Lisa Scroeder's newest young adult novel, THE BRIDGE FROM ME TO YOU, explores friendship, family and life in a simply beautiful way. Her advice below is equally as beautiful, and we are so excited to share what she has to say.

Don’t Dream Big, Write and Live Big by Lisa Schroeder

According to dictionary.com, to “encourage” is to inspire someone with the courage or confidence to do something.

So with this blog post, I’m supposed to inspire you to do something.

What is it that you want to do, I wonder, when it comes to your writing, your career, and/or your passion for books?

When it comes to myself, there are many things I’d like to do, if I’m honest. I’d like to write a book that wins awards. I’d like to be invited to the National Book Festival in DC and/or the Los Angeles Festival of Books. I’d like to write a book that has movie producers fighting over it. I’d like to…

I could go on and on, couldn’t I? And I bet you could too. I think it is human nature to live in that state of wanting. If we didn’t, I wonder if we would be motivated to do anything at all?

Part of me believes dreams are good things to have. I think dreams often keep us moving when we feel like stopping. But I wonder, is there a point where dreams become detrimental? Where we spend too much time, fixated on the dreams, that other, more important things, fall by the wayside?

It can be especially hard when we are reminded on twitter every day of other people’s dreams coming true. If your dream is to have a book published by a traditional publisher, you will see book announcements almost daily on twitter. Still, you hold on to your dream, knowing other people’s successes doesn’t have anything to do with your own. But still, it can sting a little bit sometimes. Why them and not me, you might wonder.

Before my first novel was published, I really, really wanted to be published. I now realize I spent way too much time thinking about it and worrying about it. I scoured writers’ message boards again and again, hoping, perhaps, that people’s wisdom and good luck would rub off on me. It was like if I spent all of my time on it, maybe it would happen. Maybe I could figure out the magic code or secret spell to make my dreams come true.

I see this happening with promotion sometimes too. Once the contract is signed and that dream comes true, the author dreams of more, and so she spends tons of time and money on promotion, hoping she can make big things happen for her book. But it’s hard for one person to affect much change, and so what often follows is disappointment.

If there is one thing that is certain in the publishing industry, it is this – there is no guarantee of anything, ever. There is no magic code, no secret spell, no formula as to what makes a book succeed. I’ve always believed luck (that is, right time/right place) plays a bigger role than any of us can really understand.

So today, whatever it is you might want when it comes to your writing, whatever dreams you have in your heart, I say, try to forget all of that. Or most of it, anyway. Write them down, if you’d like, and stick them away in a safe place, and then, move away from those dreams to doing what it is you should be doing as a writer.

Writing.

Yes, that’s what I want to inspire you to do with courage or confidence. I want to inspire you to write.

Write because you love the act of putting words to the page.
Write because you love stories.
Write because you have a story to tell that only YOU can tell.
Write because it brings you joy.
Write because it helps you make sense of the world.
Write bravely.
Write honestly.
Write with everything you have.
Write.

And when you are done writing for the day, get up from your computer or your notebook, and live your life and enjoy the people and things that matter to you.

ABOUT THE BOOK

The Bridge from Me to You
by Lisa Schroeder
Hardcover
Point
Released 7/29/2014

Lauren has a secret. Colby has a problem. But when they find each other, everything falls into place.

Lauren is the new girl in town with a dark secret. Colby is the football hero with a dream of something more. In alternating chapters, they come together, fall apart, and build something stronger than either of them thought possible--something to truly believe in.

Purchase The Bridge from Me to You at Amazon
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Lisa Schroeder is the author of more than a dozen books for kids and teens. Her latest young adult novel is THE BRIDGE FROM ME TO YOU, and the latest series for 8-12 year olds is called CHARMED LIFE. She lives in Oregon where she spends her time reading, writing, baking yummy treats, and hiking with her family.

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