Meet Diane Cameron Cameron

We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Diane Cameron Cameron. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Diane Cameron below.

Hi Diane Cameron, really happy you were able to join us today and we’re looking forward to sharing your story and insights with our readers. Let’s start with the heart of it all – purpose. How did you find your purpose?

I am a book coach and a spiritual director. Before I entered this work to help others, I dreamed of being a writer and I wished there was something spiritual to help me. I felt like an imposter, a fraud and I was mightily scared all the time.

It was in therapy, in tears, that I leaked my secret: I want to write a book. I was surprised that I told this secret and my therapist was surprised that this WAS my secret. She said to me, “Well, the thing is that most writers write something out and send it to a publication.” I said OK, and went home and wrote an essay and sent it to my local newspaper. three days later the editor called me and asked to run the piece. My first publication.

Years later that therapist told me that she never expected me to write anything, she just hoped I’d get over this unrealistic dream and get on with my life. That was after my third book.

None of those books was easy. I learned the hard way and many teachers helped me learn to write a book. IT was out of that experience that I began to give back to other writers and happily shared what had been given to me.

Similarly, with spiritual direction. Many women helped me to craft a spiritual life and spiritual habits so when I had the opportunity I was grateful to give back and help others. Years later I earned that spiritual direction was a career, that there was formal training ad that I could make a business with a mission.

Thanks for sharing that. So, before we get any further into our conversation, can you tell our readers a bit about yourself and what you’re working on?

After a long career in nonprofits I created a business of the two things I had been doing for myself and doing freely to help others: Spiritual Direction and Book Coaching.

As a spiritual director I work with women and men, from all backgrounds and all faiths or no faith. Many of my clients identify as Atheist or Agnostic. That was a surprise to me at first but then I realized you do not have to believe in a god to want to have a spiritual life.

As a book coach, I work with women and men who want to write nonfiction: Memoir or How To books. Some have written before and some are first timers. I help them structure their story, find their voice, shape the narrative, and move toward publishing. It is service work and creative work and in many ways this to s spiritual work. I know when I am helping a writer that I am holding their dream in my hands.

If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?

I know now–I didn’t know then–that my three qualities that served me were: curiosity, loved of learning and a deep spirituality (not related to any religion.

I wanted to learn about writing and books and publishing so I was surprisingly rave is seeking out experts to learn from.People heled me (hence I help others)

My advice to others is be brave–easier said than done. But tell someone your “secret”–your dream, your wish, your hope. Also use the library- old fashioned but so much richer than Google–get lost in the stacks–invite synchronicity. Invite chance.

As we end our chat, is there a book you can leave people with that’s been meaningful to you and your development?

The most important book that arrived at the perfect moment in my life:

Women Who Love Too Much By Robin Norwood

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.DianeCameron.info
• Instagram: @dianeoklotacameron
• Facebook: Diane Cameron and Diane Cameron-Author
• Linkedin: Diane Cameron

Image Credits

Diane Cameron