For a few years now, I knew I would write a book and I had a collection of poems that I wanted to publish too.

Unfortunately, I lost most of my poems and so the desire to compile more waned with time.  Sometime in 2021, I planned to start the writing journey, but never had the motivation and each time I planned to start, I got sidetracked.

It was in 2022, I visited the CLC bookshop and saw the wide variety of local books that my interest was quickened again and also after my sister-in-law, Kawira Baraka, had her children’s devotional book published and highlighted in the social media that I saw myself actually writing.

Time passed and I did not act on my plans until later in 2023 at the CLC bookshop once again, I made the decision and followed it up with signing up for the next writing class, encouraged by Dr. Muthoni Omukhango. This time I was intentional about it and paid up and started the classes diligently early this year.

The first month was exciting, learning new things and actually writing. I am old school and prefer the art of handwriting and I so enjoyed it, following the instructions we received in class.

I set up my writing area and a time table and for the first month all was good. I would even write for longer than the time I’d planned to.

Then I hit a block. I was writing on a very difficult part of my life and the emotions provoked in me were overwhelming, I just wanted to run away and hide. I got to process grief that I had not faced yet and writing became more of a chore than a delight.

I thank God for holding me up and enabling me to keep writing plus my son and daughter who kept cheering me on, even offering to type for me.

There was another snag in my writing journey, the typing. It took me forever to type and when I would transcribe, my emotions would be triggered all over again and I would take breaks every few minutes.

I thank God for our coaches who did not give up on me despite my challenges. The tips they shared with us were also very helpful and the best one was to always ask Holy Spirit to help, He always did.

Now that I have a manuscript ready, I am looking forward to even more writing, Holy Spirit helping me.