Bonnie, to further answer your question, I was told when I was 25 that I had a story to write and a mission to fulfill. It toom me until I was 45 to write it, using notes and journals and bits of poetry I'd kept through the years. So, it took me 20 years to write it. Once I started to write, like Dianne, the phrases and flashes and sentences and memories just came to me, as if by divine guidance. Then, it took me 3 years from starting to actually write to complete publishing. One of the things that held me back in the 3 years was the constant self-doubt of "should I really tell this story of abuse? For what purpose?" If I'd written a romance novel, I might not have delayed. I love to edit. Hannelore, in a recent post you said you've read your manuscript more than a couple of times. It doesn't sound like you are sick of it. Keep on keeping on.