For Tara Hodgson, writing has always been part of her life even when becoming an author didn’t feel possible. As she shared on the Project Seed Money Podcast, she spent her childhood filling notebooks with stories, thoughts, and feelings. Writing was something she simply did, not something she imagined turning into a career.

Life led Tara into teaching. She went straight to university, began working in education, and focused on building a stable path forward. Writing stayed with her quietly in the background until 2022, when a story connected directly to her work with students began demanding attention.

The idea arrived suddenly during a walk. The entire story unfolded in her mind. It was deeply tied to what she was witnessing as a teacher, especially the impact of social media on kids and teens. Tara went home and started writing, keeping the project to herself for a long time. The vulnerability of the work made sharing it feel risky, and self-doubt showed up immediately.

When the writing began, it flowed. Not because writing is easy, but because the timing was right. Years of lived experience, observation, and care had been building beneath the surface. Once she started, the story wouldn’t let go.

After finishing the manuscript, Tara worked with a close friend who was also an editor. From there, she briefly explored querying agents but quickly realized the process didn’t align with her personality or the urgency she felt around the story. She worried that waiting years could dull the book’s relevance. That led her toward self-publishing.

Tara chose to work with Friesen Press, a Canadian publishing services company, which connected her with designers and formatters while allowing her to retain full ownership of her book. While the process felt overwhelming, having guidance during that first publishing experience made it manageable.

Even after publication, self-doubt didn’t disappear. Tara speaks openly about imposter syndrome, the voice that questions whether she’s really an author or whether anyone will care about her work. Over time, she’s learned to push back, reminding herself that readers beyond friends and family have connected with her books. Some days are easier than others, but the doubt hasn’t stopped her from continuing.

Releasing her book into the world brought a new layer of vulnerability. Even though the story is fiction, it carries pieces of her values, observations, and emotional investment. Letting readers engage with something so personal required developing thicker skin, a process that’s still ongoing.

Despite the challenges, Tara knows she can’t stop writing. Ideas continue to come, sometimes too many at once. For her, fiction is not about escape; it’s about empathy. She believes stories help normalize difficult conversations and offer insight into experiences we may not fully understand.

As a teacher surrounded by teens every day, Tara sees how much goes unspoken. Through her writing, she hopes to open doors to understanding and compassion: for kids, parents, and educators alike.