Has anyone ever told you that you need to write a book? Or have you ever said that to someone else? When my new friend Wendy told me that, it triggered a 30+ year journey and the reasons why it’s taken so long may help you count the cost for such a project. Even if writing a book is not in your future, perhaps you have a dream that could benefit from my experience.

Take a Step of Faith

Even if you aren’t sure you can accomplish your dream, do something to start–just one thing. If you don’t know what to do, ask God for guidance about when and where to begin. That’s one thing.

Since first grade I wanted to be a writer, but I had no clue how to begin. Convinced I had an important story to tell, I told Wendy–who became my best friend probably because she patiently listened to me ramble on and on. Not only that, but she believed in me enough to offer to pay for a writer’s conference. By her kindness, God seemed to confirm that it was time to explore the possibilities.

Still, being quite insecure, I wasn’t at all sure what I was getting myself into. Moving forward took me way outside of my comfort zone. For five days I went where I didn’t know anyone and wasn’t sure what to expect. Although it was scary, I realized that attending the conference could help me figure out whether I had what it took to write a book.

Should You Write a Book?

An appointment with a literary agent made me ask myself that question. We sat under a tree on a college campus. He’d prepared for our meeting by reading a sample of my writing. When he spoke, this stoic man dashed my dreams. “You have no style,” he said. Yet, before my tears started to fall, his next words gave me hope, “But you can learn.”

I’d always assumed people either had the “gift” or they didn’t. But much like my nephew Eric’s kindness toward my ailing grandad revealed his compassion, that didn’t make him a fireman paramedic. He took classes, had extensive training, and over the years worked hard to grow his career with the fire department. No one becomes a lawyer, plumber, or an electrician without learning and practicing the tools of the trade. Why would that be any less essential for a writer who wants to reach a broad audience?

It’s a serious matter to count the cost of becomng a published author because it is an extremely challenging profession.

Determined to Learn

That conference became the first of many. One of my favorites was at Mt Hermon. The setting was stunning and the quality of speakers excellent. Now I consider a few of them to be colleagues. But the only way they became my peers was by my willingness to give up my plan and follow expert advice. I wanted to write books. They said to start small. So I did. I went home and wrote a brief devotion about an editor from Tyndale House, who had touched my life.

Wightman wasn’t aware of that short piece when he offered to mentor me. I’d write. He’d critique. I’d cry, then rewrite. He’d critique again. In the midst of this, my small piece was publsihed in a book that I proudly presented to him. The article I rewrote multiple times was eventually published in an international magazine with a very large audience. Those successes sustained me through a plethora of rejections. And, that hard work paid off leading to a decades-long career as an editor/author.

What No One Told Me

It’s one thing to write as a hobby or to provide a family heirloom, yet quite another to  write books that sell. According to Thomas Umstattd Jr. (and many other publishing professionals) writing for pulication takes building a platform. That requires either money or learning the technology to develop a website. A blog and/or podcast helps. So does an e-newsletter and all of that takes more technology or more money. For nearly 30 years, I didn’t have the time or money to develop the marketing side of being an author. If I’d written a book sooner, only friends and family would have read it. Meanwhile my skill continued to grow along with my ability to earn a living.

Finally, two years ago I was able to start investing in my own book, The Windblown Girl: A Memoir about Self, Sexuality, and Social Issues. That meant taking the Book Launch Blueprint course, twice. It’s packed full of things I needed to know if I want people to read my book. Besides investing in that, there’s the need for three different types of editing–developmental, copyediting, and proofreading plus cover design and interior design. Then comes promotion.

I knew writing a book would be hard, but then anything worthwhile is. And the people you meet along the way help you persevere as you pursue your passion, whatever it is.

Finding Fun and Friends

A significant part of developing my ability to write a memoir has been reading books on writing like Writing for Story. It taught me how to “show, don’t tell” a critical concept in dynamic writing. Reading other memoirs has made a major difference, too. Now, through an author I met during the Book Launch Blueprint, I’ve discovered a treasure trove of new friends who love memoirs, too. In the “We Love Memoirs” Facebook group no one promotes their own work but our interactions as we share our lives couldn’t be more delightful. And their reviews of other memoirs have provided me with a whole new stack of books to read. Because we have so much in common, perhaps they’ll inspire me to write a second book because The Windblown Girl is set to launch in November. And, I couldn’t be more excited. Taking one step at a time, my dream is finally coming true.

What about yours? What dream could you be working on? How can you take that first step if you haven’t already? Are you making some friends to share the thrill of the adventure? Please share in the comments. We’d love to know.