I can't believe what you do sometimes

You leave me bug-eyed!

“I won the Story Slam!”

Back in December, one of my students, Cindy, sent this message to our writing group.

I didn’t even know what a story slam was, but EEK! She won!

The more she described it—standing in front of a crowded room, telling a funny story and actually having to be funny, AND getting judged—the more I thought, “are you kidding me? You did that??”  

You lot blow me away sometimes.

I love to hear about the ways you use your stories.

The way you inspire your readers and make them laugh, or cry, or feel less alone.

The publications you get into and the contests you win.

The books you write.

Every time I hear another story about what you’re up to, it leaves me gaping at the glass of my laptop screen like my (now deceased) bug-eyed goldfish used to do.

Cindy took what she crafted in my personal essay course and turned it into a tears-rolling-down-my-cheeks live performance!

She didn’t just make me laugh, she made an entire audience laugh. (You can hear them in the video, but I bet it was even better from where she stood.)

The story slam was a birthday challenge for Cindy. She pushed herself, and with a team of support, she nailed it. How good must that feel?

About this good:

“The room exploded with applause when I finished but I honestly didn’t care about winning. I had done what I set out to do and I felt amazing!”—Cindy Shore Smith

She did what she set out to do. (And I love this photo of her mid-story!)

But she didn’t do it on her own. She had a writing coach (me!) and a story slam coach. She had her husband listening to her practice her story over and over and over. She had a whole team of writing peers cheering her on.

As Cindy told me recently, “Your support means so much : )”

Support is EVERYTHING.

I tried for years to do this writing thing on my own.

It was….okay.

But it was GREAT when I found a community.

• When I had a fiction mentor for a year.

• When I joined two amazing writing groups.

• When I started running and attending classes.

That’s when it got easier to do what I set out to do. Like when your kids are old enough to do their own laundry easier. Like Saturday night microwave mac-and-cheese easier.

That’s why I run Writing Club with my friend Ash Jurberg. Writing is better with other people.

It’s starting up again March 1st and there’ll be more details coming tomorrow. Can’t wait!!

In the meantime, here’s Cindy’s Story Slam win (The video is at the bottom)

Kelly xx