Bucket list or career switch?

'Sounds like an exciting concept,' said Jelte in April during the 'Release the book in yourself' workshop as we stood together in the hallway leaning against a wall and sparring over my idea. That was the final boost I needed, I was unstoppable!

The adventure began the very next week by contracting Miloe - my writing coach who taught this workshop with Jelte - as an editor-in-chief and consultant, because I really had no idea what was involved in turning an exciting concept into a professional book of value to many. 

'You know what you want, the chances you'll rapidly find a publisher who will work with you to publish 208 pages in full color within a year are very slim,' Miloe kindly helps me out of a dream. 'Then I'll do it myself,' I respond firmly, 'When remodeling our house, I didn't choose a contractor either, but arranged the carpenter, plasterer, plumber, electrician and painter myself. So, just tell me what expertise I need to form a professional team myself.'

Now it's for real: after talking to several designers, I choose Rob, who will work with Miloe on how to put the concept into a structure and form that takes what is on my mind to the next level. I put January 11, 2024 in my calendar as the publication date, even though Miloe warns me that that is very ambitious. 

Oops, while planning and counting backwards with the time needed by the printer, designer and editor, it turns out that I indeed have only three months left to write the book, but no way I'm considering changing that date. So I am going on vacation with my husband and my newest love - writing! Fortunately, he is not a jealous type, because a few hours a day I disappear somewhere in the shade with my laptop. 

Back home again, he is also an unspoiled widower all weekends, because when the alarm clock rings around seven, I lock myself in my work-writing room, which I only get out of around dinner time at night. There I write, delete, pick and correct myself dully according to the instructions of Miloe and Johan, a meticulous language corrector with fortunately also humor, so between the countless correction suggestions we laugh a lot together.

'It's my baby after all, so shouldn't lack for care and attention,' on Sunday evening while sitting on the couch, I app Johan as he warns me about the extra cost of a second round of corrections. 'We'll all make it a cloud of a baby!" he replies. 'This sounds a bit doubtful, but the thought behind it is good'. And right he is.

While my first book is still work in progress, I am already dreaming of a second book and can see the alternation between being on the road as a coach working with people and writing about life on my own. I am thinking big and going for a first printing of 2200 copies, so at least with its sales I can recoup the investment in my dream team.

'If I do it I'll do it right!', I keep responding to wellmeant warnings that selling 400 books is ambitious enough for an unknown writer. I am not doing it for just that. I realize it could go two ways; either a very expensive bucket list experience, or a career switch that makes me happy AND allows me to help our kids get a little place of their own. Time will tell.