Celebrating a New Career as an Author by Pat Nichols

Five years ago, a tragedy compelled me to open my computer and type “chapter one” for the first time. Twelve months later I finished a novel based on our God daughter’s life, but with a happy ending. Although I made a ton of novice mistakes, the experience ignited a passion I couldn’t ignore and compelled me to transition from retirement to career number two as a writer.

On January 10, my debut novel—the third book I’ve written—was released. It’s a humbling and thrilling experience to know friends and strangers will read words I’ve written and take a journey with characters who seem so real to me I sometimes want to invite them to dinner. One day when my husband and I parked beside a truck, I glanced out the window and said “That’s what Charlie drives.” Tim smiled. He knew I was referring to a character in my book.

In addition to discovering that a writer lives in two worlds—the one around us and the one inside our heads—I’ve learned some important lessons. Beginning with the enormous value of feedback. Whether it’s from beta readers, editors, or contest judges, embracing it has taken my writing to exciting new levels.

I’ve also discovered that three skills I honed during my twenty-seven-year corporate career serve me well in my new venture. During the creative process no one tells us what to do or when to do it. We have to set our own schedule and have the discipline to stick to it. Whether it’s for thirty minutes or eight hours, writing something five days a week is critical.

The second skill is goal setting. For me it’s writing 1000 words a day and devoting forty-five minutes to marketing. My corporate career conditioned me to exceed goals whenever possible. I do the same with publisher’s deadlines, which gives me wiggle room when life throws unexpected curves.

Next is multi-tasking. In the business world I had to juggle meetings, interviews, hiring, training staff, paper work … you get the picture. As a novelist it’s writing, editing, studying, developing relationships, attending meetings, pitching. Then there’s the which WIP am I working on? Published authors are often marketing one book, editing a second, and writing a third. It’s crazy. It’s also important to understand that perfection is something to strive for yet is never achieved. There is always more to learn.

This journey is one I will continue until God takes me home. I thank Him for putting my feet on this path and pray my experience will prove that age is irrelevant and it’s never too late to follow your dreams.

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Pat Nichols launched career number two as a novelist, proving it’s never too late to follow your dreams. Drawing on years of corporate experience working with hundreds of amazing women from all walks of life, she creates stories about women who face challenges in the pursuit of their dreams. She lives in an Atlanta suburb with her husband of fifty plus years, is the mother of two, and grandmother of three. She is grateful for God’s blessings and unfailing love through all of life’s peaks and valleys.

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The Long Haul by Robin Lee Hatcher

When I began writing my first novel in March 1981, I wasn't thinking about a writing career or what might come next. To be honest, I wasn't even thinking about the possibility of it being published. I simply had a story in my head and heart that would not let go of me, and finally I sat down with legal pad and pen and I began writing.

I finished that book in 1981, and I sold it to a small New York publisher in 1982. It was released in 1984. Who I Am with You, a Legacy of Faith novel, came out last week. It's my 79th release.

Many years. Many books.

So how does a writer stay in it for the long haul? For me, the key has been to always write the story that has captured my imagination. Many times through the years I've heard someone ask a writer (including me), "Have you written the book of your heart?" My response to that question is, "Every book is a book of my heart. Otherwise, how could I stand to be immersed in it for days, weeks, and months at a time?"

A writer should also be open to new possibilities in their writing. My first books were historical sagas. Those soon morphed into historical romances. As a history buff and a diehard romantic, I never thought I would write anything other than historical romances. But the day came when an idea for a contemporary women's fiction would not let go of my heart.

It was scary to move out of my comfort zone, but there was no denying that this novel had to be a contemporary and had to have God at the very center of it. That book became The Forgiving Hour, my 31st release. In the years since, I've written many more contemporary and historical novels. My new series, Legacy of Faith, is a blend of both—time-slip novels.

Finally, the way a novelist stays in it for the long haul is to remember to have a life. It's easy to stay in one's imaginary world. But if we are to have anything worthwhile to share with readers, we must be experiencing the world around us. So remember to turn off your computer, step away from your desk, and live. Your readers will thank you for it.

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Best-selling novelist Robin Lee Hatcher was first published in 1984. There are over five million

copies of her books in print. She is known for her heartwarming and emotionally charged stories of faith, courage, and love.

Robin is an ACFW Carol Award winner and an eight-time finalist and has won two RITA® Awards and been a finalist eleven times. Her numerous other awards include the Christy Award, the HOLT Medallion, the National Reader’s Choice Award, and the Faith, Hope & Love Reader’s Choice Award. She is also the recipient of prestigious Lifetime Achievement Awards from both American Christian Fiction Writers and Romance Writers of America®.

Even Though You're Not Published... by Susan Tuttle

Susan Tuttle

About two weeks ago Sherri Shackelford wrote this amazing post here titled Writing is My Job, Really. It was one of those posts where you nod your way through it, adding a moment of laughter or a “yes” along the way. When I finished I shared it on other social media sites because as a writer I completely agreed with her points. Then I heard the question, “But what about those of us who aren’t published yet? Is it still our job?” 

I can’t say the question was a surprise. In the back of my mind (and sometimes the front—just ask my husband) I wonder the same thing. Even while I was nodding my head with Sherri’s post, a little voice inside kept saying the same thing, “This doesn’t apply until you’re published.” 

Can we all just agree to squash that voice? We’ve all heard it. For some of us it might be louder, for others it’s a continued quiet whisper, but its impact is all the same. It undermines that which we are called to do. If we want to move forward in our writing career, it is going to take work. It’s going to be our job, even when we aren’t getting paid for it. And we’ll need to approach it as such if we want others to see it that way—and**spoiler alert**even when we do see it as a job, others still might not. 

But that’s all part of this writing life. We cannot change how those around us see our writing, we can only change how we approach it. The only guarantee? If you don’t take it serious, those around you won’t either. 

So map out a schedule. Put it in ink and stick to it. I’ve found there are days I can block off a few hours and days where I only find thirty minutes—whatever it is, claim it. Find a writing space; the library, coffee shop, or your bedroom with the door locked. Invest in books that will hone your writing craft, and spend time reading them and applying what you learn. Join a writer’s group or critique group to thicken your skin. Getting your work torn apart—no matter how constructively—is never fun but always helpful (and I like to think it prepares you for the inevitable bad review some day.) 

Bottom line? It doesn’t matter how others see your writing career—it is just that, a career. This is just one stage of it. It’s a long road to publication, but if you don’t start honing your craft and taking it seriously, you’ll never get there. And with every habit you create you’re only making yourself a better writer who will be that much more prepared when the day finally comes. 

Don’t give in. Don’t give up. And don’t call it a hobby—it’s your job, really.

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Susan Tuttle is a homeschooling mom of three who is crazy about coffee, dark chocolate, and words—both reading and writing them. Combine that love of words with her passion for leading women to a life-changing encounter with Christ, and you’ll find her crafting Inspirational Contemporary Romance stories laced with humor, love, and healing transformations. When not cheering on her Ironman hubby, chasing the family dog, or tackling complex math problems to teach her kids (yes, even the third grader), you can catch Susan at her blog, Steps.