Straight from the Heart

Two summers ago, I attended the Writers Workshop at Chautauqua. It was incredible week full of inspiration and lessons. I learned so much from faculty members like my mentor Clay Winters and manuscript advisor, Patricia McKissack. I returned home with a notebook packed with priceless tips. But there's one pearl of wisdom I keep coming back to. Patti Lee Gauch, renowned editor and author, shared seven seven simple words that spoke straight to my heart:

Write the story only you can tell.

Have you ever had a moment when it feels like a crowded room clears and the speaker is talking right to you? That's how I felt.

I thought about growing up in working-class Pittsburgh, going on fishing trips with my grandparents to Lake Erie, admiring my single mom's courage and sacrifice. I thought of struggling to deal with the death of my grandfather, coming of age in a place where my cousins were my best friends.


Last week, I shared Patti's words with young people at a special camp. They were there to learn about the ways people in different careers integrate technology into their professsions. My workshop was on writing and publishing. I explored where to find ideas, talked about what makes a story and encouraged them to find their voice.

I asked the students to make idea lists. Then, their assignment was to choose one idea and do some freewriting. I told them to write quickly and without judgment. Just give their mind free reign to create. After 10 minutes, I asked if anyone wanted to share what they wrote. The students were hesitant at first, giggling a bit, looking away when we made eye contact. But one by one, many of them walked to the front of the classroom, held their paper with trembling hands and dared to bare their words:

They read passages about special parts of family reunions, experiences with dating, scary moments of nearly losing loved ones, important connections with dad. As they read, I saw writers being born.