by DiAnn Mills @DiAnnMills

Writers seldom become successful and create a marketable book—overnight. At least that wasn’t my experience. Highways, speed bumps, and traffic lights are a part of the writing life. The victories and triumphs are waylaid with rejection slips, disappointments, and lots of rewrites. But when the first sale is made, we writers know it’s worth every obstacle.

My journey began in 1996 when my husband gave me the ultimate challenge.

“Stop telling me you’re going to one day write a book. Do it now. Quit your job, and if you can get anything published in the next year, then you never have to go back.”

I’m not a big person, but the cliché that dynamite comes in small packages fits my temperament. And I could not refuse his dare. “All right. I will.” I’d sensed for a long time God wanted me to write, and I’d done so since a second grader. But an itch to create stories is a whole lot different from actually taking the necessary steps to make it happen.

The “I will” said to my husband meant I needed to approach my writing career as a novelist, not only to fulfill my dreams but to also look at my new position as a business. More importantly, writing to me was a ministry, a means of showing a character doing life and solving problems from a Christian worldview—not preaching, but allowing a reader to become immersed into a character’s life who had a spark of something foreign to worldview thinkers. 

The first day in my writing career was met with lots of paper and a pencil, and I spent time in a lot of erasing. Being a newbie, a huge word count was writing 500 words per day. That goal became an action item in the DiAnn Mills’ plan. 

Did I mention I had to learn how to use a computer? My husband worked in the computer industry, and he gave me patient instruction. Good thing, because I needed patience!

The final outline looked something like this, and I added some clarification for those of you reading this:

1. Priorities: God, my husband, my family, and my writing. In that order.
2. Develop a mission statement—This is unique for every writer.         
3. Write 500 words per day. Stay in the chair until it is done.
4. Read every day from a how-to book.
5. Read from the genre I want to write.
6. Read from the bestseller list—the Christian and the General market top sellers.
7. Search out a writer’s group and become an active participant.

The seven items were simple, but they kept me busy more than eight hours a day. As time went on, I watched movies to discover plot points, characterization and dialogue. Whenever in public and I heard witty dialogue, I jotted it down. 

When I realized I needed a critique partner, I started a group in my home. All I needed was writers, freshly baked cookies, coffee, and an open heart. For ten years Wordsmith met once a month. Each person brought 4 copies of 3 – 5 double spaced pages. We broke down into groups of 4, and each writer was permitted 15 minutes to read and allow the rest of the foursome to make encouraging suggestions. I learned so much.

A passion rose in me to give back to serious writers whatever I learned. That criteria remains today as I continue to mentor. One of the valuable lessons I’ve learned is when to say no to the demands of my schedule. That one was tough!

Over the years, I adjusted my style and thinking according to changes in the publishing industry. If I believed a character grew into a better person by dealing appropriately with change, then I must apply the principle to my own writing. I courted an agent who was highly respected in the industry, and now she is my friend. I shared my dreams and goals of wanting to write suspense with a thread of romance. She believed in me, and I worked hard.

Social media rose as a prominent means of reaching others around the world. The community of the worldwide web excited me as a means of making friends, helping others, and growing my relationship with those whom I’d never met. Participation in social media is a ministry to share information—to inspire, encourage, and make others laugh. If the message morphed into something about me, then I have lost my focus. Rick Warren’s statement, “It’s not about me,” stayed fixed in my mind.

In case you’re wondering, during that first year of determined writing, I sold devotionals, a short story, and a novel. Never went back to the old job.

The past over twenty years have been well worth my husband’s challenge. He’s my best cheerleader and nightmare editor. Truthfully, he’s a great editor. There have been times I’ve cried and given up, but those downers have been short lived. Publishers have guidelines and their needs differ from house to house. In fact, he now helps me full time.

The search for a story’s home is a journey. Slide into your vehicle, fasten your seatbelt, and ready yourself for the ride of your life.