It’s a question I get asked a lot, and it’s a big reason why I’m so passionate about helping women pursue their dreams, push past obstacles and take little steps, too. :)

I sat there at a conference listening to the speaker (who was an author) share a story about a woman who had come up to her and told her she wished she could be a writer like she was. When I heard that, my heart stirred. Because I wanted to be a writer, too. In elementary school, I wrote stories that got published in an anthology my school district printed, and in high school I loved writing essays and papers. So how was it that years later, sitting at that conference, I found myself so far away from writing? I dreamed of becoming an author, but that dream had been put up on a shelf… and seemed so far off.

As the speaker talked about the woman who dreamed the same thing, I sat on the edge of my seat. And when she shared her response, it struck me…

“Just start,” she said. “Whether it’s five minutes a day, or ten. Just start writing. And then you are a writer.”

It was one of the most freeing things I’d heard. I didn’t have to long to write, or just dream of it. I didn’t have to imagine what it would be like or worry that I’d already missed my chance…

All I had to do was start. So I did. Sometimes I wrote ten minutes a day because that’s all I had. And some days I wrote more. It wasn’t easy, believe me, but nothing worthwhile is. But years later, after many rejection letters and after signing my first book contracts, I’m more thankful than ever that I didn’t let that dream pass me by. And that I didn’t give up.

Becoming an author didn’t happen overnight, but it did happen – little step by little step. Which is one of the reasons I’m so passionate about helping women pursue their dreams, too. Because there’s nothing quite like following that tug on your heart, believing in yourself, finding your true voice and stepping into your purpose.