Dear Melissa Blue of December 31, 2010

Note: I’m writing this letter to you for several reasons:

1. So you can remember what made you do all sorts of crazy things.
2. To keep ya honest. Time and time again it’s been proven you cannot keep promises to yourself. Remember the whole “I’ll get rid of all the books I don’t read”promise? Hmm? Thought so.

You saw some promo the other day about Honda—yes Honda—that inspired you. They had these employes and big wigs of the company talking about a year where they took a chance AND they failed and they failed horribly. I mean the type of crash and burn most companies never live down. I kept thinking why would they do that to themselves? A solid company who would be successful just going with the status quo. In the situation the story could have easily been the whole tortoise and the hare type of thing. But then the video went on and they learned something from that big spectacular failure. The other old adage—in order to succeed you have to fail.

But that’s not what really stuck with you. Maybe you can remember the moment without me jogging your memory. Hopefully you are smiling at how something so small could turn into something so big. Or maybe you are sobbing, because this crazy idea that you had 365 days ago has ripped out your very soul, placed it through a shredder and used the pieces to line a gerbil’s cage.

If that’s the case you have me to blame, because in that moment I thought about the past two years. Excuse my language, but they were utter shit—collectively speaking. In those two years you tried safe, you tried edgy, prolific, you even tried being a condensed version of yourself. And still got your teeth knocked out of you. At this point the Universe is walking around with your teeth on a necklace as a souvenir. If nothing else you should be proud that this time last you said screw it. (ok, you dropped the f-bomb.)

Not in the throw up your hands and give up short of way but The Rocky way—I’m going to get to the top of these damn steps. And you never do that, not when it matters.

You’re the type of person to look at the odds and go with them. After everything you went through—and you know what I’m talking about—you deserved a few seasons of protecting yourself. But you know what? You’ve been knocked around anyway. And honey, if you are going to get knocked down you might as well do it in a way that garners respect and some snide comments that you must have lost it.

Here’s the best part though, and the one you should remember if nothing else, you don’t care about the outcome. The funnest and scariest part is taking the risk. You’ve spent the past five years on being a better writer. That process will never end and that’s why you love what you do. But now its time to trust that you’ve learned what you need in order to send your books out there in the world. You’ve learned what you need to promote yourself. Hell, you’ve only embarrassed yourself a handful of times networking. Talk about progress. Now you need to learn what it truly means to jump when you know there is no safety net, no excuses, just you baring your heart for everyone to see all the while saying screw it! (ok, in your head you know what you are really saying.)

So when you read this I just want you to remember the why of it all. If that doesn’t help break out the champagne and orange juice, because you started this year with so much moxie.

Sincerely,

Melissa Blue of December 31, 2009