I do believe in an everyday sort of magic — the inexplicable connectedness we sometimes experience with places, people, works of art, and the like; the eerie appropriateness of moments of synchronicity; the whispered voice, the hidden presence when we think we are alone. ~Charles de Lint
Recently I’ve been reflecting on the journey I’ve taken in writing my memoir. With amazement, I noticed several synchronicities that tell me a power beyond my own is supporting me in writing and publishing A Long Awakening to Grace.
I never intended to write a book about my life, but there was this nurse who emphatically told me I needed to do that. My July 5, 2014 blog post is about Julie. It took me eight years to heed her encouragement. Once I made the decision to do it, synchronicities began to emerge.
First, the title came to me and seemed a gift from the Universe.
Then, in 2012, I found the perfect writing partner for me at our senior citizens’ center. I wrote about Nita and some of our adventures together two years ago today, on April 27, 2014. She has been such a gift to me and if we hadn’t met every two weeks to read our work aloud to each other, I never would have made it to the editing process where I am today. Writing a memoir is quite a task. My friends keep asking, “When am I going to get to read it?”
All I can say is, “I’m getting closer to publication.”
In addition, without Nita’s support, I probably never would have had the courage to pitch to a New York agent. Rita Rosenkranz’s comment about my story having a compelling narrative arc has kept me going at times when I have doubted myself.
Being introduced to Brené Brown’s work is another synchronicity. Following her modeling and guidance, I have developed the shame resilience needed to tell my story honestly, even the parts that reveal my less than desirable qualities. Next to learning the craft, this is the hardest part of writing a memoir and will prove the most challenging once it is published.
Local writer, Jude Walsh, introduced me to the Story Circle Network (SCN), an online organization for women writers founded by New York Times best-selling author, Susan Wittig Albert.
Susan founded SCN because women write better in community. Jude recommended me for the Works-in-Progress discussion group. Two major synchronicities have followed from that.
Susan Tweit, one of my sisters in the SCN Works-in-Progress discussion group, provided one of them. Just at the time I needed to find my core message, a spirited discussion about this topic arose in our group. Susan’s contribution helped me dig deep. What a joy it was to meet her in person at the SCN Conference this month (April 14-17). When I found her waiting for the shuttle to the Austin hotel where the conference was held, I literally jumped for joy, shouted Susan, and ran to give her a big hug.
In addition, I found the perfect editor for me in the SCN Works-in-Progress group. In October 2014, Judy Plazyk talked about how she works with authors. I was impressed with her commitment but my manuscript was not close to being ready for editing. When she talked about being her author’s biggest cheerleader and greatest fan, I was sold. She and I have developed the perfect author-editor relationship. I feel so blessed to have found her. (Unfortunately, I have no picture of Judy to share with you.)
Then, I think I’ve found my publisher at the SCN Conference. Brooke Warner, one of the founders of She Writes Press, was our keynote speaker. I am so inspired by what she had to say about She Writes vision and mission, (Click here to see what inspires me).
Brooke’s keynote took me back to 1975-1976 when I was a student in seminary and women were knocking on the door of the church, a male-dominated institution, and saying, “Hey, we are called to serve as parish pastors. Let us in.” I am proud to have been a pioneer in that movement.
She Writes Press has been founded to champion women writers, as has SCN. Women’s writing and life stories are not valued in the publishing industry. A gender bias has existed for centuries and even today extends to awards, prize winners, book reviews, and job opportunities. How exciting for me to be a part of a movement to address this inequity. I find it immensely rewarding. That makes She Writes the perfect publisher for me. We’ll see if that is what the Universe has in store.
If you do follow your bliss you put yourself on a kind of track that has been there all the while, waiting for you, and the life that you ought to be living is the one you are living. Follow your bliss and don’t be afraid, and doors will open where you didn’t know they were going to be. ~Joseph Campbell
Linda, you are relationship with the universe and it wants it’s story told!!!!
Diana, I love how you expand my thinking. Thank you for being my friend. Our visit this afternoon was priceless.
Linda, you continue to inspire my to write the story that wants to come through this vehicle as well! My sister is a writer andIm goi g to send her your blog. Thank you for your spirit and courage!!!
Prema,
Support is what we need to allow our stories to emerge. I hope you have started putting pen to paper. Oh, we hardly do that anymore. I guess I should say fingers to keyboard. You have an amazing story and it needs to be told.
What a wonderful and inspiring story you have here, Linda! Each step of this journey seems to build naturally on the next step. I celebrate all that you are doing and the amazing support you have graciously and appreciatively received from the universe.
I love reading Joseph Campbell’s wisdom. Your writing reminds me of an epigraph I’ve used in my memoir:
I have found that you have only to take that one step toward the gods,
and they will then take ten steps toward you. That step, the heroic first step of the journey, is out of, or over the edge of, your boundaries and it often must be taken before you know that you will be supported.
~Joseph Campbell
Mary Jo,
Thank you for your lovely comments. It was so great to meet you at the conference and to give you a hug, too. I love the support you give me for my blog. You give just the kind of support SCN is all about. I had never heard your Joseph Campbell quote. I love it. It is so true. Thanks for being one of those supporting me.
Synchronicities have been happening in my life for 20 years (and probably longer).
I’ve noticed them in my life before, too, Bill, but hadn’t put all this together until recently. How could I have missed it.
Wow! I just looked up the Joseph Campbell quote today–to help me as I continue the difficult task of writing my second memoir. Synchronicity! Thanks for the wonderful blog. You have so much to offer us,
Hi Peggy,
Joseph Campbell has some great quotes even though he didn’t think women needed to take the hero’s journey. A product of his time. Please note the JC quote in Mary Jo Doig’s comment. That was a new one for me and a goody. Wow! You’re writing another memoir. I think I only have one in me. Thank you for your kind comment. I haven’t forgotten what you said about my writing a meditation book. Another friend suggested that as well. It’s percolating.
Linda, What a lovely chronicle of your awakening as a memoir writer (and yes, I did use “awakening” deliberately as an homage to your title!) and a lovely piece of literary citizenship. I’m delighted to have had a small part in helping your find a deeper level with your memoir, and to have met you at the SCN conference. That airport greeting still makes me smile! I think you’d find a wonderful publishing home with Brooke and her team at She Writes.
Susan,
Doesn’t surprise me that you were deliberate in using awakening. You are so thoughtful in all your comments to our WIP group. Thank you for honoring my writing here and for the huge part you played in deepening my memoir. I am so lucky to count you as a friend. And I smile at that airport greeting, too. I think I took you a bit off guard…I wasn’t as immediately recognizable to you as you were to me. Much love to you.
Linda, I shared your post with my brother who thinks about synchronicity a lot. And just before he saw my email, he’d been thinking about synchronicity in our lives, and opened my email with your post…another example of synchronicity. The web that ties us altogether!
Susan
Thank you for sharing it with your brother, Susan, and for telling me about the synchronicity. Isn’t it great the way the Universe works, not to mention what the web makes possible. So nice to have met you at the conference.
I agree! And part of the web is Story Circle (it’s a circle for a reason). Lovely to have met you too and hope to see you at the next!