The wordsmith returns

It came as something of a shock when I realised that I hadn’t posted a blog here for more than two years. What happened? Well, the blog I posted in January 2022 will give you a clue. In those two years I have been focusing on working and reworking the chapters of my book, which at the time had the working title Night Night Washing Machine: A Life in Words.

Two years and a publishing journey later, the book has become In Your Own Words: Unlock the power of your life stories to influence, inspire and build trust, and it’s available now from all good bookshops and online retailers.

At the end of that blog, I shared my hope that the book would build meaningful connection – and I believe it has. I’ve been told by readers that it has helped them build connection to themselves, their friends and families – and to the wider world. It has also allowed me to create meaningful connections in unexpected ways.

As part of the build-up to the publication of the book, I invited my connections on LinkedIn to contact me if they would be willing to read a preview copy and review it on Amazon when the book was published. I had a great response and lined up 10 reviewers – many of whom I didn’t really know beyond social media.

One of these reviewers was kind enough to post her review on the day of publication – and I was so grateful that this was the first to appear, as it was so considered and eloquent. Here’s an excerpt:

This book’s real magic is that it perfectly demonstrates that old writing adage of ‘show, don’t tell’. It’s in Glick’s own life dictionary – the stories she chooses to tell, how she weaves them together and the insights she showcases for us – that the book really soars. This also helps the book to trip along like a good beach read, while teaching us loads and occasionally smacking us in the solar plexus with the most exquisite turn of phrase – I’ll be thinking for a long time, for example, about the ‘words you allow to define you when you’re just beginning to work out who you are’.

Through the book and this review, I have formed a new connection, which I will hopefully be building on in person. And the connections keep coming. Another reviewer wrote:

Through her combination of personal stories and powerful reflection ‘prompts’ , [Beverley] gives us permission to value our own unique stories more deeply. I particularly loved the prompt, ‘which words would you like to discard?’ (from your personal dictionary of experience). This book is a wonderful offering in the world of storytelling, autobiography and memoir writing.

Again, I reached out to arrange a conversation that will allow me to dig deeper and hopefully build another meaningful connection. I could share many more examples of this – and not just from people who have reviewed my book.

And to think that I was nervous before the book came out because I’d revealed a lot about myself and written about events and ideas I’d never written about before. It’s a fear we all share – that if we’re open and vulnerable, we might be attacked or judged for it. But my experience has been quite the opposite. People have embraced my vulnerability and loved me for it. When shared in service of others, vulnerability does indeed seem to be a magnet, not a repellent.

My book about the power of words, language and personal storytelling is now rippling out across the world and I’m excited to build more meaningful connections as a result.

And so, the wordsmith has returned home after a long heroine’s journey – bringing with her the treasure of meaningful connections.