Unlocking Your Writing Potential

Stephanie here. I'm so excited to have Laura L. Smith here today! Laura has judged Go Teen Writers contests before and she's a fellow Playlist Young Adult Fiction author. Her new book, It's Complicated, released on Monday, and it's a steal on Amazon for $4.99 or you can find it on Smashwords if you have a different type of ereader.

Welcome, Laura!

Unlocking Potential

by Laura L. Smith

I recently went to see Snow Patrol play at a dated club in Cincinnati that holds about 1000 people. Let’s just say the last time I’d been to Bogart’s was when I was in college, and my friends and I were jamming to Royal Crescent Mob.

The place hadn’t changed a bit – not even the sticky concrete floors or the stench of stale beer or the dated wood paneling.

Half way through the show the band played their song, “Run”, and at the chorus the entire audience began chanting along with the lead singer, Gary Lightbody, “Light up light up as if you have a choice  - even if you cannot hear my voice.” Bogart’s echoed with the inspiring lyrics. Goosebumps ran up my arms. For a moment, everybody in the crowded club shared something. From the stage I could see Lightbody’s eyes well up with tears. He drew his hand to his chest and at the end of the chorus shouted, “Bless your hearts.”

This is a band who has recorded and released five albums. This is the band who opened for U2 in their last tour, playing for stadiums full of tens of thousands of people, but that night, at a teeny, grungy club in Southern Ohio they were reminded they had potential. People identified with their music, sang their songs.

Potential. We all have it. We just need to be reminded every now and then.

No matter where you are in the pursuit of your writing dreams—sketching out your first draft or submitting your finished manuscript to agents and publishers, there will be days of discouragement, “no’s”, dings, bad reviews and doors slammed faces. It happens to all of us. All the time. But one fan singing along is all it takes to keep us going.

So, let me be your fan today. Let me tell you that if you are here, reading this, there must be a spark within you somewhere calling you to write. You have a story to tell. Share it with the world.

You have the choice to write or not today. Choose yes. Light the world up with your words. You are all full of writing potential just itching to be tapped into. Jot down a few words, a scene, a line of a poem, a chapter, a chorus, a character sketch. Let the world hear your voice.

You are full of potential.

“You are lucky to be one of those people who wishes to build sand castles with words, who is willing to create a place where your imagination can wander.” Anne Lamott, Bird by Bird

What will you vow to write today?