How A Writer Is Like A Child
Why writers should view the world with the eyes of a child.
A writer searching for ideas should be like a child. I say this from my observation of a small child in church last Sunday. The little girl was keenly interested in everything around her — her grandmother’s neckless, the hymnal, everything around her, and me. She took an interest in thoroughly examining the handlebar of her stroller. It occurred to me that writers should look at the world in the same way a child looks at the world.
Observe like a small child
Since Sunday, I have tried to look at the world in the way a child would. Tim Seldin, President of the International Montessori Council, makes several observations of how children view the world, “Children have an inbuilt drive for discovery.” They see the world with open eyes to what is there, not what they are told is there. Not what others expect to be there. Children “are eager to observe and make “what if” discoveries about their world.” Aspiring writers should mimic the behavior of children.
What stands out?
I look for things that surprise me, that make me smile, that make me cringe, that makes me ask which is more dangerous navigating a busy freeway in a car or a busy grocery store with a cart. On average, I write down five ideas a day. If a lot is going on around me, I may originate five thoughts in a few minutes.
Everything tells a story
Driving a busy interstate offers many topics for writing. While observing the line of traffic going each way, it occurred to me that trucks and cars looked like mother ducks with her ducklings trailing behind.
What is going on in the lives of the drivers? Why are they in that lane? Why did they take this road? How would their lives be different if they had left five minutes earlier or later?
Observe the people
Other times, I’ve pondered about the people in the cars. Where are they going? Where have they been? What does their appearance suggest to me about their circumstances? Is their destination going to be better than their origin? Consider how often songs mimic life.
Amarillo By Morning
“Amarillo By Morning” — Recorded by George Strait, 1982, written by Paul Alexander Fraser / Terry Stafford. Lyrics are available at Lyrics.com.
Consider the lyrics of the song. They describe a single man alone, driving through the night, possibly riding a bus, from San Antonio to Amarillo. “Amarillo by mornin’, Up from San Antone / Everything that I got, is just what I’ve got on.” Someone was the inspiration for this song. A writer saw him and felt the need to share his story.
Who’s story do you feel the need to tell? Look at the world through the eyes of a child.
Copyright 2019 Randle Moore (minor edits made in 2022)
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