Michael was always one to help he rarely had help from his parents growing up so he learned from his grandfather that it was alright to ask for help and help those around you out. “Thank you glad to hear I am right sometimes.”He chuckled softly before nodding his head. “Exactly just push that nervousness away and of course one no is not a no for everything else in your life.”
Wendy let out a small little laugh, before pointing a finger at him. “I think you are quite wise, Michael Hatter. You should give yourself a bit more credit.” Wendy took another deep, steading breath, and gave a determined little nod. “Push that nervousness away,” she repeated. Staring at the email for just a moment longer, she took one more breath before pressing send. She looked up at the other man, with wide eyes, and a large smile burst across her face. “I did it!”
“Oooh now you’re out here speaking my language.” Ariel grinned brightly. “I do love me some milkshakes. Anything to do with ice cream really is my thing.” The redhead bubbled excitedly. “I think we need to go right now and obviously they’re on me because we are totes mcgotes celebrating you my dear.” Ariel was just too happy and proud of Wendy, she worked so hard and she was so kind and sweet she deserved all the success in the world.
“Wonderful! Milkshakes it is!” Wendy smiled brightly and clapped her hands together a couple of times. The nerves were starting to leave her and all that was left was excitement over this accomplishment. Gathering her things, she then slipping her arm through her friends, and grinned at her. “You are too sweet. Honestly, thank you for helping me with this. Not just helping me send it, but anytime you read a chapter and always supported me. I couldn’t have done it without you.” It was true. Throughout it all, Ariel was always one of her biggest cheerleaders, and Wendy was so thankful for her and their friendship.
Lexie had been so stressed out preparing for her grandmother’s arrival that she found herself in the park, working on the scrapbooking project that she promised the woman she’d finish. Secretly, she was sentimental like that. She stopped to admire a picture of her and her father, her two front teeth were missing and she had the classic pigtails. She was sitting on his lap during a board meeting and she was grinning from ear to ear. A sigh escaped her as she pasted it to the page as she overheard someone approaching her. “Wendy, right?” She looked up at the brunette with a curious look. “Normally, I don’t ask for others opinions, but can you tell me how this scrapbook page looks?”
One of Wendy’s favorite places to work on new stories was the park. She could sit at the little picnic tables or set up shop on a blanket under a tree. It was the perfect place to get lost in one of the million little worlds that live inside her head. The best part of it was, often other people came here as well for their own creative expressions, which only fueled her own creativity. She was currently wondering around trying to find the perfect spot, when she walked past someone working on a beautiful scrapbooking page. She made a little affirming noise as she walked past, and then was a little surprised when Lexie looked up. Wendy nodded her head in affirmation. “Yes! Nice to see you, Lexie,” she said with a small smile, before turning her attention back to the scrapbook page. “I honestly, is beautiful. Your spacing is wonderful. It’s not over crowded. Very well done. If you don’t mind me asking, what is this for?” Wendy didn’t know Lexie well, but from what she had heard and what she did know, she didn’t seem like the scrapbooking kind.
He always felt nervous, sometimes he would hide it away, normally the first people to hear the songs he made were the people who played on stage with. “I do think about that, I just hope for the best even when I act confident I always do have that worry that it won’t be good, but that worry goes away when people say they liked it.”He said softly. “Just know the worry doesn’t fully go away, you just have to push it into the back stay positive and if it isn’t good then never be afraid to ask what you can do to make it better.”
Wendy nodded along to what he said. That made sense. Now that Wendy was staring down this email, she couldn’t imagine not being nervous. It was always slightly nerve-wrecking sharing her work with people. Maybe her issue was she figured she shouldn’t be nervous to send this email, and then it scared her even more when it turned out she was. And it was helpful to hear reassurance that this nervousness was justified and expected. “You’re right. You’re absolutely right,” she took a deep breath, trying to steady herself. “I just need to push past the nervousness. Even if I get a no, a no now doesn’t mean a no forever right?”
“Ooh sweetie it’s probably a little of both but I am just so proud of you!” Ariel beamed with pride as she looked over to Wendy. She was actually doing it, she was actually getting her work put out there and going for her dreams. Ariel couldn’t be more happy for her friend. “I think we need to celebrate now.”
Wendy let out another little laugh, shaking her head. “You’re probably right. Wow! I cannot believe it!” She may have been slightly in shock, but she quickly nodded her head at the mention of celebrating. “Yes! Yes, we should get out of here and celebrate. I think if I look at my computer one moment longer I will be sick,” she laughed. “Celebratory milkshakes?”
The man had noticed her hesitation when he’d glanced up from his book, a small smirk curling up the corners of his lips. Though he couldn’t see her screen, Thomas had been in her exact position years ago when he’d sent in his first set of poems for publication. Taking another sip of his coffee, his gaze darted back over as she spoke up. “If you’re asking someone for something, the worst they can say is no.”
At the sound of a voice, Wendy’s attention was torn away from her screen, her eyes locating the source of the voice. She let out a little laugh and lifted a shoulder in a small shrug. “Exactly. I think that’s what I’m so afraid of,” she said softly. “I don’t much like the idea of failure, and that’s exactly what a no would feel like.”
“You are very welcome.”He smiled as he gave her a quick thumbs up before he picked up his cup of tea and took a quick sip of it,putting it down as she asked her question. “Oh all of the time, I don’t think that there is a moment where I am not nervous, I try and be confidant but oh boy the pay off in the end is always good.”
Wendy nodded her head, a small smile on her face. It was comforting to know that someone felt a similar nervousness to what she was experiencing now. She lifted her shoulder in a small shrug. “How do you get past that nervousness? Do you just push through and act confidant, like you said? What if.. What if the pay off in the end isn’t good?” Because at the core of it all, that is what Wendy was afraid of. She was afraid that these publishers would only tell her how horrible her book was and that would be the end of it.
Eric knew that feeling and he knew that feeling well. It’s exactly how he felt about the Nat Geo contest. “Well, I can tell you that there will be other ideas that follow even if you’re a little unsure about them. I can also tell you that you can always best your best as you grow and hone your craft. I’m sure the book you’ve written is fantastic. It’s now time to share it with others so it won’t keep pestering you until you do. Would telling you my own experience help? It won’t be the best pep talk ever but it has a decent ending so far.” He chuckled.
Wendy found herself taking a deep breath, and felt some of the tension leave her body as he talked. It was nice to talk to someone who had been in a similar situation, who knew and understood the writing process. She nodded her head with a little smile. “Please. I’d love to hear your experience. Hearing from anyone who has been in a similar position would be so helpful, because obviously I feel a bit in over my head” she said with a little laugh.
He chuckled lightly, nodding. “I get it. Sending a piece of your heart out to people is frightening. But I know you can do it. I believe in you.” He grinned at her. At the sound of his name being called he held up a finger before hurrying away to get his order. When he returned he sat down across from her. “Now I’m here to stay for all the moral support and to help wade through those writer woes.”
Wendy gave him a little smile and nodded her head. “Thanks, Eric.” When he came back, she let out a little laugh, knowing he’d fully understand where she was coming from. Resting her elbows on the table, she cupped her face in her hands and let out a small little laugh. “I just have been working on this book for so long. And I believe it’s ready. I truly do. But I think that is what is so terrifying. If I believe that this is my best, and it’s not good enough, that’s it. This thing I’ve always dreamed about is just… over.”
