Solo, Not Alone: How Writing My Book Helped Me Reclaim My Voice and Inspired Others to Do the Same
- 2 days ago
- 3 min read
By Diana Proemm
When I set out to write Traveling Solo for Women Over 50, I didn’t know it would be more than a book. I thought it would be a guide, maybe even a gentle nudge for someone sitting on the edge of their comfort zone. But in the end, it became a declaration of independence for myself and for the women who would read it.
From the start, my goal was to create something useful. I wanted to speak directly to the woman who was standing at a crossroads: newly retired, recently divorced, widowed, or simply restless. The woman who had spent decades putting others first and was now wondering, “What about me?” I knew that feeling intimately, because I had lived it.
I didn’t set out to write a memoir or a philosophical musing on midlife. I wanted to write a guidebook. A companion filled with hard-earned wisdom, practical strategies, safety tips, travel planning tools, and most importantly, encouragement. A book that answered the questions women in my circle were always asking: How do I travel alone? What if I get lost? What if something goes wrong? Can I really do this… at my age?
The process of writing the book felt much like planning a journey; equal parts excitement, fear, and purpose. I mapped it out with the reader in mind, structuring chapters like stepping stones: from dreaming about a solo trip, to planning it, to navigating the emotional and logistical challenges that inevitably arise. I wanted readers to close the book not just inspired, but equipped.
Throughout the writing process, I kept circling back to one word: permission. So many women over 50 are waiting for someone to give them the green light to explore, take up space, and prioritize their own dreams. I wanted this book to be that green light. To remind them they don’t need to justify their desires. They don’t need to wait for a partner or a friend. They can book the ticket. They can go.
What surprised me most was how writing a guidebook still became a deeply personal experience. To offer guidance that truly resonates, I had to be honest about my own missteps and fears. I shared moments of triumph, summiting a mountain solo, navigating unfamiliar cities with confidence, and moments of vulnerability, too, like crying from loneliness in a Paris hotel room or getting lost (literally and emotionally) more than once. That honesty, I believe, is part of what connects the reader to the message: “If I can do this, you can too.”
Since publishing Traveling Solo for Women Over 50, I’ve heard from countless women who said it gave them the courage to take the first step. Some booked their first solo trip, others simply started daydreaming again after years of self-neglect. One woman told me she keeps the book by her nightstand “like a compass,” something to turn to whenever doubt creeps in.
That’s exactly the kind of impact I hoped to make. Because this book isn’t about me. It's about her. The woman reading. The one rediscovering her curiosity. The one feeling a spark and wondering what’s possible.
So, if you’re sitting on an idea, whether it’s a story, a workshop, a guidebook of your own - ask yourself: Who is it for? What could your experience unlock for someone else?
When we write with the intention to serve, the words find their way. And when we turn our lived experience into a resource, we not only tell our story - we light the way for others to live theirs.
Connect With Diana
Instagram: @diana.proemm
LinkedIn: @dianaproemm