Maid to Love is my ninth published book. There are two more coming after it…and hopefully several more after that! With all that writing, a lot of people ask me where I get my ideas for my stories. There is really only one place (outside of listening to the nudgings of the Holy Spirit) where I get my ideas.It’s through a passion I have experienced in life.
For example, the book you’re going to read an excerpt about tomorrow is titled Gaining Love. In it, we have a guy who’s struggling with high blood pressure at a young age. Guess what? My hubby is too. Then we’ve got a girl who got pregnant as a teen—woohoo, look right here at me. Also, she struggles with using her credit card for impulse shopping. OUCH! It stung just to write that. And yet, me again.
Another book I wrote, For Better or Worse, the heroine was a mom of three preteen/teen daughters…again, you’re looking at her, and the heroine was a teacher. Guess who’s a teacher? In Finding Home, the heroine deals with an unplanned pregnancy and then giving the child up for adoption. I did not give my daughter up for adoption, but I remember so very vividly the feelings of inadequacy I felt having her at the ripe ol’ age of eighteen.
In Maid to Love, we have a country setting. I live and love a small town in the awesome state of Kentucky. And my heroine had the HUGE, humongous crush on this guy. Well, I married my big crush in high school, but boy, do I remember being head-over-heels for my guy.
Okay, I could go on and on with more stories I’ve written or am planning to write. My point in telling you all this is that if you’re contemplating writing and you just don’t know where to start. Start with what you know. You’ve probably heard that before, but it’s just the truth. When you write what you know, you know how to write it. You’ve lived it. You’ve experienced it. You can pull up all those emotions and thoughts, even the hard ones, and spill them out on the page. Readers connect with real life. Give them real life.
Are you a reader, a writer, or both?
I am so sorry this blog got posted late. I had PM instead of AM on the time to post. Sadly, because I'm Pacific Time, some of you guys are headed into the afternoon. I hope you all come back for a visit if you didn't find it in the morning.
ReplyDeleteAs for the question, I am both and so excited to have that privilege. Praying you all have a great day.
From the question of the day...I am both, and I LOVE it! Reading fuels my writing, and writing reflects my reading.
ReplyDeleteJennifer, thank you for being so transparent. I loved meeting you at ACFW. :)
I am a reader for sure, and I would love to be a writer, too! I'm hoping that dream comes true at some point in my life.
ReplyDeleteAnd thank you all for your encouraging thoughts yesterday :)
Enjoyed this post, Jennifer (and love that picture with the horses and rolling hills...so lovely!). ~ To answer the question: I am both! LOVE to read AND write!! :)
ReplyDeleteBlessings, Patti Jo
Erica, I loved meeting you at conference as well. :)
ReplyDeleteJeri, I just now checked it myself. LOL!
Kaitlin, Unless God is holding you back from writing right now, put your rear in the chair and your fingers on the keyboard and just do it. :)
CatMom, I like that picture too. :)