Ambition

What is ambition?  Do you have it?  Ambition defined is: a strong desire to do or to achieve something, typically requiring determination and hard work (Google Online Dictionary).
 
Here we find that the word ambition is not just a simple word.  Some of the key aspects in defining ambition are: strong desire, determination, hard work.  So, according to the above definition, if we have an ambition to ‘do or achieve something,’ it requires something of us.  Think about that as it pertains to our writing.  Is writing just a hobby or is it something that we would like to develop into more; something like a full-time job that not only allows us to do something we love, but to also pay us good for it.
 
Well, even having a hobby requires bouts of time and attention from us, but if we are looking to be on the bestsellers list and make lots of money writing, I believe it is a good ambition to have.  Just know that ambition requires more from us than just treating our writing as a hobby.  If you are like me (and many others), the desire is there, right?  Even possibly a very strong desire.  Desire is good, but it needs to be fed.  When we are hungry, we are determined to feed ourselves, right?  In the ambition to become a successful writer, our writing-desire is fed by our determination.  This determination continues on through each rejection, feelings of inadequacy, writer’s block, or whatever other pitfalls come our way! 
 
Lastly, we can have all the desire and determination we want, but if we do not have the will to work hard (sometimes very, very hard), the ambition and goal of being that successful writer will con come to fruition.  I’ve learned that some things come naturally: working, taking care of our children, taking care ourselves, etc., and then there are some things…some desires we have that we have to make time for.  There will be long days, sleepless nights, cranky feelings, thoughts of giving up, and so on, but I truly believe if the work is put into obtaining our goals, if we have that strong ambition and will to succeed, one day it will all pay off!
 
Strong desire, determination, and hard work = ambition.  Now it’s time to make our ambition a reality.  Keep writing!  Keep that ambition and see it through!
 
 
Sincerely,
-MJ Reynolds