Right writing, Am I an Author Yet?

   Exactly one year ago I retired from teaching with aspirations of becoming a published author. I really had no idea of what I was getting myself into. I was sure that I was going to write the most thought provoking, meaningful devotional book on the market today.
   Well, like any person that starts an adventure without a map or a plan, I've hit a few curbs. I had no idea that English was not my first language and when  my editor friends sent most of my work to "sleep with the fishes", I had to remember the words of  Vito Corleone-" Its not personal its business."
     Assembling all those inspirational thoughts to make sense was like putting a blank puzzle together and you decide what the picture will look like. I usually get my inspiration at the most inconvenient times too. I'm either driving down the road, or its three in the morning when I'm staggering back from the bathroom or my favorite time is when I'm in the shower.
   These thoughts are all written out on things like old napkins, used envelopes, my bathroom mirror or tiny pieces of torn paper.
   I wasn't prepared for all the questions people ask either. What's your platform? Have you written a synopsis? Have you put together a manuscript? What about a writers page? Who's your editor? Do you have an agent? When will your book be published? To all these questions there is a long pause as I figure it all out in my head, my usual answer is "um."
   My routine is in need of a little tweaking too. I usually sit, blank faced in front of the computer and pray for something to flow from my brain to my fingers. After about ten minutes Facebook, Pintrest or Travelocity get the best of me and I am completely sidetracked.
  Writing is not as glamorous or as easy as I thought it would be but I do love it and look forward to the day I see my book on the bookshelf at the local library.


This is my chosen official Author picture, don' I look official?     This is how the process really looks.