Why Stories?

I took a winding route to get where I am today. From the start, I loved words and stories—and if you’re here reading this, I am sure you do, too. All I wanted to do was work in the world of words and stories, but I soon learned, thanks to the helpful adults around me, that this wasn’t practical. I couldn’t actually make a career out of words and stories. So I got an English degree (a small rebellion) and made noises about possibly teaching to appease everyone. I taught ESL in Prague, worked for a televangelist (one for the memoirs!), managed a doctor’s office, went into fundraising and then, for years, worked at a winery in marketing and project management.

All along I wanted to write and read stories. And I did! I stuffed writing and reading into the minutes and hours between all the other, more practical things. I joined writing groups and attended conferences. I spent hours writing my own stories. I studied craft. I put the publishing industry under my microscope so that when I finally had my polished work, I would know exactly what to do. I even finally got my MFA (a long-time dream) at Vermont College of Fine Arts.

But it’s only now that I am finally shaking off those early messages about the impracticality of building a career around stories. Stories don’t just power our favorite films and TV shows; they are how we connect with one another, how we warn, teach, dream. Stories help us understand each other. Stories carry our history.

Stories aren’t just nice-to-haves; they are must-haves. Your story, in particular, matters. I hope you’ll stick around as we flex our writing muscles together and create what means most to us. Blog posts will go live most Thursdays, or you can subscribe to my newsletter below.

Happy writing!