Guest Post from author Chris Minich

The latest guest post comes from author and friend Chris Minich. Chris took my 12-week writing course in the fall of 2013. A year and a few months later, his first book was released. THE MISADVENTURES OF PRINCESS SIDNEY was started in my class. I’d love to take all the credit, but as all writers know, the only person who can make your dreams come true is you. #ButtInSeat

The real Sydney, above, is available for guest appearances. She also answers to either “Princess” or “Sydney”. Sometimes she steals butter from the counter, but don’t tell her parents.

In this beautiful post Chris writes about his journey from dream to reality. Enjoy.

P.S. This sweet book is the perfect gift for your middle grade daughter or son. Comes in paperback and ebook.

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Let Your Dream Command

I received a message this week to write a guest blog for my mentor and friend Tess Thompson. She is an amazing author, teacher and mother to her two girls. When asked for a subject Tess noted something like, “what motivated you to start writing? What held you back before you plunged in and did it?”

My love for “creative writing” began in high school. I took an English class one semester where we worked on the writing process ­­– finally a creative free flowing outlet to express my thoughts and ideas. Well, an outlet that was critiqued and graded each week. I can still see all the notes in red on my homework assignments. I had a lot to learn, still do, but I was encouraged. Encouragement is sometimes all it takes. It just took a little longer for me. I was in high school and life continued and the writing never made it past short poems or stories for my amusement. Okay, it was the late eighties so they weren’t poems so much as “lyrics.” I still have them somewhere in the garage. To be honest, I wanted to be a mixture of Jon Bon Jovi and Eddie Van Halen. I just didn’t have a band, couldn’t sing and I only knew three chords on guitar. You see the problem here? I ended up with a mullet, yes Janelle I said it, and no outlet for a lingering passion. It wasn’t my time. I had the spark, just not the muse.

My muse showed up in the form of this beautiful girl I met in the fall of 2007. She made me feel alive. As we got to know each other and developed a relationship, I started to write again. Leaving her messages on post it notes, birthday or Christmas cards. After several months of dating, I decided I wanted to marry her. How to do it? Well, I decided to express my feelings, in words. I wrote a letter to her, the words just coming out of me. Just before I got on one knee, I read the letter to my soon to be bride. That yearning to express myself I felt so many years earlier came alive in me again. I continue to this day writing about my beautiful wife. She has always told me I had a talent for words and I should do something about it. There it was again, encouragement.

My wife developed a new friendship with a local writer in our area. I met Tess about two years ago when a love of French food and Julia Child brought her and my wife together for a meal at our house. As we got to know each other, I learned through my wife that Tess was offering a writing class. Reluctant at first I was unsure if I should take the class. I’d had the itch before. Maybe I wasn’t good enough? Where I had lacked confidence in the past to pursue that creative part of me, this time I decided to go for it. I’m glad I did. For a couple of months I met Tess at her house once a week to learn more about writing. The words began to come out of me. Each week I started to write more and more. However, this time it wasn’t just a poem. With Tess’s help, I learned how to structure a story and create characters. I felt alive sitting at my keyboard. The weekly homework assignments turned into the basis of a story that would become my first book. Last month my dream of becoming an author became a reality when Misadventures of Princess Sydney became available. That’s a long way from creative writing in high school.

I learned one key thing from Tess that will stick with me for the rest of my life. For motivation, “write what you know.” I have very special people/dogs in my life and they inspire me every day. It took me a long time to figure out that I was holding myself back. Well, for better or worse, I’ve let it go. All you need is a little encouragement.