A Decade of Dreams (and FEARS) on the Writing Journey

In October 2007—ten years ago—I was an award-winning but agentless UNpublished writer venturing out with my Seeker Sisters to start a blog that we hoped would offer other aspiring writers encouragement, inspiration, and practical teaching on the craft of writing and the world of publishing. A supportive “Village” such as the one the Seekers had found with each other.

Little did I know that a year after we started Seekerville one of my contest entries would land on Senior Editor Melissa Endlich’s desk at Steeple Hill Books (the previous name of Love Inspired). Nor did I know that the following year my first published book, Dreaming of Home, would be on the shelves. Or that 10 years after we started the blog, even though still working a demanding, full-time day job, I’d have completed my fourteenth contracted book.

 But back to 2007….

During our two years pre-blog, Seekers hung out together daily in a “virtual world,” praying for each other, encouraging, brainstorming, growing as writers, and periodically celebrating as some slipped a foot inside the publishing world door. Others of us weren’t there yet.

That’s when in early autumn 2007 Seeker Tina Radcliffe initiated “Plan B” for those of us who were basically treading water (telling us she’d be sending out invitations to a meeting along with a box of Kleenex and two Hershey kisses). She said we needed to meet in a chat room, talk plans, brainstorm, discuss what had worked and what hadn’t, how we could help each other—and commit to moving forward.

That night I wrote “optimistically” (ha ha) in my writing journal: I don't know if I have the time or the energy or the inclination for this. I'm not sure if I should keep beating my head against a wall. Maybe it's just not God's timing for me to be published. Maybe it's NEVER going to be God's timing.

But join I did, and Tina kicked things off with pre-meeting homework of hard-hitting questions for which we were asked to write a “dig deep” paragraph or two, including: How badly do you want to sell? How close are you to giving up? What are your fears? Where is God in all of this?

Here’s what I wrote in my writing journal as I mulled over the questions before fleshing-out the requested response:

What are my fears? On good days when I'm rested, I have NO FEAR. On days when I'm exhausted from the day job, I have BUCKETSFUL.

Fear # 1: That I've wasted a lot of years pursuing something that isn't in God's plan for me and missed out on the things I should have been doing and am better equipped to do. (The dream started in grade school—and I spent decades off and on writing toward that dream that wouldn’t go away.)

Fear # 2: That I'm deluding myself in thinking I will ever have what it takes to be successfully published. It's one thing to win a contest with opening chapters--but am I capable of writing solidly constructed, entertaining stories throughout? If I am, can I sustain that in book after book?

Fear # 3: That being published will only add more stress to my life than I can deal with and demand more time than I'm at liberty to put toward it.

Fear # 4: That I’ll sign a book contract—and be incapable of producing a book on deadline.

Fear # 5: That I’ll disappoint my readers.

Where is God in all of this? Somewhere out there...God refuses to take “The Dream” away from me even though it's been offered up time and time again, so I must assume there are things I have to do and become first.

Our little band of “Plan B-ers” read each other’s “essays,” then met in a virtual chat room to discover that all of us had so much in common with our responses. Fear that we weren’t good enough, that we were seeking something outside God’s will, that there was something we weren’t “getting” that was holding us back. How REAL those fears felt!

Going forward we committed to praying for each other, shared daily scriptures, offered encouraging feedback, took on-line classes, and listened to a CD by a published writer on not giving up. We paired up to read and critique each other’s manuscripts, re-evaluated what we were currently writing and targeting, shared articles on the writing craft, researched publisher guidelines for “best fit” for what we wanted to write, and learned how to better utilize contests.

Throughout those intense weeks of digging deep, refocusing, and re-launching ourselves, Tina kept asking Dr. Phil-like regarding our earlier, unsuccessful efforts: So, how’s that been working for you? And always she encouraged us to pray for each other, seek God’s clear direction, and to THINK OUTSIDE THE BOX we’d found ourselves trapped in.

That beginning jump-started the straggling-behind Seekers. And the rest, as they say, is history! Today all of us are published.

Do some of those original fears STILL linger? Are some of them realities that continue to challenge us? Oh, yes. But you know what? Many of those fears were False Evidence Appearing Real—fears that I could have easily allowed to hold me back from even trying. Looking over the past decade reminds me that God is in charge. My writing is His to do with as He pleases, so I’m deeply grateful for doors He opened to share my stories with the world.

God doesn’t promise to make all our “dreams” come true, but I believe He does plant certain dreams in our heart that He wants to fulfill--if we cooperate. Different journeys for different people. But, as the saying goes, God can’t steer a parked car. I must trust Him, look to Him for guidance, listen for His answers, and prayerfully step out daily to do my part. He can’t sell a book that’s never written.

If you're a writer, please share with us today where were YOU were on your writing journey 10 years ago when Seekerville first opened its doors! What were your hopes and dreams for your writing? Your fears? How far have you come since then?

If writer OR reader, when and how did you discover Seekerville? (Some of you, I realize, may have been in grade, middle or high school when Seekerville launched!) Why do you stick around?

If you’d like to be entered in a drawing for a $25 Amazon gift card along with a Kindle-copy of one of my books (your choice), please mention it in the comments section!

NOTE: The photos shared in today’s blog are from a late September trip on the Durango-Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad in Colorado!

Glynna

GLYNNA KAYE treasures memories of growing up in small Midwestern towns--and vacations spent with the Texan side of the family. She traces her love of storytelling to the times a houseful of great-aunts and great-uncles gathered with her grandma to share candid, heartwarming, poignant and often humorous tales of their youth and young adulthood. Her Love Inspired books—"Pine Country Cowboy” and “High Country Holiday”—won first and second place, respectively, in the 2015 RWA Faith, Hope & Love Inspirational Reader’s Choice Awards. Just out in May 2017 was “The Nanny Bargain,” out now is “Mountain Country Cowboy,” and coming in April 2018 will be “Mountain Country Courtship” (the final story in the 6-book Hearts of Hunter Ridge series).

Mountain Country Cowboy. When he’s offered a job at Hunter’s Hideaway, single dad Cash Herrera immediately accepts. It means the former bad boy can start over and gain custody of his son, Joey. Still, small-town folk have long memories—especially Cash’s pretty childhood nemesis. Rio Hunter is now a lovely, courageous woman…and Cash’s new boss. Past betrayal makes them both wary, and Rio’s secret promise will soon take her away from Hunter Ridge. Yet working with Cash and teaching Joey about her beloved horses draw her closer to both. Can she create a loving family with the man who’s claiming her future?
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Birthday Greetings from Seekers Sandra Leesmith and Glynna Kaye!