Rising Above Expectations (short story) by Leanne Dyck

me in Kindergarten

A social worker told my parents that they’d have to take care of me for the rest of my life. My principal told them I was uneducable. Thankfully, a resource teacher stepped in on my behalf. She taught me that learning was fun.

The commonly held definition of dyslexia is that it is a difficulty with learning to read. But this is a condensed definition. The challenges people with dyslexia face and the severity of these challenges vary from person to person.

For me, deciphering the social codes has always been a challenge—I never received my copy of that handbook. When I manage to figure out how to respond often it’s too late or, in a rush to be on time, a jumble of poorly pronounced words. Writing allows me to slow down and think. It gives me an opportunity to select the right word, tone, tense and to check for clarity and accuracy.

At a young age I learnt that even though my tongue may fail me, my pen seldom would. My first publishing success came when I was still in elementary school—one of my poems was published in the school newspaper. I repeated grade two but once in middle school I was determined to excel. So I divorced myself from any social interaction and books and studying became my world. A middle school Language Arts teacher introduced me to John Steinbeck and I fell in love with his writing. Mr. Steinbeck gave voice to the voiceless. Writing gave me a voice. I had lots to say but needed a venue. Through my writing I began to feel heard. I graduated from high school with an award in Language Arts.

After graduation, the question of what I would do next paralyzed me. I thought living the rest of my life on my parents’ sofa was a solution. However, my parents wanted more for me. From early childhood, despite what they’d been told, my parents continued to believe in the soundness of my intellect. Responding to my dad’s not so gentle pushing, I decided to join Katimavik—a government-run youth group. You’d think that living communally for nine months wouldn’t be the best situation for someone with limited social skills. But you’d be wrong. Katimavik was one of the most important experiences in my life. I completed the program and won newfound confidence. With that confidence I entered university. And I was amazed to find that I was able to obtain and maintain a decent grade point average. I graduated from the program and gained employment as an Early Childhood Educator.

me graduating from the University of Winnipeg's Child Care Worker Training Program

Throughout my life I’ve been able to play the ‘help me’ card. But in my late twenties I met a man who refused to play the game. That man became my husband and his special brand of tough love continues to be one of the driving forces behind my success.

Becoming an author had been a dream I’d hidden away since my teens. Weakened by a family tragedy, I shared my dream with my husband. I thought he was going to laugh or…—but not him. “So, what are you going to do about it?”

The choice was clear either act to fulfill my dream or abandon it. From 2006 to 2009, I self published an audio book, paperbacks and Ebooks. Buoyed up by these successes, I decided to pursue traditional publishing. So I made a pact to submit one story—of whatever size—every month until something happened. Well, things did start to happen. Within the last five years I’ve had short stories published in Island Writer, Kaleidoscope, Canadian Stories, Icelandic Connection and Island Gal. And I’ve also completed five book-length manuscripts.

But years of self-doubt and low-self esteem have taken their toll and have resulted in stress related health problems. I thought joining a peer support group would help. But when I was unable to find a group, I became my own advocate. I now practice Tia Chi and Yoga as well as take Bach flower oil to help me cope with anxiety.

I’m enheartened by the support now available for children with learning disabilities. But am disappointed by the lack of support for adults with learning disabilities. Simply because we manage to jump through academic hoops and graduate doesn’t mean our problems disappear. We still face them—everyday. Lack of support leaves learning disabled adults with health and employment problems—some of us wind up on the street or in jail. Potential lost. Lives wasted. But it doesn’t have to be this way. Something must be done. All of us deserve to have an opportunity to have our own success story.

Increasing society’s knowledge of dyslexia is a good starting point. And through non-fiction books such as The Gift of Dyslexia by Ronald D. Davis and Understanding Dyslexia and Other Learning Disabilities by Linda Siegel this goal is slowly being met. Hoping to help obtain this goal, I’ve written a novel about my own experiences with dyslexia. And I continue to push myself out of my comfort zone by, for example, reading my writing during open mic nights.

I’d like to conclude with a poem…

I need you to know that I am capable—even when I show my inability

I need you to have faith that I will be able to pick myself up when I fall

I need you to let me show you what I’m capable of—before you help me.

I need you to shout at the top of your lungs, “Yes, you can! If not now—someday; if not without me—with me.”

I need you to believe in me—even when, especially when, I don’t.

This article was originally published on Sonia Marsh's Gutsy Living website.

Sharing my author journey...

Guest Post: author Karen K Brees (nonfiction and mystery)

How/why did you start to write?

I think the nicest words in any language are “Tell me a story.” Stories shape our youth and give us heroes to root for, villains to hate, values to hitch our stars too. I guess, when it comes down to the crux of the matter, I started to write because I loved to read, and, as Toni Morrison said, "If there's a book you really want to read but it hasn't been written yet, then you must write it."

How did you become an author?

Becoming an author was a long, long process. I always wanted to write, but it seemed a frivolous thing. Not as important as working at a “real job”, but then, one day while we were on vacation in Idaho, I sat down on a log and wrote a story about a fawn’s first venture out into the meadow. It was a children’s story and fun to write. I decided if I were going to write, then I needed to make time for it without apologies. 

What was your first published piece, where was it published and how long ago?

My first published piece was a reporting gig for my 3^rd grade newspaper – about our class visit to the Peabody Museum of Natural History in New Haven, Connecticut. Made the front page – although, as I recall, the paper was only one page.

After that, there was a long dry spell until The Everything Health Guide to Depression hit the stands. I’d started attending writers conferences and met my nonfiction agent, Andrea Hurst at one. We struck up a friendship and a few weeks later, she emailed me, asking if I’d be interested in writing that book. I said yes, and went on to write about 6 titles in the health and general interest field. The last one was The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Preserving Food. It’s doing well.

I moved on to fiction and wrote Headwind: The Intrepid Adventures of OSS Agent Katrin Nissen and now The Esposito Caper. I like writing fiction

What did you do before embarking on your writing career? Was it an asset to your writing? How?

Before I started writing, I was a bookmobile librarian, then a classroom teacher, and finally a university professor. I taught history and English. I got paid to read!

What inspires you?

Inspiration comes from some funky places: Strong coffee. Cheap red wine. Snippets of conversations I overhear. Places I’ve been and places I hope to visit. Google Earth is probably the greatest asset to a writer trying to be somewhere she’s never been.

Please share one of your successful author platform building technique

It’s true that social media is essential to any writer’s success these days. If you’re not represented by a big house and one of their top writers, you’re going to have to do it all on your own. Grow your Facebook friend list – find other writers, agents, publishers, book reviewers. Do the same for Twitter and LinkedIn.  Post often but don’t forget to comment on others’ sites, too. Encourage others, share your successes and roadblocks.

Offer something – and I don’t mean free giveaways. Offer advice, tips, and encouragement. The best way to sell books is still word of mouth. Write something worth reading and then devote part of your day to telling the world about it.

Parting words

Winston Churchill, one of my heroes, said, “Never, never, ever give up.” If you’re a writer, you’ve got to develop a thick skin. But don’t get angry when you receive criticism. Count to ten and then find the kernel of truth in what ruffled your pinfeathers. You’ll become a better writer for it.