I'm still trying to nail down concrete ideas for my book topics. I have about four topic/ titles now. I can't seem to focus on just one. So, I might have to work on four of them simultaneously! It's hard working full-time and wanting to write. I can and do think about writing constantly. Even if I am at work, I can at least think about the books I want to write, and jot down ideas when possible.

So, my latest ideas have to do with my book on missions trips and volunteering. I've changed my focus slightly but think it's a good change. I want to include thoughts and testimonials from people I know who have gone on these trips or volunteered. I think I can use these in the book. So, I am working on that.

I also have a new book idea: a student's guide of Oregon colleges and universities. It would be informational, and useful for high school seniors and current college students. This idea is still preliminary but I think it could work.

So, that's what I'm working on. I may be contacting you if you've been volunteering or gone on a missions trip. Thanks!

Well, I actually had some time to sit down and write today. It took me awhile to actually start but I did. I wrote several pages of notes for my book topic.

I really didn't know where to start. How does someone start writing a book? I think the beginning is the hardest. There are a lot of options I have and decisions to make about writing style, chapter titles, sub-titles, and on and on. I tried to pencil out an outline of the book today. It was hard for me to do it on paper because I am so used to using a computer to write! But I just wanted to write with pen and paper. So it's a messy outline but at least it's a start.

I'm sure I will be editing and revising sections of the book on an ongoing basic. I'm sure I will have others help me with it too. But I got some thoughts down today and it's becoming real.

I hope I can find some more time soon to keep it going. I don't want this project to be put aside like most of them before. But I guess that's why I have this website, to help my readers help me. Keep me on track! Send me messages and comments on my book progress, so I will be urged to keep going!

So, I've wanted to write a book for a long time now. I've actually written books in the past, back when all I had was time and a creative mind! I think I still have various horse stories, and even a children's book about a bee. I even illustrated them then!

So, now I'm getting back to what I've always dreamed of doing - writing a book. A few years ago, I had a book idea and actually did some research. I'm not sure what happened to my motivation or intent. I guess it could be that I was busy studying for my graduate certificate in healthcare administration! I guess that did take up most of my extra time.

My preliminary book ideas or themes are:
Planning a Missions Trip from Start to Finish
Living a New Life: Steps for Women in turning your life around, with focus on God, self-affirmation and successfully reaching your goals and dreams
Early Settlements in Oregon, an in-dept view of pioneer life from the viewpoint of a young woman

My first book idea was to research everything it takes for the average person to plan on going on a mission trip. It was going to be like an Idiot's guide but with a more positive title, ha ha! So, I did some researching online, read some books and even met a few people who talked about missions. I will have to find my notes, and keep this idea going.

My current book idea is more personal but it's something that needs to written. I think there's an audience out there and I hope to write for them. I would like to write a book for women, on how to start a new life, for those who are still struggling to those who have begun to change their life around. I would pull ideas from what I learned in my challenges, mistakes and how I succeeded. I know that when I went through hard times, I felt alone, like there was no one else like me. So, I want to let other women know that they are not alone. I would like to share what I learned, how I turned my life around, give useful information and share my thoughts and my hope.

My other book idea would be a creative non-fiction, taking a moment in history and adding more to it, making it more like a story we can connect to. I've always wanted to write about early life in Oregon, when the pioneer arrived, and the conflict with the native Oregonians. I am also interested in how Oregon and California were a part of Mexico, and how that worked. So, this book idea would take a lot of research but it really interests me.

It feels good to get these thoughts out in the open. I guess that writing them down makes me feel like I'm more committed to writing and researching these ideas.