Wednesday, November 20, 2013

Everyone Deserves A Chance to Fly!

Okay, so I've been listening to a lot of WICKED in the car recently. You know how you turn it up really loud and scream-sing along with, pretending you're even half as good as Kristin Chenoweth? Yeah, maybe that's just me.


But anyway, my favorite song of the show is "Defying Gravity." It just seems to fit a lot of what I've been feeling, thinking, and going through lately.

So Glinda has told Elphaba that she "can still be with the Wizard. What you've worked and waited for." (Tell me that doesn't apply to publishing!)

And Elphaba says:
"I know:
But I don't want it -
No - I can't want it
Anymore.

Something has changed within me
Something is not the same
I'm through with playing by the rules
Of someone else's game

Too late for second-guessing
Too late to go back to sleep

It's time to trust my instincts
Close my eyes and leap!


It's time to try
Defying gravity
I think I'll try
Defying gravity
And you can't pull me down!"


I love that. You can't pull me down!

Then Glinda says:
"Can't I make you understand?
You're having delusions of grandeur."
 


(Also, publishing. Who among us doesn't have delusions of grandeur? I'm totally guilty as charged.)

To which Elphaba replies:
"I'm through accepting limits
'cause someone says they're so
Some things I cannot change
But till I try, I'll never know!
Too long I've been afraid of
Losing love I guess I've lost
Well, if that's love
It comes at much too high a cost!
I'd sooner buy
Defying gravity
Kiss me goodbye
I'm defying gravity
And you can't pull me down."


See? See how this applies to publishing? "I'm through accepting limits, 'cause someone says they're so." I absolutely love that line. And there are things in publishing that we don't understand until we try them. And things we're afraid of, and things we miss out on because of those fears.

Then Elphaba and Glinda have their little goodbye, and Elphaba sings:
"So if you care to find me
Look to the western sky!
As someone told me lately:
"Everyone deserves the chance to fly!"

And if I'm flying solo
At least I'm flying free
To those who'd ground me
Take a message back from me

Tell them how I am
Defying gravity
I'm flying high
Defying gravity
And soon I'll match them in reknown
And nobody in all of Oz
No Wizard that there is or was
Is ever gonna bring me down!"


Again, love. Because everybody DOES deserve the chance to fly, even if it's solo.

So today, I am getting on my broom and hoping it'll fly. I'm letting you know that I will be self-publishing a novel of mine on February 18, 2014. It's called ELEVATED, and it's about a girl who gets stuck in an industrial-sized elevator with her ex-boyfriend. It's a YA contemporary novel-in-verse.

That's right. Poetry. Every word.

And my good friend, Erin Summerill is making the cover with some exclusive photography she shot--and she is brilliant!

And in case you haven't heard of WICKED or Kristin Chenoweth and Idina Menzel, you really should watch it.

Don't you think everyone deserves a chance to fly?

19 comments:

  1. Heh, I started reading those lyrics and I thought, "Here it comes, Elana is going selfie!"

    Best of luck to you, and enjoy the flight!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Stuck in an elevator? With an ex-boyfriend? In verse? Now that's original!

    Awesome! I'm not sure what kind of poetry I would be spitting out if I was stuck in an enclosed space with an ex-boyfriend (even if it was industrial-sized), but I look forward to seeing what you do with it!

    Congratulations!

    ReplyDelete
  3. Congrats to you on making this move. True, everybody deserves to fly.
    Now here is your chance to spread your wings, own the process, and take to the heavens. Delusions of grandeur? Maybe. But soooo worth the effort to try :-)

    ReplyDelete
  4. Oh wow! That sounds AMAZING! Can't wait to read it!!

    And HUGE Congrats on publishing, it's a fun and wild ride!

    ReplyDelete
  5. I love that musical & that song. They're both so well done and inspiring.

    Congrats on your decision with Elevated! I'm sure it's exciting and terrifying, but you'll do great!

    ReplyDelete
  6. I love the premise of your book - it sounds awesome!!! And Erin will give you a fabulous cover! So excited for you, Elana. xo

    ReplyDelete
  7. You KNOW I can't wait to read this, Elana! Soooo excited for you. Fly, baby, fly!

    ReplyDelete
  8. Congrats on your decision to self-publish, Elana! And all the very best!
    Wicked is one of my favourite musicals, and yes, Defying Gravity my favourite song. :)

    ReplyDelete
  9. I'm very excited about your decision, Elana, and I can't wait to get my hands on your book. :)

    ReplyDelete
  10. Very cool, and how exciting! Take off, lady! Let's see how high you can soar!

    ReplyDelete
  11. Definitely! Congrats to you for pursuing your dream. And I'm seeing Wicked when it comes to Cleveland in December. I'll pay close attention to that song!

    ReplyDelete
  12. I aint to proud to say that I do this exact thing all the time, especially on roadtrips. I turn up that WICKED and go to town on vocals! I always tone it down when I pass someone though, that would be embarrassing! But I dig it, Elana. I am proud of you and know you're going to do awesome. And can't wait to see the cover and read the book.

    ReplyDelete
  13. Delusions of grandeur isn't always a good thing. But I get how you see this applying to publishing.

    ReplyDelete
  14. I think it's just fate that you're defying gravity with a novel called ELEVATED. How perfect is that? I admire you so much, Elana, and can't wait to see you soar even higher!

    ReplyDelete
  15. Best of luck!

    I remember you saying you've done a ton of research, but in case you're planning to handle your own formatting and haven't read up on that yet, here's a post I found really helpful: http://cameronchapman.com/ebook-formatting-the-easy-way.htm

    ReplyDelete
  16. Congratulations, E! I'm excited to see you soar! Can't wait to read Elevated when it releases!

    ReplyDelete
  17. The premise sounds awesome! I've never read a novel in verse, but I'm willing to try! =)

    ReplyDelete
  18. Oooh I love novels-in-verse! I've been working on one myself, but my poetry needs some work. I'll be excited to read yours :)

    ReplyDelete
  19. Oh wow. Stuck in an elevatore and the title is Elevated? I love that play on words! Wishing you much success :-)

    ReplyDelete