Carol's Corner

“A memoir should have some uplifting quality, inspiring or illuminating and that’s what separates a life story that can influence other people.” Mitch Alborn

Have you ever felt that people might be conspiring to have you do something so far out of your comfort zone it has never crossed your mind to attempt?

I found myself in that position a number of years ago. My husband had tried, for years, to convince me to write Amee’s story to encourage others, to inspire others, to let others know that miracles still happen, even when they do not look anything like we expect. I had resisted. My response had always been along the lines of, “No! I can’t write. I haven’t written for years and I don’t have the capability. I’ll tell the story but that’s it.”

Now Amee began to join her father in requesting, more like insisting I begin the process of writing the story. But how do you begin to write an ongoing story? How do I begin to dust off years of stuffing down the desire to write, let alone remember any English skills needed to accomplish a task like writing a book.

Their pleas, encouragement, nagging continued until I began to realize they might have a point. I never had enough time to tell all the story when I used it in illustrations and people asked for more. I took out years of journal notes, doctors reports, therapist and teachers reports and reviewed them all. I shed tears as I relived tough times and smiled at accomplishments. When I could no longer put off the inevitable I sat at my computer and began to write. I deleted and began again. Repeat the process over and over until I planned to quit. I was stuck. I could tell the story but write it??

I knew this memoir would have an uplifting quality. It could inspire others. But to do these things it needed to be written and I needed help. I needed a shot of confidence. A friend suggested attending an Inscribe Christian Writers Fellowship conference in Saskatoon. With much fear and trepidation I showed up and God provided some wonderful writers to teach, mentor and encourage me. I faced that computer screen again and began to write. The outcome – stay tuned for tomorrow’s blog post.

Have you been forced out of your comfort zone to share a story with a larger audience either in writing or orally? How did you cross that hurdle? What encouragement did you receive? If you are just at the threshold of taking that first step may you be encouraged to keep on the journey. It is worth it.