๐ฟ Welcome
Welcome to the first edition of From the Margins.
Each month, I will share a few things that have found their way into the margins of my notebook: a story, a favorite quote, something I am reading, a writing prompt, and one small idea to take with you.
Thank you for pulling up a chair.
From My Notebook
One of my favorite moments this month came from watching a young writer slowly discover what it means to build a writing life.
Recently, she began spending afternoons at a local bookstore, not to buy books, but simply to research, write, and surround herself with authors. Every week she arrives with a plan. Every week she leaves with new questions.
Somewhere in the middle of our conversations, the story changes.
Characters surprise her. Ideas take unexpected turns. Possibilities appear that neither of us saw coming.
Watching her reminded me that writing has never been a straight path.
It is wonderfully messy.
We gather ideas, let others go, follow unexpected threads, and occasionally uncover a sentence that feels like finding a small jewel in a pile of ordinary rocks.
I think we spend too much time trying to avoid the mess.
The truth is, the mess is where discovery lives.
Whether we are writing fiction, an essay, or simply making sense of our own lives, we often find our story by wandering through it first.
Something to Carry With You
"...you come by your style by learning what to leave out... In the process of simplifying oneself, one often discovers the thing called voice." - Billy Collins
I love this reminder because voice is not something we create.
It is something we uncover, one thoughtful revision at a time.
The Story Only You Can Tell
This month, take a few minutes to notice something quietly changing.
Maybe it is a rose bush whose blossoms are beginning to fade.
Maybe it is a favorite walking path, your child, your garden, or even yourself.
Then write about this question: What in my life has bloomed, faded, and begun again?
Do not worry about where the story ends.
Just notice where it begins.
Turning Pages
For Strength
Unbreakable by Dr. Vonda Wright
A thoughtful reminder that strength is something we build intentionally, one habit at a time.
For Wonder
Devotions by Mary Oliver
One of my favorite daily rituals is reading a poem. Mary Oliver has a remarkable way of reminding me that extraordinary stories often begin by paying attention to ordinary things.
Try This
Before you write this week, tell your story out loud.
Talk through the memory with a friend, or even while walking the dog or driving to work.
Listen carefully.
The details that surprise you while speaking are often the ones worth writing.
Around Write Well Academy
This summer, I have been quietly building new resources for students and families, including a few projects I cannot wait to share in the coming months.
Thank you for being part of this growing community.
Thank you for spending a few minutes with me today.
Until next month, keep discovering the story only you can tell.
Ms. Kelly
โPs. Check out my latest article: "Good Writing Begins with Bad Writing: The Complete Guide to Messy Journaling When You Feel Stuck"โ
โ
โ