From Dream to Draft: The Rollercoaster of Writing My First Book (And What Comes Next!)

Writing a book has been something I’ve thought about for a couple of years now. The idea has been sitting in the back of my mind, poking at me, but it was always something for “someday.” You know how that goes. Life gets in the way, and big projects like writing a book often get pushed off. But finally, I reached a point where I knew it was time to stop thinking about it and actually do it.

The process wasn’t as straightforward as I imagined. At first, I was just excited to get my thoughts down on paper. I had this outline that seemed like the perfect roadmap. But, as I started writing, the ideas shifted. Some chapters seemed to work better in different places, and entire sections had to be scrapped or reimagined. I spent countless hours revising, moving pieces around like a puzzle, trying to make sure everything fit just right. It’s funny, after all that time, I eventually found myself circling back to the original layout I started with. This taught me that sometimes your first instinct is the right one.

The revisions were grueling at times. I can’t even count how many drafts I went through, but each one got me closer to what I really wanted the book to say. It’s tough to keep going when you’ve read the same words over and over again, and they start to lose meaning. You wonder, “Is this even good?” or “Will anyone care about what I have to say?”

And then comes the part that nobody really talks about—the nerves. The moment I sent my final draft off to the publisher was terrifying. I felt this weird mix of excitement and anxiety, knowing it was out of my hands and all I could do now was wait. Waiting to hear back from the publisher is nerve-wracking, to say the least. Will they love it? Will they suggest more changes? I guess that’s part of the journey, too. I just need to let go and trust the process.

Now, as I wait for the next steps, I can’t help but look ahead. My book, BECOMING A MODERN MENTOR, is set to come out early next year (fingers crossed). It’s been a long journey, but I’m thrilled to see where it goes. Stay tuned for more updates—I’ll definitely have more to share as we get closer to the release date.

If you’ve ever thought about writing a book yourself, my advice is this: stick with it. The process is full of twists and turns, but there’s nothing like the feeling of getting your ideas out into the world. Thanks for following along on this journey with me!

Michael