Helping women in middle-age and beyond write their stories

I get it. I know what it feels like to spend your life thinking that all you want to do is write, to work with books and words.

I actually wrote my first book when I was six. Yep, you read that right. Shortly after reading my first little first grade book–remember dick and Jane?—I was certain that I wanted to write books too.  So I did. The beautiful thing about being six is that we aren’t saddled down with all the doubts and inhibitions that start to creep in as we get older. When it was done, I proudly placed it on the bookshelf in my classroom. But a few days later, when I went back to look at it, it had vanished, my teacher having wisely removed it. In hindsight, this was probably a good thing. But the message I took away at the time was, “I’m not good enough. And I wasn’t. But what I didn’t know then is that very few writers are good enough to hit the mark with their first draft, and my teacher, who I’m sure had the best of intentions, didn’t explain that to me.

In subsequent years I dabbled with writing short stories. But I didn’t actually write a book until I wrote my Ph.D. dissertation in literature at the age of forty-five. There aren’t words for the psychological angst that went into that dissertation. But that time, I was luckier.  I had two faculty members who backed me lock, stock and barrel, and were willing to push me, even when all I wanted to do was throw in the towel. Because of them, I finished my first book. And I also learned how valuable it is to have someone in your corner, someone who cares about you and will do all they can to help you get to the finish line.

So yes, I know the doubts and questions that plague us when we begin to think seriously about writing in middle-age and beyond, and I would love to help you face those doubts and get your book written, just as others helped me when I needed it.

If any of this rings a bell, let’s talk. Maybe you aren’t good enough right now. That’s OK.  Even writers who are advanced in their careers work with editors before you ever see their book in your local bookstore. So you’re in good company. But we’ll work through your doubts, and together we will discover your story and get it on the page.

Email me, and let’s see if we can work together to make your writing dreams a reality.