Moving Forward

We make our plans, and God laughs. That sums up my life in March of 2011. I was working full-time but doing some writing and editing on the side. I began planning to ramp up my efforts with the thought of leaving my news writing job that summer and begin freelance writing full-time. God laughed. On March 31, I was abruptly let go from my position. Four days later, on April 4, 2011, I launched Ficere Writing Solutions with no clients, no money, and just a vague idea of what I wanted to do.

How do I find clients, I wondered? I decided to reach out to my 300 Facebook friends with individual messages telling them what I was doing and asking them, “Who do you know who could benefit from my services?” From that effort, I landed my first client, who commissioned me to write an article for his website about changes in the funeral industry, which is traditionally family-run and slow to change and embrace technology. I was off and running.

From there came newspaper articles, blogs, press releases, scripts, delightful clients, demanding clients, and everything in between. Eventually, I honed in on my passion: Helping others tell their stories, particularly stories of faith and overcoming tremendous obstacles. I began ghostwriting books, editing manuscripts, and narrating and producing audiobooks. God has blessed my efforts into a thriving business that has lasted for 12 years. Along the way, I’ve helped write some amazing stories and met new life-long friends. ?

In 2022, my wife retired after 30 years at the Arizona Department of Public Safety, and I began thinking about my own retirement. After all, I’ve been working since I was 16 and was now approaching 70. Should I retire? If so, when? Should I continue and just cut back on my workload? In July 2022, I was hit by a car at an intersection while riding my bike. I was taken to a level one trauma center, treated for bruises, abrasions, and a concussion, and sent home. The bike survived, but something inside of me changed. I was reminded of the brevity of life and how quickly time passes. Both my parents were gone. My wife had lost two sisters in a year’s time, and the days and months were flying by. It was time to do some hard thinking about the future.

By the end of 2022, I knew it was time for a change, but I didn’t want to close up shop entirely. So, after much prayer, thought, and counsel, I decided to lighten my load, focusing on manuscript editing and audiobooks and cutting back on the hours in the office. I made the announcement to a group of networking friends and colleagues on March 21, 2023, my 70th birthday. I was happy, sad, nostalgic, apprehensive, and pensive. I will continue taking on projects that speak to my soul and helping others. I will give more time to serving in my community, having fun, traveling, and hanging out with my wife. Life is wonderful. We are blessed by God in life’s journey. I don’t know what this new phase looks like, but I’m confident God has a plan for the road ahead. “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and don’t lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will make your paths straight.” That is my life verse, and I move forward in confidence that God will direct and lead us in our new adventure.

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