I’ve always loved stories.
Not just the ones we read in books… although those will always have my heart… but the stories we live inside of every day. The ones we tell ourselves. The ones we listen to. The ones we share quietly with those around us.
Storytelling is such a powerful part of our humanity. It’s how we make sense of the world, how we remember who we are, and how we find one another.
I’m endlessly fascinated by how stories show up everywhere. In novels and movies, but also in conversations, in social media captions, in newsletters sent from one human to another. I love the art of storytelling through these modern forms because connection doesn’t have to be grand to be meaningful. Sometimes it’s simply honest little moments.
That’s why I believe storytelling is one of the most powerful tools we have to build community. When we share our stories… our reflections, our questions, our quiet truths, as we so often do on social media… we create space for others to say, me too. And suddenly, we’re not alone anymore.
There are a few quotes about stories that I love…
“Stories have to be told or they die, and when they die, we can’t remember who we are or why we’re here.”
— Sue Monk Kidd“Inside each of us is a natural-born storyteller, waiting to be released.”
— Robin Moore“We are all storytellers. We all live in a network of stories. There isn’t a stronger connection between people than storytelling.”
— Jimmy Neil Smith, Director of the International Storytelling Center
Each one reminds us that storytelling isn’t reserved for writers, or artists, or people with big platforms. It belongs to all of us.
As we head into a new year, I keep coming back to this question…
What story have you been telling yourself?
And just as importantly… is it the one you want to keep telling?
The start of a new year feels like a blank page at the beginning of a manuscript. Not meant to rewrite everything, but to pause. To reflect. To notice the narrative you’ve been carrying… and to ask yourself if it’s time for a new one.
Maybe this is the year you let yourself become the hero of your own story.
The year you stop shrinking your experiences.
The year you tell the truth… first to yourself, and then to the world, in whatever way feels right.
I’d love for us to connect through this shared love of storytelling as we move forward together. Through books, through reflections, through small moments shared in this space.
Stories don’t just entertain us.
They shape us.
And when we tell them… out loud, honestly, and for others to see… write our own life story.
Until next time,
Melissa
The Literary Assistant
Learn how to design a reader journey that naturally turns curiosity into connection.
This workshop walks you through the five key stages of an author sales funnel
Discovery
Connection
Nurture
Conversion
Retention
and helps you map a system that fits your creative rhythm.
Drawing on my years of experience helping authors build authentic, sustainable marketing strategies, this session provides clear steps to attract and retain readers. Whether you’re launching your first book or refining your existing outreach, you’ll gain practical strategies to create a funnel that sells. Open to authors of all genres.
Register individually as a standalone event or gain access to the Zoom link with a paid subscription to Colin Mustful’s Substack for more History Through Fiction content.
The Literary Assistant community has now donated 23 books to women in need.💝
Your support means the world to me! For every membership upgraded to $7, I donate a historical fiction or romance book to a local women’s shelter.
The Literary Assistant is Reader-Supported. Please note, all posts are free for everyone to enjoy. Your support helps keep this space thriving for book lovers like you! 😊
Affiliate links are occasional used at no extra cost to you the reader.