Become a Writer, 2 Pages at a Time

Kate Bowler recently wrote that contrary to what we think we want,  “real change is small…and often deeply holy.” That idea applies to many areas of life.

Like…for example, writing.

So many of us want to write our story (or stories), but we’ve lived a lot so there’s so much to capture, too much. We’ll never be able to do it. Or, we don't think anyone will even care if we do get our stories written. So we don’t start.

The thing is, small things done over time add up to big things. Two pages of writing every week add up to over 100 pages in a year! Maybe more importantly, though, small things done over time help the do-er to begin to see themselves in a different way.

If you’ve written every week for a year (or a month…), you start to see yourself as a writer. A writer becomes one of the ways you identify yourself. As Aristotle said, our habits shape us; we become the person we are being. In this case, we are writing, so we take on the identity of a writer.

Not someone who just wants to be writing, but an actual writer. Because you are an actual writer—over time, you’ve become one. And, as Kate Bowler reflected, it’s a deeply holy thing to become who you are.

Guided Memoir Writing can help you get started writing your story and, perhaps just as importantly, start seeing yourself through a different lens. We start small—each class we explore a theme designed to help you identify the personal people, places, and things that are important to your story. Over the week, you write two pages. It’s not long, but it’s enough. It gets you going.

As we reflect on each other’s pieces in class, you start to see yourself in a new way. Yes, you’re now a writer—you’re taking a writing class and writing every week for Pete’s sake! But you also have the privilege of seeing yourself and your story through new eyes.

When I participated in the training for Guided Memoir Writing, a fellow participant's comment left a lasting impression. They heard the theme of resilience echoing through all of my pieces. I have never thought of myself as a resilient person, so, naturally, I balked a little. “No,” they said, and then they began to detail all the ways they saw resilience in my stories.

I have to say I sat up a little straighter.

Through Guided Memoir Writing, you too can have the opportunity to sit up a little straighter because of someone else’s insight! Yes, it takes courage—writing and sharing are vulnerable work—deeply personal and deeply felt. But Guided Memoir Writing provides a safe space for the process to unfold. And participants have the honor of bearing witness to another’s story. There’s no greater privilege.

I have to warn you—it’s addictive! Almost all of the groups I’ve taught so far have continued to meet on their own—both for accountability in writing and for the privilege of being seen through their stories.

Your story deserves to be told! Join me to get started!