Six years. Thousands upon thousands of words. And the adventure has just begun.

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 What’s not listed among these bullet points?

-the numerous short stories and flash fiction pieces I’ve written.

-the regular doubts that I was really supposed to be a writer.

-the weeks and months spent brainstorming.

-the small bouts of burnout.

-the general ups and downs of writing. 

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But here are some lessons I see in my writing journey:

-No two writing paths are the same. I know people who love the writing program I left. But it wasn’t the right place for me.

-Write practice novels. I drafted five full-length manuscripts before writing one that I felt could possibly be polished enough for publication.

-You need a community and tenacity. I’ve writing for six years, and honestly don’t know the number of times I wondered if I should give up. And I might have too if it wasn’t for the people who made me take a breath and keep going.

-Writing changes. I used to draft really fast. I’ve slowed down since then. My style has changed as I’ve honed my voice. Like life, writing is full of seasons. 

 I hope that sharing my writing journey encourages you in your own writing endeavors. It is hard, but it is worth it. Press on, dear friend.