A Rose of Thanks
Added 2021-02-22 04:53:54 +0000 UTCThis weekend, my final Patreon goal was met. I thought long and hard about how to say "thank you" . . . but there aren't enough words to express my appreciation. Even that phrase "not enough words" feels trite when trying to communicate the immensity and depth of my gratitude.
Because I now make most my income as a writer.
Not through copywriting or technical writing or writing people's dating profiles (all of which I've done in the past), but by telling stories.
To explain the significance of this moment, just how much this means to me, a mere "thank you" falls short. This has been my dream for my entire life. You made it possible.
While I'll continue to teach part time for now (I have several students that I don't want to drop mid-year), I plan to only do so two days a week. Which leaves me five days to work on Mind Blind. The magnitude of that leaves me breathless.
I can't summarize a lifetime of dreams in a single post to communicate how much this means to me. What I can do, however, is share the first story that I ever wrote.
It's the story that made me realize I wanted to be an author. Because stories process pain to create hope and acceptance. It's how I coped with everything as a child, including my father's death. Now, it's how I try to reach out and help others cope as well.
I spent today digging through bins in the basement to find this story, which my mom saved because even back then she knew that writing was my passion. There's hardly any art from my childhood inside those bins, but they overflow with stories that I wrote.
I wrote "The Secret of the Rose" when I was in second grade and six years old (younger than the rest of my class, because I started school in Japan instead of America). So please forgive the spelling errors! My craft has (slightly) improved over the last two decades.
(And yes, I guess this means my birth name is out of the bag! I've gone by Jo since college though, since it's my initials . . . and because I've always felt an affinity for a certain Little Women character.)
Comments
omg Jo, this made me a little teary eyed ♥ Thank you so much for sharing something so important with us, it honestly means a lot. It really is a pleasure to support you, your writing makes a lot of us happy, so thank you for that ♥
leondaltons
2021-02-23 00:26:44 +0000 UTCThis is so beautiful ❤️ I'm a mom and if my kid wrote something like that I would genuinely cry. I'm so excited you met your goal!! You are a truly fantastic writer and your work is a joy to read and I am excited to see what comes in the future 💛💛
Niamh
2021-02-22 14:23:32 +0000 UTCI just wanna say that you are so inspiring 💜 Your whole journey is beautiful in all of it hardships and achievements, I’m so glad for you meeting these goals, I’m sure there is more to come for you, because people and writers like you deserve all the possible support 💜 and I can’t wait to see more and more of your writing that is bringing us all together here, it’s splendid! Although never forget to treat yourself with a glass of water and some minutes of rest, we won’t go anywhere while you devoting some time for yourself!! You are amazingly hardworking person, and that also inspires people (well I speak for myself of course!) but we will be here for you to enjoy everything you share~
Riveringrio
2021-02-22 09:47:01 +0000 UTCI am a firm believer it takes a special kind of courage to share what we create with others, to put out a part of us for both scrutiny and enjoyment of others. So thank YOU for sharing your wrting with us and I am so glad I could be part of making your dream come true in any capacity, that is a reward in itself 💖
Iwona J.
2021-02-22 09:07:17 +0000 UTCWe love you and are so happy and proud of you sweetie! 😭 I can't even express how moved I feel about your success. You 100% deserve this and more! Best of luck on your new career path love! 💗💕
Ignits
2021-02-22 07:15:35 +0000 UTCCongratulations Jo, it’s so beyond deserved!!! Honestly, I feel like I should be thanking you for letting us come along for the ride ❣️
del
2021-02-22 05:35:20 +0000 UTC😂😂😂 Thank you!
Jo O'Connor
2021-02-22 05:27:42 +0000 UTC"Montens" and "montens" of hugs and love for you Jo! ❤️❤️
2021-02-22 05:13:12 +0000 UTCThank you so much! Writing that story felt *right*, and it was the first time I had ever felt that way (I still remember despite it being so long ago). It set me on my trajectory in life . . . and realizing that I'm almost there, with readers who enjoy what I create, means the world. Next step: getting Mind Blind published!
Jo O'Connor
2021-02-22 05:07:05 +0000 UTCThere’s so much talent and passion in this rose story. ✨🎉CONGRATULATIONS!!!! 🎉🎉✨ I wish for your continued success and happiness for all your years to come!
Megs
2021-02-22 05:01:03 +0000 UTC
