Say Maybe 3

What good is an idea if it remains an idea? Try. Experiment. Fail. Try again. Change the world. 

Simon Sinek

When my husband proposed to me, I answered, ‘Yes, maybe.’

 I wasn’t quite convinced at first, as our whole relationship had been long distance. But it has been my best maybe yet. 

When it comes to my creativity, I can be very black and white. I told myself, ‘I’ll never write fiction. I’m sticking to non-fiction.’

A few years later, I had an idea that wouldn’t go away. An idea for a series of YA novels. I began writing the outlines and knew I had something to say. I wasn’t sure how to go about writing a novel, even though I’d deconstructed quite a few as an English teacher. I thought that maybe I could try.

Ten years down the track, I’m onto my fifth YA novel and have a 100 000 word women’s fiction manuscript. I’m also exploring a possible mix of fiction and non-fiction that is a little outside the box. Maybe it’ll be a new genre? 

In my exploration of the world of writing, I’ve been on many courses and attended many lectures. My quest has been an adventure that’s taken me around Australia, to Oxford University, to Tuscany, and beyond. 

Finding a sense of possibility and saying maybe to writing fiction took me a while, but like marrying my husband, it’s been one of my best maybes. 

When it comes to innovation and creativity, saying maybe can be a way to open up hope. Hope gives us a sense of possibility.  

Having a sense of possibility, saying maybe, can be the beginning of innovation. 

In order to take hope up on its offer of possibility, we have to take steps towards making it happen. We just might be surprised by what doors might open up when we take those first, small steps. 

This is where faith steps in. I’ve had a few unsuspected doors open and close as I’ve stepped out and said maybe. I’ve been surprised, disappointed, excited, and had a few strange adventures, but those glimpses of possibility have propelled me forward. 

If we turn our ‘No ways!’ into ‘Maybes’, we go with the flow and begin to hope despite the fear.  If we turn our ‘No ways!’ into ‘Maybes’, we may just be propelled into something new, something wonderful, something innovative. 

What are some of the ‘no ways’ in your life? Consider each one and note some ‘maybes’ that occur to you. Write a list of ‘maybes’ and explore your curiosity over the next few weeks.