What I’ve Learned Writing My First Book

When I sat down at my computer nearly two years ago and started writing this story, I never imagined I’d end up here.

I had no plans to start a blog. No intention of launching an Instagram. Honestly, I didn’t even expect to share the story at all. And now? I’m this close to holding a physical copy of my book in my hands – just 11 more chapters to edit. Someone pinch me.

For most of my life, I struggled with feeling like I wasn’t good enough. And truthfully, when I read back through my earliest blog posts, those feelings still creep in. I’ve fought them more times than I can count – and some days, they still win.

More than once, I sat down with my husband and seriously considered quitting. There’s a deep vulnerability in sharing something you’ve poured your heart into. M characters, my world – they carry so much of me in them. Sharing that is terrifying.

But somewhere in the middle of the fear, the second-guessing, and the nights I almost gave up – I started to learn things about myself. About writing. About what it means to keep going even when you’re not sure you can.

What I’ve Learned So Far

I challenged myself to finish, to see it through. And that in part is why this blog exists: to keep myself accountable when quitting felt easier.
Push yourself outside of your comfort zone. I started writing this book in third person as a personal challenge for myself as I always default to first person (still love it, let’s be honest). But life is about growth, and that only happens outside of what you are comfortable with.
You can’t wait until something is perfect, because it never will be. Done is better than perfect.
Not everyone will connect with your work, and that’s okay. The right people will find it, and that will make it all worth it.
There is no set timeline. Some people write books in three months. Others, like me, take years. The pace doesn’t matter. And comparing yourself to others is more damaging and demotivating than you might think. Your story will come when it is ready to. Not a moment sooner.

It’s been a long road to get to where I am today. And it’s not over yet. But I’m really proud to still be here — writing, creating, and sharing this wild little dream with all of you.