I enjoy reading and when the realization hit me that I wanted to write, my first thought was, can I do this?
   My husband has been writing longer than I've known him. When we first married I transcribed what he taped on his way to and from work. I'd get so engrossed into what I was typing and how his story progressed that time got away from me.
   I had written my memoir but knew it had to be critiqued. I went to the San Antonio Writers' Guild with my husband (who was a member) to see what it was like. I joined in the fall of 2003. My husband warned me that I may not like what they have to say about my writing. “If they tear it up, don't cry.”
   My first meeting with the non-fiction group went very well. To say I was scared is an understatement. The group was critical, yes, but at the same time they encouraged me. The memoir is now complete and edited by a professional book editor and is ready to go. I'm taking that next scary step – trying to get it published.
   Because of this guild I've embarked into writhing children's fiction and adult fiction. Without their help and encouragement I doubt I would have ever tried anything more than my memoir.