We were lucky to catch up with Dawn Ward recently and have shared our conversation below.

Dawn, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. If you could go back in time do you wish you had started your creative career sooner or later?

Looking back, I’ve always had a passion and talent for writing. When I was in high-school, my English literature teacher encouraged me to write and enter poetry and short-story contests. While several of my entries won, I never saw myself as a writer or author. My parents were from small towns in the Midwest, so to them it wasn’t about a career as much as it was about a job that puts food on the table. Believing they were looking out for my best interest, they encouraged me to hew my secretarial skills and get a good, steady job. They believed writing was a great hobby but discouraged me from going to college and making it a career. Looking back, I now realize that at 18 years old, I didn’t know what I wanted, but I believe it would have been a wonderful career had I followed my dreams.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

When I decided to start pursuing writing, I was well into my career as a medical aesthetician in a Plastic Surgery/Dermatology office. I loved my career but kept feeling a little tug to pursue writing. I started by blogging and posting on social media. I began taking writing courses and classes on the business of writing and blogging. As I continued to study and kept practicing the art and skill of writing, I eventually felt led to write larger projects such as Bible studies and online courses. Before long, I realized I had a book in me and that I should share our family’s story of my son’s struggle with addiction and the transformation God did in my life through that experience. I had the opportunity to study to be a faith-based life coach and am certified as a mental health and trauma coach. Working with women with addicted loved ones has helped me to see deeply into the hearts of those who are hurting and, through my writing, share a message of hope with those who are feeling hopeless. I am proud and grateful to have written a book that I believe will make a significant difference in the lives of those who read it.

Looking back, are there any resources you wish you knew about earlier in your creative journey?

Because I didn’t receive a traditional college education to become a writer, I had to self-educate. I enrolled in writing courses and classes to grow as a writer. I read everything I could get my hands on to improve my writing, including fiction and non-fiction genres. My observations helped me engage my reader by becoming a better storyteller. I also joined writer’s groups and author’s cohorts. By doing so, I networked with other authors who shared from their experiences and helped me to grow in my skills as a writer. Social media is an excellent place to meet other writers. I believe if there was social media back when I wanted to be a writer, I would have had the support I needed to receive the necessary training, encouragement, and support to become a writer, and later, a published author.

Is there a particular goal or mission driving your creative journey?

My heart is to share God’s love and message of hope with people who are hurting. Many times, I considered giving up on writing my book because it felt too personal and private. But if I can make the difference in one person’s life, it is worth the price of being vulnerable. I believe that was the secret sauce in my writing. It’s not a tell-all book, but I wrote it with a willingness to be transparent and share what was necessary to make our story relatable to others who find themselve in the same situation.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.thefaithtoflourish.com
• Instagram: @thefaithtoflourishblog or @dawnr.ward
• Facebook: @thefaithtoflourish
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dawn-ward-939
• Twitter: @faithtoflourish
• Youtube: @thefaithtoflourishwithdawnward