A comment on Substack that made my day

 

This morning at 3am, I read the following reply on my comment on Substack. It is comments like this that makes my day.

Stephane - The Story Coach

Thank you for sharing this with us. It’s a beautiful tale. I hope that all the parents and children who need this will find you <3

Here is her original post:

I want to normalise long writing journeys.

I started writing my novel five years ago, and I know I still have a long way to go. I won’t lie: sometimes the self-doubt and shame get loud.

But here’s what I know:

Every day I don’t give up is a day I can improve.

Every day I don’t give up is a day I am showing up for myself and my dreams.

The following was my comment:

Self-doubt surfaced often during the first few years of my blogging journey. More than once, I stopped writing altogether. The silence could be discouraging, and at times I wondered whether anyone was reading or whether my observations were simply wrong.

Yet every time I stepped away a new parent would contact me for help with a child labelled dyslexic. And every time, I saw the same familiar pattern. The child was not incapable of learning. The problem was not a lack of intelligence. More often than not, the child had been left confused by instruction, had failed to build a secure foundation, and had gradually lost confidence. Seeing those children reminded me why I started writing in the first place.

The experiences of teaching dozens of struggling readers over the years have done more to shape my views than any theory. Again and again, I have watched children who were thought to be unreachable begin to read when given clarity, the correct sounds, and a manageable path forward. Those successes made it difficult to remain silent.

This year, I made a commitment to write a post every day. Not because I expect widespread agreement, and certainly not because I have all the answers, but because there are still desperate parents searching for hope. Many arrive at my blog after being told that their child's difficulties are permanent, that progress will be slow, or that no clear solution exists.

As long as parents continue to find value in what I share, I will keep writing. If even one mother or father discovers a practical way to help their child read, then every article is worthwhile. My goal has never been to win arguments or impress academics. It has always been to help the child sitting in front of us, and the parent searching for answers when few seem willing to question the prevailing assumptions.

The following is from her profile:

Stephane - Story Coach

@stephanestorycoach

Developmental Editor, Writer, Toddler Mom 🖋 I love character-driven stories, complex female characters, and fiction with sharp social commentary. Deep story craft based on popular books & the chaotic process of becoming a better writer.