As a rebellious, articulate child in a chaotic family, I developed some rough edges. Ok, so I had a lot of pokey ways, like a porcupine on a bad hair day. This may have had some impact on my teachers. Certainly, in my formative years, I received remarkable responses from them regarding my writing. In 3rd grade, my mother had me transferred to another classroom, hoping the next teacher would be more kind. Unfortunately, my mother was unaware that the two elderly 3rd grade teachers were roommates. So, it wasn’t exactly surprising when the new teacher held up my notebook to the class and exclaimed, “This is a perfect example of how not to write!” Writing reviews started early!

In 6th grade, my first male teacher, Mr. Petersen, read my writing homework and loudly proclaimed to the class, “You could not have written this!” I was speechless at that wondrous appraisal. Maybe my shooting spitballs out of the barrel of a Bic pen and willfully tossing lunch money on the classroom floor, penny by penny, because I knew he would confiscate it, stretched his confidence in me. For clarification purposes, I had written the piece all by myself. Internal family warfare left little time or attention to my scholastic endeavors.

Years later, my creative writing professor offered stern advice: I had written a well-received in-class assignment, improvising a clever ending in the final moments of the timed essay. He admonished, “Don’t do that again. You must know the end of your story before beginning.” Yet another English professor offered to ‘strangle me’ for asking him a writing related question as he entered the classroom. Clearly, I had an unusual affect on my teachers: perhaps they believed adversity formed great writers.

My creative writing energies were re-directed by my personal and academic experiences. To earn a living, I began my fiction career writing corporate policy manuals. None received Pulitzer prizes nor made the New York Times bestseller list, but they did occasionally receive glowingly heated reviews for their controversial content. I intuitively recognized that my real job satisfaction came from writing: I repeatedly re-read my memos and other papers, enchanted by the language artistry. These assignments fed my secret love of writing.

More than 25 years later, I realize the academic world’s negative comments were simply upside down compliments. My unique and creative personal and writing styles had irked and/or disrupted their status quo. Around 1994, I began writing for my own pleasure, slowly, hesitatingly, inconsistently. In 2005, I discovered buried treasure in a closet: college level Mark Twain writing assignments with the professor’s positive comments. I emailed him a long overdue thank you. And, I renewed my commitment to writing. 

My more recent creative writing successes include: the Readers Digest publication of my 2-line vignette; a personal reflections story published in a Lenten journal; an article published in a women’s business newsletter that received state-wide distribution; my web site; and numerous stories written and performed at various storytelling venues. I just submitted a contest entry to Guideposts magazine and I am currently working through a playwriting guided independent study with the University of Iowa.

My writing goals are to engage readers through entertaining, lively writing and to subversively transform people’s perspectives. I enjoys waking people up, both in print and verbally. I believe that ‘speaking the truth in love’ is at the heart of living well. I’m constructively channeling my ‘inner porcupine’.

I also delight in outgrowing the need to please others. Being true to my own growth needs allows me to succeed and to enjoy supporting others’ success, too. The only ‘good opinion’ I diligently seek is that of my Creator: God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. 

I suggest if people have an opinion to share, “Take a ticket and get in line.” I want the input, and I won’t take it personally. Powerfully supportive, loving connections in my life help me take in the worthwhile feedback and toss away the rest. Risk-taking and failing are a sign of fully living, at the heart of a truly satisfying life.

My return to writing and to a deepening Christian faith is akin to leaping back into a lover’s strong, comforting, and very sexy arms. I wish you much joy in your writing and life journey, also. 

Joyfully,
Karen Sweet, PCC 

Summer, 2006

Karen's website http://www.sweetlifecoaching.com