God's Glory, My Story
by Angela Dion

Living the Dream

I dreamt of being a writer since I was a kid in junior high school. I was really into Agatha Christie at the time and fantasized about my best-selling mystery novel being featured in The Washington Post's Book World. I even had a pen name picked out, Angie Gold. Eventually real life kicked in. The dream faded, but I kept writing.

I've kept a journal since I was 12 years old. I went to college and graduated with a degree in psychology. I went into the Air Force and taught Bomber pilots how to communicate. I worked in a mental hospital where I kept logs on my client's progress. I volunteered at both a crisis pregnancy center and my church as newsletter editor. I worked for five years as a sales director with the Pampered Chef where I developed, edited and wrote a newsletter. I home schooled my son for three years and taught him how to write.

One day in 1999, it hit me. I have been writing, editing, or teaching people how to write all of my life. My favorite part about all of my jobs and volunteer work was writing. Maybe I could revisit my dream and try to write for a living.

Soon after this revelation, I was reading Discipleship Journal, a magazine that I had read cover to cover for years. They needed manuscripts for their "Getting into God's Word" section. I went for it. I worked on my article for months before my husband said, "Just send it in." Two months after I mailed the manuscript with a prayer, I received the e-mail. They wanted my article! An acceptance letter before my first rejection, a $300 check and publication in my favorite magazine was a great way to begin a writing career.

After having that piece accepted, my husband bought me the best Christmas present—registration to the 2000 Florida Christian Writer's Conference. I recommend that everyone go to at least one writer's conference. While there I met the associate editor of DJ and many other editors and fellow writers. I learned about the basics of writing and how to market my work. I was even nominated as one of the Year's Best New Writers. I began believing in myself as a writer. I started acting like a professional writer.

I devoted time each day to writing. I set a goal to send out at least one query or manuscript each week. I purchased the Writer's Market and Christian Writers' Market Guide. I joined the Writer's Digest book club and started reading books about writing. I found a mentor who was a more experienced writer and began meeting with her monthly to discuss my trials and triumphs.

It's been seven years since I sent that article to Discipleship Journal. It is still my favorite magazine and they've published dozens of my articles over the years. My work has also been accepted in more than 50 publications. I published my first book, Dear Son: Letters from a Birth Mother in 2002.

Last year I quit my full-time job as an addictions counselor to pursue a professional writing and coaching career. In addition to coaching writers, I teach writing courses at two local community colleges and have written two more books (Nine Steps to Successful Nonfiction Magazine Writing and Let's Talk: Essays with Questions to Spark Discussions about Race).

The other morning I woke up and thought, My dream of being a successful writer is now a reality. It can happen for you, too.