I do not remember a single time in my life where I was not an avid devourer of stories. Some of my earliest memories are under the covers with a flash light, sneaking in post-bedtime reading, running around in my back yard pretending I was being whisked away to a far off place by the Magic Treehouse or racing through the woods in my neighborhood, fashioning bows and swords out of sticks and string like a tribute in the Hunger Games. I knew from the time I could believe in something greater than myself and think deeply about the words on the pages before me, that stories wove through me like veins under my skin, a part of me. Something certain, true, and exciting.

 

I loved inviting people into the adventures I created in my mind and read in books. I couldn't help the overflow of joy and wonder. My affinity for reading moved me into the category of "avid reader" as a child and as a result of this categorization I became a go-to for helping others with their reading and writing skills.

 

This transition from personal affinity to helping others strengthen their own abilities and interests began in first grade. I was a reading buddy for my peers who struggled with reading, then in middle school I was chosen by my 8th grade teacher to be a writing aid, and in high school I was the designated editor and consultant for many of my friends' writing assignments.

 

These activities all ran alongside my struggles with my understanding of and proficiency in the different styles and demands of academic writing. I have often found myself with great ideas and passion but with an attention span and organizational skills that are unable to keep up. The desire to create was welling up inside me but was paired with idle, frustrated hands that failed to provide an outlet. Experiencing the frustrations of struggling through assignments and staring at blank pages, willing an argumentative essay or poetry analysis to appear, have allowed me to become not only a helpful guide in the craft of writing but a peer in the struggles it often produces in its intrepid patrons.

 

In college, I found that I could pair my desire and proficiency in creating with my heart for helping others close the gap between brain and page. 

 

In my time as a writing consultant at the Purdue On-campus Writing Lab (Purdue OWL) I worked with over 200 students from vastly different backgrounds and cultures. For many of them, English wasn't their first language. I became a witness and conduit for the miracle of words, feelings, and ideas going from their minds to being recognized on the page. I felt the magic imbued in the gaps between translated terms in my tutoring sessions and the the triumphant experience of seeing students learn how to express their thoughts and ideas clearly on the page. I fell head over heels with the practice of helping others tell their stories and developing ideas into full essays and dissertations. 

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Around the same time I encountered another book that offered a radical transformation of my mind and soul, Redeeming Love by Francine Rivers. I'm keenly aware that I'm not alone in feeling eternally impacted by this retelling of the Old Testament book of Hosea. I learned through this book that God (someone who seemed distant to me before) could draw close to His children. He could even speak to them! It was a truly wild concept to me at the time, foreign and uncomfortable but absolutely fascinating. That book and the Spirit of God transformed my heart and helped me realize how impactful a fictional story has the potential to be. 

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I believe that the words people write and the ideas they hold in their hearts matter. I believe that they matter deeply. I believe that there is purpose in those ideas, exciting and life-changing purpose. I have always been enraptured by literature, by stories, by the people who hold those stories close to their hearts. I have a strong desire to help writers throughout their journey. To help them go from simple thoughts, to messy writing, to shining, impactful prose.

 

If you're interested in my services or if you're curious to learn more, please check out the services and blog pages where I do a lot of helping and a lot of writing. 

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Thank you for reading this piece of my story, it means the world! 

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With joy, 

Kathryn​​​​ Plahitko