Book Writing Journey: What Is My Support System?

Throughout my 25-year writing career, I have sought and benefited from a variety of support. My first writing assignment was with a huge national magazine, Bride’s.  Every nerve in my body tingled with excitement—and with fear that I would make a mess of it. How embarrassing it would be if they rejected my manuscript!

Lucky for me, I had a stellar mentor, an author and writer who had been writing long before I was an infant—my mother, Shirley E. Pollock. Adding to this blessing, a scheduled trip to visit my parents coincided with the time frame I had to finish the article. At the end of each day, my mother would listen to me read what I had written and offer her feedback.   

She kept saying, "I don’t know why you don’t trust your writing skill." I didn’t know either. But I do know that having the support of her professional expertise and loving heart got me through that first assignment.

Since then I’ve belonged to writer’s support groups and writer’s critique groups. I’ve attended many writers’ conferences, taken lots of writing classes and enjoyed the camaraderie of professional writing organizations. I have also hired writing coaches and counted on accomplished writers to edit my books. Each type of support has served a unique, important purpose.

At this preliminary stage of this book writing journey, my support system consists of:

• Accountability partner. A dear friend, published author and writing coach is my judgment-free sounding board with whom I regularly check in with my progress and share my ideas. Her creative ideas and responses to my check-ins inspire me to expand my view on the contents of this book.

• Book Writing Journey group. I created this private Facebook group with a two-fold purpose: 1) inspire others by sharing  what I know and what I’m learning while writing this book, and 2) stretch my courage muscles by being vulnerable and transparent as I expose my writing process and my writing in its pre-published stages.

• Participants in the Writing from Source teleseminars. I’ve invited Writing from Source participants to enrich the book with their aha’s, insights and other personal experiences with Writing from Source. They have been key players in the evolution of Writing from Source and in my decision to move forward with this book. Their support and the information they choose to share with me will play an important role in fashioning the book content.

• Sisters and close friends. I’m blessed with loving sisters and friends who take sincere interest in my writing endeavors and life journey. They are always there to lend a compassionate ear, cheer me on and give hearty congratulations.

• The Power Within Me. Throughout my book writing journey, I am regularly doing personal Writing from Source sessions to connect with the power inside me for guidance, insights and direction with the book. I also connect with Source through mediation and spiritual practices.

This core support system will stay with me throughout my book writing journey. As the writing process unfolds and other needs arise, I know other types of support will expand the list.

 

Book Writing Journey: What Resources Do I Need Right Now?

The writing resources I need vary with each writing session. Right now, I’m in my “tapping into ideas” stage, the precursor to writing my book’s first draft.

For this stage, I am doing stream of consciousness writing so that my creativity can express itself freely. The sessions are playful, with no rules or structure (except for honoring the length of my writing appointment, which I set with the Writer’s Compass Point WHEN).

Before each of these writing sessions, I take a few minutes to get still and let my creative genius tell me what resources I will need to be able to write without interruption. The tools and equipment I pull together on any given day may include some or all of the following:

• Colored markers
• Large sheets of paper
• Notebook
• Gel pens
• Computer
• Inspiring background music 

When I complete this "tapping into ideas" stage and start the first draft, my needs will shift, and I’ll share with you the tools and equipment I choose for that stage of my book writing journey.

What resources are you currently using on your book writing journey?

Book Writing Journey: HOW am I going to do my writing?

Phew! I'm so relieved that my writing plan—the HOW of my book writing journey—is an organic document. The information in it is meant to grow and change over time. That means I don’t have to go brain dead at the start trying to make sure I include everything that needs to be in it. Even so, the better I think things through now, the easier the journey will be.

I have identified the major components/topics of my book, the major stages of my book writing journey, the interim target dates for the components and stages, and the completion date.

Key Stages of My Book Writing Journey 

1. Research:

• Review Writing from Source teleseminar notes for information to include in book.
• Interview Writing from Source participants for examples of their experiences with the process to include in the book.
• Research current books in this genre for format ideas and publication options.
• Title ideas (review best-selling titles in this genre, conduct survey of options, request feedback/ideas from reviewers, etc.)

2. Creative Fuel

• Do the Writing from Source process before each writing session for content guidance.
• Meditate
• Visualize the book and how it flows out into the world

3. Write the first draft

4. Revise and edit the manuscript

5. Send manuscript to trusted friends and writing colleagues for their review

6. Complete publication-ready manuscript (include selected recommendations from reviewers; do final revision, edits and “spit and polish”)

Key Topics of My Book

The following topics may be individual chapters or interwoven with other topics in a chapter. For example, the real-life experiences will be part of the chapter that describes the Writing from Source process. Additional topics will undoubtedly surface as I write. I’ll make those decisions during the writing process.

• What Writing from Source is
• How Writing from Source came about
• Description of the Writing from Source process
• Real-life experiences with the Writing from Source process
• How to use Writing from Source to enrich your life

My Key Book Writing Target Dates:

• October 22, 2012 (my mother’s birthday): Complete the first draft. (This includes all the key topics of the book.)

• November 22, 2012 (Thanksgiving): Complete the revised draft and give it to trusted friends and writing colleagues for review.

• January 23, 2013 (my birthday – a big one!) Complete the manuscript in publication-ready form.

As you can see, I have the essential items of my writing plan in place, but it is not a complete document. Once I’m in full action mode, the plan will constantly morph. For me, the surprises of new ideas and angles popping up make the writing process fun and delightful.

How does my initial writing plan look to you? Have I missed anything? What would you do differently with your writing plan?

Book Writing Journey: Why Am I Writing This Book?

The apparent WHY for writing my book about Writing from Source is to share this insightful, enlightening process with significantly more people.

The Writing from Source process is a gift that life gave me about two years ago. It first materialized as three statements I crafted to use in a workshop. Six months later, I used the statements as the writing prompt for a free teleseminar series on surviving the holiday season.

Encouraged by positive feedback, I started offering free, monthly teleseminars using the three statements. Participants’ ongoing comments about the invaluable insights and guidance they received prompted me to continue. These sessions are now in their 19th month.

Several participants have repeatedly told me that I need to get Writing from Source out there in a bigger way. I finally listened, and the idea to write a book took form.

Until now, I held back from talking about Writing from Source except to those who I thought would "understand" because I was concerned that people would find it too spiritual, metaphysical, "woo-woo," "out there," or "touchy-feely." More to the point, I hesitated because I was concerned about what people would think of me. I was afraid of showing my truth.

And, admittedly, I still am. Hence, the deeper reason—the compelling WHY—for writing this book.

Writing a book about Writing from Source and openly sharing my writing journey provide the means for me to step boldly, courageously and transparently into my calling, which is to serve as a catalyst for others to discover the power that resides within them, believe in it, listen intently to what it tells them, and wholeheartedly trust it to guide them.

When I encounter hurdles during the writing process, this is the compelling WHY I will rely on to propel me forward on my book writing journey!

Book Writing Journey: Where Will I Write?

As a fulltime RVer, I live in a 32-foot motorhome. While it has everything we need to live comfortably and enjoy life on the road, it does have space constraints that require flexibility.

Unlike my former brick and mortar home in Denver, I don’t have a spacious home office with an ergonomic chair, large desk or overstuffed easy chair for brainstorming and journaling. But I do have a dinette table, an ergonomic keyboard, and a cushion to raise the dinette seat to an optimal eye-level for looking at the computer.

I also have a huge music library on the computer, decent lighting, and a dear husband who takes our dog on long walks when I need to be alone with my writing. Right now, I also have lovely natural scenery of berry-laden junipers, desert shrubs and towering red stone ridges outside my windows.

I’m happy with this writing setting. And good thing! In this remote location, I don’t have any nearby options. No library, coffee shop or park bench to escape to. A few months from now when we travel to another location, I may have options.  

For now, my WHERE is sitting at the dinette table in my motorhome with inspiring music in the background, uplifting scenery out my window, and a cushion and ergonomic keyboard to support my physical well-being.

Given  the circumstances, I give my WHERE a rating of 8.