“Nothing great is created suddenly, any more than a bunch of grapes or a fig. If you tell me that you desire a fig, I answer you that there must be time. Let it first blossom, then bear fruit, then ripen.” Epictetus

I’m a huge fan of hard cider and always looking for new ones to try. This weekend, I hit the jackpot with a deliciously fruity “Raspberry Hard Apple Cider” by Doc’s Cider. I admit that it was the cider’s mellow pink label that first caught my eye. Imagine my surprise and delight when I spied the Epictetus quote emblazoned on it. Sold!

Epictetus and hard cider—perfect together!

This quote couldn’t have come at a better time for me. I’m just completing the umpteenth revision of my children’s novel . It’s been a really long haul and sometimes I wonder why it took me so long. But now, as I review this newest draft, I feel really soul-satisfied about the way it’s shaped up. I think I’ve taken my story to a new level. I’ve also had tons of fun along the way and learned a lot.

So I’m celebrating instead of beating myself up about the amount of time, energy, and little gray cells I’ve poured into my children’s fantasy. My story has ripened over time and it’s much the better for it. My characters have grown fuller, my plot is much tighter, the pacing is brisker, and the dialogue brighter.

All of these improvements took time to implement and fine-tune. I’ve never lost my enthusiasm for my story and I believe it shines through on the page. My goal has always been to write from the heart and to give my young readers a satisfying emotional journey. As my story has changed over time, I believe it’s become better, deeper, truer.

Now, I’d argue with Epictetus that some great things are created in a white heat, a flash of inspiration. But even these moments are often followed by many more moments of revision and polishing before a project is completed.

As John Legend says so well, “…you can’t rush creativity.”

So whatever you’re working on, if it’s taking time to reveal itself, I hope you’ll cut yourself some slack and just relax into the process and let it unfold calmly and joyfully. Do you have a slow-ripening story to tell? If so, I’d love to share it as we all write on!

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