3 Ways Writing is Like Parenting

By Michelle Griep, @MichelleGriep

Being a parent is an emotional experience, from the mountain peaks of watching a child take his first steps to the valleys of the terrible twos. One day you’re feeling like the luckiest person alive to get to hold a beautiful, sweet creation, and other days you wonder what you were thinking to ever have spawned a devil-child. And let’s not even mention the excruciating pain of Lego-walking in the pitch black of night when said child is screaming his fool head off because he needs a drink of water.

Yeah. That’s what writing a book is like. And here are 3 specific ways . . .

  1. What’s engrained early on will last for a very long time.

Just like kids, early impressions or experiences remain with them for life. Unfortunately, it’s the same for your story. If you don’t take the time to set things up properly plot wise in the beginning, you’re in for a world of hurt by the end when all the pieces don’t fall nicely together.

  1. You’re going to want to kill it at some point in time.

Face it. Those little rug-rats, while cute, oftentimes push you into the danger zone—and beyond. Writing a manuscript is like that. You will want to trash the whole thing at some point. Persevere. This too shall pass.

  1. You gotta let ’em feel the growing pains.

As hard as it is, sometimes you have to let your kids face natural consequences in order for them to grow into a responsible adult. It’s heart wrenching to watch that happen. And yet you must do the same to your characters. Let them feel hurts and go through awful circumstances so that they can grow too. That’s called character arc.

Parenting is nearly an impossible task. So is writing a book…but both are totally worth it.


The Captured Bride

A war-torn countryside is no place for a lady—but Mercy Lytton is a lady like none other. Raised amongst the Mohawks, she straddles two cultures, yet each are united in one cause . . . to defeat the French. Born with a rare gift of unusually keen eyesight, she is chosen as a scout to accompany a team of men on a dangerous mission. Yet it is not her life that is threatened. It is her heart.

Condemned as a traitor, Elias Dubois faces the gallows. At the last minute, he’s offered his freedom if he consents to accompany a stolen shipment of French gold to a nearby fort—but he’s the one they stole it from in the first place. It turns out that the real thief is the beguiling woman, Mercy Lytton, for she steals his every waking thought.

Can love survive divided loyalties in a backcountry wilderness?

Michelle Griep’s been writing since she first discovered blank wall space and Crayolas. She is the author of historical romances: The Captured Bride, The Innkeeper’s Daughter, 12 Days at Bleakly Manor, The Captive Heart, Brentwood’s Ward, and A Heart Deceived, but also leaped the historical fence into the realm of contemporary with the zany romantic mystery Out of the Frying Pan. If you’d like to keep up with her escapades, find her at www.michellegriep.com or stalk her on FacebookTwitter, or Pinterest.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *