The Reluctant Author’s 15-Day Sprint Glenda Benevides has always been a storyteller, though for most of her career, that storytelling happened through song lyrics as a Grammy-nominated musician. Her shift into authorship began with a moment of recognition in a kitchen when a friend called her a “badass goddess.” Rather than deflecting the compliment, Glenda decided to lean in, creating an acronym around the word “badass” and examining what she truly had to offer.

When a friend mentioned he had been working on a book for ten years, Glenda’s natural determination kicked in. She decided to prove that a book didn’t have to take a decade to write. Despite being dyslexic, she set a rigorous path: 15 chapters in 15 days. By committing to one chapter a day and refusing to “eat the whole thing” at once, she completed her first manuscript in just over two weeks.

The Blueprint: Clarity, Courage, Confidence, Commitment, and Community Central to Glenda’s philosophy is a specific order of operations for success. She argues that many people try to find community or commitment before they have done the foundational work. According to Glenda, the process must follow this flow:

1. Clarity: Getting to know yourself and what you are passionate about.
2. Courage: The willingness to look at your fears and blocks directly.
3. Confidence: Built through the act of taking action.
4. Commitment: The dedication to see the project through to the end.
5. Community: The final step where you align with others who vibe with your clear message.

She warns that without clarity, you cannot truly know who your community is or who you should be speaking to.

The Business of “Owning the Goddess” Writing the book is only half the battle; the other half is the business of being an author. Glenda’s journey involved hiring a high-quality editor who helped her make the work “palatable” and “interesting” without stripping away her unique voice. She eventually chose the Amazon publishing path for its simplicity and the ability to have physical hard copies in hand.

However, she cautions that the intention behind the book must be pure. “If you think you’re going to get famous or rich by writing a book, not the intention,” she warns. Instead, the goal should be a contribution to others. For Glenda, that contribution came full circle when a filmmaker she had met years prior in Germany read her book and told her it had deeply inspired him. That single connection, which even led to an afternoon meeting in Scotland, was enough to satisfy her heart.

Overcoming the Voices of Doubt Glenda is a firm believer in the “inner work,” such as Carl Jung’s shadow work, to move mental blocks out of the way. She encourages women to stay focused on their passion and not let outside voices demoralize or demean them. To her, authorship isn’t just about a title; it is about recognizing that you are special and have something unique to share. As she puts it, writing is an experiment in value—once you realize your words can touch even one person, you have found your path.