This past weekend I had the immense honor and pleasure to present workshops on “so you want to be a writer” with author Shirley Hershey Showalter at the 300th Brubaker Family Reunion in Millersville, Pennsylvania.
I thoroughly enjoyed reading Shirley’s memoir Blush; A Mennonite Girl Meets A Glittering World. I enjoyed listening to Shirley and how she came to write her memoir. I am, in awe, of her talents. With the multitude of stories racing through my head, writing a memoir seems quite daunting!
To the audience, I give thanks and applause. Your comments and questions (and from you, dear reader, as well), give me pause to think about my writing and writing process.
What authors influenced me? I am a bibliomaniac! I thrive at the nearness of books and am an avid reader.
Which authors? There are hundreds. Madeleine L’Engle, Susan Cooper, Cynthia Voight, J.K. Rowling, Shannon Hale, Sharon Creech, Anya Seton, E.B. White, Virginia Woolf, Kristin Cashore, C.S. Lewis Elizabeth George Speare, Peter Dickinson, Â Robin McKinley, Cornelia Funke and Tamora Pierce. I know I forgot hundreds and hundreds more! (Yes, these are primarily children’s and young adult authors, but remember, I have been a children’s librarian for most of my life!)
Questions about character, plot and conflict development have me think, as always, how can I write better? Reading more, writing more and listening to you, dear reader, can only help improve my writing. My goal is to have my books speak to your heart and mine.
So, thank you to the 300th Brubaker Family Reunion Committee for a wonderful experience!
And a word to the wise, as shared to me by my son James on a Facebook post: Next time you are afraid to share ideas, remember someone once said in a meeting, “Let’s make a film with a tornado full of sharks.”
Happy Reading! Happy Writing!
