In June we announced that we were expanding our Showcase of Creativity to include essays, songs, and stories as well as poetry. We are pleased to present new writers and appreciative of the new material that we are receiving.

• Here is a new poem submitted by Cindy Thatcher, called “Lost Time, Lost Mind” in our Poetry Corner.
• Another new piece was submitted to us by Joel Sheffel, Executive Director of WSANA. Their mission, according to www.wsana.org, “is to provide information that will allow individuals with disabilities to live independently and contribute to the community in which they live.” Joel went from living in a nursing home to developing a website to help others.
• Here are links to two new authors How I Learned About Epilepsy - By Kira Gale and The Power Within You - By Jane Jackson.
• As we grow and expand, we would like to develop a section called, “Guest Columnist.” So please continue to submit your stories to us.

Creative Expression

Every one of us has a way in which we express ourselves creatively. It can be through music, or dance, or painting, or the written word. The written word is deeply personal. Sometimes we use writing to convey our deepest feelings and thoughts to others. At other times, we may write in a journal and keep our writings hidden. There are also occasions when we use the written word to express the way we feel about an injustice.

What is “the written word”? It is your gift, your talent. The way to bring this gift to others is through honesty and through your heart.

Oftentimes we show our work to others and they discourage us. They might say, "It isn't good enough." Or, “Why would you want to write about that?”

Here is a secret that many writers share about writing. When you are writing a piece – keep writing it and editing it yourself until you like it so much that you love it. And keep it close to you without sharing with others until you believe in yourself and your work.

At that point you may wish to join a writer's group or talk with other friends who write. These are people who should offer only constructive help -- words that build your confidence. As a person devoted to the written word, you wish to hear only words that empower you to continue writing.

Embrace Positive Feedback

I am a writer. Yet when I was in college, at a teaching college, a professor handed back essays in class one day and announced our grades as she did so. When she came to my name she said, "Young lady, may you never teach beyond the second grade level. There you will do the least amount of damage to the English language."

I was totally deflated. Then another professor who heard of my humiliation came to me and said, "Perhaps you don't want to teach. Why not write?" And she coached me along until I graduated with honors in English and landed my first job -- as a writer and editor. Eventually I went to my dream job at The New York Times.

My career as a writer came about because another professor believed in me. She gave me the confidence to achieve my heart’s desire. Yet, she also taught me a valuable lesson. I should have believed in myself.

This page -- The Written Word -- is for all of you who believe in yourselves and in your gift. Share it with us.

Rita Watson, MPH
Senior Editor, epilepsy.com and epilepsy.com/professionals
http://www.epilepsy.com/who/letter_senior_editor.html