Makings Of An Author

As a mother, we are often proud of our children for the littlest things. Sometimes it's a great test grade they worked so hard to get. Perhaps it was something they said in kindness to someone else that touched your heart. Or maybe they did something they had never done before and succeeded. Either way, when our children do these things, we cannot help but feel that all our hard work as responsible, loving parents is paying off.

Yesterday, I had one such moment with my oldest daughter. To set the scene, she is a twelve year old girl with a very tender soul. She always thinks of others before herself and cares what others are going through in life. If she knows people are going through a difficult time, it weighs heavily on her heart and mind. Truthfully, she is one of the most thoughtful pre-teens I have ever met.

Anyway, she came home from school yesterday and told me she had to write a story for Religion class, one that shows a person dealing with a burden or struggle. The teacher allowed the children in the class to pick their plot and my daughter decided to write about a girl who was not well-off due to her mother losing her job. To top it off, the  girl was also having to switch schools because she had to live with her father until her mother could get back on her feet.

Upon hearing her story's conflict, I was immediately concerned. For one, my husband and I are happily married and love our children dearly. Secondly, we are not wealthy by any stretch of the imagination, but we are certainly not struggling to make ends meet either. So where she got this idea of writing a story about struggling, divorced parents and their impressionable daughter was beyond me.

But what really blew me away, was hearing her actual story as she read it to me. Now granted, she didn't have it finished, but what she wrote was absolutely incredible. Her word choices were quite unique, and her use of adjectives, mildly scattered throughout, had added variety and color to her fictional tale.

I remember sitting their in awe as she read it to me, her emotions vividly coming out in the words she had written. And all I could think of was, "Wow, my daughter has a knack for narrating a compelling story. Would she ever realize this? And would she ever make the most of her talent?"

Though both my questions were completely rhetorical, I still wondered if she really would decide to be an author one day like her mother. As far as I was concerned, she had a natural gift, and not many understand that or even capitalize on it.

So, in being the proud, supportive mother, I hugged her tight and told her what a great job she did for writing something she knew little about, and portraying it all in such a believable way. And while I would never push my daughter in the direction I had gone, I was still happy to know she had acquired my creative side and was not afraid to show it.

Later, when we talked about her story and where she was going to take it, she had mentioned to me that she had so many other stories in her head too. That every day she thinks of a new story and wants so badly to write about them before she forgets.

I had to laugh. Whether she knows it or not, I think she definitely has the makings of an author! But am I ready for her to write romance? I think not.

I'm just glad I can help her to hone her talent and encourage her to make good use of it, if that is, in fact, the path she wants to take in life.

Anyone else have a daughter or son who's expressed an interest in writing? I'd love to know your story.



Visit RENEE VINCENT at: http://www.reneevincent.com/
or at her blog, PAST THE PRINT: http://www.pasttheprint.blogspot.com/