We recently connected with Lill Kohler and have shared our conversation below.
Lill, we’re thrilled to have you sharing your thoughts and lessons with our community. So, for folks who are at a stage in their life or career where they are trying to be more resilient, can you share where you get your resilience from?
When Jesus called me to write a book, I had no idea how hard it would be. To begin with, I was neither a writer nor a reader when during prayer one day He asked me to write a book. Through guidance I began reading, and writing small pieces.
The rest of the road to becoming a published author has been filled with long hours, often burning the candle at both ends. Remembering that Jesus called me to write has often been my incentive to keep going and to take necessary steps out of my comfort zones. Through these times, I have depended on prayer, reading the Bible, and trusting The Lord in Heaven for strength and endurance. He has been my encouragement through all my writing endeavors.
Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?
I recently retired from school nursing so now I have the free time to focus more on my writing, editing and studying the Bible. I find it interesting, while I started out not finding pleasure in reading, after all these years of following God’s calling, I now enjoy reading for pleasure as well as writing the lessons God is teaching me on my blogs.
When life takes rough turns, I’ve learned to put the emotions I’m experiencing onto paper, whether in a story or as part of a lesson learned. It has become my greatness outlet for staying on track emotionally.
I wish I could say I’ve published a boo-coo number of books, but I haven’t. Still I’ve reached many people in what I’ve accomplished. It has been very fulfilling for me.
One of the first things I learned about getting published was you had to already be published for companies to look at you seriously. Fortunately, in this day and age that could be accomplished through a blog site. I can tell you that this technology-challenged girl stepped out on a limb and started a blog site called https://Rocking-MyWorld.blogspot.com. This was huge for me. I now have an author website as well – lillkohler.com
Following the big step of my first blog site, I submitted stories for anthologies three times. Two were published. I was flying high. Several years later, after a time of tribulation, my first book – One Way Out – was published. Since then that book has become the first in a trilogy. The second book – Wrong Way Out – came out a few years later. The third book is on its way and has taken several years to complete. It is titled Last Way Out. In the interim I was honored to be part of a group of authors participating in the The Visitor Series, published by Write Integrity Press.
What is most surprising is how the Lord helped me to help other writers with some editing. Currently, I’m using my editing skills with Roaring Lambs Publishing while I continue writing and studying the Bible.
Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?
At my first writer’s conference, a huge point made was that it takes 10,000 hours of practice to become efficient in anything. Spend the time in whatever it is you want to do. The more you do it, the easier it becomes. This includes writing. Practice it. Write articles and books, even if they never get published. Spending all those hours putting pen to paper helps an author find a way to express their voice in written form. As part of this step of practice, I encourage all writers to not be in a rush to publish. Write the piece – let it rest for days or more – then look at it again and make changes. That second look often exposes writing issues you didn’t see the first time.
Research is also important. Whether it’s the subject you want to write about, a point you’re making, or a detail needed in a writing project – research it. It may end up on the editing floor later, but you still need to know about the subject.
Study the field. Changes happen. As a nurse I am required to attend classes every year to keep up to date. Sports often adjust rules to keep the players safe. The same is true of writing. Rules of writing change, as does the publishing world. Attending conferences, either one-day or week-long, help to keep up with any changes happening in the writing world.
Alright, so before we go we want to ask you to take a moment to reflect and share what you think you would do if you somehow knew you only had a decade of life left?
I find this question very appropriate for this day and time. Various earthquakes and volcano eruptions occurring in locations where there hasn’t been one in hundreds of years leaves a person wondering what crazy weather will happen next. And asking, “Will it affect me?”
This has encouraged me to live each day as though I only have a short time left. Trying to make the most of life with each moment I’m given. I’m not always successful in accomplishing this but I do my best. If I feel a need to send a kind word to someone, I attempt to send a text before the end of the day. The same is true of phone calls.
Enjoying life now is also important. Treat yourself to sunsets or sunrises. The beauty warms the soul in a way nothing else can. Take a ride somewhere and get away from busyness. Go for a walk and listen to the birds, not a podcast or music. Let nature refresh your inner man.
As far as my writing goes, If The Lord shows me something new while reading The Bible, I write it down. Sometimes He wants me to create a blog post about this new insight. Understanding He wants others to learn this trinket of knowledge helps me push forward toward publishing it.
In the end, I encourage each person to make the most of each day they are given.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://lillkohler.com
- Facebook: Lill Kohler
- Other: http://www.rocking-myworld.blogspot.com
Image Credits
Write Integrity Press; Cami Shimp
so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
