I’m always amazed that no matter where I go people talk to me about their book ideas. But I shouldn’t be amazed. Part of my purpose here on Earth involves helping people tell their stories, helping them create lives as writers and authors, helping them produce books.
I was at a Jewish renewal conference a week and a half ago…Jeez, has it already been that long since I got back?…and I don’t think a day went by that I didn’t talk to someone about a book they were writing or a book I thought they should write. Inevitably if I said, “I think you should write a book about that,” they responded, “Funny you should mention that…” and continued to tell me about an idea they had for a book.
For years I’ve wanted to write and publish or have published books on human potential, personal growth and practical spirituality from a Jewish perspective (but often pertinent to all people). Two years ago my literary agent asked me to turn my attention to books on writing and publishing. I took her advice. One of the two ideas I gave her was a book about how to blog a book. I’d simply fallen into the idea when I was placed on a panel at a conference by that same name. There were no experts on how to blog a book on the panel, so I became the expert. I started a blog one month before the conference about how to blog a book, and there I blogged a book about how to blog a book–and I finished the core of my book in six months. A few weeks ago I landed my first traditional publishing deal for that very same book and blog, How to Blog a Book.
There was a time when I might have thought this had nothing to do with my purpose. Now, I totally see that it does, and I see that God’s hand was working throughย my agent’s wise advice. By helping people learn to blog their books–or write their books in any way shape or form–I help them create their dreams and tell their stories. I fulfill part of my purpose. As I succeed as in this area publishing myself, I can later turn back to those other books I wanted to write with a track record as a writer and an author, and it will be easier for me to succeed and to help people to create other things in their lives.
As life unfolds, your purpose always shines through. Watch. Listen. Pay attention. What do you do almost every day? Like me talking to people about books and stories, I see that this has become a huge part of my life over the last two years…almost more easily than the more spiritual and self-improvement based topics I felt were at the core of my purpose, the things I also feel passion about.
Helping people tell their stories is a holy task. I see that…and I’ll write more about that in my next post. For now, just know that your purpose is shining through. If you don’t see it, ask others around you if they do. It’s surely clear to someone.
