With Great Risk Comes…..Additional Risks

by Savannah Hendricks

When I set out to write my latest book, Sun City, 85373, I’d toyed around with the idea of the main character being a social worker. For the last thirteen years, it has been my day job, and as such, makes writing a story with a realistic career much easier because I didn’t have to spend countless hours researching the profession. But it also came with additional risks.

The first question I asked myself when I sat down to outline and write the first draft of Sun City, 85373, was how can I write an honest portrayal of a social worker without giving away any personal work experiences that might impact someone in real life? The second question was, would anyone care to read about a main character who is a social worker? 

It turns out that when you have years of experience in a career, it makes writing about it more complex. Having to tell a story without telling someone’s personal story can be tricky. Plus, would anyone care about the daily ins and outs of a social worker? As it turns out, and unbeknownst to me, I had a difficult journey in front of me, one that would require a substantial amount of time to get it right. 

So, I did what any determined writer does. I became a pro at PROcrastinating (my house was exceptionally clean, my garden was blossoming, and for once in my life, I was hitting my exercise goals). But when I dove back into the manuscript it was still only an outline with an opening chapter. Then, like I do at work, I took the first timid step forward, no matter how scary, covered in bugs, or unidentified substances lined the bottom of my shoes. Using my social work background in conjunction with the personalities of individuals who needed care, Kelly took form and began managing her day-to-day life and work obligations. The main characteristics of a social worker is the truth they uncover with each new case, and how they rely on their determination and resolve to power them through the day. Whether the truth is happy, sad, upsetting, or grateful, the key role of a social worker in the community is to uncover what is needed, research, and then step back to provide an unbiased summation of what a client or family needs. And that was my recipe that became the day-to-day minutiae of what Kelly’s character endured at work. 

Once the first draft was complete, I went back to re-read it. This is when the second question hit hard, like a person taking out their frustration on a game of Whac-A-Mole: Will anyone care to read about Kelly’s work environment? I started to think back on my life prior to being a social worker, realizing how small and arid my pool of knowledge really was, yet eager to learn more. So, I felt I had a reason to write about social work because the answer was yes, they would care as I’d come to care too. However, it raised another question. Could I write without sounding insufferable and preachy? 

Turns out I was able to, but with a considerable amount of editing and revision, more than any other book I had written. While I love to learn new things in books, I don’t like to sit down to read a work of fiction and feel like I’m stuck in a teenage after-school special. 

While every time you write and publish a story, you’re taking a degree of risk, Sun City, 85373, was a bigger risk than normal for me. I was putting a forty-year-old social worker in a retirement community! Initially, the story had all the hallmarks of a snore-fest, but I had other plans in mind. I wanted something fun and positive, because in social work that can, and does happen. And I’ve met countless happinin’ senior citizens.

Taking not only the good, but also the bad allowed me to write from the heart and paint an accurate picture of what a typical life in Sun City could be like. Add in some opinionated senior citizens and the summer heat of Arizona and you have yourself a sizzling story. But how feisty did I want to go with it? As a medical social worker, I’ve seen a lot of over-the-top things, including nudity. I’ve heard some of the best stories of my life (Take that, campfire ghost stories!), met incredible people, and on occasion some of the rudest individuals that life has to offer. And just like that, Kelly, my main character, laced up my shoes and began her journey in 85373. She needed to see it all, the ups and downs, the rights and unexpected lefts. I wanted her to have honest experiences so that my readers could as well, without having to spray bug repellent around the base of their pants and shoes. I wanted to highlight the hard work social workers accomplished every day. 

However, I was taking a great leap of faith to include such an emotion-filled career for Kelly’s character. And I found myself wondering, if, by being so forthcoming, was I discouraging future college students from pursuing a degree in social work? 

When I polished the final draft of Sun City, 85373, I felt the risk had paid off. Knowing I created the best story I could, not only with heart, but with a generous amount of good old-fashioned humor. Now that it’s published, it’s up to the readers to let me know if those risks actually paid off. 

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Savannah is a short and sarcastic, award-winning author & social worker. Prior she worked with special needs preschoolers and spent eight years as a nanny. Savannah holds degrees in Early Childhood Education and a Master’s in Criminal Justice. Annually, 10% of the proceeds from the sale of Savannah’s books are donated to dog rescue organizations.

SUN CITY, 85373

Kelly needs a break, even if it’s only for the weekend. But visiting her aunt in Sun City turns into an unexpected care-giving situation, prompting her to face avoided decisions.

Welcome to Palms Place, a small complex of nine ’70s-style apartments, located in the vibrant 55+ community of Sun City. As a resident, you’ll enjoy access to a resort-style pool, and an outdoor entertainment area where you can join in the FNF (Friday Night Fun), happening year-round, as well as a grill station. In addition, you’ll have access to close parking, and a secure courtyard with plentiful greenery.

Kelly, a burned-out social worker living in Flagstaff, takes a weekend respite to visit her Aunt Paula at Palms Place, in Sun City. She expects a nice, relaxing and quiet time in the retirement community. What she gets is anything but. At the Palms Place apartment complex, life is full of laughter, trouble, and love. Will these lively residents add to Kelly’s issues or help her fix them?

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Tags: featured, women writers

Category: On Writing