Write what you know

“Write what you know.”

Years ago, when Elise was in the fifth grade, she won a writing contest and fifth graders from around the state were invited to a fancy luncheon with guest speaker Phyllis Reynolds Naylor, author of children’s novel Shiloh and now dozens more books. Elise was quite excited; I was smitten. Beyond the chicken fingers with honey mustard and tater tots, I got to meet and hear the wisdom of the creator of such poignant stories. A rock star in my book.

After a delightful meal of the aforementioned menu, a couple hundred 10-year-olds with combed hair, pinchy shoes and scratchy clothes stood in line for this famous author to sign their tattered copies of Shiloh and the opportunity to purchase new books for signing. The kids shuffled by, impressed because they were all writers, and we know one is only as good a writer as he/she is a reader, but connecting a school-teacherly looking lady sitting at a desk to penning the emotion-evoking words on the very pages they held – well, let’s say they weren’t seemingly making the connection.

I walked through the line star struck and as Elise pushed out her hand for a firm shake and a sweet smile, just as she had been taught. I found myself awestruck and tongue tied. I think my profound comment to the author was something as meaningful as “oh wow.” We adjourned to an auditorium and Naylor spoke to the group of budding authors on her area of expertise. “Write what you know,” she said.

I pondered her words, as I was used to wearing scratchy clothes and pinchy shoes, which afforded me the ability to sit still and listen. She advised the talented children listening to know their audiences and investigate topics that they can believe in, ponder over, and write with confidence. Over the 14 years since that encounter, I can still remember her looking out into the crowd with the most simple of advice for anyone in the writing realm, or really any venue of life. Sink your teeth into what you know and what jazzes you enough to learn and create more.

The last couple days, I have been reading blogs that bounce me from one subject to another. I have been reading passages on travel, life in Downtown Franklin, living abroad, writing, and even professional gaming, of which I could fill a thimble with my knowledge, but the blogger’s prose kept me reading.

A blogger by the name of Brooke who writes daily about travel at brookevstheworld.com stated so succinctly, “Let’s get it straight. Blogging is not a standalone job. You cannot blog in a space that doesn’t exist and to a group of virtual people. In other words, I must realize you are not virtual eyeballs who live behind my screen. I know many of you, and when I write down this avenue, I must keep you in mind.

The purpose of this blog is for both of us, and I intend to develop a relationship with both you, my reader and myself. I write for me because this blog’s purpose is to investigate and mull over the concept of resilience. I need to find a new reality, a new sense of normal in the aftermath of the series of events in the last few months that came to a head with the passing of my dear son. Last I checked, my elbows and knee caps are not made of rubber, so I must dig deep from inside of me to pull out inner strength that allows me to get out of bed in the morning and figure out how to get the cream cheese on the bagel.

Because, to my estimation, there is no rubber content in my body, so we know I will never bounce back to the be the exact person many of you have known for years, but I am seeking knowledge, teaching myself, and looking to God for guidance to find a new me from who will emerge from the ashes and certainly come out stronger.

And, of course, I write for you, as you are the most important cog in this wheel. I write to give you different perspectives, thoughts, and suggestions. I write to share with you, so that maybe through my meanderings, you can relate my experiences to your own, and you can give me feedback and support from your side of the fence. And finally, I write to you because you are good people who encounter complications in your lives, just as I do and are strong enough to delve into yourself and elsewhere for answers.

So, as we can never fully chart our paths, I write what I know about seeking strength, and I hope you can find meaning from the words.

And, speaking of words --- I learned the meaning of “blog.” It is a contraction of the words “web log.” Now, you know.