The Sequel

“Story” is about transformation. As a reader, viewer, or listener, we’re wired to look for meaningful change in characters. (Or no change, which creates its own set of consequences.) As a writer, we hope to assemble words to convey a character’s story and resonate with readers. This process stretches the writer, so at least two creations are in the works: The book, short story, script, etc., and who the writer becomes in the process of creating it. Turns out, I’ve been a writer all my life. In recent years, my work in the world has been reimagined. Here’s the scoop:

Much of my professional life was in service as an agency director for the Catholic Archdiocese of St. Louis and as a member of the retreat team at King’s House across the river in Belleville, Illinois. I earned a master’s degree along the way, and discovered my love of writing, believe it or not, through crafting the required papers.

Over the past two decades, I served many Catholic organizations and nonprofits as a communications consultant, and independently published two women’s devotional journals. Many of you have read Prepare Your Heart for a Great Christmas and Prepare Your Heart and Be a Great Mom and purchased them for yourselves or as gifts. Thank you! Writing and publishing these books was a profound experience, and I loved every aspect of the process. Many women’s groups have welcomed me to speak, and wonderful friendships came from these events.

While building a modest online presence as a blogger and advice columnist, I tried my hand at fiction. In my quest to learn the craft, I discovered The Story Grid: What Good Editors Know. I fell in love with the methodology and became a Certified Story Grid Editor. I’ve transitioned my company to MRO Creative, where I write and serve as developmental editor for fellow writers. Please read my Artist’s Statement for more on my mission and work.

As I began my writing my novel at a writers’ retreat in Montana, the retreat leader Laura Munson affirmed, “Maria, there is no doubt you have what it takes to write this book.” My understanding and love of story structure and my storytelling skills have blossomed through these years. I’m grateful to the early investors in my work through the GoFundMe campaign that supported this retreat. Almost ten years in, I have total faith that the novel is emerging at the right time. Currently, an agent is interested in the manuscript. A wonderful editor, whose friendship is a gift from the Story Grid experience, works with me to revise and prep the novel for beta readers. I will have the completed manuscript off to the agent and on its way to the right publisher in the coming year.

This is the story of the career arc, told in broad strokes, of how Maria of church work became Maria who runs MRO Creative. I love my work. Every bit of my life experience has formed me for it. So grateful.

Story is about transformation: How the reader is changed by the story, and who the writer becomes in the process of creating it. This truth is at the heart of my work. We are bringing good, true, and beautiful stories into the world, and we are transformed in the process.