Don’t Wait For Inspiration; Make It Happen!

In the fall of 2017, I was feeling both exhilarated and burnt out. I’d recently quit my job in a public defender’s office where I’d spent most of my legal career representing indigent people appealing their convictions of the worst crimes imaginable: murder, rape, burglary, robbery, drug dealing. Striking out in a new direction, my first novel, Unreasonable Doubts, a romantic legal thriller, was set to be published after two intense years of writing, rewriting, studying, workshopping, editing, querying, and dreaming. On the one hand, writing the novel had sapped me. On the other, the story was squarely in my wheelhouse, exemplifying that old adage: write what you know. 

As with many debut novels, many of the characters were inspired by family, friends, and colleagues. The settings, whether the protagonist’s office, the Brooklyn courtrooms, or the restaurants, synagogues, and streets of New York City, were places with which I was intimately familiar. And the novel was loaded with criminal law and procedure, my bread and butter. There were passages of fictional trial testimony that I could have written in my sleep.

While I waited for the novel to be published, I had that inevitable dread that plagues many a new author: what if I’d exhausted the realms of both my real life experience and my imagination, and my writing days were over before they’d barely begun? Where would I find new inspiration?

It was just at that point that some of my writer friends suggested I join them in a workshop entitled “Writing for Youth.” I’d never considered writing a children’s book. My own kids were 17 and 19 at the time, and I hadn’t read a book aimed at their demographic for many years. I had no ideas for a children’s book, no voice or story that called out to be told. I signed up for the workshop on pure faith. This is why it worked.

1  Never underestimate the value of a deadline. Each week in class, every student was expected to submit 5  to 10 pages of new material. If you’re anything like me, the dual motivation of fear of embarrassment (what would the others think if I didn’t have my required submission!) and fear of wasting money (I’d paid for a class where I was expected to give feedback but also get feedback, and no pages, no feedback!) provided the necessary motivation to crank out the words.

The story and the voice came to me as I went along. Each week over the course of two semesters, I handed in another chapter to my peers and the instructor. By the spring, I had a workable manuscript of my middle grade novel.

2  Immerse yourself in a community of writers. There is nothing as motivating as being around other people who are passionate about telling their stories, learning their craft, and ultimately getting their books out into the world. Engage with a serious group of people who are determined to improve their own writing and help you improve yours.

Not to disparage any type of social interaction–Lord knows in the current Covid 19 atmosphere any socialization is critical–but my advice is don’t pick a group like some book groups I’ve tried, where the people talk about the book for ten minutes and then talk about their kids or the latest community scandal for the remainder of the hour. You’re all in this to make progress toward your goals; don’t waste the opportunity.

3  Don’t wait for inspiration; plough ahead and have confidence that something will develop. I nearly dropped out of this class before it began because I didn’t have the foggiest notion in my head regarding what I wanted to write. After the first session, I’d identified  my protagonist, Layla, a girl from a complicated family, battling academic frustration and a resulting loneliness.

I gave her an emotional reserve that would allow her to pull herself up by her bootstraps if she could find the right support among her family, teachers and friends. Another session or so in and I came up with the idea of her dealing with a language-based learning difference that had not been diagnosed or addressed. The time pressure of the class didn’t allow me to fret my insecurities: who was I to write about dyslexia, something I would have to research because I had no experience with it? What did I know about this troubled family dynamic? I forged ahead. Inspiration would have to wait; this required pure action.

This sink or swim methodology may not work for everyone in every situation. But I can tell you that it’s done the trick for me now on numerous occasions. I’ve taken workshops in the comic essay without a humorous inkling tickling my funny bone at the start, and churned out several pretty decent (and published) pieces. The same is true for memoir and short stories. So sign up for a class today, check your inspiration at the door, and get writing!

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REYNA MARDER GENTIN lives with her husband and children in Westchester County, New York. My Name Is Layla is Reyna’s first middle grade novel and you can find it at bit.ly/MyNameIsLayla.  Reyna’s novel Unreasonable Doubts, a romantic legal thriller inspired by her work as a public defender, was a finalist in the Women’s Fiction Writers Association Star Award for debut fiction and you can find it at bit.ly/UnreasonableDoubts.  Reyna’s latest WF novel, Both Are True, is due out in October. Find out more by visiting reynamardergentin.com.

My Name Is Layla

“Layla’s struggles at school and home are authentically depicted, and readers who face their own challenges will relate.” -School Library Journal

School will never be the same.

On the first day of eighth grade, thirteen year-old Layla has a pretty good idea of what’s in store for her–another year of awkward social situations, mediocre grades, and teachers who praise her good behavior but find her academic performance disappointing. Layla feels certain she’s capable of more, but each time she tries to read or write, the words on the page dance and spin, changing partners and leaving her to sit on the sidelines.

This year will be different in ways Layla could never have predicted. Her new English teacher, Mr. McCarthy, senses her potential. When he pushes her to succeed, Layla almost rises to the challenge before making a desperate choice that nearly costs her everything she’s gained. Will she be able to get back on track? And who can she count on to help her?

“I read My Name is Layla in one sitting, mainly because Layla grabbed my heart on the first page and wouldn’t let go. This story perfectly captures the complexity of one 8th grade girl’s life — a very real family dynamic, a perfectly drawn academic challenge and the intense nature of friendship. It’s that rare novel that is highly satisfying but leaves you hoping for more.” —ANNABEL MONAGHAN, AUTHOR OF A GIRL NAMED DIGIT AND DOUBLE DIGIT

“Hurray for Layla! Warm and insightful, My Name is Layla speaks to the value of friendship, the need for caring teachers, and the power of family love — no matter how imperfect that family might be. Layla’s struggles will strike a chord with young readers who face their own challenges, and every reader will root for Layla, a girl who only needs a little help to recognize how special she really is.”—DIANA HARMON ASHER, AUTHOR OF SIDETRACKED

“Reyna Gentin’s book realistically and inspirationally captures the emotions of teenagers with learning differences, from their quiet frustrations to their ultimate triumphs. A great read for young people who need to know there is a way forward!”— CLAY KAUFMAN, LEADING EDUCATOR IN THE FIELD OF LANGUAGE-BASED LEARNING DIFFERENCES

BUY HERE

 

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Category: How To and Tips