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Gabie

Entry 08: Everyone Has a Story


Japanese words

I have only a few pages left to read of On Writing by Stephen King. I think I refuse to read the last few pages of this book because, although I am enthralled with King's story of becoming an author, his legacy as such, and his advice on writing itself, I feel like once I finish the book, I will definitely have no excuse to not recognize my own story as an author and to create my very own legacy in writing. Because everyone has a story. Every writer has a story.


When reading about how King became editor of his high school newspaper, The Drum, I thought to myself, "Well, that's cool. Why didn't I think of writing for my high school newspaper?" Stephen King knew he wanted to be a writer and it was obvious by the sort of activities he chose in high school. I began using this as a reason to discredit myself as a writer. King seemed to have a story that coincided with his writing career, and I felt like an imposter, as I normally do.


Gabie holding up "On Writing" by Stephen King
Gabie holding up "On Writing" by Stephen King

I allowed myself to feel this way for weeks. For weeks! I believed that King's story differed from my own writer's story, and even though I didn't intend to stop writing, this presumed difference created feelings of deep incompetence. But recently, perhaps under divine inspiration, who knows, I decided to look through my safe-keeps box.


I keep all of my memorabilia of the past in this box: old love letters, awards, photos, postcards, my very first journal. Folded neatly within the keeps, I found an October 2005 issue of the Eagle Edition, my high school newspaper. Almost 25 years later, I'm asking myself why did I keep this newspaper? I flip through the pages, mining for something familiar, and then I see it, an article entitled, Everyone Has a Story written by, none other, than Gabrielle Kelley.


I wrote for my high school newspaper.


The article entitled, "Everyone Has a Story" by Gabrielle Kelley written in an October 2005 issue of The Eagle Edition, the Rowlett High School newspaper
The article entitled, "Everyone Has a Story" by Gabrielle Kelley written in an October 2005 issue of The Eagle Edition, the Rowlett High School newspaper

I saved this newspaper probably intuitively knowing that I would gravely underestimate and just completely block from my memory my own writing potential, history, and abilities. I wrote for my high school newspaper, just like Stephen King.


And then I started to remember everything. I was not a full-time writer for the Eagle Edition but instead, I was a special contributor; someone who would be requested to write featured articles. Why? Because I didn't have the time to work full-time for the newspaper and also run my own business. Yeah, I had my own business in high school! It was called GMK Designs, and it was a custom jewelry making business. I was featured in the yearbook for this very business!


Gabie the Author featured in her high school yearbook for owning her own business, GMK Designs
Gabie the Author featured in her high school yearbook for owning her own business, GMK Designs

So, my story is no different from Stephen King's. In fact, my story is the same exact story that I told myself when I was 9 years old: Gabie, you're going to be an author and an entrepreneur. You're going to travel the world and write about your adventures.


Sometimes, I feel like I am so off-track, but when I stop and really take inventory of my life and decisions, I realize that I am actually square on the path that I set out on. The more that I try to convince myself that I am not a writer or an author, the more I am reminded that I am indeed a brilliant and prolific writer and author. I cannot escape this providence.


Everyone has a story. And this is my story: I, Gabrielle Marie Kelley, am a brilliant and prolific writer and author and I have always been.


 

Do You Have a Writer's Story?

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evodie4
2023年10月29日

I love the article. From knowing you a little bit, you actually achieved your goal of going to Africa. Yes, I have a writer's story

いいね!
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