My youngest daughter (age 12) loves to read. She’s enjoyed all of my medieval YA books, most recently A Loyal Heart which released in March.
I also allowed her a taste of one of my novellas, An Awakened Heart (which just came out in print in a collection called All My Tomorrows). When she finished, she asked if she could read the first full length book, With You Always.
I hesitated. So far, I’d put off letting her jump into my adult fiction, thinking that some of the elements might be too mature for her. But finally, after enough pestering, I decided she could give the first book a try.
This week has been her spring break. And guess what she’s done during her free time? Yes, she’s been reading With You Always.
I’ve enjoyed gauging her reaction to the story. She’s very forthright, tells it like it is, and holds nothing back. She has some interesting insights.
She’s also getting to glimpse the work that goes into writing a historical novel. She said, “The hero’s competition with his brother is really complex. You must have been up all night thinking about that. I think it would have taken me ten years to come up with those ideas.”
I smiled. I loved the affirmation, the recognition of how much work it took me to plot and weave the complexity of the story together.
Then one time when we were driving she said, “Have you experienced all that romance yourself? Is that how you’re able to write it?”
I smiled again (and inwardly chuckled). I wanted to get a little snarky, but I refrained. Instead I said with all maturity, “You don’t have to experience everything to write about it.”
She lifted questioning brows.
I explained further: “I don’t have to have previously lived out every romance moment to make them authentic. The same way I don’t have to live in NYC slums in the 1850’s to be able to write about them realistically.”
A common writer’s mantra is: Write what you know. Most people think that means writers should stick to their areas of expertise or the place where they live or the kind of people they know best. If all writers did that, they’d run out of ideas pretty fast.
Instead, what I told my daughter was: “I write out of the essence and feelings of all that I’ve experienced.”
That’s what “write what you know” means, to write out of the essence and feelings of all that you’ve experienced.
For example, I’ve experienced plenty of romance in my life to know how it feels so that I can channel it into the budding love and passion that my characters are developing. I’ve also experienced enough loss and pain that I can relate to how my characters are feeling even if I’ve never been a homeless orphan living on the street.
In other words, writers don’t necessarily have to write from head knowledge (because all that can be learned or researched). Rather writers should be writing from emotional experiences.
Writers can go deeper and connect better with readers when they deposit regularly into their own emotional bank. They can add deposits by becoming emotionally self-aware, paying better attention to the feelings of others, experiencing things deeply which requires being fully present in moments of joy, sorrow, heartache, etc. (and not trying to escape it).
The more writers truly revel in and experience the variety of emotions that life brings, they’re capable of living fuller and richer lives. When they’re rich, they’re able to pour that wealth into their stories.
Little did my daughter realize I’d give her a “writing lesson” when she asked me her question! I guess that’s one of the drawbacks of living with a writer. The writer’s mind is always at work in one form or another!
How about YOU? Did you get to experience Spring Break this spring? If so (and even if you didn’t!), what did you read and did it raise any questions for you?
Jody Hedlund
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Thanks for the great post. I have four children who love reading (yes, very blessed) and one particular almost-eleven-year old who enjoys discussing books with me. I’m not a writer but love talking about why she enjoyed certain books and why I enjoy certain ones. Your YA novels are at the top of the list to introduce to my teenage girls and their friends!
I hear you! I love discussing books with my children too! It’s always fun to share the joy of reading, especially once they start reading some of the same books as you! Hope your girls will enjoy my YA books when they get to them! 🙂
Fabulous post and I dread the day my now 19 year old daughter may read my finished manuscript. It is dark in parts and I fear she will alter her view of me if she ‘feels’ any of the abuse adhered to…. as I, like you, write about subjects about which I do know peppered with artistic licence for authenticity and emotional experiences which can do neatly be woven into various scenes … 👌🏼🌸
There is definitely a level of vulnerability that we have as writers, especially allowing our family to read our writing! It’s a little intimidating but becomes easier over time.
Spring breaks have long passed me by Jody, in fact I’m retired now. I read Sewn With Joy by Tricia Goyer and Sherry Gore and just finished Plain Death by Amanda Flower. I read those two over the past week. I’m always reading something.
I’m glad you allowed your daughter to read your “adult” books. I can remember being an avid young reader wanting to read books above my age level. Now that I’m in my 50’s, I really enjoy your “young adult“ novels. 😉
I thoroughly enjoyed this post. ” ‘Write what you know’ means to write out of the essence and feelings of all you’ve experienced.” I could never be a writer – just don’t have that talent – but I think this saying could apply equally well to reading. Reading is so much more enjoyable when people bring all of their experiences and feelings to what they read. Historical fiction is my favorite genre, mainly because of everything I learn as well as being transported to another time period. Add in mystery, and wow!
I’m a retired 5th grade teacher, who through the years accumulated many ‘favorites’ to read aloud to my class. One book in particular really spoke to my heart, and though I read it many times (at least 16-20,since I taught two language arts sections), there was always a certain part that brought tears to my eyes. So feelings are definitely important in reading or writing.
This year my ten year old granddaughter is in 5th grade, so I’m enjoying sharing the books I taught, with her. At the same time, I’m very watchful for inappropriate topics and language that seep into today’s literature for youth and teens. I’ve already passed your name on to her mother for interesting and acceptable literature. Is she at an age to begin your medieval series?
I have begun purchasing your Orphan Train books (prequel and first book), which are on my TBR list. Thank you for your dedication to writing and research.
this is a great post. so glad your daughter is a reader. both of our kids are avid readers also. We are empty nester’s right now so no spring break. But i did finish Amish Sweethearts by Amy Clipston. This is a fantastic group of 4 stories. Amy had each story on a different idea. Like, Love and Buggy Rides was about being honest and telling the truth when needed. Each story I took away something. Great book.
Thanks for sharing, Jody. It’s spring break week here for the school kids. Since we’re past that stage, I guess we can have spring break whenever we want. 😀 It’s been alternating here between spring and late winter, depending on the day. Today we’ve had rain, but who knows what tomorrow may bring.
I love your books. Thanks for sharing your time and talents so that we can enjoy clean, wholesome, inspiring books.