My name is Margaret Cheruiyot. I am a child of God, counsellor, daughter, wife, mother, and now an author. I am passionate about working with children, teenagers, families, and communities, particularly in the areas of identity, wellbeing, faith, and purpose. I have always had ideas that I wanted to put into writing, but joining CLC Kenya’s Onyx Writing Class helped me move from simply having ideas to becoming intentional about writing and developing them.

My Mission

I am writing a book titled My True Identity in Christ, primarily for teenagers. The motivation came from seeing how many young people struggle with identity, self-worth, comparison, peer pressure, and questions such as, “Who am I?” and “Where do I belong?”

I also struggled with understanding who I was, and this inspired me to create a resource that would help teenagers understand that their identity is not defined by what people say about them, their mistakes, appearance, or circumstances. Their true identity is found in who they are in Christ. For me, this is more than simply writing a book. It is about giving young people a message of hope and helping them discover their God-given identity and purpose rather than living in confusion about who they are.

My Writing Process

I definitely experienced writer’s block. There were times when I had the idea clearly in my mind, but somehow the words simply would not come. That helped me was learning not to wait until everything was perfect. Sometimes I would simply write whatever came to mind, knowing that I could return and edit it later.

I also learnt to break the writing into smaller, manageable sections. Instead of thinking, “I have to write an entire book,” I would tell myself, “Today, let me work on this one section.” That made the journey much more manageable. The Holy Spirit also played an important role in affirming and encouraging me. I continually reminded myself that I have the mind of Christ. This helped me bring to the page what God had placed in my mind and heart for young people.

My Posture

Initially, receiving feedback could be difficult because I was emotionally attached to what I had written. However, I learnt to see feedback as an opportunity to grow rather than as an attack on my work. Positive feedback encouraged me, while constructive criticism helped me view the manuscript from the reader’s perspective.

One important lesson I learnt was that I am not my manuscript. Someone can critique my writing without criticising me as a person. Understanding this helped me become more open to editing, making changes, and improving my work. Talking to a friend and hearing another perspective during the peer review process also helped me flesh out and strengthen my chapters.

My Onyx Writing Class Experience

Balancing writing with work, school, family, and other responsibilities was probably one of my biggest challenges. I realised that if writing was important to me, I could not always wait for the “perfect time” to write because that time might never come. I therefore learnt to intentionally create time for writing, even if I could only accomplish a little at a time.

Sometimes progress was slow, but I reminded myself that slow progress is still progress. My experience in CLC Kenya’s Onyx Writing Class was very valuable. The class gave me structure, accountability, and, most importantly, the confidence to take my writing seriously.

I learnt that writing is not simply about having a good idea. There is a process involved: developing the idea, understanding your audience, structuring your content, receiving feedback, editing, and being willing to rewrite. I also appreciated learning alongside other writers because it reminded me that everyone has a story and that each writer is at a different stage of their journey.

I would absolutely recommend a writing class. If you have a book in your heart, a story to tell, or a message you believe someone needs to hear but you do not know where to begin, I would encourage you to join one. Sometimes what we need is not another idea. We need structure, accountability, guidance, and someone to believe in the idea with us.

Closing Reflection

My greatest encouragement to aspiring writers and beginning authors is simple:

Start.

Do not wait until you are perfect. Do not wait until you have everything figured out. Do not wait until you feel like a “real writer.” Start with the idea you have. Write the first page, then write the next one. Learn, receive feedback, edit, and keep going. There will be days when you doubt yourself. There will be writer’s block, criticism, and other responsibilities competing for your attention. But do not give up on the message you have been given.

Most importantly, do not despise small beginnings. Every book begins with an idea, and every author was once a beginner. If there is a book inside you, give yourself permission to write it. Ask God for provision and trust Him to make a way. After all, it is His story first.