Ahh thank you, Grant! Appreciate you reading. I always try to start from the rawest place, the place that holds the most heat, and then the story will usually take shape on it's own shape from there.
Stay with the sentence that makes your stomach clench. Stay with the memory your body still flinches from. Stay with the part of you that’s afraid—and write anyway.
yes. but not on my own. my big story is going to be a continuation of my novel (awaiting publication) which ends in 1974. For the next story, which will stand alone but center on the same made-up community, i want to explore the silent trauma felt by ‘invisible’ people in a town, those folks who work hard and struggle with two jobs but are overwhelmed by rising costs, particularly of housing. i am interested in how the high cost of land and housing drives people out of a community, takes away its fabric.
as with my first novel, i am first working on the characters. i need to explore them more, to create backstories if you will so I can discover their voices, the way they walk and talk. i need to understand their stories, then i’ll start in.
Ahhh I’m so glad to hear that. I love it when things are timely. That little glimmer you’re feeling is everything. That’s the signal. You don’t have to rush it, but I hope you follow it. Cheering you on, love.
There are so many ways to process what we experience, and I find writing to be one of the most powerful. The only way out is through, as they say.
100%. Writing as a way to process, as a healing modality has been so profound for me. It's truly saved my life.
So much yes to this!
Thanks for reading, love! It’s been a game changer for me.
Love this piece. Love how it centers the "raw middle" as the starting point. So many good lines, and such good advice.
Ahh thank you, Grant! Appreciate you reading. I always try to start from the rawest place, the place that holds the most heat, and then the story will usually take shape on it's own shape from there.
Fascinating. This resonated:
Stay with the sentence that makes your stomach clench. Stay with the memory your body still flinches from. Stay with the part of you that’s afraid—and write anyway.
Thanks for reading! So glad this resonated with you. Are you currently working on a story?
yes. but not on my own. my big story is going to be a continuation of my novel (awaiting publication) which ends in 1974. For the next story, which will stand alone but center on the same made-up community, i want to explore the silent trauma felt by ‘invisible’ people in a town, those folks who work hard and struggle with two jobs but are overwhelmed by rising costs, particularly of housing. i am interested in how the high cost of land and housing drives people out of a community, takes away its fabric.
as with my first novel, i am first working on the characters. i need to explore them more, to create backstories if you will so I can discover their voices, the way they walk and talk. i need to understand their stories, then i’ll start in.
I am so glad you wrote this article. This is exactly what I needed to read today.
Writing my story terrifies me.
And.
I feel freedom and exhilaration peeking out on the other side of pain, shame and humiliation.
You’ve given me the courage I need to face the fear and write. 🙏🫶
Ahhh I’m so glad to hear that. I love it when things are timely. That little glimmer you’re feeling is everything. That’s the signal. You don’t have to rush it, but I hope you follow it. Cheering you on, love.
🤩🫶🏻