In a post on DIY MFA, Kris Calvin says that the themes from our favorite childhood stories could serve us well in our adult writing. “I found that returning to themes from books I loved as a child provided a window into that source of inspiration more quickly and clearly than I might have achieved any other way,” she says.
Like many writers, Calvin disappeared into books when she was a child. “I found sanctuary in my local public library, where I was able to escape into the fictional adventures of children who, while often in jeopardy, always ended up safe,” she writes. “Whatever the content, one way to access hidden inspiration that can bring your stories to life, with intensity and a voice that is all your own, is to look back at what you most liked to read as a kid.”
Calvin suggests an exercise that can help you identify themes and story threads that inspire you:
- Identify three books you loved as a child.
- Look for common themes among those stories.
- Draft a paragraph describing a book you’d like to write based on what you loved about those books.
- Start writing.
