How My Writing Journey Began

I couldn't have a month's discussion of beginnings without sharing the start of my writing journey. It's not unique or special; in fact, many of you probably had a similar experience.

As a child, I'd created a series of books, and I'd even written my own magazine, but they were products of downtime living in the country. It never occurred to me that I could write as a career. So one day in my twentieth year, I finished reading a disappointing romance novel and chucked it across the room with one thought, I could write a book better than that.

Original, I know! I grabbed a notebook and pen and quickly wrote a whirlwind, conflict-free courtship. The pair had met, dated, and fallen in love in--all in two dozen pages, too short to be a book. How did authors take an idea and make it into a full length novel?

College and work took all of my spare time, but the question ruminated in my brain. A few years passed with no further writing on my part. Then I got married, graduated from college, moved to a new city, and found myself with free time again. I came across a book at the local bookstore called How to Write a Romance and Get it Published by Kathryn Falk. I couldn't believe my luck. Someone had actually written a book that answered questions about my dream! Stifling the urge to hyperventilate, I quickly plunked down ten bucks and rushed home to read it.

The book planted all the seeds necessary to nurture my earlier desire into a full-blown dream. However, other events (okay, I had a few kids) in my life made me sit down and make some tough decisions. My personality verges toward all or nothing. Some women certainly can have it all, but I'm more of the I-can-have-it-all-just-not-at-the-same-time type of gal. So I deferred pursuing my publishing dreams.

While my children grew, I used the time to read. I joined a local writing group. And I wrote down every idea for a book that occurred to me. Once my youngest started Kindergarten full time, I rolled up my sleeves, sat at the computer, and my journey to becoming a published author began.

It's been almost three years, and I haven't yet met my goal of being published, but every day I strive to make that dream come true. And when it happens, I'll enter a new phase, a new room for my next goal of enjoying a career as a multi-published author.

Have you ever put your professional dreams on hold for personal reasons? Vice-versa? If you're a writer, when did the idea of becoming a published writer hit you?

Join me on Friday to set a new goal!

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