The Fear and Triumph of Sharing My Personal Journey Through Writing.

When I embarked on writing my book, I worried about what people would think. 

• "Is this just another run-of-the-mill self-help book? 

• Will anyone actually find it interesting? 

• What if my stories draw criticism or end up offending some readers?" 

These are all thoughts that have entered my head. Shoot, they still enter my head daily. I questioned my ability to tackle such a project, as it proved to be far more challenging than I anticipated.

Despite having experience in writing for both local and national publications within the technical and business realms, sharing my personal journey marked a departure from my comfort zone. My background includes writing technical documents for training purposes and even crafting a satirical piece on local fashion trends with a friend for a local newspaper when I was younger—a project far from anything fashion-forward on my part. Exposing my vulnerabilities and personal experiences in a space where others could scrutinize my lows and highs was a whole new territory for me.

To combat this, I had to permit myself to write freely, embracing imperfections along the way. My book's editor advised me to write as if I were journaling, reassuring me that perfection could be addressed later. This approach somewhat eased my creative blocks. 

In essence, transitioning from precise, structured writing to laying bare my personal struggles and insights has been a significant leap, requiring a shift in mindset and a willingness to expose my authentic self to my readers. I look forward to completing this journey with you.