Visibility is Scary but it Changed Me

The first time I called myself a writer out loud was on August 14, 2019, and by then, I’d already been writing daily for a couple of years. Yet I hadn’t shared this much and at the time, uttering those words was one of the hardest yet most transformative experiences in my short writing career. It was nerve racking yet necessary.

I did this as part of a Visibility Challenge with four other amazing women. I had signed up for the challenge, knowing that I needed a push to feel more comfortable with putting myself out there. At the end of the challenge, we each had to do Facebook Live, granted, only within our private group. It was the first time I’d ever taken a video of myself speaking.

I woke up early and prepared a special breakfast to mark the occasion. I was meant to give myself enough time to get ready at a leisurely pace, but nerves got the best of me, I overestimated how much time I had at my disposal, and by the time I got ready it was two minutes before the session was meant to begin. I’d had a hard time shaking off my nerves and now I grew warmer and sweatier than I already was, but I had no choice. I had to go with it.

I started the session well. I was animated and engaged. I shared my story without having to refer to the notes I’d prepared. I talked about my journey becoming a writer and why it was so important to me…