I write to express things I usually don’t have the opportunity to speak of in person. More than that, it’s something I do to let others know they are not alone, that someone really understands and has similar chronic illness issues. I recently wrote a devotional for those with chronic illness, such as fibromyalgia. It was a way for me to increase my reach more than I could with a column or blog.

Last May, I invested in myself and took a course on writing and self-publication of books. Let me tell you, at first it was so overwhelming that I almost said, “Forget it.” It took me many months of working on my book before I finished because some weeks I would procrastinate and write nothing, worrying that no one was going to want to read it. Perhaps it wasn’t good enough to publish. Then, I got up the courage and gathered four close friends in the chronic illness community, some who had FM, and asked them to read my rough draft and honestly critique it.

I was deeply encouraged by their feedback and suggestions. I breathed a heavy sigh of relief knowing that others found it to be of value. So, I made some changes and then boldly sent it off to an editor who made some corrections. I approved them and then I was on my way to getting it published. My editor formatted the book for both paperback and ebook, and I hired someone to create a cover. I set up my ebook with Amazon and my paperback through CreateSpace (because they print on demand).

Once I received my proof copy in the mail … well, it’s hard to describe how completely happy and amazed I was! I was really a published author. I was holding the proof in my hands. As of today, I’ve sold and given away over 150 copies since October. My goal is to get it into as many hands as I can to reach those who will be encouraged by it as they travel their own chronic illness journey.

The reason I tell you about this is that I want to encourage you to go after your dreams. Don’t let fibromyalgia rob you of accomplishing what you want. I’m not able to sit at a keyboard typing because of tailbone issues that get excruciating, so I type with one finger at a time as I lie on my side in bed. Yes, it’s much more time-intensive, but it’s so worth it.

Tell me in the comments section about a dream you have that you really want to go after.

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Note: Fibromyalgia News Today is strictly a news and information website about the disease. It does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. This content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this website. The opinions expressed in this column are not those of Fibromyalgia News Today or its parent company, BioNews Services, and are intended to spark discussion about issues pertaining to fibromyalgia.