August 21st, 2019

​It took me a long time to finally read Andrew's story. I wondered what I was getting into, all the while working hard on my own writing and deadlines. I had my own writing to critique. 

I called him. "Do you want me to ink up this story with edits and suggestions or shall we just talk about it at this point?" 

"Can we do both?" 

"Okay, here are my general suggestions but I will mail you the inked up version." I went on cautiously about how I thought his story was a story inside a story. I urged him to add sensory details and told him I had taken the liberty to delete what i considered redundant sentences. In other words, I took a chance. 

"I cannot thank you enough for this, Robin." 

I mailed the written-all-over copy of his story. When we met over lunch again, he handed me his revised story. "I hope you will see that I changed a lot after talking and then reading the comments you made." He was proud as a peacock! He also told me he had gone back to attending the photography club and was enjoying the company of another photographer, that they had gone on out on a couple shoots together. The new companion was a woman, he told me, almost sheepishly. 

"Great all the way around." I was overjoyed with his news, his move toward living life again. 

What is helping Andrew move on with his life? Have you ever experienced a similar situation?