Words by Amy Michelle
Poetry • Nature • Reflection
The Unsealed
The Unsealed has become one of the most meaningful writing communities in my life as an author. Through monthly writing challenges, conversations, and a community of writers from around the world, it has encouraged me to write honestly, grow in confidence, and share my story in ways I never expected.
This page follows that journey—from my very first writing challenge to the friendships, opportunities, and milestones that continue to shape me as a writer.
May 2025
Discovering The Unsealed
In May 2025, I came across The Unsealed while looking for places to share my writing. Their monthly writing challenges invited people to respond to a different prompt each month through letters, poems, and personal stories.
Something about the community immediately resonated with me. It wasn't about competition or recognition—it was about honesty, encouragement, and using words to connect with others.
I decided to enter my first writing challenge, never imagining that one submission would become the beginning of an ongoing relationship with a community that would play such an important role in my writing journey.
July 2025
My First Unsealed Conversation
After submitting my first letter, I received an email from Lauren Brill letting me know it had advanced to the next round of The Unsealed writing challenge. Along with that came an invitation to join Unsealed Conversations, the community's online show.
I was excited—and a little nervous.
On July 9, 2025, I appeared on the show for the first time to read my letter, "Dear Younger Me: You Will Not Stay Broken." It was my response to the writing prompt, "What Would the Old Version of You Say to the New Version of You?"
It was my first opportunity to share my writing aloud with The Unsealed community and to connect with other writers through conversation.
Looking back, I had no idea this would be the first of many appearances. It was simply one more "yes" that would lead to opportunities I never expected.
October 2025
What Survived Was Love
By the fall of 2025, I was beginning to feel at home within The Unsealed community. Each writing challenge encouraged me to dig a little deeper, and each conversation reminded me why I loved writing in the first place.
My letter, "What Survived Was Love," was selected to move on to the next round, and I was invited back to Unsealed Conversations for another live reading and discussion.
With each appearance, I became more comfortable sharing my work and connecting with other writers. What had started as a single writing challenge was slowly becoming an important part of my writing journey.
During Unsealed Conversations, Lauren Brill and I talked more about my adoption story. In the discussion, I shared how I was suppose to meet my biological mother for the first time, but lost her just two short weeks before that runion was to happen.
After her passing, I was given a few of her belongings. Among them was a simple drawing I had made as a little girl. She had kept it all those years.
For so much of my life, I believed I hadn't been wanted. Finding that drawing changed something in me. It became quiet proof that I had been loved all along.
Lauren later featured this portion of our conversation as a separate video on YouTube. I'm grateful for the opportunity to share such a personal part of my story, and I hope it offers comfort to anyone who has ever questioned their own worth or wondered if they were truly loved.
October 28, 2025
Chosen, Cherished, and Still Rising
By the end of October, I had another opportunity to return to Unsealed Conversations. This time, my letter, "Chosen, Cherished, and Still Rising," was selected to move on to the next round as part of the writing prompt, "Dear Younger Me: Here Is Proof That I Rise."
Writing this letter gave me the opportunity to reflect on how far I had come. It was a reminder that healing isn't about avoiding hardship—it's about finding the strength to keep moving forward through it. Looking back at my younger self with compassion, I realized that every loss, every challenge, and every step of my journey had shaped the person I am today.
Sharing this letter with The Unsealed community was another meaningful experience, and I was grateful for the opportunity to read it and connect with others through our stories.
January 2026
To the Door That Closed, I Am Finally Free
I began 2026 with a letter that reflected on one of the hardest chapters of my life—my search for my biological family and the painful realization that sometimes healing comes not from finding what we've been searching for, but from letting it go.
Written in response to the prompt, "The Chapter That I Am Closing," my letter I Am Finally Free" gave me the opportunity to reflect on what it truly means to move forward. It wasn't about giving up hope. It was about choosing peace over disappointment and accepting that some doors are meant to remain closed.
When my letter was selected to move on to the next round, I was invited back to Unsealed Conversations on January 19, 2026, to share it with the community. It was another reminder that even our most difficult stories can encourage others when we're willing to tell them honestly.
February 2026
Dear Future Me
By this point, The Unsealed's monthly writing challenges had become an important part of my writing journey. Each new prompt gave me the opportunity to reflect, grow, and tell another piece of my story.
For the prompt, "Dear Future Me, Promise to Keep This Part of You Alive," I wrote a letter reminding myself not to lose the qualities that have always mattered most—wonder, kindness, hope, and the courage to keep creating. It was a promise to hold on to the parts of myself that I never wanted life to take away.
A few weeks later, I received wonderful news. My letter had been awarded Second Place by the judges. I was incredibly grateful and encouraged. It reminded me that writing from the heart has a way of connecting with others and gave me even more confidence to keep sharing my story.
February-March 2026
What Are You Grateful For?
One of the things I appreciate most about The Unsealed is how each writing prompt invites me to slow down and see life a little differently.
When the February prompt asked, "What Are You Grateful For?" I found myself writing about a quiet sunrise that reminded me of the beauty surrounding us every day. Standing on my front porch, watching the colors fill the morning sky, I was reminded that gratitude often grows from the simplest moments if we're willing to notice them.
My letter was selected to move on to the next round, and I was invited back to Unsealed Conversations on March 16, 2026, to share it with the community. By then, returning to the show had become something I genuinely looked forward to, and I always enjoyed hearing how each writer interpreted the monthly prompt in their own unique way.
This challenge reminded me that gratitude isn't always found in life's biggest moments. Sometimes it's waiting quietly in a sunrise, a gentle breeze, or the simple gift of being alive.
June 2026
Joining The Unsealed Authors Program
By the summer of 2026, The Unsealed had become much more than a place where I submitted my writing. It had become a community where I felt encouraged, supported, and inspired to keep growing.
In late June, Lauren announced a new feature called Meet Our Authors. Curious, I clicked to learn more and discovered The Unsealed Authors Program. The opportunity to become part of a community that supported authors and helped readers discover their books felt like a natural next step.
I joined the Authors Program on June 28, 2026. Later that same day, Lauren sent me a personal email inviting me to participate in the very first Meet the Authors event.
I had no idea that simply clicking on an email that morning would lead to another unforgettable opportunity. Looking back, it was one more reminder that saying "yes" to new opportunities often opens doors we never expected.
June 30, 2026
Meet the Authors
Just two days after joining The Unsealed Authors Program, I was invited to participate in the very first Meet the Authors event.
Along with three other authors, I had the opportunity to talk about my book, answer questions from Lauren and the audience, and share more about my writing journey. It was a relaxed and encouraging conversation, and I enjoyed hearing about the experiences of the other writers as well.
Being invited to take part in the inaugural event made the experience even more meaningful. It was another reminder of how much The Unsealed had grown from a writing community into a place where authors could connect, encourage one another, and celebrate each other's work.
Looking back, I never imagined that entering a single writing challenge would lead to opportunities like this. I'm grateful for every step of the journey and excited to see where it leads next.