How Community Changed My Life
I believe I was created to create, and there's no greater joy than helping others do the same. But a few years ago, you'd second guess if I really believed that.
MICHAEL JAYMESESSAYS
Hey There! My name is Michael Jaymes. I am a published author, professional writing coach and editor, and the founder of Beyond Writing. I have been working with writers for 7 years—assisting aspiring authors on their first draft, ghostwriting celebrity memoirs, writing script treatments for upcoming Netflix docu-series, and everything in-between. I believe I was created to create, and there's no greater joy than helping others do the same.
But a few years ago, you'd second guess if I really believed that.
You see, my wife and I were both struggling with depression, and I was losing sight of that goal to create and inspire others to do the same. It wasn't because I was overworked, or lost hope in myself, or had a new pursuit.
It was because I lacked community.
There were a few things beyond this. If you’ve experienced depression yourself, I’m sure you know it’s multifaceted and difficult to pinpoint a specific cause. But I knew community was one thing lacking in my life, and it was something I desired.
So I moved. My wife and I shoved everything we could fit into our little Nissan Kicks, sold everything else, and scrounged together the money we had. The car was so packed, my chest nearly touched the steering wheel. Our pup Gwen lay atop the pile behind us. Anytime she raised her head, her ears would touch the ceiling. My wife said there was one thing she couldn’t leave without—a rug we got at an estate sale. It was funny to me that out of everything, that’s what she wanted to bring. I even tried to argue to get rid of it. “It’s a nice rug. We could use the money.” But she was adamant. Since the inside was full, we shrink wrapped it and strapped it to the top of the car. The thing looked like a giant cigar, ready for a light.
Family thought we were nuts. “Why Greensboro? What’s there? Who’s there?” We didn’t know. We prayed, looked at a few spots on the map, and Greensboro called our name.
Our first few weeks were tough. We were in a duplex, and the previous tenant didn’t clean the place. It didn’t seem like they took care of it either. When I looked under the hood of the stove, it was filled with mouse droppings. The walls had a layer of dust a few years old. The shower had black scum clinging to the corners.
I remember one of those early nights, cleaning a wall as my wife sat in the center of the room, distraught. Her face was flat, void of emotion. “I hate it here. I hope we don’t make enough for rent and get to go home.”
Not really the motivation I was looking for…but I couldn’t blame her. It was hard. We had everything we could have asked for and sold it all to live off hotdogs and ramen. I wanted to prove her wrong, to show her that this place was going to be great if she’d just give it a chance, make her see the vision I hoped and dreamed Greensboro would be. I was praying that God would show us a glimmer of hope.
Thankfully, He did.
Within a few weeks, we attended a local church, where we were immediately welcomed with open arms. The love we received, both through friendships and physical gifts, was overwhelming. These people that had just met us had loved us! I had never felt so welcomed before. Community fueled me with a fire I hadn’t had in a long time. Not only did it suck me out of my depressive spiral; it led me to write my third novel in the first 6 months I lived in Greensboro.
Beyond this, I was introduced to other creatives that had similar passions. For the first time in my life, I wasn't just meeting writers online; I met them in person! I had creative friends that I could bond with over the arts. And while the community I found started in the church, it began to expand as I met other creatives in the city.
I found community. Greensboro opened wide its gates, and I found what I was looking for. But I don't want to stop there. I want to share the joy I’ve received with others.
That was a dream I always had in mind—bringing my writing coaching services to a place where I could do it in person. Finding community was just the beginning. Building community was the true goal. And now, three years later, that dream is becoming reality.
Don't get me wrong—I love teaching online! It is an honor to watch some of my students grow and become wonderfully gifted writers; it has been a pleasure to be a part of some of the big projects I've had the opportunity to work on. But there's something special about meeting writers in person. It's something I've come to cherish and desire!
That's why I built my team, and that's why I'm now offering in-person courses, the first being “Writing in the Age of AI.” Arrowhead Coffee near downtown Greensboro has been kind enough to host us, and I am pumped to talk about the importance of voice and style to local writers. You can learn more about the course here. If you’re a local, I hope you consider attending.
So yeah, that’s the story of how I left everything behind, holding onto the little faith I had, in hopes of a greater future.
Finding community changed my life. I hope it changes yours.