Member-only story
Support in Writing
I came to writing as a way to reflect upon my life. That involved introspection and reflection on my own in front of a page and a screen. I thought back to my experiences, and also that of those around me, paying attention to what people shared, as well as what they didn’t. This provided me insight into who people are and inspired me to develop characters and dialogue.
What comes out on the page is a result of this process, and as such, writing is a solitary endeavor. Yet, I felt it was important to get support and guidance.
I started my writing journey by being part of the Elephant Journal Writing Academy. It helped me clarify my language and strengthen my writing habit.
I then partook in every single writing course Joanne Fedler had to offer. I was part of a community of writers and with all her and their support I was able to complete a first draft of a book.
Nailia Minnebaeva helped me clarify my identity as an author and get clear on what I wanted to portray.
I also needed help with editing, which is tougher than writing in the first place because this is where I put in the work to make sure everything makes sense and what is included is worth a reader’s time. I tried some on my own, and it wasn’t working. I enlisted the help of friends and friends of friends, but eventually I needed more.
