The Works of Autumn Cox

I told a co-worker recently that I wrote and published a book. For those who don’t know, my day-job is teaching people how to use medical devices that are utilized in the research and treatment of motor disorders (such as Parkinsons, ET, and Huntington’s). The co-worker in question was politely interested, and duly impressed, which was kind of him, but something he said has stuck with me since our conversation, both for good and bad.

What he said was “Wow, and this says it’s your first published book, but it’s marked as the first of a trilogy? that’s ambitious of you.”

The truth is, I know that. I know it’s ambitious. I’m a completely unknown name, unknown author, and there’s a very solid chance that my first book will go absolutely no-where, and then I’ll have to reach a point where I ask myself, “Is it worth trying to publish the other two?”

But also, Why not be ambitious? Why not let myself make exciting plans for a trilogy? Why not let this story be as big as it needs to be? No one ever truly achieved their dreams by shrinking themselves down to fit within the expectations of others. That’s not how this game works. More over, I have long since grown tired of shrinking myself down to fit the expectations of others, so it only makes sense that the stories I tell would follow suit.

So yes, my first published work being the first of a trilogy is ambitious, and what’s even more, I’m plugging along on book 2, while also making plans for things I’m going to add to the 2nd edition of the first book. Things like a glossary of terms, and a world map. I also already know what my next project will be, after this trilogy is completed, and have started work on the first book of what will be a full on, minimum 7-book series.

This experience is reminding me that ambition doesn’t have to be toxic or greed driven. Sometimes, ambition can be about joy and passion, and about letting yourself make bigger plans because even if you don’t reach them NOW, you may still reach them SOMEDAY, and wouldn’t that just be something?