...being able to see the people inside the story.
Lately, I've been doing a lot of thinking about my writing. I know I have talent - but sometimes I have this point of doubting myself. I guess all writers do that.
I think about what it means to be a writer - to touch peoples lives with the words you share with them and about them.
I have had the opportunity to meet some extraordinary people in the past few months working at The Opp News. These people give so much of themselves just to make others happy. They have the backing of people who care about them and they face trials with their heads held high.
I look at these wonderful people and think of all the stories each person has inside of them. We all have stories - from our childhood or from last weekend with a big group of friends.
These stories are the reason I love being a writer and reporter. Getting to the reason a person does what they do is a humbling experience. Hearing about how someone has fought cancer and survived, how a fire chief was saved by his own firefighters, how thousands of people benefit from non-profit organizations and many more I can't even begin to name.
I'm so blessed to be the wordsmith for these people. To take out my pen and paper and let the words flow from their mouths onto the page - letting them tell the story instead of me. It's all about how you arrange the words to make a story great.
When a story comes together and you can visualize it in your mind, you come away with something more than a finished article. It's a work of art. It might not be perfect and it might never be, but it will touch the lives of those who read it.
I've always wanted to touch lives, to make a difference in a life with my words. I might not use big words and overly describe every detail, but I make the visuals work in my own way. I make things simple and straightforward - when I don't over think the story.
I respect the faith and sacrifices of extraordinary people like Jerry Wilson and Tyler Spann. Each one of these has a story. They have faith they will overcome all the obstructions life throws their way.
Jerry Wilson is the fire chief at Hopewell Volunteer Fire Department. He and his family are truly amazing people and they have so much faith in God. His story - having to call out his own fire department to save his life - is one I know has touched my life personally. His strong will and faith that he will continue to recover in the days and months ahead inspires me to have more faith in not only myself, but the rest of man kind.
Tyler Spann is a very special 14-year-old boy. Looking at him, you wouldn't even know that he suffers from Asperger's syndrome. Asperger's is a milder form of autism effecting social interaction, but each child having this disorder excels at something. And excelling at something helps these amazing children express their emotions. Tyler expresses his emotions through his music - which is the perfect outlet. This talented boy can play Vivaldi, Mozart or Beethoven by ear on the piano and he's written his own compositions since the age of 11. He is also teaching himself to play the violin, which is amazing!
These are only two of the amazing people I've been able to talk to in the past few months. I have met so many more over the past few years, writing for The Andalusia Star-News and now The Opp News. I couldn't even begin to name them all.
I remember talking to a little girl who survived cancer and interviewing a soldier who had just come home from Iraq during my time at the Star-News. Of course, one of my favorite interviews was with Anna Garrott. Getting to interview someone that loves music and her fans is one of the best things. She doesn't let getting famous go to her head. Anna's a really talented girl and she's got a great head on her shoulders. I think she's going places and I hope to see her on stage again soon - headlining! I wish her all the best!
I can't wait to talk to more people. I can't wait to tell their stories! I'm still trying to finish my novel - though I haven't read or written anything on it in ages. I get new ideas, but with writing news and feature stories, I'm mentally drained. I can't wrap my head around my characters right now - well, save for one. And he's mostly my knight in shining armor stuck in a book. I'm hoping one day Everyone who reads Midnight Hope will love him as much as I do.
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