I'd never thought of myself as a writer until I read Julia Cameron's The Writer's Way. It had been recommended to my husband as a must read for an aspiring writer. The next Saturday, we picked up a copy at our local Barnes and Noble, and I loved it. Those morning pages, which she calls "brain drain," became a ritual for me. Her words inspired me, gave me courage, and fueled a dormant desire to write for publication I had never considered as even a remote possibility for my future. That was the beginning for me. 

Since then, I've been working at it for about nine years. I need to add that during this time, I also learned how to use a computer with a little frustrating-at-times help from my husband. The more I learned, the more I realized just how much I didn't know. So I enrolled in Jerry B. Jenkins Christian Writers Guild Apprentice Course. I recommend it for anyone who would like an overview of the world of writing which includes working one on one with a professional mentor. Submitting for publication was another thing. It took more courage than I could imagine. Sometimes I think, did I write that! I do know this, it is a never-ending journey.

For now, writing is God's calling for me at this stage in my life. And my heart is stuck in the short story. Maybe some day I'll venture into a book, but for now, I love the short story.