Rita Winner, Melody Carlson says Pay Attention

Melody Carlson has written more than 200 books for women, teens, and children. She’s won various writing awards (the Rita, Gold Medallion...) and primarily writes fiction. Her Christy finalist book, Finding Alice (WaterBrook) is currently being adapted for Lifetime TV. She lives in Central Oregon with her husband and chocolate Labrador retriever. They enjoy camping, biking and hiking in the beautiful Pacific Northwest.

Pay Attention to Your Life

We’ve all heard “write what you know” so often that it sometimes sounds trite or even annoying. But because I’m an intuitive writer (otherwise known as by-the-seat-of-your pants author) I still take this sage advice seriously. And “what I know” best tends to be the situations that I’ve lived (or survived) in my own life. Consequently, I try to pay attention. Not that I’m sitting there taking notes as a loved one’s life hangs in the balance. But I do tune in.

I’ve always been one to listen, watch, observe and absorb. I was the little girl sitting under my grandma’s kitchen table, eavesdropping after the grownups thought that the kids were all in bed. Even when I’m in the thick of a situation, I still keep my eyes and ears open. I can’t even recall how many times something painful is unfolding—and while a part of me just wants it to go away, another part sits there transfixed. And then somewhere down the line a piece of that incident might find itself in a book.

For instance, Finding Alice (WaterBrook) is a story about a college girl who is diagnosed with schizophrenia. While taking my older son to various appointments (as he was being treated for this mysterious mental disorder) I never dreamed I would one day create a novel around it. But later (after explaining schizophrenia so many times) I realized it was a tale that needed to be told. Writing truth in the form of fiction isn’t only cathartic for the writer, but it’s a gentle way to tell a hard story.

So I’ve written books on suicide, cutting, drug addiction, witchcraft, homosexuality... does this mean I’ve personally lived through all those tough issues? Thank God, no! But often I’ve been “privileged” to go alongside someone else as they did. And my theory is that God doesn’t waste anything...and if I’m a good imitator of him then I shouldn’t either.

To me there’s nothing more fascinating that real life, real people, real issues...and so when I write fiction, I try to bring as much “reality” as I can into my stories. And the response I get from readers seems to suggest that it’s working. They can relate.

This isn’t to suggest that all my fiction is “heavy.” I do my fair share of tough stories, but like anyone else, I’m sometimes in need of a mental health break myself. Writing about death, mental illnesses, dysfunctional relationships can take its toll. For that reason, I’ve done a few lighter books, including my recent chick lit release These Boots Aren’t Made for Walking. It’s like my chance to enjoy a beach read from the comfort of my keyboard. But even in those feel good stories, I try to incorporate some reality checks as well. I guess I could never write a “perfectly” happy story. And, really, who wants to read it? Even though I wrote some of the “comfort” novels in the Grace Chapel Inn series (Guideposts Books) I always managed to sneak in a little “grief.” Not too much, mind you, but just a pinch for flavor.

So when someone says “write what you know” don’t zone out. Pay attention to your life and it will reveal itself in your writing. And because your life is a one-of-a-kind you can be sure that your writing will be equally unique.


Readers love The Tales from Grace Chapel Inn Series. Book number four, Melody Carlson's, Ready to Wed, delivers the faith-filled, pleasant read fans have come to expect. To read a review of this book, click here.