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Our S.L.A.A. story lets others know where we have been and where we are now. It gives hope to our readers and lets them know they are not alone. It is empowering. It shares the wisdom, strength, and guidance we have had. It is unique to our own experiences, thoughts, feelings, and life lessons. It reinforces our hard work and progress. It inspires others.

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Writing one’s story is one of the bravest things one can do in recovery. It takes a lot of strength to explore our addictive past and recovery history, and even more brave to share it.

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BEFORE YOU START

Suggestions for writing your S.L.A.A. story

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WHAT IS YOUR MOTIVATION?

Is your motivation clear of ego and is it Higher Powered?

Is your act of sharing spiritually guided?

Ask yourself why you would like to write and share your story

Would you be helping others as you have been helped?

Would you be helping others to not feel alone and hopeless?

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Explore if you are in the right frame of mind
Talk about your intentions
Talk about if you are ready to share
Talk about how much you want to share

Talk with your sponsor, trusted friends, and family, and your therapist

Sharing your story can leave you feeling vulnerable and exposed and may bring up strong emotions.

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Before you begin to write, spend some time in thoughtful prayer or meditation.

Set an intention (establish a focus on, for example, honesty, strength, and so on) before you begin to write.

INVOLVE YOUR HIGHER POWER

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The story is not just about the time spent in addiction but also how you overcome your challenges
Consider pivotal times in your addiction and recovery
Share your emotions
Where will you begin your story? From childhood? From the onset of the addiction? Onset of recovery?
Have a message that you want to convey that is personally important to you. Tell your truth

Consider these points as a means to connect to your readers

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SUGGESTIONS FOR THE

BODY OF YOUR STORY

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Tell the reader about yourself: gender, age, ethnicity, nationality, religious or spiritual background, sexual preference, time in S.L.A.A., bottom lines, relationship with a sponsor, length of sobriety, experience with relapse and slips, and membership in other 12-Step programs
Describe your personal manifestation of sex and love addiction: anorexia, fantasy, romantic obsession, use of technology, and so on
Explain how you knew you needed help

Share how you knew you had a problem. Describe yourself at your lowest point. Was there a person or situation that helped you realize you needed help?
What helped you get from where you were to where you are now?
Share your challenges in different areas of sober living: sober dating, healthy relationships, reconciliation with a spouse or partner, living single, and the like.

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Who or what helped you?
What obstacles did you overcome?
How do you maintain your recovery and wellness? What are the strengths and support you developed along the way and use today?

What program principles do you work? Steps, Traditions, the Preamble’s Five Major Resources (Sobriety, Sponsorship and Meetings, Service, Steps and Spirituality), and so on. What are the lessons you have learned and how do they guide you?

What was your perspective then and what is it now?

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SUGGESTIONS ON HOW TO SAY WHAT YOU WANT TO SAY

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Use descriptive words that help the reader visualize your story
Do not fear specific details or emotions
Use grammar rules, rules of punctuation, and non-offensive language
Write your story, leave it, come back to it with fresh eyes, refine it, share it with someone before you submit it

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HOW TO SUBMIT

YOUR STORY

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Here is the link to the Stories Flier:

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Ay7TRJ1bZAXV6Q0YjtL1DOb0FDeFcyta/view?usp=sharing

Complete this disclaimer form. Here is the link:

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1lPvZac541Ftym7S1PDCJRp2wsMIKJ3AspNxEGhVMDos/edit?usp=sharing

Submit your story to the CLC (Conference Literature Committee) with the following link AND the completed disclaimer form using this link:

https://slaafws.org/committee/clc/

No later than Dec 15, 2022

Stories must be submitted as a Word.doc

No PDFs can be accepted

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