Taking the first steps

Okay, so it was time to start writing novels. Where to begin? How to begin? After many failed attempts at writing YA and mystery novels (mysteries are my favorite), I became discouraged. What was I doing wrong? Why were the words not coming the way they did when I wrote skits and plays? Obviously, I was not meant to write YA or mystery (at least not at that time).

In the spring of 2001, I accompanied my daughter and two other dancers to Holland. No, I don’t dance. The three went to teach and minister at a worship seminar. While my daughter packed her dance shoes and tights, I packed several large yellow legal pads. I knew without a doubt this was my time. For five days my legal pads and I took long walks. Whether under the shade of a large tree, by a creek bank, pathway or garden, I wrote.

When we returned home a week later, I was elated with the progress I’d made. My yellow pads were brimming with words. I titled my first book “Under the Thinking Tree.” Can you think of anything worse? It was a sweet romance about college friends who fall in love. How original! It was also more than 150,000 words long. Way too long for a first novel. I subsequently wrote two more novels in the next two years. In my mind I was a huge success. After all, every one of my friends said so. How little I knew back then.

So, you’ve read this and thought, so what? What great words of wisdom did she impart? Simply this — if it’s your dream to write, then write. Don’t allow your fears and insecurities get in the way, or people who laugh at the idea stop you from taking those very important first steps.

An aside – The first three novels I wrote wouldn’t have made it to the printed page, but pieces of each of them culminated in Broken Vessels, my first soon-to-be published book.

Until next time!