Dear Cailin,

Turn around. No for real, do it. See those stacks of paper on the floor? The ones hiding under yesterday’s bra and that awful shirt Mom got you last year? That’s your book. And you know what? The first chapter blows. And you are totally procrastinating on the rewrite.

What the hell are you waiting for? No one but you can do this. You hate where your life is right now, right? You may be able to fool everyone else in thinking you’re just being casual about life at the moment, but I know the truth. I know where your mind goes at night and I know the bad habits you’re feeling the urge to start again. Cut it out (no pun intended).

Look, Charissa’s dad wants you to send it to him. He thinks you’re good. You’re not J.K. Rowling, but you’re just as good as some of those other hacks in print right now. This could be the game changer for you.

I get how insanely frightening this is. If everything goes extremely well, life is going to be very different and I know how much that scares the shit out of you because it’s the unknown. However, nothing could come of it and life is the same and that’s even scarier. In fact, that scenario is more likely. There is a much higher chance that you’ll completely fail at this.

But fucking TRY. Everyone already thinks you’re a loser, so who would you be letting down? Or better, this could end up on the shelves and you could prove that being yourself and doing it your way can lead to success.

If you leave those papers under that dirty laundry though, you’re never going to know. It’s almost 3am, so you’re allowed to get into bed and watch some Boy Meets World. For now.

Tomorrow though? Write.

Also, do your laundry, would you?

Sincerely,

Cailin