT DECISION. You have SO got this, sister. *hugs and sends lots of encouraging chocolate* If there’s anything I can do to help, let me know! Lol, girl, I FEEL you. I am so behind on posts… *hides* XD THANK YOU and same back at you, sister!!!
Emma Martin
“It’s about writing the story God has given you.” This is a truth I’m only just starting to learn thanks to Madeleine L’Engle’s book Walking on Water (which every Christian artist should read, by the way), and I’m grateful that God is working in your heart to help you learn and teach the same thing. May God bless you in everything you do!
Issabelle Perry
Yes!!! I think it’s a truth that is very easy to miss. I know that’s how it is for me personally. We get so caught up in writing a strong story, a marketable novel, a book to sell to a publisher. That we forget, God didn’t give us this story just so we can sell it. He gave this story, this beautiful and wonderous passion of writing, to change our lives, to glorify Him, and to inspire, challenge, and touch other people! Not that it’s wrong to want to write a good book or even to be published, but if the focus isn’t God, then what’s the point, ya know? Oooo yes I have heard many good things about Walking on Water!! I’ll put it on my TBR. Thanks for the rec!!! Aww, girl, you’ve just made my day! THANK YOU!!! <333 Aw thank you, and same to you. <33 Thank you SO much for stopping by TWN!