Where I started…
Many years ago, after a long break from both writing and reading fiction, I was introduced to a neighbor who was a member of the Romance Writers of America. She invited me to a local chapter meeting, and although I was not a romance writer, I felt a curiosity to be around other writers.
It was a lively group, all women except for the lone man who was one of their most prolific writers. They were nondescript and middle aged. Most were moms.
I quickly learned that these weren’t just dreamers, like I was. They weren’t grown women who read romance to escape unhappy marriages and who dreamed of someday writing. No. These were writers. Published writers. Some so successful that they supported themselves, and sometimes even their entire families, from their book royalties.
They were living my childhood fantasy. Of course, in my childhood fantasies I was a glamorous writer like Jackie Collins or Danielle Steele. These were working writers. And what they taught me, was it was possible. It may not be glamorous, but it could be done.
And I started to let myself, an adult with kids, dream anew of writing novels and having them published. It was the spark I needed to give it a real try. And so, I did.
Where I am now…
It wasn’t a quick journey. I wrote some bad first novels. I completed a master’s degree in creative writing focused on novels. I received rejection letters from literary agents, but some with encouraging feedback. And finally, I published my first novel.
As I traverse the journey as published writer I get to live my childhood dream. And I can say that following our dreams are worth it. I hope everyone reading this follows her dreams as well.