Reach for the Stars

Reaching Your Star

We’d all like to have a million dollars in the bank, successful career, loving family, nice community, and maybe be a little famous? What is your “star” (goal)? What do you desire most from life? These are some important steps I use to reach my goals and as I listened to Jessica Burkhart’s story I saw wonderful examples of each step.

1. Set a Goal

We often use the phrase “reach for the stars” when we are referring to striving toward a goal. When I think of someone reaching for the stars I think of Jessica Burkhart. By the age of ten, Jess had started her own business, “Jessie’s Tack Cleaning Service,” to pay for horseback riding lessons. Oh, how she loved horses! At that point in her life, she wanted to be a great equestrienne.

2. Learn How to Handle Disappointment and Rejection

Jess’s dream of becoming a equestrienne dissolved in the eighth grade, when she had a spinal fusion for severe scoliosis. During her recovery, she read dozens of teen magazines and thought Ooooh! I could do that! She learned how to write a query and sent dozens of queries to magazines only to be rejected over and over again.

3. Do What You Love to Do

But Jess continued to “reach for the stars.” She finally stopped writing about topics she thought editors wanted to read, and wrote about what she loved–volunteering with the Humane Society. And that was the first article to be accepted.

4. Think of Others

In 2001, a year after her spinal fusion, Jess started Str8 Spines for Shriners, a support group for kids and teens facing spinal surgery, at any Shiners Hospital. Jess, still disheartened by not being able to ride; kept writing about anything but horses. She hated being reminded of what she couldn’t do.

5. Get and Stay Focused

Jess’s family moved to Florida, and she focused on two things–education and writing. She began college at sixteen and had an Associate’s Degree from Lake City Community College in the fall of 2005. By this time she had over 100 pieces published in magazines such as Girls’ Life, Listen, and The Writer.

6. Take Risks

While attending Florida State University in November 2006, during her senior year, she signed up for the National Novel Writing Month. The challenge? Write a 50,000 word novel in 30 days.

The idea for a horse novel hit and wouldn’t go away. Jess started to live vicariously through her horseback riding characters and fell in love with horses all over again.

On December 1, 2006, the first draft of Take the Reins was completed!

7. Use Every Available Resource

In January 2007, an agent stumbled upon Jess’ blog and asked to read her manuscript. Jess crossed her fingers and sent Take the Reins to NYC. She signed with the agent who sent Take the Reins to publishers that spring. Within 10 days, Jess had a four-book deal from Simon & Schuster’s Aladdin MIX. That four-book deal would later turn into a sixteen-book deal and Cantorwood Crest Academy.

8. Celebrate Your Successes

Jess graduated magna cum laude from Florida State University in April 2007, at the age of 20, with a BA in English. Now, at the age of 23, Jess is a full-time author of tween fiction. She has had six books released in 2009 and two scheduled for 2010. Jess relocated to NYC in April 2009 and loves it!

I hope Jess’s story has inspired you as it has me! Now, get going, the world will be impoverished if you don’t reach for your “star” and let your light shine!

“For I know the plans I have for you declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” Jer. 29:11 NIV