Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Brit Elders. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Brit, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Let’s kick things off with your mission – what is it and what’s the story behind why it’s your mission?

The importance of anything I do, whether in work or in life, is that something is learned. If I am educating myself, I have an opportunity to share that knowledge with others through the written word. Whether I am writing for myself or for others, I always learn something that I hope to share with readers.

Knowledge is a valuable asset for anyone. It can help one make informed decisions, logically approach and solve problems, and explore complex concepts as it helps build confidence, initiates advancement and creates success in life. Information can also help us adapt to an ever-changing world and enhance our personal growth and development. Knowledge can—and should be—used for the betterment of self and others.

Brit, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

The old saying, “a writer writes,” defines my life. The ability to share a concept through the written word has always intrigued me and doing the research that must go into a project before it develops is as important to me as the final product. Research means you rely on more than a computer and the internet. It often requires interviewing people, examining locations, and receiving an education of a subject that may not have been part of one’s primary life plan. Together the two—writing and research—create a unique perspective that can share concepts, provide educational tools and set one’s imagination free.

Through my interest in presenting ideas and information I have been able to embark on journey through a variety of fields that include books, articles, newsletters, and documentary films. When ghostwriting a project, I endeavor to find the storyteller’s voice to incorporate it into the final product. To me it is as important to get a feel for the person who lived the story as it is to experience the events via words. Mannerisms of speech, demeanor, and emotional content are more than a flavorful additive, they are the backbone, the strength behind the words. I try to create a visual and emotional picture that will take the reader to a specific occurrence and allow them to feel as if they are a participant that knows the storyteller.

The same is true when writing for myself. I try to dig deep into what the moment brought on an emotional level to equate it to the physical experience. Some of my musings have no future and are not designed for an audience’s consumption. The words on those pages help hone my writing skills and cultivate new ideas. They are sometimes cathartic, sometimes meaningless, but they often stimulate a concept for future development, which means they are never wasted.

When writing newsletters, I try to consider the busy schedule most people face and that fact that they are reading to be informed. Time is limited and it’s important to present the data in a concise, compact form that still captures their interest. Newsletters should hold to a specific topic that is relevant to the author. As the CEO of ShirleyMacLaine.com, she and I work to create a monthly newsletter about her interests and those of her fans. Her audience knows what they are expecting to read, and our goal is to provide that information.

Documentaries have the luxury of informative images that draw in the viewer and the narration only needs to present the facts that mesh with the images. Timing and movement of the imagery and verbiage is key to maintaining an interest in the storyline.

These four forms of discourse are distinct, yet correlative. They are consumed by others and have the capability to nourish the heart and mind, which is my goal, no matter where the written word takes me.

Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?

My partner in life and career had been my husband, Lee. We were one of those rare couples that lived together and worked together without any major drama and not only survived but thrived. Together we incubated ideas, found the threads to weave into a verbal tapestry and encouraged each other’s creativity and curiosity with whatever project we were involved with at the moment.

After decades of this wonderfully successful partnership, Lee passed away. The following year was a blur and anything but productive. Putting pen to paper (which I still do daily) was almost impossible. Thoughts were random, unfocused and cluttered with ‘have to do’ lists. I had no desire to be creative; there was no joy or excitement provided by what was once a passion for writing. I didn’t want to hear anyone else’s story, or dig into research on a new project, or even think about creating a new venture. I had become a shadow of what I had previously considered normal.

I turned down several ghostwriting and editorial projects and I didn’t feel capable of pursuing one of my own. Although, with Shirley MacLaine, I continued to create and write her newsletter, the ShirleyGram. It often felt forced and rigid, which irritated me because words no longer flowed as they once had, and my voice felt stifled.

One morning while walking I realized that although my life partner and creative cohort was no longer here, I still had the capability to be productive through my passion for writing. I began moving away from that shadow of myself into my full being by putting pen to paper. I scribbled thoughts, jotted notes, and I journaled. The emptiness of the loss of a loved one began to ease with each page that filled with words.

As if I had hung an ‘Open for Business’ sign on my door, ghostwriting and editorial projects began coming to me. I had to overcome a lingering doubt that I was capable of proceeding on my own and I knew the only way to do that was to move forward. I recognized the only thing holding me back was me.

In one year, I signed onto four book projects, one of which was a critical success, all of which were well received. The following year I jumped into two co-writing projects and one of my own.

I learned a valuable lesson in those months of being my own shadow. I learned that although traumatic issues will be with you throughout life, one can be resilient and come back to form if they have a desire that can help propel them forward. For me it was writing.

What do you think is the goal or mission that drives your creative journey?

My mission is to impart the knowledge and experiences of others and of myself. There are a variety of helpful tools available to people today and my goal—no matter what type of project I’m on—is to provide information that can bridge a connection between an author and the reader. If people can learn from the stories I impart or what I write, and enjoy them at the same time, then I have succeeded in my endeavor.

I document and write with the following in mind: there are impactful stories, there are perspectives of thought and there are more than two right answers. Right and wrong is, in many cases, perspective. Everyone has one. But if I can spark a thought that might lead to communication, the third right answer might come about. It usually arrives in the form of a softening of the polarized sides, and it permits both sides to see the potential of finding the third right answer, which maybe a compromise.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.BritElders.com and www.ShirleyMacLaine.com
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/brit.elders/ and https://www.facebook.com/BritEldersAuthor/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brit-elders-1868042b/