The Help

The Help... I did not read the book and only recently saw the movie. It was great and so inspiring. Not just the message, but also the author's personal story. Both in how she lived in Mississippi, growing up around 'the help', but also in her journey to novel publication. Only one of those areas I can relate to. Click here to read Kathryn Stockett's story of her childhood in Mississippi and her attachment to the family maid, Demetrie. As an adult, Kathryn moved to New York to work in magazine publishing. I like how she says, "Mississippi is like my mother. I am allowed to complain about her all I want, but God help the person that raises an ill word about her around me, unless she is their mother too."

My granny had a maid. She was white. I grew up in California. So obviously the part of Kathryn's story that personally moves me is the one about her journey to published novelist. Notice how I say published novelist. I always make that distinction, since I've been published in several magazines. It's that next step—a steep one—that I am seeking now.

In an interview, Kathryn Stockett admitted to approximately 60 rejections of The Help. But she believed in her debut novel and didn't quit rewriting her story. She made improvements after each rejection and resubmitted. I understand she was embarrassed to admit to friends and family that she was still re-writing her story after so many rejections. I can relate to that. One would think after 60 rejections that it wasn't going to happen. But Kathryn stayed the course. And that 61st time hit the golden ticket. The Help spent 30 weeks on the New York Best Seller's list and is now a wonderful movie.

Wow. What a great example of perseverance with something you believe in. I am inspired to not give up on my first book, which I love and totally believe in. I finished book 2 and moved on to writing books 3 and 4. I stopped talking about book 1, but I have never stopped rewriting and pitching it. Never! it's good and I believe in it. I learned at OCW a couple weeks ago that the average novelist doesn't get published until book 4. Also, the current average age for publication for first time novelist is 52.

But I am not daunted. The dream doesn't feel like a pipe dream anymore. It feels like a reality. I no longer wonder IF it will ever happen. I now wonder when. God has a plan and I am waiting on Him. But the 'if' is gone. It's kind of scary to put that out there—it sounds so confident and cocky. I don't want that. I'm just trying to say I feel different. Inspired. Validated. Vindicated. Faithful. Faith is the substance of things hoped for and the evidence of things not seen. I feel that faith—that evidence that my first novel will be published soon. It's so much more tangible now. I'm not sure what caused the change, it wasn't just watching The Help. The faith has been building all year, and I am so thankful to God for His goodness and love. The timing is the Lord's. I'm just staying the course.