What if it actually does work? What if the thing you keep worrying about, overthinking, and losing hope for works out, exactly the way you’re planning? We all go through self-doubt and a bit of impostor syndrome. Okay, if you’re trying to write a book then a whole lotta impostor syndrome! I was there…
I wanted with all of my heart to become an author. I just recently published my 3rd book, “How to Write While You’re Stressed Out.” When I was writing my first book I whispered from deep within I would never write another. It was so hard. I became an author after having my 9th baby. It was the best decision I made for my life. For that reason I’m here to tell you not to give up. It’s worth it!
One of the duas I made when I decided to embarck a writing career: I was expressing to Allah that I wanted a career in writing to make it easier for me to work behind the scenes. To be able to do most of my work while my children are asleep and to be able to use the passion I have for writing as a business. I believed deep down in my heart that I could figure out how to do this completely from home…
But first I had to write the book. I chose to write my first book on my family’s hijrah journey from America to West Africa, The Gambia. I started doing Gambia real estate because the opportunity was there for my family. That path taught me a lot. I didn’t understand why God brought it to me because that wasn’t what I was praying for. What did real estate have to do with writing? Literally nothing.
I felt lost…like I was holding myself back from what I was meant to be doing. I started that business as a foundation for my husband and son to build on in Gambia…long story short, a year later my husband wanted the whole family to come to America for an extended visit. My worst nightmare was coming true before my eyes.
I loved Gambia so much. Our children had all adapted really well. I was so upset feeling like I “wasted my time” building this real estate business. We all boarded the flight, shortly after the plan was made. Myself with all 9 children and my grandmother. We went to meet my husband in the US, he was working here. I sent an email letting my subscribers know I had an unexpected travel come up and I’d be pausing the real estate business until I return to Gambia…
We got to America and I wrote and published my second book (the draft took 90 days to write), “Nine Times Over” which shares my motherhood journey of healing postpartum depression throughout carrying 9 babies. After I wrote my second book I discovered a framework that would work for any busy and stressed writer. It led to me writing my second book in a fraction of the time it took to write the first one…I had broken the writing code!
I tested out being able to write a draft in 12 weeks. I did it twice to make sure it would work and then I started a writing business teaching other women how to write a book in 12 weeks (again I had to overcome ALL the impostor syndrome that came with it). I founded Aminah Ibrahim Storyhouse where I teach my 12-week cohort live. I’m now a writing coach and developmental editor working on my client’s books before the sun comes up each morning, while my children are asleep.
My dua was answered and I still can’t believe it…My YouTube writing content is converting to clients in my signature writing program, mashallah. But I had to let go of what I felt like my life was supposed to look like at the time. I had to take the leap! I ended up burning down my YouTube channel that I had been growing for 5 years with over 11k subscribers. Changed “Summers in Africa” to “Aminah Ibrahim.” Lost thousands of views and some subscribers too…It was with it! Starting over was worth it.
Recently our oldest son, Adam, told me that he and one of his best friends are planning to go back to Gambia and to work in real estate. Mind you he’s here in America working full-time and has a pretty good job, mashallah. I said that’s a great idea Adam! Hopefully we can all go together, Inshallah. I told him that my writing business is going well so I can teach him what he’d need to know to work in Gambia real estate. I have learned everything in the back-end…
Sometimes things won’t make sense while you’re living it. Nothing we do is in vain. Allah is always planning. He is the best at planning and He will not break His promise. “I am as my slave sees me.” If you ask Him and trust that He will do it for you, He will.
As an author, Behavior Change Specialist and writing coach, I believe that everyone carries a book inside of them!
If you’re meant to become an author I would love to give you a nice 40% off of my new e-book so you can get started on your writing journey today! Please use the CODE:GET40 https://authoraminah.com/shop/b55100c3-32be-4602-9d4f-0efe837c55d5
Thank you for reading!!! Follow your dreams 🙂
