I suppose the key word would be "passion." I knew I was supposed to help battered women to safely escape, not only physically but emotionally. I had learned so much from my own experience and therapy (I stayed in counseling for two years to be sure I was okay!) had completely changed me and given me so many answers to the "whys." But, I didn't really know how so I began volunteering at a local shelter. Still, I had an inner voice that continually told me to write. I even met (socially) two psychics that told me I needed to write about something I experienced. It took me years to finally sit down at my computer and begin and even then, I only wanted to write my story and what I had learned in therapy and make it available to the women who were staying at the shelter.

I knew nothing about the writing/publishing business and hired an editor to clean up my words and she thought my writing was so meaningful to women that I needed to think about having it published. I was so ignorant about the process that when a bonafide literary agent accepted me as a client, I wasn't really excited. I had never considered my story a book to begin with!

When he called to tell me Hay House not only wanted my book for their house but also had chosen it as their book of the year, I almost passed out! I had to hang up, put on my running shoes and race around our horses track until I calmed down. Two of my children were visiting me and we stood in a circle, hugged and sobbed. They knew what I'd been through in the abusive marriage so it was really a blessing to all of us.

I treated my writing process like a job. I worked on it eight hours a day, five days a week. I was lucky that I didn't have to work at that time but I can honestly say that had I been employed, I would have still found the extra time to write at least one hour a day. I had a passion in my mind that needed to be put on paper.

Some of the things the editor of Hay House told me:

My story had an ending. I not only told what I had been through but I explained how I escaped and what I had learned in therapy. She said they received hundreds of manuscripts on domestic violence every year but most of them just told the middle of the story, not the end. Every story has to have an ending to guide the reader in the self-help genre.

I was brutally honest. I didn't stop short of telling the truth and the humbling truth was what I was thinking and feeling. It wasn't about my abusive husband. I had to clear my ego away every morning before I started writing or I wouldn't help an victims of domestic violence. Battered women live on excuses and I didn't want to be yet another one for them.

I pushed all doubts aside. The old inner voice tried to tell me I had nothing to write but it wasn't true. I just kept writing and writing and writing!

I had a clean manuscript. I attribute this to a good editor. Publishers don't want to train a writer but like one that cares what their manuscript looks like. If the writer doesn't care, neither will the publisher. I have to mention that even with her telling me that...my hard copy looked like it had been marinated in red ink!

It was one of those experiences that nothing I could do or tried to do was wrong. It was something The Universe helped me with because it was supposed to be out there for other women. It wasn't about money, fame or any other ego-related issued. It was about giving back to The World because of what I had learned.

So, that is pretty much my little story. If you have any questions I would be tickled to help. I always get more out of it than the woman I'm helping anyway!

Wow, I'm speechless and thats quite an accomplishment for me.

That to me is one of the most impelling stories that I have ever read! Way to go! Congratulations and keep writing.

Sherri

I was thinking of something last night, right before I fell asleep...even if we are never published (something that is sometimes driven by the ego) our written words are still there and sent out into The Universe. They still have just as much meaning even if read by just a few people. My editor is a wonderful writer but had never been published and probably because she spent more time on other writer's words than her own but I still remember some of the pieces she gave me to read and they will always be with me. They helped and inspired me. Maybe we believe that being published adds more value to our words because a few people at a publishing house decide they could make money off our story or insight, but it isn't true. We never know what our writing does for other people and that is where the real value is.

Dianne,
You are so right. I have taught creative writing as an Artist in Residence occasionally. In researching for that, I learned the value of words.
The world was spoken into existence with words and the Holy Spirit is called the "Word." In the original languages of the Bible, 'word' has the same meaning as 'spirit.' "In the beginning was the 'word.'", etc.
If 'word' is the same as spirit then our written words are in some ways our eternal spirit, in that they outlive our physical being.
Maybe just as some evangelize to the world and others are witnesses only to those who observe them in life, some are called to share their words with the world and others are called to share only with those close to them.
It seems that both types of sharing would be equal in the eyes of God.

(Or maybe that's just an excuse for no longer submitting my stuff.)
Onward
smile

[ May 31, 2004, 10:55 AM: Message edited by: smilinize ]

Welcome and congratulations! I was so moved by your story and cannot wait to read your book. It's wonderful to meet a Thriver.

You "girls" are so sweet. I have to tell you that I've checked out all of your websites and I'm really, really impressed! What a ton of talent on this site! Wow! All of you should be very proud.