Each Writing Journey Is Different – Here Is Mine by Jennifer J. Lehr
Hello, I’m Jennifer J. Lehr, and my book was published in 2025. I’m a licensed marriage and family therapist. I host a podcast, and I created a relationship help app. And I’m an author and a lifelong writer.
I started writing early. The first story I remember writing, as a child, was why the earthworm was blind and deaf. Once, when I tried to write a novel – years ago, my computer crashed and all my writing with it. I don’t think, had I finished it, that it would have been very good. And I took it as a sign that I had more living to do, more healing to do, more learning to do before my writing could find what it wanted to be.
Meanwhile, I took creative writing classes at my local university – the classes were not always good, but I learned. I joined a monthly writing group and attended for years. And later I joined several other writing groups that met weekly. Although I did not try to publish any of my early writing, it was great practice, and I found support and that people liked my writing.
I read and read and read. My entire life. Books and books and books.
I read many writers on writing. Some of those books had writing exercises. So helpful!
I journaled – often – to find myself, my feelings, my voice.
I did psychological workbooks, to help me heal, but also involved writing.
I worked on writing projects that were not about my personal voice but allowed me to write.
Eventually, I did self-publish a book, a mix of self-help and personal writing.
I wrote an app to help couples – four years of full-time writing.
I knew I wanted to write a more personal book. I started it many times, but I could not figure out how to organize it.
Years after that, I knew it was time. I went through files and files of old writing and began to think about what I wanted to write about. I used some of my old writing. I began to piece something together, fill in the gaps, find the words that wanted to emerge.
I didn’t fully know what I was writing about until deep into the writing.
I hired an editor. She helped me flesh out and find what was missing.
I found an agent.
I found a publisher.
My book was too long. Book 1 is published. Book 2 is waiting.
Marketing. Not nearly as fun as writing. But my book deserves to be read.
It is in my local bookstore, and I will be giving a talk and signing books.
I do videos for social media to promote my book.
I entered book awards.
And of course, much more…
This is the story of my writing journey thus far.
Each person’s journey is different.
How has your writing journey been?
