September’s elevenie poem caught me by surprise. I wrote it, but I wasn’t sure where it was headed until it hit the page.
If you’re new here: an Elevenie is a short poem made up of eleven words, spread across five lines. Read more about Elevenies here.
September’s Elevenie
Tears
Clear sorrow
Unlock emotional baggage
Release hurt and pain
Cleanse
Blink
Change perspective
Offer second chances
Never give up hope
See
Discern
Celebrate uniqueness
Every individual decision
The potential is here
Celebrate
At first glance, it looks simple. But if you follow it line by line, it tells a whole story: from sorrow to hope to celebration.
And honestly? That’s exactly what women’s fiction does too.
When I sit down to write, I’m not just building characters and plots. I’m exploring emotional shifts that make life feel real. The moments when tears flow, and we let ourselves grieve. The moments when we blink, take a deep breath, and realize there’s a second chance waiting for us. And then the best part: those moments when we celebrate who we are, messy past and all.
That’s women’s fiction. It’s not about everything being perfect. It’s about women finding themselves in the middle of the chaos, discovering joy in unexpected places, and realizing they’re stronger (and often funnier!) than they thought.
I love this elevenie because it feels like a tiny map for the kinds of stories I write. A map that says:
- Tears don’t make you weak. They cleanse.
- A blink isn’t just a pause. It’s a reset.
- Discernment isn’t about judgment. It’s about seeing your own worth.
When I’m crafting a novel, my heroines go through these same steps. Sometimes the changes are dramatic: a divorce (My Best Mistake), a move (My Best Gamble), a new career (True Around). Other times they’re quieter but just as powerful: choosing to forgive, daring to start again, allowing yourself to dream. And hopefully, by the last page, you close the book with a smile, because you’ve taken that journey right along with them.
It’s just eleven words. But isn’t that what stories do? Take the ordinary and turn it into something that makes us feel, hope, and smile?
Here’s to more tears, more blinks, and a whole lot of celebrating.
What’s something small you’re celebrating today? 🎉