With clients spanning various demographics and cultures, we’re always amazed by the inspiring stories we help bring to life. Though, as ghostwriters, we’re rarely able to discuss the work we do, there comes the occasional moment when we’re granted permission to take you behind the scenes of something we cooked up, and this is one we’re immensely proud of.
Earlier this year, I had the pleasure of moderating an intimate talk with author of Generational Silence, Nicole Russell-Wharton, whose book tour made a quick stop in Toronto. In Generational Silence, Nicole journeys along her maternal and paternal bloodlines to explore the trauma that is passed down between generations through the silence often imposed on (and expected of) us. Long before we can grapple with the idea of who we are, she explains that our story of self starts with understanding whose shoulders we stand on…and the sacrifices and traumas that fortified who they became.
She knew the topic would be emotionally charged, and one that would force her to explore parts of herself—and those before her—in a way that was never meant to be uncovered or told, and so she graciously tapped my team to provide her with the editorial support to help get her to the finish line.
Fearless in her desire to peel back the layers that had woven her family tree together so tightly, Nicole set out to find her own freedom by knowing and owning her ancestral roots. Collaborating with the WritersBlok team to unravel the secrets that lay hidden within her threads of her DNA ensured her story would be honest, educational, and empowering for those hoping to one day do the same.
When we first embarked on this journey together, she was in the first trimester of her pregnancy, and already juggling the weight of life changes alongside those she was being confronted with the more she researched her family’s story. As a result, it was important to her process that she had a Black-woman co-pilot to keep her accountable, but also one who understood the sacredness of upholding Black traditions, and the care needed to tell them honestly and through an unbiased lens.
Beyond crafting gripping and industry shaping words for CEOs and thought-leaders, at WritersBlok, we also offer editorial services to assist writers already comfortable in the driver’s seat. We know that writing your story, one that leaves you vulnerable and bare, is no easy feat. We also know that the impact of the words you share extends beyond what you place on the page, and lies within having the right team to help you tell it; and we were honored to accompany her on this ride.
What I love most about these moments are the bonds we’re able to build long after the project has wrapped. So much of Nicole’s story resonated with me, and I welcomed the opportunity to foster a friendship with someone I saw so much of myself in. As a result, we made it a point to remain in contact and occasionally check in with each other. It was actually during one of our recent Zoom calls when we conjured up the idea to have Toronto be a stop on her book tour, and I was more than thrilled to moderate it. After months of meetings to go over main themes, line-edits, and margin comments, there was no greater feeling than sitting beside her, book in hand, walking those present through the beautiful steps it took for her to get there.
The stories we tell, the ones that shift who we are and have the power to determine who we become all start with a plan, and thrive with the right team in your corner. And just like Nicole, sometimes it’s nothing more than having someone in your corner to empower you to go the distance.
Whatever support looks like, if there’s a story in you, WritersBlok is here to help you tell it—with authenticity, with care, and with impact.