Rising, Revising, Belonging

New to the Wilmington area and craving connection, I sought a creative community. I knew two things: I could start a writers’ group, and I would have to take some risks to make it happen. Call it synchronicity or magic, but it paid off. I found five other women who were not only on fire to tell their stories, but also committed to cultivating a supportive space in which to share them.

It began over hors d’oeuvres on the opening night of the NC Writers’ Network 2025 Fall Conference in Wrightsville Beach.

Jennifer Deets and Becky Johnston were the first to say yes. Deets is a veteran and accountant with a writing background in curriculum and research. With our group’s encouragement, she recently published an essay on living with an inherited cardiac condition. Johnston, a seasoned writing-group member and blogger, brought an energy that pushed us forward. She is now drafting a memoir about redefining identity after menopause and the loss of her parents.

Next came Katie Ridd, who I was fortunate to already know. In different settings, we had both cared for patients and families at the end of life. Ridd writes from the belief that we die several deaths in one lifetime. The truth she captures about these transitions — between losses and awakenings — moves and inspires us.

Then, I found Nic Sims on the second day of the conference and listened as she read from her memoir, “Oh Honey, I Don’t Wanna Get into All That.” It explores breaking the cycle of shame, secrets and silence that comes from being the product of an illicit affair. Once our group began meeting, it was Sims’ passion and bold narrative style that drew us out. We would start by sharing only what we thought we should, but once trust took root among us, we went farther.

I still needed one more person to join us. After admiring her keen questions from the workshop floor, I approached Catherine Breeden. I learned she was a pioneering woman in federal and state law enforcement and is currently working on a memoir from that time, one that includes a threat on her life. She previously wrote an award-winning novel and continues to impress us with the depth of her storytelling.

We have been meeting for four months and call ourselves Rising and Revising. Thanks to these women, I have found the courage to tackle difficult material, including starting life over at age 50. A bonus has been discovering a latent talent for humor, which has given my writing a new dimension.

When we meet, we take turns sharing our work and naming the feedback we need. We write alone but come together to open — and sometimes change — our minds. In that space, we watch one another gain ground with joy as we continue to hone our craft. We hope our experience encourages others to explore their creativity. The personal freedom found in artistic expression is unparalleled and, best of all, available to anyone who seeks it.