I’ve often heard that J.R.R. Tolkien was a writer, while C.S. Lewis was a storyteller. I identify more as a storyteller than a writer. I genuinely believe in the magic of stories, especially when they are shared aloud. Our spoken words differ significantly from our written ones; if we spoke as we wrote, people might find it quite strange. Sometimes, it simply doesn’t sound right.
None of the original stories on this blog has undergone professional editing. I acknowledge that my grammar and spelling leave much to be desired. For now, I have intentionally chosen not to seek professional editing for my blog stories, and I have a few reasons for this decision. I have started to embrace AI for editing and refinement, but on a limited basis.
These stories originated in my mind, which I then shared with my children without ever writing them down. I later transcribed them to avoid forgetting and to review them for retelling. I aimed to preserve the essence of my original storytelling as closely as possible. While I did enhance the written versions at times, my goal was to capture the way I spoke them. I want to remain true to my intention: these are stories meant to be told aloud, not merely read (though I enjoy that too). Does that resonate?
I want you to feel inspired, not daunted. If I, someone who isn't particularly skilled in editing, can tell stories that resonate deeply with my children, then you can too. You don’t need to be a professional writer to foster this connection with your kids. They aren’t critics of writing or language (at least not yet); they are eager listeners ready to absorb whatever you share. Skip the editing and simply tell the story that resides in your heart! This is the same advice I give my kindergarten students: just write what you hear and don’t worry about spelling…yet.
As a humble kindergarten public school teacher, I find that hiring an editor can be costly. I hesitate to impose on friends who might be better suited for the editing task than I am.
Additionally, I am dyslexic. To borrow from Pooh's wisdom, “My spelling is Wobbly. It’s good spelling, but it Wobbles, and the letters get in the wrong places.” If I waited for my spelling to become perfect, I’d never hit that intimidating "publish" button.
So, for now, what you see is what you get. If you’re someone who struggles with poorly edited work, I completely understand. You can choose not to read my writing, offer to edit for free, or perhaps extend a bit of grace my way.
Does that seem fair?
Warmly,
Kristen