I am writing a book. Yep, little ole me is writing a book about little ole me and some lessons and funny stories in my life. I’m so excited that I can barely contain it. I started the week of my birthday, 5 weeks ago. Today, I hit 20,000 words. Actually, I hit 20, 742 words, but who’s counting?
Actually, there are 7 of us counting. Truly. We have a text accountability group and every day we are supposed to text our word count. We are supposed to write for an hour a day. The 7 people on the text chain are 6 authors from Ripples Media and our pesky editor, Andrew Vogel. He’s not really pesky at all, I just like to tease him.
He’s actually super positive and very motivating. He says he LOVES my writing. I am 100% sure that he loves everyone on the text chain’s writing and I’m glad. Life is not a zero sum game. There is enough room on the book shelves (and Amazon) for us all.
Now back to 20,000 words. A few months ago I would not have known the significance of reaching 20,000 words but now I do. It means that I am half way done with my first book. Yes, I said that right. I did not say my book. I said my first book, because I am 100% certain that after I finish this book, there are several other books waiting to written in my brain, heart and soul.
It has not been all roses. I hit a wall two weeks ago. We had a workshop for titles and I cemented what I already suspected; my first title was not clear enough and did not appeal to my desired audience. I also got some really great advice from an author who I really respect. I mulled the advice over for a while as I stopped writing.
But I kept thinking and pondering and strategizing. Part of the reason that my writer’s block was short is that my text support group told me to keep writing. Write through it they said. Some of these authors are on their second or third book. They know of what they speak. In fact, Jeff Hilimire owns Ripples Media and he founded this company especially for people like me who are people who came to writing after doing other things. I listened and kept writing.
Finally I came out the other side with a better title, a better book and my pen is on fire again. (For anyone reading this who is very literal, I’m not actually writing my book with a pen and paper.) My new title is Humbled on Purpose. I am going broader with my story than just my transition from the c-suite to leading my nonprofit. My editor, Andrew likes my funny, sometimes tragic life stories and how I tell them. He wants more of that and I am happy to provide it. I was also a terrible leader early in my career and I’m going to tell more of those stories too.
But for now, I’m going to keep writing. I hope when it comes out people will want to read it and enjoy reading it, but even if only a few people do, like my husband and my mom, I will have still loved the process. I’m going to start the next one anyway. Because I am a writer. I always have been. Mr. Wolbrink told me so when I was 16. I wish I had listened.
Mr. Paul Wolbrink, an amazing English and creative writing teacher from Spring Lake High School in Spring Lake Michigan.