A few years ago I retired from teaching and since I love to read decided that maybe I could write a book. Who knows? I love American history, especially Westerns, so I started with a short scene. I picked a heroine who I called Lisabeth. She was on a wagon train and was about to tell her husband that she suspected that she was having a baby. The story progressed for a few pages and seemed to make sense. There was no real plot or ending---just a day in her life. I laid it aside and finished my teaching career.
One day after retirement I decided to take that story as the idea for a book. I had no plan, no characters in mind, and no idea where it would go. I just started writing and eventually it was 50 pages, then 100 pages and I kept adding more and more characters, more and more story, and more and more thoughts that I should add that and that. Finally I really had what looked like a book without a real ending. After that I began to add, subtract, research the times, and asked friends to read it to see if it was good or bad writing.
There were times when I became discouraged with it. I put it down and let it rest. I put this book through the ringer. I took an adult creative writing class at the local career center, attended a writing class at the local public library, and joined a critique group. These have all been extremely valuable and I thank God for them. I attended two writer’s conferences in the last few years and learned a lot from that. I joined the ACFW (American Christian Fiction Writers). I also joined Roman Writers of America.
I am not finished with the story yet. I have a lot to learn about how to write, but I am learning daily.
One day after retirement I decided to take that story as the idea for a book. I had no plan, no characters in mind, and no idea where it would go. I just started writing and eventually it was 50 pages, then 100 pages and I kept adding more and more characters, more and more story, and more and more thoughts that I should add that and that. Finally I really had what looked like a book without a real ending. After that I began to add, subtract, research the times, and asked friends to read it to see if it was good or bad writing.
There were times when I became discouraged with it. I put it down and let it rest. I put this book through the ringer. I took an adult creative writing class at the local career center, attended a writing class at the local public library, and joined a critique group. These have all been extremely valuable and I thank God for them. I attended two writer’s conferences in the last few years and learned a lot from that. I joined the ACFW (American Christian Fiction Writers). I also joined Roman Writers of America.
I am not finished with the story yet. I have a lot to learn about how to write, but I am learning daily.
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