Not Writing About Writing

But the Transformation of Reading

Writing about writing is popular on Substack.

It seems to get attention and bring new followers daily. And we all want to grow our audience, right?

But that’s not what I do.

I’m not trying to teach anyone about the best hooks or the catchiest titles (though I do listen to that advice because, you know, I want people to read my posts).

I write stories that I hope touch you to your core, hoping you sometimes feel that breath in your lungs after flailing underwater too long.

I want to inspire hope, especially if you have felt yourself falling through the ice at one time, like I have described myself several times in relation to the story in my memoir.

This looks like me in the woods of my childhood

Uncovering a revelation that shook the ground beneath me.

Of course, I’d like to sell my memoir. But not for the reasons one might think.

My story shines a light on the path forward. The path through a hazy forest to the open field on the other side where we feel a bit stronger.

More free.

More able to forgive our past.

Transformed.

So, yes, I’d like readers to delve into this story.

Growing an audience is part of the process.

Promoting our work is too, so I try to keep advertising.

But what works best? Natural conversations that occur when I least expect them.

Like the time about a month ago when I was travelling alone and had to endure a 4-hour delay at the airport.

A nice woman, also traveling to see her family, struck up a conversation with me. Let me emphasize, just for my daughter’s sake who teases me about how much I looove talking about my book, I did not bring up my book to her.

She mentioned browsing the airport bookstore to look for her next find because she’s always wanting something unique for her Book Club. She would be hosting as soon as she returned from this trip.

I just so happened to be attending my Book Club on the same day upon return, so I mentioned ...

“Hey, me too. I will be attending one on Thursday as well.”

What I didn’t say was that my group would be discussing🔗My Father’s Daughter.

But, of course, she asked.

When I showed her our featured book and she saw that I was the author, she expressed complete delight.

“Do you visit? I’d love to tell my group that I am bringing the author in for a special conversation.”

Absolutely, I’ll visit. It will be my honor. Why didn’t I think of that?

There I was weeks later heading to a stranger’s house where the group welcomed me as a friend. They provided a home-cooked meal with fancy drinks too because that’s just how Book Clubs are!

The discussion went on for hours. Dynamic and alive with genuine interest.

They paid me compliments, which are always nice to hear, but the high point is that the story brought out parts of their own life that seemed perched on top of a cliff, waiting to fall over the edge and splash into a common pool where we all swim.

I’m finding that my book inspires people to release secrets or ghosts that they’ve been holding down for too many years.

What a dream for my story to move people this way. 🔗 “Why We Write.”

That’s why I want to sell my book. To expand this reach and touch people down deep in their souls to inspire hope and restoration.

An interesting thing about Substack is that readers can interact with authors. People can message the author about how a particular story resonates with them.

This wasn’t exactly possible years ago? I remember wishing I could talk to an author or artist but that entailed letter writing, if you could find an address, and waiting for a reply that never came.

Now, readers can share an author’s work with the click of a button in addition to by word of mouth. I appreciate every Share and every Like button clicked. ❤️

I appreciate messages like this one from a neighbor who just finished my book:

I give your book a 10 out of 10. It was everything I could want in a book. There is so much I want to discuss with you.

We are going out to lunch for that purpose.

I must say, these in-person discussions are feeding my soul in a way I never dreamed.

Let me reiterate—

I visit Book Clubs.

[Would love to interact & to hear your comments. Come along on this journey of seeking writing that has the power to transform. I’m always looking for that kind of work. ❤️ Liking & Sharing helps us all find what we’re looking for on this platform.]