What does it take to tell the truth about where you come from, even when that truth is wrapped in silence? Dawn and Ruth sat down with North Dakota native Melanie Hoffert to discuss her memoir, Prairie Silence, a profound exploration of life, identity, and the kind of quiet that shapes you whether you want it to or not. And she's getting real about her decade-long writing journey, because good work takes time. She's sharing the whole messy process: finding an agent, navigating rejections, balancing major life changes (like having a baby), and somehow keeping her creative practice alive through all of it.

Here's what matters: They're diving into the unique pressures authors face, why you have to keep writing even when it feels impossible, and what advice actually helps when you're trying to birth something meaningful into the world. Melanie's creative process has evolved through marriage, motherhood, and all the significant life changes that could've derailed her—but didn't. This episode is for anyone who's in the long haul of a creative project and wondering if it'll ever be done. Spoiler: It will. You just gotta keep showing up.

LINKS: Learn more about Dawn's Discern by Doing for Business Groups: https://bigpicturebigpurpose.lpages.co/discern-by-doing-for-business/

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00:00 Introduction to Prairie Silence

00:19 Meet the Hosts: Dawn and Ruth

00:21 A Chilly Welcome

00:26 Tree Lighting and Sing-Along

02:04 Preparing for New Zealand

02:48 Introducing Melanie Hoffert

04:13 Melanie's Background and Prairie Silence

05:37 Writing and Promoting Prairie Silence

10:14 Impact of Prairie Silence

11:47 Current Creative Projects

15:22 Writing Practices and Routines

16:45 Navigating Parenthood and Creativity

17:05 Daily Writing Practice and Efficiency

17:33 Balancing Work and Writing

18:24 Inspiration from Other Creators

19:44 Creativity and Spirituality

20:56 Coaching on Overcoming Insecurities

25:49 Finding a Publisher

29:13 Advice for Aspiring Authors