When Your Story Deserves To Be Told But You Aren't There Yet

Many people think they have to wait until the dust settles, the healing is complete, or the success is evident before they’re allowed to tell their story. I thought the same. I felt that I couldn’t share my story until I had it all figured out. 

But here’s the truth: your story is worthy right now, even in its messy, unfinished, raw form.

You don’t need to be a bestselling author, have thousands of followers, or tie your trauma up in a pretty little bow. Your truth, as it stands today, is powerful.

THE MYTH OF THE FINISHED PRODUCT

Somewhere along the way, we were taught that stories only matter once they have a happy ending. That, unless you're standing on a mountaintop shouting your success, your voice doesn't count. 

But that’s not storytelling. 

That’s a highlight reel.

Waiting for the perfect moment to begin is the same as never beginning. There is no magical point where you'll feel 100% ready. The truth is, “there” is a moving target, and you deserve to be heard before you cross any imaginary finish line.

You are living the story right now!!!

Let that sink in.

You are in the story. This moment, this version of you, the one still figuring things out, is worthy of the page. In fact, it’s the most compelling part.

THE POWER OF THE INBETWEEN 

Transformation doesn’t wait until the end to show up; it unfolds in the middle. The in-between is where your rawness, uncertainty, and evolution coexist. It’s where the real magic happens. This space holds emotional truth, inner shifts, and the tension between who you were and who you're becoming. And that tension? That’s what makes your story magnetic.

When you share from this place, you’re not offering polished wisdom; you’re offering lived experience in motion. You’re showing what it looks like to keep going when the outcome isn’t certain. 

That’s what makes readers lean in. They’re not looking for a hero who’s already arrived. They want to witness the journey, the struggle, and the rising.

Owning your in-between allows you to write with honesty, not hindsight. It reminds both you and your readers that growth is not linear, and that courage doesn’t always look like clarity. It often looks like continuing, even with trembling hands. This is the part that builds trust, stirs hearts, and invites others to believe they can keep going, too.

Think of your favorite books. It’s not just the resolution you remember. It’s the grit, the mistakes, the almost-give-ups. That’s where the heart lives. And that's exactly where you are.

WAYS TO USE IT TO YOUR ADVANTAGE

Now that you understand the power of the in-between, the next step is learning how to lean into it instead of resisting it. This part of your journey isn’t something to rush through or hide. It’s something to work with. The in-between holds valuable insight, creative energy, and emotional depth that can be harnessed in intentional and empowering ways.

Rather than waiting for clarity, confidence, or completion, you can begin exactly where you are. The beauty of this space is that it invites realness over perfection. When you recognize the in-between as fertile ground instead of a holding pattern, you give yourself permission to grow, express, and connect without needing to have it all figured out. Let’s explore how to do just that.

Real Stories Resonate More Than Perfect Ones

Perfect stories are forgettable. Real stories? They stay with us. People don’t connect to polished stories. They connect to the truth. They want to know the messy details. It pulls them in and they want to know how it all ends. 

People Connect With Honesty

When you write from your heart, people feel it. That kind of honesty builds relationships, starts conversations, and moves others in ways you can’t predict. People will know when you are lying or when you are being insincere. 

If you want to truly make a difference in your own story and the stories of others, you need to be honest. Your truth, no matter how quietly spoken, has the power to echo. When you rise, others rise too.

Your Imperfections Are Your Power

You don’t have to write like a pro. You don’t have to edit out the cracks. Sometimes, those cracks are exactly where the light shines in. And, honestly, there are so many programs and services out there to help you with your writing skills. 

This isn’t just about your writing skills, though. It goes much deeper than grammar and structure. 

It’s about how you see yourself. Your worth, your voice, your experiences. What do you see in yourself that you find an imperfection? 

Maybe it’s the way you stumble over your thoughts, the emotions you still haven’t sorted, the parts of your story you wish you could erase. These are often the very reasons you hesitate to share, thinking you’re not ready or not whole enough.

But what if those so-called imperfections aren’t flaws, but the very threads that make your voice relatable and powerful? What if the vulnerability, the doubt, the questions you still carry are what create the most authentic connection? The truth is, your story doesn’t need to be perfect. It needs to be honest. You are allowed to be in process. 

Your voice deserves space, even as it shakes. Because that’s where the truth lives and that’s what people connect to most.

Use Storytelling as a Part of Healing

Writing your story can be one of the most powerful ways to process it. It doesn’t have to be public, but it does need to be yours. 

If you need to, start with writing in a journal. Sometimes, starting privately can help to get comfortable with writing. 

If you are ready to dive in headfirst, start that blog that you have been thinking about. It is a great way to start sharing your story. If you do need help with blogging, reach out to me through Inword Whispers, as I do offer blog coaching as well. 

Writing as a Tool for Processing Pain

Putting words to your experiences helps name what once felt unspeakable. It gives shape to what once felt shapeless.

For me, I found that writing was the only way that made things make sense. I couldn’t understand what I was feeling or thinking, and so, I would just write. There were days that none of it made sense, but it was better than just holding everything inside as I tried to figure it out. 

When You Speak, You Heal

It can be scary to give your feelings a voice. You wonder how people are going to take it. The what-ifs take over, and those can stop you in your tracks. There is one piece of advice that I want to give you.

There are so many different pieces of content that go into the world daily. You are going to find those who need to hear your voice. Shut out what everyone else is doing and show up. Show up on your blog. Show up on your social media platforms. Show up in your journal. Just show up and you are going to reach the people that you were meant to.

Each time you give voice to your truth, even in private, you’re reclaiming power. You’re choosing expression over suppression.

The Power of Vulnerability

There’s bravery in vulnerability. Telling your story before the ending is known is one of the boldest acts of courage there is.

Vulnerability is the birthplace of connection and healing. Let your writing be the bridge that others cross to find themselves in your words.

Your willingness to share what’s real creates room for others to do the same. Your story and your words could be the strength that someone else needs to stand in their own story or maybe even begin using their words. 

You Don’t Need a Platform, Just a Page

You don’t have to wait for a following to write. You just need the courage to begin. The thing is, if you write, you’re a writer. Period. You don’t need permission. You just need a pen or a keyboard.

Impact > Influence

Show up for the person that you don’t even know exists. Someone is reading your social media posts, reading your blog posts, showing up for everything that you share, AND YOU HAVE NO IDEA THEY EVEN EXIST. 

Not because you don’t want to know, BUT because your voice is building their courage, building their voice. You might think no one will care. But someone out there is living a chapter you’ve already survived, and they need to know it’s survivable.

A stranger could be holding their breath, waiting for a story like yours to breathe again. One person affected by your words matters more than 10,000 who scroll past.

The Myth of “Qualified”

How many times have you stopped yourself from sharing something because you don’t think you have the right to share it? How many times have you stopped yourself from sharing something because someone else has already said it?

I still catch myself doing this sometimes. Keeping things to myself because I am not qualified to share it BUT…

Who gets to decide if you’re qualified to share your life? No one but you. You’re an expert in your own experience. That’s enough. That’s always been enough.

Telling Your Story is an Act of Reclamation

When you write your story, you stop being a background character in someone else’s narrative. You become the author of your own.

No more being silenced. No more shrinking. Your words claim the space you deserve. The only thing missing is your voice. Don’t wait for it to be perfect. Just let it be yours.

You Become the Author, Not Just the Character

It’s your story. You get to write the ending, or better yet, the next beginning. You’re not bound by what happened to you or by what others expected you to stay silent about. Every word you choose to speak or write becomes an act of reclamation. 

A reminder that you’re not stuck in a single chapter. You hold the pen, and that means you have the power to shift the narrative, to reshape what healing, strength, and self-expression look like for you.

Stories give life to the things we were once told to bury. They breathe air into the truths that were silenced. They shine light into the corners where shame, fear, and pain once lived, and in doing so, they dissolve the grip those shadows have held. Your story can’t change the past, but it can transform your relationship with it. And in that transformation, it doesn’t just free you, it permits others to find their voice too.

Publishing Is Now Easier Than Ever

You don’t have to wait for approval to be heard. Publishing has changed and your voice belongs in it.

With tools like Oak and Ink Publishing, your story doesn’t need to fit anyone else’s mold. You have full control and full power. We champion stories from the heart. Messy, raw, true stories that deserve space on the shelf. Let us help you bring yours to life.

You don’t have to wait to be ready. You can write and become at the same time. Your pages become proof. Not of perfection, but of perseverance.

Becoming Doesn’t Need to Be Finished

Your story isn’t a destination. It’s a living, breathing evolution. Let the world witness it. Someday, you’ll look back on what you’ve written and be proud you started. Right here, right now.

Your story will outlive the moment. Let it be a legacy, not a lost thought. Each word you write is a step forward. Even if you’re not there yet, you’re on your way.

Common Fears and How to Silence Them

When we let fear win, no one wins. We all feel fear and we can get sucked into believing what it has to say. Here are some common fears and how you can silence them.

What if no one reads it?

Someone will. But even if they don’t, you did. And that’s enough. Here is an affirmation to use to help with this fear: My words are worthy of reading and those who need to hear what I say, will find me.

What if I’m not good enough?

You are. Your voice has value, even when it trembles. Here is an affirmation to use to help with this fear: I am more than good enough and when I show up, I am reinforcing that belief in myself.

What if it hurts too much to write?

Then write gently. Write slowly. But write. Healing waits on the other side. Here is an affirmation to use to help with this fear: I will show up and share the stories, thoughts, and feelings that I need to release to help me heal on a deeper level.

Hopefully, this blog can help when you feel like your words just don't matter, Why Your Words Matter

How to Start Sharing Your Story Today

Journal Prompts to Spark the First Sentence:

• What have I survived that once felt impossible?

• What do I wish someone had told me during my darkest chapter?

• What part of my story still needs a voice?

Looking for more ideas for journal prompts? Check out my blog post, 30 Writing Prompts For Self-Discovery.

Safe Spaces to Write and Be Read:

• Join writing communities. I’d love for you to join my Facebook Group: Pages Of Her

• Share anonymously on storytelling platforms

• Submit to Oak and Ink Publishing, where real stories matter

  
  

You don’t have to be there yet to tell your story. You just have to be willing to begin. In the becoming, in the brokenness, in the becoming-whole, you are already enough. Your voice matters. Your truth matters. And the world is better when you share it.