Can we talk about what’s possible when you stay committed to the dream of writing a book?
When you assume critique and setbacks are simply part of the creative process, not glaring proof you should stick to what you know?
Here’s what’s possible:
You write a beautiful novel, become a writer who believes in their ability to create a story, and then share it with the world.
You write a book that began as an idea about one thing, but then it becomes about so much more: empathy, kindness, and messy human connections. A book about a doll turned hero and a little girl who discovers that beneath her anger is pain and fear, and that sharing it can make the burden easier to carry.
This is what happened to my client, Robert Tonner, author of Practically Human, a middle-grade robot science fiction novel about Samantha Kelly and her Bio-friend, Em.
How We Began:
Robert and I met a little over three years ago when he came to me for developmental editing services. He had a draft he’d worked on for several years, and he didn’t know how to improve it. He didn’t know any other writers and said he wouldn’t have been comfortable sharing it with anyone anyway. He found me via Instagram, we connected, and he took a risk.
That risk involved a page-one rewrite and nearly three years of work together.
And as of October 25, 2026, Practically Human is out in the world.
I’m in tears. Again. And I stand back in awe.
Robert taught me many things through his willingness to grow, learn, and go back to the drawing board as many times as was necessary. I thought I knew what willingness meant before I met Robert. But he redefined it for me.
Because willingness isn't just about persistence, it’s about perspective.
It's realizing your original idea isn't quite the story you were meant to tell. It’s acknowledging when something isn’t working and trying a different approach. It’s about being open to feedback and using discernment rather than reaching for defense or folding into someone else’s vision.
And perhaps most importantly, it’s about believing the work is worth doing even when you're in your seventies, and there is absolutely no guarantee you’ll get the outcome you are aiming for.
To say I’m grateful to have been involved in his creative process—and in bringing Sam and Em into print—doesn’t cover it. Saying I’m honored isn’t enough.
But I will say that this is a person who was told from a young age that he would never be a writer.
He is now a published author.
He started with a tiny seed of curiosity and watered it. He stuck with the book until it became what it was meant to be.
Robert taught me what it means to trust the creative process on a deeper level, and I’m a better human and writer because of him.
Robert is currently working on book two of the bio-core chronicles, and I cannot wait to see where this takes him!
Congratulations, Robert!!!
And to Sam, Em, Springs, and the whole gang, I loved every minute I spent with you. I’m so glad you are here and that others get to meet you! And Rhonda—you are simply the best household companion ever created and I love you.
Practically Human is available on Amazon and Kindle Plus. For updates and more about the world of Practically Human, please visit Robert’s website.
So, writer, this is what is possible. A realized dream. A message that ripples. A deeper understanding of yourself, your ability, and your work as a storyteller.
Stay open. Stay willing. Just stay. Write and finish your stories.
