You Should Write a Book

For forty years, I kept hearing, “You should write a book.” Over 80% of people want to write a book, while only 3% actually finish a novel.

At first, I thought, Why me? Then, I looked in the mirror and thought, Why not? I wasn’t getting any younger. So, one day, I finally began writing.

My life as a fashion model in Italy spanned a decade and took me on a whirlwind of experiences. From the highs of international travel, glamorous photoshoots, and lifelong friendships to the lows that come with such a transient, high-pressure lifestyle.

I spent two years tucked away in my local coffee shop, pouring my heart and soul out into a laptop while fueled by overpriced tea. It was like therapy—I laughed, I sobbed, and I uncovered truths about myself I didn’t even know I was holding. By the time I was done, I had written nearly 90,000 words–and consumed approximately the same number of calories in pastries.

But then the imposter syndrome kicked in: Who am I to write a book? I mean, I barely made it through high school. I’m no literary genius. But I am a memoir junkie, devouring the works of Maya Angelou, Cheryl Strayed, and Patti Smith, and other powerful voices, maybe I could inspire someone else, too. 

I attended the San Francisco Book Conference, and wow, talk about an eye-opener. Picture this: me, a hopeful author, stepping into the wild jungle of the publishing world, armed only with my pitch and a badly written book proposal. The highlight? “Speed dating with agents.” It was like musical chairs meets Shark Tank—seven agents, seven pitches, and three minutes to convince them I was the next big thing. To my shock, none of them fell asleep or rolled their eyes. In fact, two of them asked for my first chapters! I’m counting it as a win.

I started feeling more confident. I would have to perfect my book, sell a ton of copies, sell the movie rights, then I could move to Italy, and spend the rest of my days writing books.

Eventually, I hired a professional editor. She approached my manuscript with fresh eyes, offering invaluable advice. She worked her magic, rearranged sections, and ruthlessly cut out entire chapters (RIP, my chapter in China). The result? It helped me refine the chapters to flow into something sharper, more focused, and—ultimately—better.

 So, I wrote the book. And then I stared at it and thought, Now what?

Enter beta readers: kind strangers and friends who tore into my manuscript with constructive criticism. Their feedback was mostly positive, but it sent me spiraling into revision hell. I re-edited the same pages so many times until I felt like I was going crazy.

When my sister read my manuscript, her first comment was, “You make mom look like a bad mother.” Ouch. My intention wasn’t to throw Mom under the bus, but to tell my truth: she was an alcoholic who was never home. She did her best with the cards she was dealt. It was hard to hear, but it reminded me that not everyone would love my story—and that’s okay. Truth-telling is a messy business.

Next came the query phase. I did my research and sent submission after submission to agents. The rejections piled up, and I realized that unless you’re famous, well-connected, or both, traditional publishing is like trying to get invited to the Oscars—it’s probably not happening.

Let me tell you—self-publishing is not for the faint of heart. I’ve learned more about business licenses, domain name, business name, creating an author website, email list, blogging, and marketing than I ever thought I would. From securing ISBNs to designing a logo to navigating social media (hello, Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter), it’s been a crash course in entrepreneurship.

But despite the chaos, there’s something thrilling about being in control of your story. It’s empowering to say, This is mine, and I’m putting it out there.

To anyone who’s ever heard, “You should write a book,” my advice is: Do it. Just know that writing is the easy part. The real adventure begins when you hit “save” for the last time and start asking, What’s next?

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Cindy Rae is a former top model who graced the runways of Milan, Italy, throughout the 80’s.. Over the course of ten years, she was featured in hundreds of prestigious magazines and advertising campaigns, appeared in numerous TV commercials, and walked the runway in cities around the globe.

Currently residing in Northern California, Cindy coaches aspiring models and actors, helping them navigate the challenges of the industry. As a published author with several journals available on Amazon, she is also working on her anticipated memoir, Not Always Pretty, and a second book aimed at empowering individuals over 50 to look and feel their best in photos. She also runs the blog Beautiful at Any Age, where she inspires readers to embrace timeless beauty.

 

Tags: featured, women writers

Category: Contemporary Women Writers, How To and Tips