As I move through the weeks after Feisty Family Values was released (Feb. 17) and promote the book, one of the joys comes with meeting new readers.  Yesterday evening I had the pleasure of visiting with a bakers dozen of residents from Highland House, an apartment complex for mature folks.  We had a great time talking about the story, our favorite authors, where each of us are from, our families and writing.  There were other published authors in the group as well as a couple who are thinking about writing. One woman said she “really admired the imagination it must take to write a novel.”

It’s been said that everyone has a story in them, just not all of us set out to write and finish them on the page.  I think that we all have many stories to tell and if you want to write, you should do it, for whatever reason that compels you.  I wanted to be published.  Not everyone does.  I have a very good friend who loves to write poetry.  She shares it with her family in letters and cards and has no desire to publish. She writes from her heart and doesn’t want to share it with everyone, just those she chooses.

One of the ladies last night published her memoir for her family so that the stories wouldn’t be lost.  We get so busy with our day-to-day lives that we forget to ask our parents and grandparents to share the stories of their youth.  A lot has happened in the last couple of generations and those stories must not be lost.

If you don’t know where to begin, I suggest a writer’s group.  There are some really great ones out there.  Here locally we have the Kansas Writers Association, the Kansas Author’s Club and many genre driven groups for mystery, sci-fi, romance and children’s literature.  Above all, don’t be afraid.  Sometimes the words on the page are intimidating, but don’t let them be that way. That is your inner critique poking it’s nose in where it really has no say.  Write your story and then let the critique come in and help you polish it up.  Find a community of writers to share the experience with, because I can tell you right now, only a writer understands the journey a writer goes through.

And when it’s done you may have the opportunity to share it with wonderful readers out there.  Best of luck and enjoy the ride!