Episode 28: Unleashing Your Story: A Journey from Pain to Purpose

I'm launching a new series for aspiring authors to guide you through the messy, meaningful, and magical journey of telling your story. My own path to authorship began in a therapist's office and evolved through personal healing, publishing mishaps, and unexpected connections that transformed my book and purpose.

• Started writing from therapy journal entries that made my therapist laugh and cry
• Hit wall of imposter syndrome while writing about traumatic experiences
• Waited until after my mother passed to publish, balancing truth with compassion
• First self-published on Amazon with no professional help—and it showed
• Met a publicist on anniversary cruise who connected me with editor and publisher
• Discovered many readers related to my story, proving I wasn't alone
• Created the Plus One Theory from this journey of healing and helping others
• Advice for writers: expect imposter syndrome, be gentle with yourself, find support
• Your past doesn't define you; it prepares you for purpose

Check out the crowdfunding campaign for the Plus One Theory book at PamDwyer.com or PamDwyerspeaker.com. Even $5 or $10 helps, and there are amazing reward tiers perfect for individuals, teams, and aspiring authors.

Transcript

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Welcome to Plus One Theory

Speaker 1 0:10

Hey friends , welcome back to the Plus One Theory podcast . I'm your host , pam Dwyer , and I'm so excited to launch a brand new series with you today . So you'll want to be an author , whether you've been secretly writing in notebooks for years or someone's just told you hey , you should write a book . This series is for you . Have you ever wondered what you need to do to actually write a book , to get it published ? I'm sure there's lots of other questions like do you you make any money ? How much does it cost ? Is it expensive ? How do you do it ? How do you market it ? Well , we're diving into this messy , meaningful and magical part of telling your story . As always , this show is rooted in one belief you don't have to overhaul your life to change it . You just take one more small step , one more action , one more choice . That's the plus one theory . And a quick disclaimer I'm not a therapist or a mental health professional . I'm just a woman who's walked through some hard stuff and I want to help you finish stronger than you started . So let's get started , shall we ?

My Author Journey Begins

Speaker 1 1:27

My journey as an author didn't begin with a publishing deal or a plan . It started in a therapist's office . Every week I'd bring journal entries , raw and filtered emotional pages , and my therapist would read them , of course . But they would either laugh or cry , or sometimes both , and she would always say Pam , you need to write a book , girl . At first I thought , who me ? But the idea stuck . I started writing down the experiences that created the brokenness I was working through , the moments that left marks . You know the memories that shaped my mindset . Entry by entry , story by story , a book began to take shape . But let me tell you , it wasn't all inspiration and aha moments . I hit a wall , a big one . It's called imposter syndrome .

Facing Imposter Syndrome and Family Impact

Speaker 1 2:37

The more I wrote , the more I thought who am I to write this ? I found myself revisiting the same coping skills I had spent years building with my therapist , of course , skills I thought were rock solid , but somewhere along the way I had gotten a little sloppy with them . Old feelings of unworthiness started creeping in , shame started whispering in the background again . And as I wrote , I wasn't just telling stories , I was reliving them . And it was hard and it brought up a lot , not just for me but for my family too . Some of my siblings didn't want to go back there . They had worked hard to move on and I so get that .

Speaker 1 3:20

I'll confess something here I waited until my mama passed to publish this book . I took care of her the last ten years of her life . We had come so far . We found forgiveness , we found peace . I didn't want to risk hurting her or ruining all that work we did together . She never fully realized how her choices , like the neglect or the lack of structure or just being there for us , created patterns . I had spent years unlearning , but I had forgiven her and I still had to face it all in order to heal .

Speaker 1 3:57

Though now , just because I had a powerful story , it doesn't mean I knew how to publish one . I uploaded that first version to Amazon like I was a true author , a publisher . I mean no editor , no cover designer , no clue what I was doing , and let's just say

From Self-Publishing to Professional Help

Speaker 1 4:18

it wasn't great . My friends and family were so kind . They were excited for me , but they didn't say anything . But I knew I could feel it and I could read it . But then Tim and I went on our 30th anniversary vacation , which we'd always planned to go , on a cruise to Spain of all places . I met a publicist on that ship and we ran into one another . She introduced me to an editor and a publisher who I still work with today . They helped me reshape From the Piney Woods into a book that I was proud of instead of embarrassed about .

Speaker 1 4:58

And then something happened , something unexpected . People started reaching out . They saw themselves in my story . They saw their own pain , their own survival , their own hope . And that's when I realized that I wasn't one of few that grew up like that . I was one of many . I wasn't alone . I wasn't the only one suffering through shame and silence and suddenly I wanted to help all the people out there . I wanted everyone to find their voice and feel seen . That's when the plus one theory

Finding Purpose Through Storytelling

Speaker 1 5:37

was born . It was a natural next step . I had lived it . Now I wanted to teach it , to share it . I always say your past doesn't define you , it prepares you . That's the mantra of my book . And now I had the proof . I started creating not just stories but systems , tools to help people take that next right step . And now that's the foundation of my next book , the Plus One Theory .

Speaker 1 6:07

If you are thinking about writing your story , here's what I'll say . You'll feel imposter syndrome , it's normal . Write anyway . You'll uncover pain , but be gentle with yourself . You might stir up emotions in others , and that's not your responsibility . Your responsibility is to tell the truth with love . I mean , it's how you saw things happening and it's not always the same as what someone else

Advice for Aspiring Authors

Speaker 1 6:37

sees . But our lived experiences are our own lived experiences and you will need support . Find your circle , find people who get it . So if you've got a story stirring in your heart and your soul , listen to it . Let this be your plus one moment , the first small step that leads to a bigger shift .

Speaker 1 7:02

Because , folks , we all go through struggles . We all have pain in our past struggles . We all have pain in our past , but let's use it right . Let's use it for fuel , let's use it for purpose , to make a wonderful , positive impact in this world . Make it worth it . If you'd like to support the Plus One Theory book , check out the crowdfunding campaign on PamDwyercom or PamDwyerpeakercom . There's links on both of those

Support the Book Campaign

Speaker 1 7:30

. Even $5 or $10 helps and there are some amazing reward tiers , perfect for individuals , teams and yes , aspiring authors . Next week , we'll dive into what I wish I'd known before publishing my first book and some hard-e , hard earned tips for anyone thinking about hitting upload . Until then , remember you're not broken , you're becoming , and your story matters . It always has .