Women Inspired My Novel

June 22, 2018 | By Elle Linder | Reply More

All authors get asked, “What was your inspiration for writing your novel?” For me, it wasn’t so much “what,” but “who” is my inspiration. Without a doubt my answer is women.

I have had the greatest honor of raising four daughters—a dream come true that mirrored a treasured Louisa May Alcott story, Little Women.

Each of the March sisters holds a special place in my heart; they remind me of my daughters. All beautifully different with unique and diverse paths to follow. They will encounter hurdles to jump, heartaches, and failures to overcome, and wonderful successes to celebrate. I most look forward to watching my daughters develop into who they want to be, not who they are expected to be.

Some may find love, get married, and start a family, while others might find love in their careers or their passions, like writing, travel, art or whatever calls to them. Some may find both. But all of them will follow their own personal journey. What an exquisite gift…

The parallels between the March sisters and my daughters, as well as women all over the world, is uncanny. I love it! While no two women are the same, we have all experienced something that links us together as women—sisters.

Now times have certainly changed since 1869 when Louisa May Alcott wrote Little Women, but her wisdom and intuition in writing the story of four very different women remains relevant today. The March sisters sought different paths, yet stayed close, loving, and supportive of each other in spite of their differences. A perfect example of how we should treat our fellow sisters.

For instance, Jo March desperately wanted to be a writer, but in a male-dominated world, she felt she had to write like men to have her work published.

How many of us are nodding? “Yup, times haven’t changed all that much.” I see Ms. Alcott in Jo—a pioneer for women writers. And the movement for equality is still being fought today. Little Women resonates with me on a deeper level now than before I became a writer. I stand with my sisters in the fight.

As a mother, I am honored to watch my daughters exhibit liberating qualities like Jo March, not only towards each other but towards all women. That drives me to write about strong women who find their inner strength.

I’m reminded of the heartwarming talk Marmee had with Jo before she set off for New York. She’d said, “Go and embrace your liberty, and see what wonderful things come of it.” What a gracious and loving gift Marmee gave Jo during a time when such freedoms were uncommon or looked down upon.

I find inspiring women like the March sisters and their creator all around me. In Facebook groups, I have met women who have fought breast cancer, survived toxic marriages and gone through painful yet liberating divorces. These women are strong and courageous.

There are also entrepreneurs, like Kate Spade, and celebrities who use their platforms to help others, such as Audrey Hepburn, a philanthropist at heart and Maya Angelou, a beautiful and respected storyteller, who taught me, “there is no greater agony than an untold story inside you.”

All these women are go-getters. They inspire me.

The women mentioned above are not my only inspirations. There is also my first heroine: Ivy. This caring, talented young woman with hopes and dreams hid in the shadows, ashamed of her past. She wanted to go unnoticed until she could escape her hometown and the demons that lived within the city limits. She longed for a fresh start, and with the help of a dear mentor, her perseverance and fight paid off. Ivy keeps me moving forward in my writing journey. She is so special that she’s getting her own series!

As writers, we all have one story that turned us inside-out, raw with emotion, giving us a motivation to tell the story. It possessed us. Drove us. Grew us as writers. And for me, it inspired me to tell more stories. That’s what Ivy did for me, along with my daughters and all the many women I’ve had the pleasure of talking to or watching from afar.

I am indebted to the collective group of women that inspire me to write relevant stories. I stand with the women fighting to be viewed as equals to our male counterparts. The passion for writing stories that empower women is as natural to me as giving birth. I want to celebrate all women—the career woman and the stay-at-home mom. Whether single, married or divorced, every woman deserves to be respected, loved, and honored, no matter their background.

From Little Women to my daughters, to women around the world: I am grateful for you and your personal stories. In my own storytelling, I hope to bring a voice of love, comfort, understanding, and support in return. May I inspire you as you have inspired me.

Postscript —

On Tuesday, June 5, 2018, my heart broke upon learning of Kate Spade’s passing after I wrote my article. I have admired her for a very long time, and I will continue to do so.

Bio—

Mom-turned-author Elle Linder is a California native who yearns for the California coast while living in northwest Minnesota with her husband and five of her seven children. She aims to empower women with her stories and characters, addressing real-life issues that women face in love and life. Elle’s debut novel, The One That Matters, launches August ‘18.