Latasha Kirkland

For years, I worked in manufacturing, where quality, responsibility, and attention to detail were part of my everyday work. Today, as an author, poet, and founder of Chosen Lines Writers, I bring those same values into a different kind of work: helping people recognize the value of their words.

The connection between those parts of my life may not seem obvious. But building something meaningful requires patience, whether you are inspecting a finished product, revising a poem, or developing a resource that someone else will use. You have to be willing to learn, notice what needs improvement, and keep working.

Writing gave me a place to express emotions and reflect on experiences that were not always easy to explain. Through poetry, I found a way to share encouragement while being honest about the challenges that make encouragement necessary. My book, Enduring to Reach Your Purpose, reflects that commitment.

Publishing my work also brought a new responsibility. I had to become willing to let people encounter my words, form opinions, and see a part of me that I had put on the page. That kind of visibility takes courage. It is one thing to believe your story matters privately. It is another to share it.

One lesson I continue to learn is that confidence grows through participation. Recording a video, sharing a poem, or attending my first poetry reading did not require me to become a completely different person. Each required me to take the next step as the person I already was.

That understanding helped shape Chosen Lines Writers. I wanted to create a community where writers, poets, authors, and people who love reading could share their work and connect. Writing can be personal, but the process of growing as a writer does not have to happen alone.

Building the app has required learning unfamiliar systems, addressing problems, and making improvements. My separate Chosen Lines Writer Agent extends that work by helping writers develop ideas, organize projects, and work on manuscripts. My purpose is to offer support while keeping the writer’s own voice at the center.

For women considering a new direction, I would offer three lessons from my experience.

First, recognize the skills you already carry. A new field does not erase what you learned in your previous work. My experience with reporting, presentations, teamwork, and quality still matters in my business. Consider how your own experience can serve the work you want to do next.

Second, make your next step specific. “I want to write a book” can feel overwhelming. Writing about one meaningful experience, choosing a subject, or organizing a few ideas gives you something concrete to build on. A small finished task can teach you more than repeatedly waiting to feel ready.

Third, allow yourself to be a learner. You can be capable and still need help. Asking questions and revising your approach are part of taking your work seriously.

My faith remains central to how I move forward. Trusting God gives me strength, and I also understand that I have work to do. I must prepare, practice, learn, and remain consistent even when progress feels slower than I hoped.

I am still building. I am still learning. I do not need to pretend that every part of my journey is complete to share something useful from it.

There may be someone who needs the perspective you have gained through your own experiences. Give yourself permission to develop it, put it into words, and share it with care. Your next chapter can begin with a step you are able to take today.