Christy C.

Who is my audience? Who is it that I write this for? We are taught that determining your audience is one of the foundations of writing. Why, then, is it such a daunting task? As young writers, we often dream about our words being in the clasp of millions of readers, yet, our reality may be far different. The audience I will be writing for will be more defined than the millions we seek. I write for an audience of one, not for the simplicity it brings to the writing process, but for me.  I am that one. 

I write for encouragement, healing, hope, and for all those going through similar circumstances yet remain silent.

Audience of One

I am a woman, considered middle-aged by most. I am “over-the-hill,” yet, not even close to accepting the idea of settling down. I survived my 30’s and have begun the journey into my 40’s, but not without a few devastating blows to my heart and mind along the way. I grew up in a Christian home and believed I had Christ as the cornerstone of my life. That foundation was tested by several tragedies that life kept hidden under her sleeve until that unexpected moment arrived. Only then were the cracks and imperfections of that foundation brought to light. 

I began to question the very existence of God and the validity of truth behind His everlasting love for His children. How could an all-knowing God allow his kids to experience heartache, devastation, and loss in their lives and still say He loves us unconditionally? Why is it, during the hardest times, when you’re barely hanging on, that God seems to have turned His back on you, just like everyone else? 

My audience includes middle-aged women who have experienced tremendous tragedies or heartbreaks in their lives and struggle with the idea that God is there, in the storm, walking beside them. She is the woman that has been abused by her spouse or family member. She is in the middle of a high-conflict divorce with young children involved. She is the one caring for a terminally ill loved one and fighting with everything inside her to find and cling to a glimmer of hope for survival. Her struggle with depression and anxiety is a daily battle, one she almost lost. She doesn’t abandon her faith but gains a clear understanding that she doesn’t have a good foundation, that she can’t handle everything that life throws at her, after all. 

I chose to write for this audience, because I have been through all the examples included in the previous paragraph and I walked that path alone. In the middle of that storm, you feel as though you are the only one experiencing that level of devastation, that no one truly understands what you’re going through. Only when I began to tell my story, did I find others on that same path. When I write for this audience of one, I write for all women going through similar circumstances yet remain silent. It is my hope that my audience can form a personal connection as I work through my faith while fighting to survive this thing we call life.

If you are part of that “audience of one,” I encourage you to join the community and subscribe to this blog. I will be sharing some of my personal experiences and encouragement for those still in the storm. You’re not alone. There are others that have walked the same path and still others that have not yet begun.

Feel free to reach out if you would like me to pray with you.