When Carol Sullivan began penning her memoir, she couldn’t have known the creative endeavor would lead to participating in a reality TV show filmed in Peru.

But that’s the journey she’s traveled from jotting down memories from her childhood as a young ballet student and later as a ballet instructor in Kalispell, to flying to a foreign country this spring to participate in a writing competition. 

Feeling stuck in the writing process, Sullivan went in search of help with her story and found a course called Memoir Writing Geniuses by Wendy Dale. She enrolled in the course, which provides a step-by-step plan to create a memoir, and it helped her make significant progress in her writing.  

When that same instructor decided to launch a reality show challenge for memoir writers around the world, Sullivan, on a whim, decided to apply. After submitting the required 2,000 words, she didn’t think about it again until she started making her way through the selection rounds. She submitted a second piece of writing and after an interview was chosen as one of nine contestants for the show.  

“I was so surprised,” she said. “I thought, ‘Oh, I really am a writer.’” 

Many years before sitting down to write her memoir, Sullivan began taking ballet lessons. At age 10, she was cast as Clara in “The Nutcracker.” At 12, she began taking pointe classes. She attended Gonzaga University and took ballet classes at the Spokane Ballet Company.  

After moving to Kalispell, she opened her own dance school in 1977. She created the Northwest Ballet School and Company, teaching hundreds of students each year. She initially retired in 2007 but then came out of retirement in 2010 to co-found Noble Dance before finally retiring two years later.  

“I have danced my whole life,” Sullivan said. “At one time, I had 250 students. I loved the kids and watching them coming in being afraid and then practicing and going out on stage and performing. I could see a transformation that was unbelievable.”  

She jotted down bits and pieces of her experiences and then, about three years ago, she realized it was time to put that writing into a memoir. Just as she studied ballet, she studied writing.  

Then the opportunity of a lifetime presented itself with the TV show. Called “Write or Flight,” competitors would either continue through the show with the chance to earn a $10,000 cash advance and a book deal to publish their memoir or they’d be sent home on a flight.  

Sullivan flew to Peru, meeting the other competitors who came from all over the world — New Zealand, Australia, Germany, London, New Mexico, Texas, Seattle and Canada. At age 71, Sullivan was the oldest in the group.  

“Off I go to Peru,” she says with a laugh. “And none of us knew each other, so there we are that first night getting to know each other, and I’m realizing that I’m older than everyone. Learning that some of the people are professional writers who have already published books.” 

Presented with different writing prompts, competitors had to complete assignments for a panel of judges that would determine whether they would make it to the next round. The first was to write 100 words about how they got to Peru, along with their experience exploring the city of Cusco. 

“After that first round, I was in the bottom two,” Sullivan said. “It was so stressful because you’re competing with yourself because you don’t know what anybody else is writing.”  

The next journey was to a potato farm where they watched a traditional ceremony, which formed the basis of their second writing assignment.  

“I get on the bus the next day excited, because I was able to get the 200 words completed and then everyone tells me that it was 100 words,” she said. “There was this silence because I would be eliminated because I failed the assignment.”  

Granted a chance to correct her submission, Sullivan went to work on what would eventually get a glowing review from the judges, who said it was a beautiful piece that didn’t waste any words. It put her in the top two of the competition.  

“I took my phone and slashed 100 words in 15 minutes,” she said. “How could I take away 100 words and have it be so meaningful? It taught me something about how you don’t have to say a lot to get the point across.” 

The writers continued through adventures of exploring Peru, working with a sketch artist and creating watercolor paintings. The group met with a shaman, which are seen as healers who protect and guide their communities.  

Speaking to Sullivan, the shaman told her, “Your past is holding you back from the true person you are supposed to be. Trust your way and don’t give up.” 

“That was one of the most amazing things that happened,” she said.  

Sullivan continued to explore Peru and enjoyed the finale, announcing the winner along with a celebratory dinner. She also visited Machupicchu before flying out.  

“It was so interesting,” she said of the experience. “There were just writing assignments, but there was a feeling that you should form an alliance with other people. It was an emotional experience in a way that’s hard to describe.”  

Now back in Montana, Sullivan awaits the expected release of the TV show this fall. And she continues to work away at her memoir, but in a refreshed way based on her experience in Peru.  

“I’m a dancer, but I wanted to say something about my life,” Sullivan said. “I didn’t think I could write, but when I did it in 100 words, I learned that I can write. I learned a lot about myself and that I can actually write. It may not be a bestseller and that’s OK, but I know someone will want to read it.”  

Deputy Editor Heidi Desch may be reached at 406-758-4421 or [email protected].