By Emily Clawson

I’ve always wanted to be a writer.

In elementary school, I made picture books out of crayons, paper, and staples—then marched through the neighborhood trying to sell them like they were literary gold. As I got older, I filled notebooks with story ideas, chapter outlines, and vivid scenes I couldn’t wait to bring to life. I was sure that one day I’d be a renowned fiction author—famous, respected, with a shelf full of bestsellers and a life rich in imagination.

Then I went to college.

During my freshman year, I took American Literature. My professor was the classic realist—the kind who saw it as his life’s mission to dismantle any lingering delusions his students had. My starry-eyed dream didn’t stand a chance. He didn’t criticize me directly, but the way he talked about writers and "serious literature" made me feel small, unqualified, and naive.

Suddenly, I was drowning in self-doubt.

"I can't be a writer. People who are great writers are all older and more experienced. They have lofty degrees. They have travelled the world. People who are great writers live a different life than the one I am living."

My desire to write slowly faded. The once-constant stream of ideas began to trickle, then dry up altogether. And then came marriage and children—my life’s greatest blessings—but I let my mind twist them into proof that my dream was unrealistic. What stay-at-home mom of four has time to write, anyway?

And then something shifted.

When my youngest was just a few months old, I met another mom forming a writing group. Something inside me stirred—a faint, familiar spark. I remembered the joy I used to feel when I got lost in a story, and suddenly I wanted that joy again. That tiny spark grew into hope. And hope nudged me toward action. I started learning again, but this time it wasn’t about writing techniques—it was about thought itself.

That’s when I found Leslie Householder’s books: The Jackrabbit Factor, Hidden Treasures, and Portal to Genius. Through them, I discovered the Laws of Thought, and everything changed. One law in particular—the Law of Perpetual Transmutation—stood out. It teaches that everything is either coming into being or fading out of being.

Sure, that applies to matter and molecules. But it also applies to dreams. When I hold a desire in my heart, believe in it, and envision it as already mine, it begins to take form. It moves, it gathers momentum. But when I doubt—when I let fear in—it starts to dissolve.

As I practiced this, something beautiful happened: my creativity came back. The idea cloud formed again. The more I let myself believe I was a writer, the more inspiration flooded in—characters, plots, themes—I couldn’t write fast enough. I was back to filling notebooks like I did as a child. Writing once again became nourishment for my soul.

Then, out of nowhere—while I was getting my hair cut—an idea hit me. It was so clear, so brilliant, it took my breath away. I rushed home to jot it down. For three straight days I scribbled furiously in a spiral-bound notebook, knowing this wasn’t just another idea—this was the story I was meant to write. And that’s how my first full-length novel began.

Now, as I near the end of that book, I understand the truth of these principles more deeply than ever.

When I believe I’m a writer—when I lean into the joy of it, when I own it—creativity pours in. But the moment I doubt, it dries up. The energy vanishes, and the words don’t come.

By living the Law of Transmutation—by holding onto my belief even when it trembles—I’ve watched my dream begin to materialize. Each story, each scene, each whispered idea is stacking, forming, building, until the cloud above me is full.

And when that cloud is ready—when my heart is aligned—the rain comes.

_________________

•   To discover how to start choosing more effectively now, read The Jackrabbit Factor (FREE!)  
•   If you want more step-by-step guidance on creating the life you really want, join me in the Mindset Mastery program.
•   If you want my help overcoming that giant obstacle right in front of you, learn more and sign up for Genius Bootcamp.