Why Authors Need to Fight Censorship and Tell the Truth with Courage
I know with every fiber in my being that stories have the power to change and shape lives. In fact, they saved mine.
Stories create empathy, compassion, understanding, and connection. And because of that, they have the ability to create lasting change—within individuals, communities, and even the world.
For a long time, my WHY for book coaching came from my struggle to embrace my voice and my desire to help others do the same.
I shared my story about being creatively repressed. How, as a child, I learned a survival skill—to stay quiet, to believe that my voice wasn’t meant to be heard, and that it was emotionally dangerous to be truly seen. That belief led me to years of insecurity, repressed creativity, and eventually, addiction.
But it was stories—hearing other people’s experiences, reading both fiction and nonfiction—that became part of my catalyst for change.
Stories showed me that I wasn’t alone. They helped me grow into the person I am today—someone who now believes that every voice is unique and that every story deserves to be told.
Read the full story behind my why here.
And while that remains true, my "why" for helping writers put their stories into the world has grown even deeper.
Recently, my daughter was diagnosed with a lifelong medical condition—one that will soon be visible to others. I’ve debated on sharing her diagnosis but I think it’s the right thing to do—to advocate and spread awareness and she’s on board with me talking about it now.
She’s been diagnosed with Juvenile Idiopathic Scoliosis. Her curve is severe enough she’ll need to be in a back brace (a hard plastic contraption) for eighteen hours a day until she’s done growing. So probably the next 5-6 years. And the bracing doesn’t guarantee that she won’t require surgery at some point.
She’s eight, almost nine. We caught it early, which is good. Normally children are not screened until middle school.
But she’s at the stage where she’s starting to feel the sting of peer pressure, of fitting in, while striving for individuality, and this diagnosis will bring challenges, for her and for us.
One of the first things I did after we received the diagnosis was search for stories.
I looked up books featuring children with her condition and peer support groups—stories that could help her see herself reflected in other people's experience, stories that could help me understand what she would experience.
And because of brave people who put their voice in the world and shared their experiences, I found them.
For that, I am so grateful because I know how important it is to see yourself in someone else’s experience—to know you’re not alone.
This is the power of story.
This is why I am here and why I strive to show up in the world the way I do.
And this is why we must fight censorship.
Every person has a story and the right to tell it in the way they see fit.
Every voice matters.
And through the brave voices of those who are willing to share, we grow into a better world.
We give children like my daughter the knowledge that there is nothing wrong with them. It’s okay to be exactly who they are. Who they are is beautiful.
Banning books, censorship—those tactics keep us small, suffocated, controlled.
HOPE is Hearing Other People's Experiences.
Hope creates EMPATHY and empathy creates a better world.
It’s been over a month since we walked out of the doctor’s office, gut punched, and shocked.
At first she asked with tears in her eyes, “Mama, can we keep it a secret?”
It broke my heart to see her face that choice. But I know how that road ends—the road of secrets and shame. So as I hugged her and held her innocent face in my hands, and said, “Baby, keeping secrets makes us sick inside because they hurt us. Being different isn’t a bad thing. Different is beautiful. Different is brave. You are beautiful and brave.” I think that was all I could say in the moment. But it was enough.
And now, my beautiful brave girl has told her friends, her classmates, and wants to spread awareness and advocacy.
She’s still scared. Me too. But we are doing it, moment by moment, day by day.
So in case no one has told you, in case you need to hear this:
Your voice is needed.
You are HOPE.
Your stories matter.
Please write them and please fight for the right for others to write theirs.
We are in this together and together we have the power to make our world a better place.
Just in case you know someone who is going through a similar experience or if you find yourself facing the same situation:
General Information on Scoliosis:
Information on Juvenile and Adolescent Scoliosis
https://www.settingscoliosisstraight.org/
Peer Support for Kids and Parents :
Books:
Straight Talk Scoliosis–The Journey Continues
Finding Curvy Girls-My Scoliosis Journey Activity and Coloring Book
