Reclaiming My Voice: How Creative Writing Competitions Helped Me Rediscover Joy, Clarity, and Connection

May 19

Five years ago, I entered a creative writing competition on a whim. No big plans, no polished manuscript—just a quiet interest to reconnect with a part of myself I hadn’t visited in a while. I’d always loved writing, but over the years, the creative side of it had taken a back seat to the practical, professional, and purposeful.

That first submission? Nerve-wracking. But also exhilarating. I didn’t expect it to change anything, per se. I just knew I needed a new outlet, and the competition gave me a reason to sit down, write from the heart, and hit “send.”

But what came next reshaped everything.

✨ A Creative Spark Turned Lifeline

Writing creatively again felt like running into a cherished friend from the past. I wasn’t writing for algorithm optimization or to prove a point—I was writing to feel, to explore, to tell the truth in ways that don’t always fit into bullet points and bios.

These competitions became more than challenges. They became check-ins with myself. Each piece offered a doorway back to imagination, emotion, and meaning. I rediscovered the thrill of shaping a scene, playing with words, and crafting something wholly my own.

I found a home in NYC Midnight, a global creative writing competition series that assigns writers a genre, setting, action, and a world-building element—then gives you a very limited time to create a story. Typically, I participate in four competitions a year, with each one drawing more than 6,000 submissions.

Over time, my stories have steadily gained recognition and thoughtful feedback from a panel of judges. Many of them have placed or received honorable mentions, and in 2024, one of my microfiction pieces made it all the way to the finals. I’m currently competing in Round 2 of this year’s microfiction challenge.

These wins are gratifying—but what matters most is what the practice has given me: clarity, confidence, and creative fuel that flows into every area of my life.

💼 Creativity as a Business Superpower

As someone who works closely with individuals, teams, and organizations, I quickly saw how this creative outlet was rippling into my business.

My language got clearer—and more human.
My coaching deepened, because I was more attuned to narrative: the ones we tell ourselves, the ones we carry, the ones we’re ready to rewrite.
My presence as a facilitator and guide became more grounded, because I was practicing presence on the page regularly.

Storytelling is at the heart of transformation. And the more I honed mine, the better I could help others step into theirs.

🌿 The Surprise of Being Seen

In the summer of 2023, at the urging of a friend and fellow writer, I joined a creative nonfiction writing workshop led by a coach who challenged us not just to write, but to submit our work for publication every other week.

I was surrounded by published authors of all ages and backgrounds, and we were all doing the vulnerable work of sharing our stories—and sending them out into the world.

One of those submissions was to the New York Times Modern Love “Tiny Love Stories” column. My piece, “Splinters In My Heart”—a story I wrote about my late father—was not only published by the New York Times, but it ran in the issue that came out on the five-year anniversary of my father’s passing.

That moment was surreal. Not because I was chasing external validation, but because I had said yes to something that mattered to me—and followed it all the way through.

And that piece, that little story from my real life, was read by hundreds of thousands of people. That’s the power of sharing something true.

And of course, along the way, there have been plenty of rejections. I’ve collected a pile of them—and each one has taught me something. Some helped me revise a piece. Others pushed me to try a different angle. All of them reminded me that rejection isn’t a sign to stop—it’s an invitation to keep going.

🌀 The Personal Gift: Presence and Permission

Personally, writing gave me space to slow down and be more present. It helped me process both the beautiful and the messy. It reminded me that creativity isn’t frivolous—it’s vital. It’s where insight lives. It’s how we reconnect to our sense of agency, voice, and vision.

It became a touchstone—a space to show up, get honest, and make meaning.

If you’ve been feeling disconnected, depleted, or just unsure of your next move, creativity might offer the spark you didn’t know you needed.

🖋️ An Invitation for You

If there’s a creative impulse stirring inside you—whether it’s writing, painting, dancing, or something entirely your own—I hope you follow it. Not because you need another project. But because creativity connects us to something essential: our truth, our aliveness, our capacity to be surprised.

Storytelling is more than art—it’s how we learn to listen, to witness, and to belong. And when we get better at telling our stories, we get better at hearing others, too.

You don’t need to be a writer to reflect. If you're not sure where to begin, here are a few simple journal prompts to help you explore and reconnect with your own voice and vision:

✏️ Reflective Journal Prompts

What’s a story from your life that you rarely tell, but always remember?
When was the last time you felt creatively alive? What were you doing?
What’s a belief or identity you’ve outgrown—and what’s replacing it?
Write about a time you surprised yourself. What did you learn?
What’s one thing you’ve experienced that you wish more people understood?

No need to make it perfect. Just make it yours. That’s where the magic lives.

Here’s to the stories that shape us—and the courage to share them.

💬 Want support reconnecting with your voice, your vision, or your next chapter?

I offer 1:1 coaching for individuals who are ready to explore what’s next—whether that’s rediscovering a creative spark, moving through a life transition, or clarifying what matters most. If this story resonated and you’d like to work together, I’d love to hear from you.

Learn more about coaching →
Or feel free to reach out directly to start a conversation.