I want to write a book.

But I don’t feel quite ready to prioritize the writing given other things that are going on in my work and life.

Even though I am not ready to set aside the time to write the book, there are other ways I can let my dream know I am listening.

I would hate for my dream to feel ignored😊.

I can do this by preparing the ground for when I am ready and the time is right to write.

And if I decide at some point that I do not want to write a book, that is OK too.

None of this time I am spending honoring the current dream will be wasted. I’ll be learning things along the way. I’ll be feeding the desire to fulfill the dream or diminishing the desire, in both cases that’s good.

How I’m Getting Ready to Write—Even Without Writing (Yet!).

• I read … a lot!

• When I read, I’m now looking at things a little bit differently. I still find pleasure in reading but I am also paying attention to how the author takes the reader through their story. How do they start a chapter? How do they end the chapter? How do they build curiosity, fear or excitement? What structure do they use – long chapters, diary form, very short chapters? I figure that the type of books I like to read may be the type of book I would like to write.

• I’ve been attending author nights where the authors read from their books and answer questions. Recently I have seen Kristin Hannah, David Sedaris, Jodi Picoult, Martha Beck, Elizabeth Gilbert and others. This helps me learn how they come up with their story ideas. How they research their stories if they do? How they structure their writing time? What they do when they run into writer’s block?

• I attended a three-day workshop through Hay House. They publish authors who are writing books that are more like what I am thinking about writing. Through this workshop, I learned more about how they select authors to publish and walked through the path from writing the book to editing, finding an agent and getting published vs. self-publishing.

• I joined a writing club that meets twice a month. We read what we have written or, should I say, they read what they have written since I have written nothing! Then folks give feedback and ideas on what people have read, which teaches me a lot.

• I am in a book club. This helps with my dream to write a book because I get to hear how different readers interpret an author’s writing. They have strong opinions!

• I hired someone to help me create an outline for my book that I may or may not use. Even if I do not use it, I felt good getting my thoughts into an organized format. I had so many ideas swirling around, and it felt overwhelming. Now I have more clarity on next steps.

Nurturing Your Career Dream

Do you have a career dream that you are not quite ready to pursue but you don’t want to ignore it either?

You know there’s a job change or career pivot in your future but it’s not the highest priority right now.

Life is happening.

At the same time, you know your career dream deserves some level of attention because otherwise you could keep pushing it further down the road until the career dream ends up in the rear view. You do not want that to happen.

3 Simple Ways to Prepare for a Career Pivot.

Keeping your dream alive doesn’t require lots of effort. Just a bit of attention is all it needs. Try these 3 things:

1. Write an Ideal Role Description. Dream up your future role in detail and look for small ways to bring it to life now.

2. Read Career Pivot Stories. Learn how others made the leap—it’ll inspire your own path. Check out this pivot story: Hammer Head: The Making of a Carpenter by Nina MacLaughlin.

3. Join Career Alchemy Academy. Like a writing group for your career, Career Alchemy Academy keeps your dream alive—surrounded by community, support, and inspiration.

Whether your next move is just around the corner or still a distant dream, don’t let it fade into the background. Let your Career Dream know it matters—by preparing the ground today for what’s possible tomorrow.