The Diverse Paths of Writing: Identity & Resilience in Action

Soph Myers Kelley

Writing is as unique as the individuals who engage in it. While it’s tempting to think of the writing process as a neat, linear journey, reality often tells a different story. Writing is messy, dynamic, and deeply personal. Writers move fluidly between brainstorming, drafting, revising, and editing, often circling back to earlier stages. Some thrive in quiet solitude, while others find inspiration amidst the bustle of a crowded café or library. Writing processes, like the people who create them, are wonderfully diverse. This post highlights one such story—a journey of writing, identity, and resilience—featuring Soph Myers Kelley, a dedicated librarian and writer navigating the intersection of their professional and personal lives.

Finding Identity & Purpose in Libraries

Soph’s love for libraries runs deep, rooted in experiences of acceptance and encouragement. “I didn’t know I was disabled, and I also didn’t know I was autistic and ADHD,” they reflect. “The library accepted me as a voracious reader, as someone who could read big books and say big words at a very young age.” The inclusive space of libraries, supported by the generosity of librarians, became a sanctuary where Soph thrived.

Later, as a sociology graduate transitioning into health science librarianship, Soph faced new challenges. Symptoms of an undiagnosed connective tissue disorder, Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, began to emerge, complicating their life. The support of librarians at the Mayo Clinic helped Soph find critical resources, eventually leading to a diagnosis and a deeper understanding of their body’s needs.

Faced with a chronic illness and limitations, Soph reevaluated their career path: “My health made me stay in one place and think, ‘What can I do to make a living and a difference?’” This reflection led them to a role at Laupus Library as a Medical Liaison for Brody School of Medicine.

From Personal Challenges to Professional Impact

In their role, Soph brings lived experience and professional expertise to the forefront. Whether supporting systematic reviews, guiding medical students in evidence-based research, or helping healthcare professionals navigate open-access publishing, Soph uses their skills to drive societal change and promote equity in healthcare.

One particular project—a collaboration with an interdisciplinary team on body donation eligibility—required stepping outside their comfort zone as an information specialist. The article itself highlights the possible negative repercussions that familiarity with certain types of bodies more than others could have on patient care, the biases that health sciences students may be unconsciously learning about due to the nature of whose bodies are welcomed in the donor lab and whose aren’t. “Writing as part of a team challenged me in ways I hadn’t anticipated,” Soph shared. From resolving scheduling conflicts to harmonizing voices across disciplines, the experience highlighted both the difficulties and rewards of collaborative writing.

Soph reflected, “We had to cut a lot of content to create a unified narrative, which was tough. But everyone’s willingness to compromise kept us moving forward.” Lessons from this experience—embracing imperfection, relying on journal resources, and seeking guidance from colleagues—proved invaluable, especially as a first-time lead author.

Writing Through the Lens of Disability

Managing a chronic illness significantly shapes Soph’s writing process. “On average, disabled or chronically ill individuals spend 10 hours a week managing their health,” Soph explained. Their routine often includes multiple medical appointments, self-care rituals, and accommodations to navigate chronic pain. This labor, though invisible to many, deeply informs their approach to writing.

Listening to certain types of music, investigating tech options, and working with support resources were added to their writer toolkit. “If it helps me do it, I’m not going to judge that. I’m going to do whatever works,” they explain. Focus Mate, which sets you up to work in tandem with a virtual accountability partner, is a tool they’ve found to be useful. They recently took an online writing intensive course for people with limitations with writer Esme Wang, which focused on memoir and non-fiction.  Other useful tools include the Pomodoro Technique, Writing Accountability Groups, a ritualized writing space, thinking and accountability partners, and using colorful ink help them to be more focused and motivated while writing. Breaks and rest are as essential as the tools and strategies that foster focus and productivity.

Music, particularly video game soundtracks, can play a distinctive role in the writing process. Research has shown that certain types of music can positively influence spatial processing and reasoning. Background music has been found to enhance working memory and accelerate performance in skill-based tasks. One study revealed that participants performed better at proofreading when listening to wordless background sounds or music, such as video game soundtracks. These soundtracks are specifically designed to stimulate the senses while seamlessly blending into the background, supporting focus without distraction. For example, the calming music of Minecraft may enhance creative tasks like brainstorming, while the upbeat rhythm of Mario-Kart could help you establish a productive writing flow. While the choice of music depends on the person and task, the repetitive nature of video game soundtracks allows them to fade into the background, engaging the listener without disrupting their focus.

Soph’s next project is a graphic novel focused on their lived experience and health discovery process. “I expected to start writing much more by now, and then a new health discovery happened which has made me go, ‘Oh, the ending is different now,’” they reflect. “There’s still some information I need to know about myself to write this well.” Soph finds that graphic medicine, a genre combining personal narrative and visual art, offers a powerful way to process and share trauma. “Both poetry and graphic novels are good genres to process trauma in a way that is enjoyable for both the writer and the reader.”

Embracing the Processes

Soph’s journey underscores an essential truth: there’s no one-size-fits-all approach to writing. Each writer’s process reflects their unique circumstances, needs, and goals. By sharing their story, Soph offers a powerful reminder of the importance of flexibility, resilience, and self-discovery in writing.

As we explore diverse writing practices through the Writing Across the Curriculum program, stories like Soph’s highlight how writing can serve as a tool for personal growth, professional impact, and societal change. What does your writing process look like, and how can we support it? Let’s celebrate the diversity of writing—and the people who create it.

Kerri Flinchbaugh

(flinchbaughk@ecu.edu)