Unlocking Hidden Power: How Tiny Details in Form and Structure Transform Your Writing’s Impact
Growing up, I was often silenced when I tried to share my stories. The adults around me were too preoccupied with their own lives to pay attention to my fears or joys, to the imaginary worlds I crafted on my own or with my friends. Instead, I was told my tales were unimportant. I was told little girls should be seen and not heard.
For a long time, I believed this.
I believed my life was too small to be a story, which made me feel small in return. I thought this was normal. Many people treated little girls this way, though little boys were encouraged to talk at length about their soccer games or pretend sword fights. Many people treated adult women this way, too, insisting on silence when the men were talking, insisting what women had to say was not worth attention.
