On a Personal Note (Part 2)
More Timey-Wimey Joys & Madness for a Late-Bloomer
Part 2 of a two-part story on how inspiration and our inner communication clash, especially when we embark on late-blooming opportunities. Override this dissonance by heeding the call of your persistent dreams. As performance coaches say: there’s no failure—just opportunities to learn, grow, and go again.
To read Part 1 click here:
Books! Do you love books?
I grew up in a two-bedroom, one-bath Cape Cod. There was a third “rustic” bedroom in the never-finished, unheated half-story. When my three younger siblings came along, we totaled eight. Mom and Dad were often away. Mom’s parents—my beloved Nanny and Dada, took care of us children.
While I attended pre-school and elementary school, Dada regularly brought me books. Through the stories, I escaped my confines and its conflict and chaos. My heroes taught me to be strong, to transcend fear, and to aspire to more than I could now see as possible. They made the best of their circumstances. I figured I could do likewise.
Even my shabby hand-me-down clothing (some from a male cousin) became a competitive advantage. I easily disregarded any teasing when his magical, clunky brown oxfords helped me smash kickballs far into the outfield!
Little Golden Books gave way to comic books, histories, biographies, books about the Old West, astronomy, and adventures like The Mystery at Rustler’s Fort, which led me to take a road trip with Chris in our early 20s. Like in the book, we rode mules to the floor of the Grand Canyon.
School libraries held a treasure trove, and in summer months our neighborhood library (just a bike ride away), was an air-conditioned haven. My father liked to tell friends how I kept a book in my hands, frequently reading while walking. Though minor collisions and tumbles occurred, books saved my life.
Jo from Little Women, with her tomboyish, tough ways, her clever snark, and big love for her family, resonated with me. I admired her single-minded focus on writing. She later became an educator. Jo helped shape my identity in every way. I later channeled Jo when I worked as a freelance journalist, then, when I developed my in-depth course materials and wrote articles for my original newsletter The Wizard WIRE.
When you’re searching for your true self and your passions, consider The NINTH Key to Blooming:
Look to characters you admire and identify with in books, television, movies or theater. They can be a mirror in which you’ll see your authentic self.
Jo was above all, an author. Would that be next for me? Though I found it easy to say, I’m going to write a book, I would face decades of false starts, attempts, and struggles, as I failed again and again to cross the canyon that lies between writer and author.
Hey Wiz, What’s With This Neverending Story?
In the late 90s, I learned soon-to-be authors should announce their intentions. Confident my book, based on my complete communication skills course was forthcoming, I added that to my bio and email signature.
I struggled to figure out how to turn the course workbook into a viable book. I wanted to infuse each section with the life, fun, and clarity of a live class. Yet most chapters’ content seemed to be lost in translation.
My book title sat taunting me in my email signature and bio, making me feel like a bogus author.
Jo struggled with her writing at times. But never for years and years and years.
Colleagues, friends and family asked: How’s the book coming along? When are you going to finish that book, Wiz?
My typical answer was either later this year OR early next year, depending on the month I was asked.
Today, there are two near-complete versions of my communication skills book. I abandoned the first because it sounded stilted and academic—not close to the conversational tone I wanted.
The second went completely off the rails when I had the not-so-great idea to fictionalize the book. My ill-fated premise was that a coach (me) and two distinctly different clients from opposite communication comfort zones, met weekly for coaching sessions in a juice bar.
The only thing that I still adore about this version is my title: A WIMP, WARRIOR and a WIZARD Walk Into a Bar. I’m embarrassed to admit that I even planned to include my best smoothie recipes in each section.
I was oh so committed to this version. I took a Masterclass on dialogue and then read some snappy Elmore Leonard dialogue. I gave each character a distinct voice. Yet something wasn’t working. What could it be? I finally realized that as these three characters talked amongst themselves and with the waitstaff, I was ignoring my readers. Distance from the very people I wanted to teach, encourage and coach through my book meant this approach was a flop.
When discouragement sets in, trust The TENTH Key to Blooming:
Time will tell as patience provides proof.
The Bonus Blooming Season I NEVER Saw Coming
Writing still drew me to my keyboard and legal pads. Since my nonfiction books seemed out of reach, I played with fiction. In early 2022, I wrote a short story for a Doctor Who related contest. I imagined and sketched an alien creature named Charyskylla, who had a tragic backstory. I didn’t win, yet I later used that character in a book I began about a young girl and her imaginary friend. Some day I may revisit that story.
I wanted to learn how to create compelling characters, how to structure a plot, and so much more. I signed up for several authors’ newsletters and followed even more on social media. Two stood out because of the warm, genuine way they responded to questions, provided encouragement, and built a writing community via social media and their newsletters.
You may be an introvert as I am. Yet we can reap great rewards from The ELEVENTH Key to Blooming:
Find a community of like-minded individuals in your field of endeavor. Meet with them regularly to share ideas, questions, challenges, and to cheer triumphs.
I love the word brilliant. I may overuse it. However, these two authors are, in fact, brilliant. I’m lucky to have met them, and am forever grateful for their guidance and support.
The first I encountered was sci-fi/fantasy/horror author, J. Dianne Dotson (Jendia Gammon). She's written and published a four-part space opera series, many short stories, a young adult novel, and an anthology called The Shadow Galaxy that I especially adore. Its filled with captivating short stories, poetry, and Appalachian tales inspired by her childhood. In addition, Jendia is a talented artist. Check out her website, newsletter, Instagram, and more on Linktree: https://linktr.ee/jendiagammon)
Note: Her newsletter will be moving, so don’t subscribe on Substack. Instead use this link to its new home on Ghost: https://jendia-gammon.ghost.io/
During the summer of ‘23, I attended Jendia's virtual class on time management for writers. She hinted that a special guest might join us. It was her husband, Gareth L. Powell, one of the UK’s most popular and successful, award winning science fiction authors. His Embers of War trilogy is the basis of a television series, now in the works.
I’d read his stellar book, About Writing: The Authorised Field Guide for Aspiring Authors. Gareth was recently brought into The Bestseller Academy as a writing coach. (Visit his Linktree at https://linktr.ee/garethlpowell for his website, books, newsletter, and social media.)
I told them I’d felt a restless longing to be creative and to help others. I just wasn’t sure how to go about it. I only knew I wanted to write. Both encouraged me to start this Substack newsletter.
The vote of confidence from Gareth and Jendia washed over me like a wave of magic. I didn’t overthink, hesitate, or take a step back (as I often have done when facing a new challenge). That nudge was all I needed to gather some scattered bits of my dreams.
I briefly toyed with topic ideas: organic gardening, healthy, delicious recipes, dog training (it did cross my mind). Ultimately, I knew I must write about communication—it’s my passion and it’s what I know. My long abandoned book, based on The Communication Lab, as well as the other, based on Speak on Your Feet, could be released as blog posts!
What dream still beckons?
Do you feel a rush when you think about it?
Take ONE step closer, then one more, then another. . .
I took that step and started TCL with my immediate family as first subscribers.
Then something even more amazing happened.
During a zoom chat with Jendia and Gareth, he recommended a podcast called The Bestseller Experiment. It recently won Best Books Podcast at the Independent Podcast Awards.
From my first listen, I LOVED it! Multi-talented hosts, authors Mark Desvaux and Mark Stay interviewed authors, then shared bonus content with a deep dive into concepts shared in the interview. Their tips resolved some of my writing dilemmas, showed me my struggles weren’t unique—and were manageable—and provided strategies for increasing my daily word count.
https://bestsellerexperiment.com/
During each podcast, the 2 Marks promoted The Bestseller Academy, a year-long course for writers who wanted to complete a fiction book. Since my TCL Substack was underway, a fiction writing course wasn’t a good fit for me.
Then, in October 2023, they announced the launch of their first non-fiction writing academy. Twelve participants would be accepted. I only took half a breath before applying. Filled with sparkling hope and severe self-doubt, I sent my application and included in it a link to TCL as a writing sample.
When my acceptance email arrived I couldn’t stop happy dancing! I would write my books with daily guidance, accountability and caring support.
I might sound confident. But I was filled with first-day-of-school fears, plus a heavy load of imposter syndrome.
Of course fear, insecurity, self-doubt, and anxiety will haunt you when you want to bloom in a new realm. We know that change always makes us feel vulnerable.
It took time for me to even believe I was accepted! A feeling of did I just dream this? would later grow to oh my gosh, they made a mistake! when I tried to access course content on the Academy website and faced a message on my screen saying: You do not have permission…. Oh no! Maybe the acceptance email was sent in error?
A lovely email from Mark D. quickly resolved those worries. He explained that they were updating the non-fiction portions of their site. The TWELFTH Key to Blooming:
You WILL face most, if not all of these thoughts and feelings. They’re just growing pains and won’t harm you. Move through them with either a parade wave or jazz hands.
Just as I’ve turned 70, I want to re-bloom, again. I must grow to fit into the audacious dreams I have for this first book. I want it to reach and help those who need an easy way to apply complex communication concepts, skills and strategies to keep their relationships positive and productive.
Nothing at all happens without communication.
Everything becomes possible with communication.
Compassion, cooperation and connection can make us all better problem-solvers and peacemakers.
When the first book is finally published, that day will be a storybook ending and another new beginning. For now, I rely on patience and persistence to keep me going.
You might wonder whether I regret not completing my book(s) earlier.
Not a bit!
With each attempt, I learned more about myself, and about writing. Even a minute spent in regret would be self-indulgent. I’m far too grateful for this magical season in which I’m learning, growing, and being stretched to new limits. I enjoy every minute of my work and courses. I haven’t learned to fully love editing, but even that’s become easier.
Dreams seem to line up in a mystical order. Perhaps they arrive when we’re ready for them. I’m a better writer now than I was before my downtime. I’m sure my books will be improved through what I will learn in The Bestseller Academy.
Patience and persistence—I’ve never met anyone with more of those traits than dear Nanny. She’d rip out rows of her knitting (or mine!) when she noticed even one dropped stitch. In essence, I abandoned two 70 percent complete drafts of my first book. Perhaps my third draft will be charmed. Nanny didn’t battle time. She made it her ally, flowing with it to achieve her vision, however long that took.
Time Perception Can Be a Sneaky Dream Thief
I recently read about time blindness. At the very least, I’m time-nearsighted.
Our perception of time prevents many of us from blooming.
Expand your sense of time in every way you can. Don’t let it keep you from starting something new, however you can, in your current situation.
Consider what the Tenth Doctor Who said:
People assume that time is a strict progression of cause to effect, but actually, from a nonlinear, non-subjective viewpoint, it's more like a big ball of wibbly-wobbly, timey-wimey...stuff.
Best wishes and love to my fellow Late Bloomers and to everyone who seeks a renewed, or a new, passion to pursue.
TCL Publishing Schedule
With Bestseller Academy courses, homework assignments, coaching sessions, reading AND…..what was that other thing? Oh yeah….
writing The Communication Lab and Speak On Your Feet books!
I must slow TCL posts to every other week (much as they’ve been recently). There may be some longer gaps. I’ll continue publishing book excerpts along with updates on my books’ progress and perhaps other posts. Let me know what you would like to receive from TCL.
Remember to visit and share the archives on Substack, where all the posts remain.
I continue to provide coaching, just not at my pre-2020 schedule. There’s a contact page on wizardinc.com (or gloriathomas.com - both addresses work). I offer free 30-minute introductory coaching sessions.
I’d love for you to share the books and characters that inspired you, or shaped your life. If there are new pursuits you’re taking on, I’m here to encourage you, so let me know!
Reach out to me anytime on Facebook, via email, my website or here in the Substack comments section.
As always, thank you for reading, sharing and commenting on these posts. Your encouragement helps fuel me and I’m grateful that you’re here
Let’s Keep Making Communication Magic,
Gloria
Wizard Inc ©2024 all rights reserved
Next up:
The Competitive Warrior will be the next facet of WARRIORs covered in our Communication Comfort Zone series. The breakdown on this fun, fascinating WARRIOR should post in two weeks. You can probably tell, I quite like coaching and training Competitive Warriors and there will be stories to share!
It's was really nice talk to you you are amazing person and writer
Inspiring! And I love the personal anecdotes. Walking into things while reading was very relatable. 😉