
Let's just speak candidly for a moment. Some days, LIFE can be a real kick in the pants, and not in a good way. And when you are in a creative field {such as writing, screenwriting, acting, etc} this kick in the pants can feel even worse. Why? Because it FEELS personal. You are putting your heart out there. You are showing the world your soul through your craft. And when you hear "no," or "thanks but no thanks," or "it looks great, but it's just not for us," the rejection wears thin, even for the most thick-skinned person. You begin to wonder, "Really, what is the point? Why am I putting myself out there like this? For the LOVE OF ALL THAT IS GOOD, when am I going to break through?"
I feel you. It's tough. But, I have some news for you. I don't know the answer to that question. I don't know when you will break through with your novel, or your acting career or screenplay or your TV show. I don't know. BUT, I do know this. It only takes ONE yes for it to happen. ONLY ONE. And in this life, in this world swimming with billions of ideas and billions of opinions, you must stay POSITIVE and realize when someone says "no" to your idea, it's usually NOT personal. There are SO MANY factors involved. And you never know when that next LIGHT BULB moment will hit for you and you'll have the IDEA or CONCEPT or PLOT LINE or INSPIRATION that will allow your break through to happen.
I came across this today on the interwebs by a guy named DREW FORRESTER. I don't know him, but I need to give credit where credit is due! This is so encouraging, I just had to share. Even if you aren't in the entertainment industry, this will lift your spirits and give you hope if you feel like you haven't "broken through" yet. Read this and take note:
IT'S NEVER TOO LATE
At age 23, Tina Fey was working at a YMCA.
At age 23, Oprah was fired from her first reporting job.
At age 24, Stephen King was working as a janitor and living in a trailer.
At age 27, Vincent Van Gogh failed as a missionary and decided to go to art school.
At age 28, J.K. Rowling was a suicidal single parent living on welfare.
At age 28, Wayne Coyne (from the Flaming Lips) was a fry cook! A FRY COOK!
At age 30, Harrison Ford was a carpenter for Francis Ford Coppola and George Lucas before his break out roles!
At age 30, Martha Stewart was a stockbroker.
At age 37, Ang Lee was a stay-at-home dad working odd jobs.
At age 39, Julia Child released her first cookbook and didn't get her own cooking show until age 51!
At age 40, Vera Wang designed her first dress, only after failing to make the Olympic figure skating team, and not getting the Editor-in-Chief position at Vogue.
Stan Lee didn't release his first big comic book until he was 40.
At age 42, Alan Rickman decided to pursue acting after giving up his career in graphic design.
Samuel L. Jackson didn't get his BIG break-out movie role until he was 46! 46 PEOPLE!!!! It gets better though.....
At age 52, Morgan Freeman landed his first MAJOR break out movie role!!! Can you believe that? He is a legend and didn't make his mark until after 50!!!
At age 57, Kathryn Bigelow reached international success after she made The Hurt Locker.
And lastly, Grandma Moses didn't begin her painting career until she was 76 and Louise Bourgeois didn't become a famous artist until she was 78!
Whatever your dream is, it is NOT too late to achieve it.
You AREN'T a failure because you haven't found fame and fortune by the age of 21.
Hell, it's okay if you don't even know what your dream is yet.
Even if you're flipping burgers, waiting tables or answering phones today, you NEVER know where you'll end up tomorrow.
NEVER tell yourself you're too old to make it.
NEVER tell yourself you missed your chance.
NEVER tell yourself that you aren't good enough.
YOU CAN DO IT! Whatever it is.
I'd love to hear stories of when you achieved your break through or when you came very close. Please leave them in the comments section below and you may be featured in an upcoming blog post!
Happy Writing!
Whitney
"Everyone has a story. Write yours."