A lot of people ask how I made the leap from being a television news reporter to writing books. The truth is, those that know me best were beyond shocked when I went into journalism in the first place.
“It’s the biggest fire ever!” my friend Tod launched into a ridiculous imitation of me when I announced I was taking a job as a news reporter. That’s because from the time I was young I’ve been known as a storyteller – but not necessarily the stately, calm cool and collected type that would pursue journalism.
I leaned more toward the high energy, recount tales with verve type.
In second grade, Mrs. Lauderdale would get so frustrated with my talking, she would grab the front of my little wooden desk and fling me — with amazing accuracy — into the corner as a punishment.
I was also a voracious reader, which paid off at my first couple of journalism jobs. Like many of the wonderful characters I read about, I became quite crafty at getting a story. The problem was, I wanted to work in television and my presentation skills were lacking. Early in my career, an assistant news director threw a shoe at the TV during my live shot!
I hung in there, taking voice lessons and studying the business day and night. I proved at each station that I was good at investigating and along the way, my delivery improved. I worked my way through a CBS station, an ABC station and a unique UPN/CBS combo affiliate. I even worked freelance for CNN, back when it was still neutral news. During that rough, often tearful period, I LOVED news reporting, but at the same time, I always wanted to write a book.
My mom declared when I was very young that I would be an author and the words resonated within my soul constantly. The problem was, discipline alluded me. I know now, the secret to being a successful writer is to write. I would plan to write. I took classes in writing. I sought out apartments that had ideal writing spaces. I somehow never put pen to paper or fingers to keyboard.
And here’s what’s really interesting – when I finally did – I couldn’t embellish! I never had the strongest news career on the planet. I divorced at a young age and shifted to corporate communication work to pay the bills. Without my knowledge, the combination of just-the-facts jobs robbed me of my story telling ability. I could not spin a yarn if I tried. In journalism and corporate writing, adjectives are frowned upon. When I first joined Ford Motor Company I worked on an in-house news show. The company, facing a minor quality issue, parked several shipments of sedans at an amusement park. New on the job, I wrote with zest: “Cedar Point is closed for the season, but the parking lot’s packed!” The copy came back from an executive review so bloody you could not discern a single word on the page. Attached, was the proposed new copy: “In an unwavering move to ensure quality, Ford Motor Company is voluntarily holding vehicles…” yadda, yadda. You get the point.
Over the years I’ve worked with great people and traveled to amazing places. I realized that my greatest gift was motivating people. I focused my corporate efforts on motivational training. In immersing myself in materials to help others, I helped myself obtain my own goal. The one I held dear since I was seven-years-old: to write a book.
Like sewing, writing is a craft. I apologize to any and all who read early drafts. Early versions were so bad, I could have thrown my own shoes at the computer screen. Slowly, creaky creative muscles are awakening. Luckily they were sleeping, not chased away completely. And thankfully, I woke up and took this calling seriously. I’ve always felt blessed that I’ve lived a full and great life, but I’ve never felt quite so fulfilled as I do now — creating fun, witty and engaging stories.