About

Hello and Welcome to Written Lives!

I'm Quiana. 

 In case you’ve been wondering who it is that writes the articles you’re reading, allow me to introduce myself!

To begin with, let me tell you how I started writing: 

I could say that I’ve been writing for as long as I can remember, but that wouldn’t be quite right because I actually can remember the day I picked up a pencil and wrote the first word of my first story. 

It all started not too long after I learned to put letters into words and words into sentences. It started with a school assignment, but the funny thing is that it wasn’t my school assignment. It was my older sisters’ that I begged my mom (who was also my teacher - I was home schooled from K-12) to let me do as well. 

There was probably no need to beg her because my mom didn’t need much convincing. From that day till now, she has done everything possible to encourage me in my writing. She’d often find me awake in the middle of the night, writing because I had to ‘capture the ideas’ before I forgot them, and rather than forbidding me to get out of bed she got me a pencil and notebook to keep beside my bed. I can’t count how many times she has told me that I can be a writer, that God hasn’t given me this passion for no reason, and that He will show me a way to glorify Him through this skill. She, and all of my siblings, have listened to page after page of unedited writing and stories that never got an end. 

So, with much time and encouragement, that first story was followed by another, which was followed by another, and then another. And now, here I am. Aspiring to become a professional editor and get published as a historical fiction author. But, while I'm working and waiting towards those goals, I'm thoroughly enjoying every opportunity to grow in the craft of writing and to experiment with a range of different styles and genres (from articles to allegories). Learning through it all how to write for God’s glory and hoping to impact the lives of others through the words I write. 

Now, what else can I tell you about myself? 

• I’m a Christian - a child of God, purchased and redeemed through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. 

• I’ve been blessed with an incredible family. In which I get to play the roles of daughter,  sister and aunt.

• I’m blessed to do life with amazing group of local Christians- who have taught me that those you go to Church with aren't meant to be mere friends, but rather family.

• One of my favourite places to be is at the stable. Specifically, at a certain stable, with a certain horse that I get to call my own, learn from, train, and ride!

•I love editing, almost as much as - sometimes more than- writing! 

How Written Lives Came About

I love fiction and I love history. Put those together and you get historical fiction - which is my favourite genre in which to write.

Historical fiction isn’t the typical style of writing that you would see on a blog. But if you write history in a story format and add nonfiction teaching and application, that could work. Right? 

Welcome to Written Lives! 

A lot of people tell me that they hated history in school, that always surprises me because I loved it! Which got me thinking, is it history they hated or was it the way that they were taught about history?

Growing up, my siblings and I listened to a lot of audio books. They became a family go-to for road trips and quiet times. Our favourites were G.A.Henry’s historical fictions. Rather than focusing on dates and events, Henty’s stories highlighted the people - their character, struggles, and successes. Henty taught history like it was something important for us to remember - which it is! 

George Santayana said, “Those who do not learn from history are destined to repeat it.” 

History has so much to teach us and I believe that every one of its stories can be applied to our lives today! 

I want to see the church strengthened by the examples of that ‘cloud of witnesses’ (Hebrews xii.1) - from Abraham to Billy Graham - who have gone before us and stood steadfast in the faith. I hope to see people reminded that obstacles can be overcome, honour upheld, faith built, and God glorified. 

From those desires came Written Lives!

Leave Me a Reply

That's a little about me and my blog, now it's your turn! Leave me a comment below and tell me a little about yourself, how you found Written Lives and/or how it has impacted you! I can't wait to meet you!