Episode 6 - Anita Ramirez Achieved a Dream
KA talks to Anita Ramirez about finishing her first novel, a lifelong dream. Anita completed this, even after suffering a great tragedy. She provides strength, hope and encouragement for others.
Find Anita here:
Website: anitawritesbooks.com
Twitter: @AnitaRamirez3
IG: anamarierz
FB: Anita Writes Books
Show note Links:
KA's Other Favorite Writing Podcasts
Some Facebook Writers Groups
** affiliate link - if you use this, there is no extra cost to you and KA gets a few cents but you are not obligated at all to use the affiliate link.
Below are Anita's Responses to the Questions:
Hi - please introduce yourself and let us know where you are in the world right now.
Dreams:
Find Anita here:
Website: anitawritesbooks.com
Twitter: @AnitaRamirez3
IG: anamarierz
FB: Anita Writes Books
Show note Links:
- KA's Writing Coach - https://www.coach.me/ChristopherDowning?ref=MogKZ
- **Romancing the Beat Book - https://amzn.to/2TGbXgK
- Rachel Herron’s Class = 90 days to done - https://rachaelherron.com/90daystodone/
- Rachel Herron’s other info including a free weekly email of encouragement for writers: https://rachaelherron.com/
- Rachel’s podcast - http://www.howdoyouwrite.net/
KA's Other Favorite Writing Podcasts
- Joanna Penn - https://www.thecreativepenn.com/podcasts/
- Lindsay Burowker - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/six-figure-authors/id1480978629
- J Thorn and Zack Bohannan - https://thecareerauthor.com/podcast/
Some Facebook Writers Groups
- https://www.facebook.com/groups/supportingbeginnerwriters/
- https://www.facebook.com/groups/1976793849262471/
- https://www.facebook.com/groups/mikegeffnerpresentswritershelpingwriters/
- https://www.facebook.com/groups/ahomeforwriters/
** affiliate link - if you use this, there is no extra cost to you and KA gets a few cents but you are not obligated at all to use the affiliate link.
Below are Anita's Responses to the Questions:
Hi - please introduce yourself and let us know where you are in the world right now.
- 48 year old high school teacher and college adjunct
- Mom of 5 boys
- Part-time writer
- Grew up in Los Angeles but currently living in Long Island, NY
Dreams:
- what were your dreams and how long did it take you to go after them?
- Writing a novel -- started and stopped many times; finally finished one in 2020
- Traveling -- haven’t done much yet -- too many kids -- am a USAF veteran, so that took me to Texas and South Korea
- Writing a novel -- started and stopped many times; finally finished one in 2020
- what was the deciding factor? Was there a major shift or incident in your life to make you
- I did NaNoWriMo in 2018 (did very little writing) then again in 2019 (did a lot of writing) and that created momentum
- Pandemic helped
- I primed the pump: Listened to writing podcasts and read books on writing for several months before I started
- My son (one of my 25 year-old identical twins) passed away in the middle of my SFD and I was even more determined to finish it bc he wanted me to
- Writing classes/mentors: Rachael Herron and Gabriela Pereira
- I did NaNoWriMo in 2018 (did very little writing) then again in 2019 (did a lot of writing) and that created momentum
- what responses do you get from other people when they find out?
- Most can’t believe it bc they know how many hours per week I work (I have 3 teaching jobs and 2 young sons at home) -- they don’t know where I found the time
- I think many are skeptical it will ever be published, but I know it will
- Most can’t believe it bc they know how many hours per week I work (I have 3 teaching jobs and 2 young sons at home) -- they don’t know where I found the time
- What would you tell others who aspire to…
- It’s never too late
- Make an appointment with yourself and don’t break it
- Stay motivated by joining writer’s groups, taking an online course, listening to podcasts, or reading books on the craft
- It’s never too late
- Anything else you want to tell people?
- I have a quote -- I’m not sure who said it -- in my classroom: A goal is a dream with a deadline. This is so true! A dream is just a dream until you make a plan and put it into action by putting it on your calendar and setting a due date!
- I have a quote -- I’m not sure who said it -- in my classroom: A goal is a dream with a deadline. This is so true! A dream is just a dream until you make a plan and put it into action by putting it on your calendar and setting a due date!