Stop Procrastinating On Your Book Dreams

You might not know this about me, but I love baseball.

Specifically, I love the New York Mets. I’ve been a Mets fan since 2006 when I dated a man (the first of a few, admittedly) who was a gigantic Mets fan. Darren took the time to explain all the facets of the game to me, and I was hooked.

When my mom realized I was a huge baseball fan, she sent me a photo. As it turns out, my great-grandfather Albert was a pitcher and had tried out for the Chicago White Sox in 1911. The photo — taken mid-pitch with Albert wearing a Sox jersey — was for the team pictures because Albert was asked to come back for spring training.

But Albert never played in the big leagues. That winter he contracted polio and had to use a cane and a leg brace to get around. The family story is that he never played baseball again.

I keep this photo on my wall for two reasons: first, because I love baseball and believe that the universe (or Source, or God, or divine coincidences) work in weird ways and an ancestor being good at a sport I love and get to see live pretty often is just really fucking cool.

Second, Albert’s story reminds me how perilous our dreams can be.

Often when I talk to potential clients, pursuing a book deal seems like a dream that can be deferred. But I would…