Ernest Hemingway once said, “There is nothing to writing. All you do is sit down at a typewriter and bleed.”
I was talking to my mom on the phone the other day and she was laughing about telling my brother that I had written him into one of my books. This made me pause because…umm…I don’t recall creating a character based off him at all (but I’ve often forgotten snippets of my own books, so maybe my memory was wrong again?). She proceeded to tell him about how one of my heroines has a memory of her brother putting a beanbag on her head and him sitting on it as a child (which, apparently, my brother groaned and said something to the effect of “THAT’S what she decided to put in a book?”). Que the lightbulb moment. Because that really did happen to me as a child and, yes, I did write it into one of my books.
There are a lot of things I write about that I have no knowledge of beforehand. I’ve never SCUBA-dived but I have a heroine that’s a marine photographer. I couldn’t sew a piece of clothing to save my life, but I’ve written an entire series around a group of women in a sewing group (although, admittedly, they don’t actually do a whole lot of sewing, haha).
That being said, there is a part of me, whether my own history like getting suffocated by a beanbag and a big brother, or personality-wise, or personal struggles that are in every single one of my books. And I’d wager to guess that the same is true for most authors. It’s what we call bleeding onto the page. Maybe it’s the “write what you know” advice or maybe it a little bit cathartic or maybe it’s wanting to have characters that are relatable or maybe it’s a little bit of everything. I don’t really know, but… *leans in and whispers* do you want to know what other pieces of myself I’ve put into my books?
The Isaac Project
This book took me about 5 years to write. I started writing it in college. Then I got married. Then I had a baby. Basically, life happened. When my husband read it, which was probably a few years even after it was published, he had some really high emotions. He said something to the effect of, “This is so you ten years ago!” *grimace face* I gave my heroine all my trust issues with guys and my husband had to relive all the years he spent tearing down my walls with the character in the book. Oops. Sorry, babe. Love you!
Finders Keepers
If I wrote in my mistrusting of men in my debut, my sophomore novel got my daddy issues (See, cathartic). Summer Arnet is a product of a one-night stand. She doesn’t know her dad and he doesn’t even know of her existence. In a previous post I told you I was a living, breathing secret baby trope. That part of my history was given to Summer. Because of that, we both also love the imagery of God as a father figure as well.
With You Here
In this book, I gave Amber my struggle with not seeming to have a testimony. I’ve always been raised going to church and loving Jesus. I never really did the Prodigal Son thing, and I don’t have a moment I can point to as my “come to Jesus” moment. Because of that, I have been almost jealous in the past of other’s powerful testimonies of overcoming addiction or in some way having their lives turned around by God but have since come to appreciate that my own journey is just as special.
Bookishly Ever After
Poor Emory got all my social awkwardness and desire to avoid people and live in books instead.
Molly
I got to put in so many fun memories of my daughter when she was a preschooler in this book.
Jocelyn
I was pretty horse-crazy as a preteen and teen. I loved setting this book on a dude ranch.
Nicole
I am definitely NOT as intense as Nicole is, but I was vegan for about 13 years. I don’t like jackfruit tacos though.
There is so much more, but I think you get the picture. Next time you read a book, mine or someone else’s, see if you can’t be a detective and guess what parts are based off the author’s own experiences.
Winner of the Holt Medallion and Selah Award, Sarah Monzon is a stay-at-home mom who makes up imaginary friends to have adult conversations with (otherwise known as writing novels). As a navy chaplain's wife, she resides wherever the military happens to station her family and enjoys exploring the beauty of the world around her.
I can see how personal experiences could enhance a story.
That’s such fun! I am sure your friends and family have enjoyed seeing you and themselves on the printed page.
I imagine it would be more difficult to not include references to an author’s life, whether they remember them or not. Mum’s always remember. So happy you survived the beanbag incident:)
I can relate to you about your testimony! I, too, grew up in church, and used to wish I had something dramatic. Like you, I’ve come to realize mine is just as special as anyone else’s, and I’m truly thankful it didn’t need to be so dramatic! I do remember one moment, though. We did a candlelight Lord’s Supper one Sunday night. That touched me deeply and profoundly, and it was after that that I asked Jesus into my heart. My walk has only gotten stronger since.
I think my mom sees herself as a detective every time she reads one of my books. Sometimes I have to pre warn her. “Mom, the character with mother issues has nothing to do with our relationship.” 😅
Haha survived, yes. Left with a little claustrophobia? Also yes. 😂
It’s probably harder NOT to include pieces of ourselves in our stories.
welcome today and thanks for this wonderful post. what a fun way to look at the author and her life. my mind will go in a bazillion directions now. LOL
I do remember one time when I was having a particular hard time and I locked myself in the bathroom and was just crying and praying and I physically felt the Lord’s arms around me. ❤️
😁😁😁
My mom said she saw real life experiences in my most recent book. On one point she was right, but on the other, I’d written the scenario BEFORE something very similar happened in real life. So interesting to get a look into how it works for another author! Our experiences can certain make our stories richer.
I think this is so very interesting and it really makes the book characters alot more real, because I have even seen myself in some of those situations, I love reading books like this. Thank you for sharing about your books and yourself. Have a great weekend and stay safe.
Personal touches are definitely fun and I think it’s even funnier when people guess wrong. I’m weird. :)
That’s what makes a great character—being able to relate to them!
This post was so much fun! Thank you for sharing! Now I’m definitely bumping some of them up in my TBR list. :)
Thank you so much for sharing. God bless you.
There are loads more “Easter eggs” in each. See if you can guess any.
Thanks!
That is funny.
fun post
I love seeing little pieces of authors I know in the books that I love! You’ve been so brave sharing such personal experiences in your writing.