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Self-Reflection: Why I Wrote a Novel

March 10, 2015 by Sonia Marsh 7 Comments

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D. Helene

“Self-Reflection”

My Gutsy Story® by D. Helene.

 

When I chose to become a journalist, I did so because of my passion for writing, always assuming I’d have enough money to live. I did pretty well living paycheck to paycheck for most of my career until the Great Recession.

After getting laid off from my last full-time writing job in 2008, I was lucky enough to be able to cobble together two part-time jobs. A few years later, I had the courage to quit one of them to focus on my writing. I got laid off from the second one a few months later.

The next few years were tough – working part-time jobs when I could get them, but still focusing on writing, not just out of passion but now also as a coping tool, along with spirituality and yoga, to help me process circumstances beyond my control.

I started writing down some anecdotes about what it’s like to live as one of the 99% – those of us that struggle sometimes to make ends meet. Little did I know that they eventually would be woven together into my first novel.

This book, The Diary of a 99%-er: The Struggle Between Survival and Creative Expression, parallels my own struggle between the primal urge to create and the basic necessity of survival. While it’s a work of fiction, I drew upon my own internal conflict and my coping tools of spirituality and yoga.

While I’ve been a journalist for most of my career, and published my first book (a biography) in 2013, writing a novel was a huge leap that required courage and faith.

It also required discipline and perseverance to see the book through the roller coaster of several moves  — including to Northern California and back to OC; through several jobs; and through a physically-intense, yoga teacher training program.

Through all of this I was struggling with the desire to write and express myself  creatively while trying to pay the rent and stay afloat in OC, which has some of the highest rents in the country. It wasn’t just me. I knew several people who were borderline homeless because of unemployment or chronic underemployment. I knew there was a bigger story to tell.

So, I embraced writing this novel wholeheartedly. I infused it with humor, to mitigate the seriousness of the struggle. I used some real-life facts, like a man who shot his wife and their dog in Laguna Beach a few years back, allegedly due to financial distress.

I continued my spiritual and yoga practices and decided to become a yoga teacher, to deepen my own practice and share my passion with others. I’ve  been teaching yoga since  last June.

Writing this book has been a labor of love and courage and I truly hope it inspires and entertains others and lets people who are experiencing the same struggle know: You are not alone! When you’re going through hell, keep going! Or keep writing, as I like to say!


 

D. Helene states:

“We are the majority of Americans, who have to work for a living, sometimes struggling to just keep a roof over our heads.
If this is you, you can relate to this novel.”

You can find the book on Amazon here.

BOOK_COVER_IMAGE
Click on Cover to go to Amazon

 

To find out More ABOUT D. Helene.

Join D. Helene on Twitter: @DHelene 42

Join D. Helene on Facebook

Filed Under: motivational, Writing & Work Tagged With: My Gutsy Story® by D. Helene.

Comments

  1. Sonia Marsh says

    March 10, 2015 at 8:37 am

    D. Helene,
    I’m sure your story and book will motivate writers to not give up on their passion, even when times are rough. Thank you for sharing.
    Sonia Marsh recently posted..Self-Reflection: Why I Wrote a NovelMy Profile

    Reply
    • D. Helene says

      March 12, 2015 at 7:18 am

      Sonia, Thanks for all your support!

      Reply
  2. ann marquette says

    March 10, 2015 at 1:34 pm

    Wow! D. Helene, this sounds just like my life!!! Thank you for sharing. You are so right…we are in the 99% And like you, I am supporting myself, and keep walking my path through prayer, Faith in God, keeping connected with others, and stepping stone by stone through my writing life.
    ann marquette recently posted..I Cannot Give to Another What I Do Not Have for Myself by Robin KorthMy Profile

    Reply
    • D. Helene says

      March 12, 2015 at 7:19 am

      Ann, Thanks for your comments. Prayer, connection and writing are all amazing coping tools. Best of luck to you and your journey!

      Reply
      • ann marquette says

        March 12, 2015 at 2:25 pm

        Thank you D. Helene. Best wishes and blessings to you.
        ann marquette recently posted..I Cannot Give to Another What I Do Not Have for Myself by Robin KorthMy Profile

        Reply
  3. Liz B says

    March 10, 2015 at 6:11 pm

    Thank you D. Helene, for sharing such an inspiring story. A life goal of mine is to find a way to follow my passion of writing and also get the bills paid. You have inspired me to persevere. I look forward to reading 99%. Best wishes on its success!
    Liz B recently posted..Brrrrrrr from Chicago!My Profile

    Reply
    • D. Helene says

      March 12, 2015 at 7:21 am

      Liz, Thanks for your comments! It’s a touch balancing act sometimes, but it can be done, especially since you can write anywhere at anytime. Best of luck. Keep on writing!

      Reply

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