‘I believe that storytelling is the soul of activism,’ said Malala Yousafzai in a recent interview for the Big Issue. Her words struck a chord.
At just 11 years old, Malala began her fight against the Taliban’s ban on girls’ education. At 15, she narrowly survived an assassination attempt. By 17, she had become the youngest-ever Nobel Peace Prize laureate. Now, at 27, she continues her mission through film, amplifying the voices of those who have been silenced for too long.
Malala’s journey is a powerful reminder that sharing our stories can shift mindsets, challenge norms and inspire action.
But many women hesitate to write our stories. We put it off, promising ourselves that we’ll do it one day—when the kids are grown, when the workload lets up or when we finally muster the courage. We let the demands of others overshadow the urge to put our experiences into words, convincing ourselves that our stories hold no weight.
There’s a mistaken belief that writing about our lives is selfish, even self-indulgent. But what if writing our stories was not an act of vanity, but an act of defiance? What if, in a world that’s hell-bent on silencing women’s voices, telling our story was a form of resistance?
On 6 November 2024, the landscape for women changed for the worse. The world witnessed the election of a new US President, a man who is a convicted felon and an extreme misogynist intent on rolling back women’s rights. A man who vows to protect women through his anti-abortion agenda, when what he really wants is to control us.
In such a climate, women’s voices are needed now more than ever. Telling your story is no longer a luxury—it is urgent and essential.
Our personal stories, no matter how small they may seem, are the threads that weave the fabric of collective history. They offer a counter-narrative to the male-dominated discourse, challenging patriarchal norms and breaking down barriers.
Every story, every experience shared, adds weight to the movement for change.
Whether it’s in a book, a letter, a diary or a blog post shared privately with others or published publicly for the world to read, your words have the power to move readers to remake our world.
So, let’s get writing, not just for ourselves but for those who come after us. It’s time to make our voices heard.
As of this week, I’ll be sending these emails weekly to inspire you to write your story. I’ll also be sharing my bite-sized writers tips in under 60 seconds on Instagram and Facebook, so please follow me there.
Also attached is my Brave Women Write Project Planner, a document to help you gain clarity on your story and get started. DOWNLOAD HERE
Reach out if I can help.
Because your story matters, now more than ever.
With love
Carolyn Tate
Author | Educator | Community Builder | Author of The Purpose Project & Brave Women Write
