Have You Ever Wondered How to Write a Book… and Accidentally Ended Up Living One?

I never thought I would write a book. Not ever.

I love books. I escape into them. I live inside their pages. But actually, writing one? That felt like something other people did. People with credentials like a master’s in creative writing. People who somehow knew what they were doing!

And yet… here I am.

One year later, holding “As Sure as the Stars” in my hands, reflecting on a journey that surprised me, stretched me, exhausted me, and changed me in ways I never expected. This story is about learning how to write a book with no experience, realizing that the process matters just as much as the finished product, and discovering that sometimes the best stories begin when you say yes before you feel ready.

If you’ve ever wondered, Could I really write a book? — keep reading.

So, You Wanna Write a Book? Let Me Tell You What I Didn’t Know

Here’s the funny thing. I thought writing a book meant… writing a book.

Little did I know, it also meant:

• I needed a website
• Blogs
• Newsletters
• Social media platforms (plural)
• Multiple posts, stories, captions, emails
• And apparently… a podcast 😉

Somewhere along the way I realized, Wait. When did I sign up to become a content creator?

I’ll be honest. I don’t have a huge passion for all of that. Algorithms are not my love language. Posting schedules don’t light me up. Funnels make my eyes glaze over.

What I do love is story. Connection. Meaning. Heart. Sharing.

But this is the reality of modern publishing. Whether you go traditional or self-published, building a platform matters. It’s how readers find you. It’s how your story travels beyond the page.

So, I showed up anyway. Not perfectly. But consistently, and honestly.

What do I do next?

And somehow, that was enough and ready for the journey!

I’ve Always Been a Bookworm… Never Imagined I’d Become an Author

Let’s rewind.

I was the kid who devoured books. I still have my entire Nancy Drew collection by Carolyn Keene, and yes, I used to read one a day! Reading was in a way my escape from reality and use my imagination. It still is. Even now, I organize my reads and juggle three or four books at a time like it’s completely normal.

Books shaped me.

Writing one, though, felt like crossing an invisible line. Until life did what it does best.

When Life Writes the Plot Twist

At work event in Atlanta, Bryan tracked down bestselling author Tricia Goyer.  No plan. No pitch. Just pure heart and a little courageous enthusiasm. He sought her out, practically stalking her, not the creepy kind…  just over eager to share our story and told it with the kind of heartfelt drama that makes you lean in and listen. Somewhere between laughter and disbelief, Bryan asked the question that would change everything.

“Will you write our story into a book?”

That question changed everything.

That moment led to me meeting Tricia a few months later!

Instant friends! Real friends! The kind you only find when you share that genuine ’80s vibe—swapping stories about mixtapes, Friday night dances in the gym, Football games, Cheerleading, Saturday morning cartoons, just growing up as true Gen Xers. We bonded over our love for classic movies, cassette mix tapes, big hair, loves baby soft and memories of riding our bikes until the streetlights came on.

It was an instant…let’s do it! An 80’s Rom com!

Before the Writing: The First Real Step to Writing a Book

If you’ve ever Googled “how to write a book,” here’s the truth no one tells you:

You don’t start with words.
You start with why.

Know Your Why

Why this story?
Why now?
Why should anyone care?

For us, it was about redemption, second chances, faith, and hope. Once that became clear, everything else had a foundation.

Whenever we shared our story with someone, without fail, they’d respond, “That sounds like a movie! That should be a novel!” So, we thought—why not make it one?

Refine the Idea

We clarified:

• The heart of the story
• The audience
• The angle that made it uniquely ours

A simple one-sentence summary becomes a quiet reminder of your “why” when the journey feels longer than you expected.

Brainstorming, Planning… and Falling in Love with Character Sheets

This part was surprisingly fun to me!

Let’s be real— our story did happen, but this book takes the truth out for a spin and adds a dash of well-timed comic relief. We stuck to the highlights, sure, but we couldn’t resist adding a few rom-com moments that never actually occurred (unless the universe is somehow playing tricks on us after the fact.)  Call it artistic license or just our way of nudging reality into being a bit more binge-worthy.

I expected brainstorming to feel overwhelming. I assumed planning would feel restrictive. But what I didn’t expect was how much I would love developing the character sheets. Honestly, it became my favorite part of the entire writing process.

Character sheets are where the story starts breathing.

Yes, Bryan and I are the two main characters. (Jake and Kelly) This is our love story. But once we began really digging into who we were on the page, something shifted. We weren’t just recounting events. We were understanding motivations, wounds, personalities, habits, and growth. It forced us to slow down and look deeper than the highlight reel.

And then there were our best friends, Debbie and Jerry. (Ben and Amy)

They didn’t just support the story. They are the reason the story exists. Their faith, encouragement, timing, and nudges are woven into almost every chapter. Giving them character sheets felt like honoring the role they played in bringing us together. They deserved mention. They deserved backstory. They deserved their moment.

Creating these sheets meant asking questions like:

• Who is this person really?
• What shaped them before we ever met them on the page?
• What do they fear? What do they hope for?
• How does their faith show up in everyday life?
• What would they say or do if no one else was listening?

Discovering those answers brought a richness to the story I hadn’t known was missing. It was almost like interviewing our closest friends—asking them endless questions and constantly apologizing for my persistence—which led me to discover more about them than I imagined, ultimately strengthening both our bond and the story itself.

Character sheets also kept the story honest. They helped us stay consistent. They reminded us that people are layered and imperfect, and that growth doesn’t happen in a straight line. When scenes felt flat or confusing, going back to the character sheets often revealed what was off. The character wouldn’t have reacted that way. Or they would have… but for a reason we hadn’t fully explored yet.

And here’s the funny part. The more life we gave Debbie and Jerry, (Ben and Amy) on the page, the more I kept thinking, their story might need its own book. That’s the power of really knowing your characters. They start whispering their own stories to you.

If you’re wondering how to write a book and make it feel real, start with character sheets. Even if your story is true or not. Especially if it’s true. When you understand the people in your story, the words come easier, the scenes feel fuller, and the heart of the book stays intact.

Because at the end of the day, readers don’t fall in love with plots.
They fall in love with people.

Writing the First Draft:  Fun, a little Messy and Kind of Hilarious

Here’s where things got real.

Establishing a Writing Routine

Not always glamorous—sometimes there was a spark of inspiration, a cozy cup of coffee, or a beautiful sunrise lighting my desk—but it wasn’t perfect. I wasn’t perfect. But I was consistent, and that steady rhythm made all the difference.

Some days, the words poured out effortlessly. Other days, I found myself glued to the blinking cursor, silently questioning all my life choices. Especially on those occasions when we’d pause, switch over to yet another shared Google Doc, and promptly forget where we’d left off. (“Wait… weren’t we on Chapter 7? Or was it 8?”) Thankfully, Tricia would swoop in, take the reins, and steer us back on track—while I happily played the trusty sidekick, following her lead and occasionally contributing comedic relief.

Drafts on Drafts on Drafts

And here’s the funny thing… I’m honestly not sure what draft we settled on.

I read it and re-read it so many times, through so many versions, that they all blurred together.

Draft five?
Draft twelve?
Draft “wait, wasn’t this chapter different last week?”

Whichever one it is, so cute and so proud of our collaborations.

Bonding in Collaboration

Whichever draft we ended up on, I can honestly say that each version represents the best of our teamwork. It’s a little hard to keep track of the exact number, but every iteration is a testament to how well we worked together—sharing ideas, picking up where the other left off, and supporting one another through the ups and downs. The process itself was both charming and deeply rewarding, and I feel incredibly proud of the story we created as a team.

Amidst all the rounds of rewriting, our story gradually transformed into a fun, nostalgic, 1980s-inspired romantic comedy—one of those tales where you can almost hear the soundtrack playing in the background and can’t help but root for a classic John Hughes-style happy ending.

Of course, that wasn’t how it began. The first draft was, honestly, a bit of a mess. Ideas poured out in all directions, making it hard to decide where each scene belonged or how the story should flow. There were plot holes, characters who needed a bit of a makeover, and writing that was far from polished—definitely not perfect, and that’s completely normal.

But perfection isn’t the goal for an early draft. The purpose was to discover what the story really wanted to be. And while none of the subsequent drafts reached perfection either, each one brought us a little closer to capturing the heart of the story we set out to tell.

Editing, Feedback, and Fresh Eyes

Handing over our manuscript for edits was a bit like passing along a beloved, slightly unruly pet—you know you’ve done your best, but it’s time for someone else to notice the details you’ve missed. A new perspective always helped us spot what didn’t quite fit, from the pacing to the character quirks, and each round of editing quietly nudged the story closer to what it was meant to be. Bringing in a professional editor was invaluable; they tightened things up and brought clarity without taking away what made the story ours.

We have been genuinely lucky to have such a dedicated team: editors, proofreaders, critics, publicists, designers—every one of them invested in the project as much as we were. Their insight and care made the journey to publication smoother and more rewarding. It’s hard not to feel grateful for every person who helped guide our story to its best version, giving honest feedback which was so valuable.

Publishing, Promotion, and a Pinch-Me Moment

Once revisions were done, it was time to think about formatting, publishing paths, and marketing. And running around in Time square unveiling our book cover reveal! What another surreal experience!

And then something happened that still doesn’t feel real.

BRYAN AND JENNIE ARE IN VARIETY MAGAZINE!

Yes, that Variety—the very same magazine Lucille Ball mentioned on those classic I Love Lucy reruns when Variety was promoting her husband, Ricky Ricardo! Babalu… (I am a fan)

Suddenly, there was buzzing, conversations sparked, and our publicists were fielding book requests faster than you could say “bestseller.”

The excitement was palpable and almost hard to believe. Still, the most meaningful part wasn’t the recognition.

It was the friendships we have made along the way!

From Tricia’s Heart: Why She Said Yes

From Tricia’s side, she wasn’t sure at first. She hears stories all the time. LOL

But then we met.
She truly listened to our story.
And she saw something real.

A story of redemption.

A story of hope.
A story of new beginnings.

She poured her heart into these pages without knowing where they would lead.

She helped tell our story before we ever appeared in the magazine. Being featured was simply a little nudge from God!

God really is good at writing second acts.

What Writing This Book Really Taught Me

Yes, I learned how to write a book.

But more than that, I learned:

• You don’t need experience to start
• You don’t have to love every part of the process to honor the story
• Stories connect us, heal us, and open doors we never expected
• New lifelong friendships that I would have never experienced
• Being brave and vulnerable enough to share our story

Bringing a book to life truly takes a team of talented professionals—each one contributing their expertise in typesetting, design, editing, proofreading, publishing, and marketing. We’re incredibly grateful to have been surrounded by such a supportive and skilled group throughout this journey!

If You’ve Ever Thought About Writing a Book… This Is Your Sign

If you’re sitting there wondering how to write a book with no experience, hear this:

You don’t need all the answers.

You need:

• A story
• A why
• The courage to begin

The steps matter.
The edits matter.
The messy middle matters.

But what matters most is believing your story is worth telling.

If our journey resonated with you, I’d love for you to continue the conversation with us. Visit secondchanceonlove.com and remember:

It’s never too late for a second chance…
or a first book. 💫

xo