One year ago, today I set out to start a blog to create a place where you could find faith inspired books and articles for encouragement. For years, I had been posting inspirational quotes on my Instagram page, so this was nothing new to me. What was new to me was realizing how much I truly loved it. The more I wrote, the more I wanted to write. I fell in love with writing all over again. Writing pieces that touch others make my heart sing.
Whether you’ve been with me all year or just started following me. Thank you so much for reading my blog. Thank you for your likes, comments and shares. They mean the world to me. My writing critique partner Stephanie once said that my articles sound like we are sitting around having a conversation. Well to that I say, grab a cup of tea, coffee or your favorite beverage because I’ve only just begun.
During a writing event, I once asked a best-selling author how I could write a novel while working a full-time job. Without thinking about it, they replied, You can’t. This person dismissed me as if I took up too much of their time. They had crushed my lifelong dream like a tin can. Being unmarried means that I have to work to support myself. That made me feel even worse.
I wanted not to believe that answer because in my heart I know writing is who I am, just like my name, Desiree Future. Writing novels, blogs, newsletters and anything else is truly time-consuming because you must continue to learn to get better at it. It is true, it’ll keep you extremely busy. When I self-published my two novels, I was working a full-time job and raising my son (he’s grown now). I wore at least ten different hats as an Indie publisher, and it was really tiring.
Feeling overwhelmed and exhausted, I removed my books from their online presence as they weren’t one hundred percent me. They were bits and pieces of me because it stretched me so far. I put away all my other writings and such, but yet I kept going back to them. Then I heard a pastor say if you put something down and it keeps coming back to you time and time again, then it’s a gift from God.
Well, I picked up my writing again and here I am with an almost completed contemporary romance novel (I’m in the editing stage now). As of this moment, I have this blog with about thirteen followers, but I’m trusting God for thirteen hundred. By becoming a member of ACFW (American Christian Fiction Writers), joining a critique group within my local chapter of ACFW, attending writing events and writing conferences, I am learning more about my craft. I’m doing all of this while still working my full-time job. Luke 1:37 For nothing is impossible with God.
Have you ever had a time in your life when you needed to start over again? You want to fix the terrible thing that caused hurt and despair. You think back, you can see what you did wrong. However, God is the only one who can turn the hands of time.
Your failed marriage that crashed like a runaway train without brakes. The business that was going to make you rich left you penniless. A dream beach home of yours left your money in sinking sand. The relationship where you assumed you could mold and create your perfect mate turned into dust. You beat yourself up knowing you should have done better.
Every day, people experience setbacks from errors, myself included. For years, I was my worst enemy, berating myself for my mistakes. Talking to God, I asked why awful things happened to me. Not understanding why I endured the pain and struggles. I had questions for God. He answered by telling me to look around. As I did, I looked directly at my wall décor that I created with paint and flowers. It took me several tries to complete the style I was looking for in that piece. At first, I couldn’t comprehend it, then I realized every storm I went through was making me a stronger woman. Strong enough to start my own blog and write a novel which I just finished (Now for the rewrites 😊). Fierce enough to attend the movies, theater, and other places alone. Secure enough to admit my faults.
Failure is a part of growing because you learn lessons to make better decisions. No one can rewrite the past, but with God’s grace, it makes living for the future much better.
Desiree Future *Hope, Faith & A Smile* 