Renee N. Meland now takes us onto a journey to discovering her truth. Read more to find out what she discovered. -S.
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My high school history teacher changed my perspective on life forever on one ordinary afternoon. Of course I can't remember the exact conversation, but it went something like this. She started the class with a seemingly simple question: does truth exist? People shouted their responses into the air: yes, no, maybe. She addressed the "yes" voters first. "So tell me. You witness a car accident. A biker was hit by a car. You tell the police that a bicyclist came out of nowhere, and the driver had no chance to swerve. But another witness who was standing on the other side of the street tells the police officer that from their perspective, the car had plenty of chances to see the bicyclist and just wasn't paying attention. Which is true?"
"The first one."
"Both."
"Neither."
Silence.
I've been thinking a lot lately about what MY truth is. There are going to be some significant changes coming up in my life, and of course, everybody has an opinion on how I should handle them. I've been a big ball of anxiety over it but this weekend something shifted. There's a different energy in Lake Chelan, one that seems to provide an odd clarity to those of us who have a whole mess of thoughts swirling around in our heads on a constant basis. I've been sitting on the notion that when the time comes to start our family, I will not have the time to figure out how to be a mother and keep my fledgling writing career on track. I've been terrified that I will have to choose, and end up mourning whichever one I leave behind.
This is where the notion of truth comes in. My truth is this: I will not be able to be the best mother I can be if I'm not fulfilling my need to create. The intense desire to tell stories that lives inside my mind needs to be fed, or it will dry up and leave something bitter in its wake. Yes, there will be some times where my child will want to do something with me desperately and I will have to say no. But part of my truth about being a great parent is teaching your child to follow their dreams, and that sometimes following your dreams means making some sacrifices. I will be there whenever my child needs me, but there may be some times where I will have to forgo some playtime to meet a deadline, or miss a play for a book signing. Will there be guilt? Of course. But they will grow up and know that nothing worth getting comes without hard work. And that lesson is one of the best I can give them.
Your truth is what will guide you through the clutter of the writing world. The worst decisions I have made with regards to my work is changing it because some Potential Agent #1 told me to. She ended up passing, and leaving me with a book that was drawn and quartered. You will hear a million different opinions on what to do with your work, what narrative style is best, and what the supposed "rules" are. The only rule you should listen to is this one, told to me by a very wise writer friend of mine: imagine your work five years from now. What do you want it to look like? Go with whatever your gut tells you.
May your gut take you to the top of the bestseller list, and let YOUR truth guide you there.
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