Inspiration about Writing From My Girl
My daughter, Amanda, came to me last night all excited. Now, this type of thing happens pretty often when living with a teenager–as there is always some type of drama in her life so to me I was not overly interested. However, being her mother, I replied,”Ok, so what’s happening now?”
“Mom, I have a question to ask you.”
“Ok, what is it?”
“How do you know what to write about?”
Now, Amanda has been writing on and off for oh about four or five years now. And she hadn’t talked about writing for quite a while so I was pleased to hear her bring up the subject again.
“Write what you know about. That’s what I do. At least it’s a good way to get started. ” I rambled.
“But the stuff that people write about teenagers is the same ole same ole. It’s good stuff and I enjoy reading it. But as a writer, I don’t want to write that.”
“Amanda, while they may be true, teenagers do like those books. They buy them don’t they? Remember to think about your reader.”
“Mom, that may be true, but I want to write something different. I want to write something that means something more than just a love sick teenager or a teenage love triangle.”
“Ok. Well, I wrote about my life and turned it into a book. I don’t know if other people will like the story but it did really happen. It is a love story too.”
My daughter shifted her hips from one side to another and crossed her arms in front of her.
“Yes, but the important part of what you said was two things—one, it was a story you wanted to write and two, it is a story your readers, moms and working women will want to read. What I’m saying is I don’t want to share the same ole teenage love story.
I sat up in my bed and turned down the volume on the TV. She got my attention and I wanted to help, if I could. She was onto something and this was an important point about being a writer.
“Then find the part of a type of story you like and bring those into the book and leave out the parts you don’t like. That’s the beauty of being a writer–it’s all in YOUR creation of the story.”
“Ok. I see what you’re saying. Ok. I’ll think about how I can do that in my story.”
She left my room and I wondered if she really had understood what I meant or was going to get onto something else and let go of the writing for awhile again.
A few minutes went by and she appeared again in my room, a big smile and a light in her eyes.
“Mom, I got it! I’m going to write the book I want to write and I think it will be great. I’m going to start out by writing a blog about subjects I want to write about and use that as inspiration for the book.”
I observed her while she talked and felt the drive and ambition in her to write what she was wanting to write.
I was inspired by her to write (as this was one of the inspired writings!)
Thanks Amanda!
What was the last thing that inspired you to write?
