As an aspiring writer, I am constantly reading. I’ve probably finished as many books as my roommate has finished Netflix shows. I am also constantly inspired by amazing female writers. These women all have the ability to bring their personal experiences into their writing in a graceful and eye opening way. I use these stories as roadmaps for my own life. It would be amazing if I could someday receive the literary acclaim they have, but more importantly I wish to create work with as much heart as they have.
I have always been drawn to the outdoors, so when Wild was published I was intrigued by the plot line. Cheryl Strayed writes about her time hiking the Pacific Crest Trail after losing her mother to cancer. Although she had never gone backpacking, this transformative experience allowed her to deal with the sorrow that came with her mother’s death. After falling in love with this book I soon discovered Strayed was also the author of Tiny Beautiful Things, a compilation of advice columns. Under the name “Sugar” Strayed tackles difficult questions brought to her by her readers with radical empathy, understanding, and humor. She uses her personal experiences to relate with readers on a deeper level. As a young twenty something her guidance is welcomed and taken to heart.
I was introduced to Cisneros through my Mexican American Literature Class and immediately fell in love with her story. Many know Cisneros for her renowned literary work, The House on Mango Street. Through a series of vignettes Cisneros tells the story of a young Latino girl growing up in Chicago. Our class read her most recent work, A House of my Own: Stories from my Life, a memoir told through a series of poetry, speeches, and true stories. She shares her life experiences with sensitivity and honesty that relates not only to Latino women, but to women and creative writers across the board. This amazingly strong woman has inspired me to tell the stories that come from the unique perspective we all hold.
A few years ago I became interested in spoken word poetry. I specifically remember watching Sarah Kay’s Ted Talk and was intrigued by the way her performance left me hanging onto every word. I couldn’t get enough, I’ve watched every one of her spoken word poems online and eventually bought her book of poetry, No Matter the Wreckage. With her brilliant metaphors and rich language she attempts to answer questions about the world around her. I dream of one day visiting the Bowery Poetry Club in New York where her career first began, and maybe getting the chance to watch a live performance.
Elizabeth Gilbert is known for her novel Eat, Pray, Love. While this novel fueled my wanderlust, her own personal development throughout the novel is what made it resonate with me. I also read her most recent work Big Magic: Creative Living Beyond Fear. This work tackles the challenges of living a creative life in a world where scarcity and fear often rule our actions. Her writing offered me a new perspective at how I look at my work, and has encouraged me to continue in my pursuit of being a writer.
This summer I happened upon Jeannette Walls memoir, The Glass Castle. I only had to read the first few lines of this story and I was captivated. Walls recounts her childhood growing up in a dysfunctional and nomadic family. Her story is unlike any other, but it was one she needed to share with the world to help deal with her own shame surrounding the issues. Walls manages to escape the poverty she lived in and made a name for herself as a journalist in New York. I admire her for her bravery and perseverance in creating the life she wanted to live despite her past.
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