“You can make anything by writing.” — C.S. Lewis

“You write your first draft with your heart, and you rewrite with your head.” — James Ellison

“Writing, to me, is simply thinking through my fingers.” — Isaac Asimov

“Be courageous and try to write in a way that scares you a little.” — Holley Gerth

“There is nothing to writing. All you do is sit down at a typewriter and bleed.” — Ernest Hemingway

“All you have to do is write one true sentence. Write the truest sentence that you know.” — Ernest Hemingway

“Write what should not be forgotten.” — Isabel Allende

“A professional writer is an amateur who didn’t quit.” — Richard Bach

“A writer is someone who has taught his mind to misbehave.” — Oscar Wilde

“Write what you know.” — Mark Twain

“Books choose their authors; the act of creation is not entirely a rational and conscious one.” — Salman Rushdie

“The discipline involved in finishing a piece of creative work is something on which you can truly pride yourself.” — J.K. Rowling

Ignorance

I thought writing your story was the most significant part of the journey and that I was relatively good at writing. I was wrong. Editing, paperback interior design, marketing plan, marketing research, searching for and finding the right book cover design or designer, etcetera. I thought I was drowning, and when I got my edited novel back, I realized I didn’t know that much about writing at all. So, I took a few courses and learned a lot. There’s always more to learn in this field. Take the time and learn more about your craft. It’s worth it.

Wrong Editor

I chose the wrong editors. I had editors who specialized in genres that weren’t my own, and it turned into a hot mess. They all tried to mold my story according to their frames of reference. In the end, I had to do double the work and almost lost my writer’s voice. It’s essential to find a good editor in your specific genre.

Use Friends As Beta Readers

Friends can’t be objective. They will mostly tell you what you want to hear. Other readers won’t be as kind with their words. Use paid Beta Readers. They are honest and to the point, and often give you more to work with than an editor.

Wrong Book Cover Designer

Finding a good cover designer is really hard, and if you use one that’s not familiar with your genre, the process could quickly turn into a frustrating nightmare. Take the time to find the right cover designer. Check references, reviews, and previous work. If you don’t, you’ll get burned.

Self-doubt

It’s hard not to listen to all the doubters and negativity thrown at you. Editor comments and beta reader comments can be disheartening, but they don’t define you as a writer. Take it in, take a breath, and find your self-determination again. If you believe you can do it, you can. Don’t give up. Keep going and keep trying. If you feel your story is worth telling, then it is. Fight for it.

It took me ten years, three rounds of edits and lots of hard work to make this book come to pass.

I started this journey after hearing the stories of trauma and survival of so many people I have worked with over the years and seeing my sister battle cancer. Their resilience and will to keep going inspired me greatly. My sister sadly passed away, but she believed in this story and I wanted to make this book happen to honor her. I’m glad I finally got to do so.