Marking Time: Finding Joy in the Process with no Guaranteed Stepoff

Lessons learned from my DCI alternate

This summer, my 16 year old is a member of the Spirit of Atlanta, a DCI corps which probably doesn’t mean much to many of you but is described by DCI itself as “marching music’s major league.” Essentially, this activity consists of elite level marching arts performers who spend all summer perfecting and performing a show at venues across the country culminating in the World Championships in Indianapolis in early August.

Great, Monica. Super happy for your kiddo, but what in the flugelhorn does this have to do with writing?

So glad you asked. Hang in there…

My son is a rookie and young for his corps, one of only a small group of minors. He’s also an alternate. This means he may never get a chance on the field this season, but he’s responsible for learning all the same music and choreography and drill. If he gets a shot, he has to be performance ready with a moment’s notice. He’s working just as hard as everyone else on the corps, but has no guarantee of a field performance.

We went to Spirit’s spring training site this past weekend for the debut of the show in their Friends and Family performance.

Yes, we traveled eight hours one-way to not watch our child perform on the field.

But we did get to spend the next day with him for a rare day off from rehearsals.

And let me tell you, this kid is having a blast.

He’s working ridiculously hard.

He’s meeting new people and forging relationships he’ll have for a lifetime.

He’s learning a ton.

He’s building up a level of resilience I haven’t seen in him before.

He’s nurturing this passion he has.

He is the happiest I’ve seen him.

And that has EVERYTHING to do with writing.

There are no guarantees as writers that we will ever be published (if traditional publishing is your goal). We can’t control people’s opinions of our work. We are in no way assured that any of this will ever go beyond the practice field.

And yet, there is deep joy in doing the work of writing and story. We learn resilience as we navigate feedback and rejection and keep trying. We nurture our passions and gain skills. We make connections with other writers and find our own friendships that will last.

We are like my dear trumpet alternate: We’re writing because we love writing.

Do I think his hard work will pay off? Of course. In so many ways. And what’s that old saying: Luck is where preparation and opportunity meet?

My son will be prepared so when the opportunity arises, he will be ready to meet it .

As writers, we must do the same.

Be prepared so when the right story idea presents itself as an opportunity or the agent at a conference requests pages or the editor says the story is nearly ready, you will be prepared to meet that opportunity.

Success isn’t only a published work or a field performance.

Success is finding joy in the work of our hearts.

Keep practicing. Keep writing. Keep going.

Love every minute of the process of learning and getting better.

That’s all we can control anyway.

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