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In 2012, I had the pleasure of\u00a0connecting with Jim Woods on Twitter and then meeting him in person at Jon Acuff<\/a>‘s Quitter Conference held in Nashville. Jim was so kind, encouraging and gracious toward me. I’ve witnessed his growth as a writer and I am honored to be interviewing him.<\/p>\n *************<\/p>\n 1) When did you know you wanted to be a writer?<\/p>\n I think it was when I wrote a report in the fourth grade. I was really into nature and I wrote about snakes. I realized how much fun it could be to do research and then telling a story about my findings.<\/span><\/p>\n 2) How did you develop the confidence to find your voice as a writer?<\/p>\n I think it was more through practice and trial and error. That being said, writing how you talk is always a great place to start.<\/span><\/p>\n 3) Were there any books you read that helped shape and mold you as a writer?<\/p>\n Absolutely! I love Steven Pressfield<\/a>‘s Do The Work<\/em><\/a> and War of Art<\/em><\/a>. Also, I have a lot of fiction influences: Edgar Allen Poe, Elmore Leonard and J.D. Salinger.<\/span><\/p>\n 3) What did you do before you transitioned into being a full-time writer?<\/p>\n I was an accountant for over 15 years. That’s hard to believe now!<\/span><\/p>\n 4) How long did the process take? What steps did you take in making your dream a reality?<\/p>\n About three years. It was a long long three years. Writing as much as possible, networking, going to conferences, meeting as many people for coffee as possible.<\/span><\/p>\n 5) Now that you have succeeded, what is it like being on the other side of the rainbow? Has it been anything like you had imagined?<\/p>\n It’s like a good struggle, like when you’re tired after working really hard. You’re exhausted, but at the same time very satisfied.<\/span><\/p>\n To answer your other question, it’s harder than I thought it would be. It can be hard to unplug from the work.<\/span><\/p>\n 6) What does your writing process look like?<\/p>\n I like to watch my work as much as possible. I am a momentum-based emotional writer so I like to find some easy wins and then go from there.<\/span><\/p>\n 7) What is the hardest thing about being a full-time writer?<\/p>\n It’s pretty lonely and rejection comes with the territory.<\/span><\/p>\n 8) How do you encourage yourself to keep going?<\/p>\n I talk to other writers and learn from them. Whatever the circumstance, it is very likely that someone else can relate.<\/span><\/p>\n 9) Where do you see yourself in the next five years?<\/p>\n I just want to work with good people and keep telling good stories.<\/span><\/p>\n 10) Are you working on any new projects?<\/p>\n About a month ago I created an event called the Finish Your Book Summit where I interviewed 16 authors who have written over 100 books. It\u2019s still live, so you can access the interviews by going to finishyourbooksummit.com<\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n 11) What advice would you give to someone starting out?<\/p>\n Don\u2019t be afraid to start out slowly. Build a good writing habit\u2014even if it is just for 5 minutes a day. Over time you\u2019ll build momentum and see serious results!<\/span><\/p>\n Thank you for a wonderful interview, Jim.<\/p>\n *************<\/p>\n