What inspires you to write?
I started writing because my Mom thought my stories were amazing and would brag about me every time I brought her a new one to read.
I loved to hear her rave about me. My sisters and I still laugh about how only Mom can go on and on about us like we’re super-human or something.
For example, she barely knows a thing about basketball and yet when my little sister would drive home with her after a game she would step-by-step replay some of my sister’s moves.
“OH! The way you DRIBBLE! And it’s like you just see everything that’s going ON! That form! That grace! That speed!!! You are incredible out there! It’s like, ALL eyes are on you!”
She would do the same thing with my writing,
“KATHY! My gosh this is AMAZING!!! How in the world did you come up with this? Your WRITING…you just draw such EMOTION!!!”
She has a way of making me believe her.
So I kept writing…mostly just to hear her call me amazing again.
She bought me a journal and raved about every poem I ever wrote. Even the weird and slightly offensive ones.
Until I started blogging most of the things I wrote about were dying…and the earth ending…and more dying.
Specifically dads dying.
Specifically mine.
I knew what I wrote was good if people cried when they read it. That really was my main goal. To make people cry. And also to get the sad out.
When I started blogging I had to learn how to write funny. People don’t really like to cry everyday…and the loss that I had experienced was no longer something I wanted to define me.
Now I feel inspired to write, partly because I want my kids to know me…and all the funny things they do before we all grow old and forget them. Partly, I suppose, because you all talk back to me and are relate-able and what not.
But to be perfectly honest…every once in awhile my Mom calls just to tell me something I wrote was amazing. I suppose a part of me will always be inspired to write because of her.
Because she has a way of making me believe her.
******************
HisBell says
Your mother sounds amazing… How lucky to have someone so supportive in your corner. Loved this post.
Erin says
I love that my mom likes to tell me the stories of childhood that I tell on my blog I “embelish”
WHAT?? How? Apparently my mom tricked us to think Liver was “chicken fish” and I wrote about it and she said she never once called it chicken fish!
Yeah right mom…..I think she’s just getting old!
Holly L says
I too hope one day my kids will read this and know things about me that they didn’t realize. I also hope I am one day like your mom…spinning my own tales and being able to be supportive and unwavering in my support of my kids.
Casey @ Caseys Good Life says
Aww, how sweet!
That One Mom says
Moms really are our biggest fans. What a gift.
Harter says
That’s amazing. It sounds like you have a great mom!
witchycrazymommy says
Great post . . . inspired me to write again ;-)
witchycrazymommy says
Great post . . . inspired me to write again, thanks! ;-)
Lolli @ better in bulk says
I would be motivated by the same thing, if I had someone raving about what I had done. It simply feels good to hear that.
dumb mom says
Me too. Mine. Yes. I’m amazing.
Peg says
Yep, mom’s have a way of doing that. They can make us believe in our selves in spite of ourselves. Sounds like you got an exceptional mom, You are both very fortunate.
Peg says
Ok, looks like my comment dissappeared, but, what I said was that moms have a way of making us believe in ourselves in spite of ourselves and you obviously got an amazing mom. You are both very fortunate.
Noexcuses says
It’s amazing what a few words can do for one’s ego and motivation. What a wonderful relationship you have with your mom!
Paula Kiger says
Yay, Mom. Yay all (most) moms. I got by for years on my mom’s praise of my (bad) singing that had been emanating out of my room (being an only child meant lots of “performances” performed solely for my headboard!).
And YES! I love being called “relate-able”. Badge of honor.
Jen says
Mom’s have an awesome way of doing that. They are so encouraging and can make you believe in yourself.
I sure hope that I learn this power for my kids.
Kathy says
Oh man, that was too cool Kat! I think we all crave our mother’s attention. It’s awesome that she supports you so much!
The Urban Wifey says
Awwwww…you were so lucky to have a mom like that. Sometimes moms just don’t know how important it is to be involved in things their kids do in such a way. You were very blessed!
Cecelia Winesap says
That is a great picture! your mom sounds great!
Diane says
I kept shaking my head in agreement as I was reading this because I have the same kind of Mom. She is the biggest fan of my blog.
Raine says
I had never understood why moms did that until I became one. Now I’m all “Jesus! He is the smartest boy EVER!”
Dominique says
Your mum’s really supportive of your writing. Mine keeps on picking on grammatical mistakes and other little things in the stuff that I write that I stopped showing her what I write.
Kayla says
Nothing better than a Mom’s praise. I’m 40something and still love to hear her say she’s proud of something I’ve done – glad your Mom says it too!
Michelle Pixie says
A lovely tribute to your momma! A mother’s love knows no bounds and they are our biggest supporters. :)
Angelia Sims Hardy says
That is so sweet about your mom. It’s how every mom should make their child feel. I hope she reads this!! :-)
erica says
Your mom is gorgeous!
I wish I would have done prompt #1 this week… I have a really great, heartfelt story about friendship and loss. It’s actually still a little too difficult to write about.
BalancingMama (Julie) says
Moms are the best, aren’t they? What a sweet photo too.
Amethyst Moon says
Tearing up over this one. It’s so nice that you have a mom that makes you feel good about yourself. wish I could say the same. Very touching. I think she’ll say you’re amazing.
Caroline says
OK, so this made me cry, though it also made me laugh. You’ve mastered the funny. It made me cry, cause my Mom is like that too. She always raves on my writing. Love that!
Nicole @MTDLBlog says
Oh man….I just finished this…..I <3 you even more…..You are an outstanding person and writer. I hope that I can provide for my girls what your mother provided for you and your sister. I've never experienced that myself, the mother-daugther relationship…..it's nice to read about the things I have to look forward to. Thanks for sharing your story. I'll be linking up to this for my interview if you're good with that. :-)
Natalie says
Love it… Mom’s are amazing things. And just so you know, this post? It brought tears to my eyes.
Kelly Deneen says
What a sweet post! I love that your mom is so supportive of you. :) (And I love to read what you write too.)
Cheryl @ Mommypants says
I’m glad you had a way to get a lot of your sad out. And funny is just sad with a smile on it sometimes, right? Anyway, this was a lovely post. Your mother is adorable.
Emily says
Sounds like you have come a long way in your blogging!
My son is my muse, so are the chronically ill.
Megan (Best of Fates) says
Your mom is clearly a sweetheart – that must be where you get it?
(Too sappy?)
(Yeah, sometimes I don’t know the line.)
BelovedAimee says
aw that was so sweet Kat. you are a good writer ya know ;)
Michelle says
Oh that is AWEsome. I love your motivation – and your mom rocks. And yeah… your writing is pretty amazing!
Los says
You’re mom is fantastic … hopefully, you tell her that enough!
Kim says
Interestingly enough I started writing for the same reasons you started and, I also wrote a lot about dying and sadness because I lost my Dad at a young age as well. You definitely have succeeded in writing the funny! And, you ARE an amazing writer – you’ve made me cry and laugh. Thank You Kat – glad I found you.
Jennifer says
Moms are even better than good husbands. What does that make them? The bestest?
Natalie says
Your mom rocks…what great motivation she gave to you!
Weekend Cowgirl says
Mom’s opinions are very important and so good for one’s being. Aren’t you lucky you have such a loving mom? Loved this post. Wish I had the gift of writing!
Amy says
What an amazing mom. How motivating and supportive. She has encouraged you and you are a wonderful writer.
My mom always took the approach that I was doing great – for me. Reminded me that I could always be better with practice. “Amazing” didn’t describe me as a child, teenager nor adult. I hope my girls know they are amazing and that I am in awe with them.
Mama the Chef says
your mom is awesome, can I borrow her please?
Kristy says
My mom is always positive and encouraging with me too. She loves reading my writing and tells me what she thinks. I eat it up!
I really enjoyed writing my prompt. Thank you!
Pastor Sharon says
Isn’t it amazing that even after we know our Moms are going on and on. . . .we still believe everything they say to us about ourselves?
Your Mom is such an incredible gift for you! Just look at how you’ve turned out? Pretty amazing huh?
Kristi {at} Live and Love...Out Loud says
Aww, your mom seems so awesome. She’s so supportive of you, even though she fell after you forced her to climb a ladder. Can I borrow her? ;)
Haven’t commented here lately, but I’ve kept up on my Mama’s Losin It reading. I love love love what you do on your blog. You constantly keep us on our toes.
Kristi, Live and Love…Out Loud
@TweetingMama
PS What the hell is Ellen’s problem anyway? You should be sitting in that comfy little chair of hers. Like yesterday!
jackie says
I love that sentence about how your mom can talk about you like you’re super human because my dad is like that about me and my sister.
What a great post!! You’re mom is right. You’re writing is amazing!!
kisatrtle says
I write because it’s an escape. I recently paticipated in NanoWriMo and wrote 50,000 words in one month! I was so excited to finish the book but now I miss the characters.
Joan says
It sounds like your mother is your biggest cheerleader! I looked at her picture and her hair is the same color as my mother’s hair was, and she wears her hair in the same style as my mother wore her hair.
You wrote about your mom, “But to be perfectly honest…every once in awhile my Mom calls just to tell me something I wrote was amazing. I suppose a part of me will always be inspired to write because of her.
Because she has a way of making me believe her.”
It is very nice to have your mother’s support — but the most important person to believe in you as a writer and inspire you as a writer should be yourself. You must believe in your writer’s voice and believe what you have to say is important, and that people want to read what you write. That is not being arrogant at all. A good writer cannot write their best writing until they completely believe in their writer’s voice and what they have to say — and you are a good writer. I can tell that by the several posts I have already read by you. I am a humorous writer, but very serious about my writing. As I said to you in another comment I left on your blog I started writing when I was 11 years old and that was a very long time ago.
I will return back to read more of your posts. I really enjoyed what I have read!
ElizOF says
This was a lot of fun to write and share… Your mom sounds like a truly wonderful, amazing mom. Good for you!
Happy Holidays!
Elizabeth
Bella says
Your mom sounds great! Beautiful post!
Jennifer says
This is my first “writer’s workshop” experience, and although I was a little late linking up, I REALLY enjoyed the assignment. I love you mother… sounds an awful lot like my grandmother. She’s convinced I could cure Cancer. :-)
Tracy P. says
All that and an amazing view to boot. I’m moving in with her. Soon. Warn her for me, will you? I’ll sleep on the couch and keep my snoring to a minimum.