This week we're pulling up a chair for @Joanna Kasner, a VIP member who is writing a brave book! Here's a little about her and the book she's pouring herself into. Joanna's book, Born to a Stranger, is an autobiography told through the eyes of a fourteen-year-old girl who had to grow up before she was ready. She raised four beautiful boys, and she learned life right alongside them. In between the trauma and the tears were moments of growth, joy, laughter, and real adventure, and those are the moments she is putting on the page. She is writing for Gen-X readers who raised children and for anyone who has ever felt unheard or unseen. The nudge to begin writing her memoir came from the people who know her best. At a family barbecue, her three granddaughters, ages 23, 20, and 18, started reminiscing about their lives together, and they told her, "Grandma, you should write about your life experiences." A few conversations later, she began to write. What keeps her going is what writing gives her. It has empowered her to step out of her comfort zone by being honest and vulnerable on the page. That same vulnerability is also the hardest part of the journey. Writing about the raw, unflinching moments of her life is not easy, and when it gets heavy, she reaches out to her family for strength and encouragement. They remind her why she needs to keep moving forward. Inside the community, one idea shifted how she approaches her whole book. A line from fellow member @John Elcik became a turning point for her: the idea that you can be honest without becoming unguarded, and personal without making the reader carry your emotions, staying vulnerable enough to build trust while still holding a little back for yourself. That balance changed the way she writes her most tender chapters. Her advice for the writer who is sitting on a book idea and hasn't started yet is simple and worth sitting with. Ask yourself two questions. Why do you want to write this book, and how important is it to you?

Hey everyone, let's give a big hello to @Kevin Tumlinson @Justin Harris @Elizabeth Bautista @Alyssa Cole @Rachel Harmsworth ! We're thrilled you joined our community. This is a welcoming crew of writers, dreamers, and published authors, so come on in. Pop a comment below, say "Hi", and tell us a bit about yourself and the book taking shape in your mind. Whether you're just starting out or well on your way, this is where you belong. New members: make sure to head over to the classroom and complete the Start Here course. This will walk you through our community to help you get the most value from your time here. Once you’ve completed the course, you can download your FREE Self-Publishing Guide! https://www.skool.com/publishing-for-professionals-9809/classroom So glad you're here! 🦫

Write with Me will be postponed. However, it's coming back with a new date and time starting October 8th! Take the poll below and let me know if you plan on coming. Post in the comments what you want to work on this fall. Then sign up for this Freemium event!

This is your weekly invitation to step into this community and share what you have been working on. Every word written, every decision made, and every step forward counts. Drop your win below and watch this community rally behind you. 📖🦫

Wow! We covered deep author topics at today's Author's Brew! Our conversation ranged through a variety of topics, including being judged as an author or writer, imposter syndrome, and the mindset shift that happens when you realize you're a writer or author. Sharing your message with the world doesn't simply mean publishing your book; it's also about your experience, how you present yourself as an author, and what that means to each of us. Join in next week! We chat every Thursday at 11am PST / 2pm EST. Not a Premium member yet? Join for only $9 a month, less than the cost of feeding your cat for one week, by clicking the About section at the top of our community and choosing the Premium membership.