Suggestions and Topics for Connection

What makes for a good article in Connection?

Readers want to hear what you were like physically, mentally, and spiritually before FA, how you found FA, and what you are like now in recovery. Compelling stories focus on an anecdote (a short and interesting story) and connect it to how you work your program of recovery. Your story might describe experiences while eating addictively and how you used the FA tools or Twelve Steps to face a challenge. The story may compare how you dealt with a situation in recovery, contrasted with what you did before FA.

Please review Connection Writing Guidelines for further suggestions.

Most issues include articles around these themes:

Living in Recovery

Write your story as you would tell it when sharing at a meeting. You might want to tell your story as suggested in the A.A. Big Book, describing “what it was like, what happened, and what it’s like now.” Or you may prefer to write about one of these scenarios.

Recognizing when and how to use the FA tools
Building a relationship with a sponsor
Sponsoring others
Stretching out of your comfort zone
Attending high school, college, and graduate school
Traveling
Eating in restaurants
Thinking through the consequences of breaking your abstinence
Addressing difficult or negative patterns of behavior, thought, or emotions
Learning patience and humility
Having or not having children; parenting
Doing service

Challenging Situations

This type of story describes a difficult time and explains how you got through it abstinently. Provide the details about what was going on, the tools you used or actions you took, and how you stayed abstinent.

Attending birthdays, weddings, graduations, holiday parties, and other special events
Dealing with serious illness or death
Dating
Falling in (or out of) love
Being single, married, or divorced
Setting boundaries around work, family, friends, time, electronics, shopping, etc.
Being quiet or meditating for an entire 30 minutes
Relapsing and renewing your commitment to recovery

Early Days in FA

Describe your path to abstinence in FA (regardless of how short, long, or crooked it was). Newcomers can benefit from reading about your experiences during the early months, when regaining your abstinence, or following a return to FA.

Sharing how you discovered FA
Learning how to shop for groceries, cook, and weigh and measure your food
Attending committed meetings every week
Feeling awkward talking with FA members
Learning the importance of service
Qualifying for the first time
Resting when needed
Developing connections through phone calls
Feeling the truth of “I am ____ and I am a food addict.”

Recovery in Action

In Connection Writing Sessions, we talk about an “ah-ha” moment: a realization or a new awareness. These kinds of stories describe recognition of how the Promises are being fulfilled in your life. Some refer to this as a spiritual awakening or “Trudg[ing] the road of happy destiny.” (“A Vision for You,” Alcoholics Anonymous, p. 164).

Recognizing that your food addiction isn’t just about food
Developing your understanding of, and connection to, your Higher Power
Discovering or experiencing a miracle(s)
Surprising yourself by saying or doing something that reflects your recovery
Marvelous, sensational, unexpected outcomes that feel like a Higher Power moment; i.e., you had NOTHING to do with it
Quiet, small, seemingly inconsequential moments that turn out to be an epiphany

Hitting Bottom

We all end up here for a reason. However, not everyone experiences the extremes of addiction that result in serious or tragic consequences. But if that was your experience, sharing those low points and how your life changed for the better through the Steps and tools in FA lets others know they are not alone. These types of stories are inspiring and helpful to others.

Having an accident, or near-accident, while driving and eating
Being diagnosed with any number of physical conditions such as high blood pressure or diabetes
Feeling embarrassed or humiliated when caught eating
Coming back to FA after leaving and gaining weight
Going into debt with overspending
Being hospitalized or treated for eating disorders, depression, self-harm, etc.
Limiting or restricting your ability to function normally in life. For example, withdrawing from family and friends, being unable to hold down a job, neglecting self-care, or isolating at social functions to focus on food.

Finding Humor

Relate a humorous, surprising, or witty encounter related to your recovery. Friends and family, especially children, provide excellent source material when misinterpreting or “reinterpreting” our FA practices, jargon, or phone calls. Be on the lookout for these special moments and share them. These kinds of stories are shorter, two to three paragraphs at most. Briefly set the stage and then deliver the punchline.

Not sure you’re up for writing a full article yet?

Check out the Notable & Quotable (N&Q) submission form: N&Q is an occasional feature that draws on the wisdom of members in our fellowship. The form provides a variety of questions and prompts developed by the Connection committee to solicit short responses (one to five sentences) that will be compiled and published in a future issue. Examples are questions like “What have you learned about dating in recovery?” or “Which of the promises have come true for you in FA?”

The form includes MANY questions and ideas. We don’t expect or want you to respond to all of them at one time; only those that inspire you in the moment. You’re welcome to return later for another go. As a bonus, this is a quick way to do service for Connection and get ideas for writing a full article or submitting art.