This Girl's Story

I am a writer. I didn’t set out to be one, but there it is. I am one. Countless reports, memos and other written documents do not make me a writer. Oh, I did those things, too, but no, being a writer is a conscious act of art, one in which an intentional meaning with several dimensions are present to help a reader understand a topic.

I did this sort of thing in articles one day, for a trade journal. That led to being on an advisory editorial board that lasted about 16 years. A bit later I found myself on my Homeowners Association (HOA) board. We needed a continual form of communication with fellow neighbors and a monthly newsletter was created. I wrote the thing. Eight pages every month. Published it as well. Even distributed it to each of 321 homes. Later I mailed it, and distribution was as simple as delivering it to the post office.

Other newsletters followed for other organizations, but then one day the local newspaper died and four of us decided to replace it with our own. They made me the managing editor and assigned me the city hall beat, editorials and obituaries. Eight years later we closed shop but not after having a lot of fun and learning how to publish a local paper serving a readership of 25,000.

Then I knew I was a writer. Not because of what I knew to be true, but what others said of me.

Today I see the importance of others speaking their voice, writing it, seeing it in print.

This Girl's Story is a quarterly magazine formed to give young women ages 13 to 18 a place to express themselves. This act is using a voice they have found within. The results are amazing. Personal thoughts are easily read and felt. The personhood of the author is made real. These girls are finding their voice and experimenting with it, growing with it and becoming so much more in coming years. That is the mission of the publication, to help young women become whatever they will be better. Such a simple idea. Such a gift to view.

Writing is not a mystery. It is the self expressing its truth. Check it out on the web. You’ll be glad you did.

December 19, 2022

 

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