Thursday, April 22, 2010

Childhood Inspiration: The Velveteen Rabbit

The Veleveteen Rabbit or How Toys Become Real (1922) is a favorite child's story of mine which I think I appreciated more as an adult as I read it to my own children.

Longing to be authentic is at the core of most human beings, and apparently at the core of one little velveteen bunny according to author Margery Williams.

This is how I have often felt as a writer.  Writing is something I have always enjoyed. It is a part of me. I
was  born with this inherent desire to write, create, to put what was on my mind and in my heart on paper.  Being such a personal thing, writing didn't necessarily seem anything particularly special or worthy of sharing with others.  Yet  through the years that desire became apparent as well. When I started to realize that the ideas were not from me alone, but a gift of the one who created me, I began to consider that perhaps he might want me to share at least some of them with others.


But can one be a "writer" if one never shares it. Of course, sharing doesn't qualify you, it is the actual task that defines one's occupation.  But the key is one must have confidence in what one does to authenticate it to self and others.  For me that has meant coming out of my shell and sharing my words in hopes that they bless others.  It can be very affirming. Authenticating.
 
On the other hand, receiving the approval of others as a writer is not always obtainable.  The value of the craft is not easily understood by those who are not writers themselves.  If our successes are always measured by the gaining approval I doubt we have found true success.

"It doesn’t happen all at once. You become.
It takes a long time."
 
Knowing who I am and having the courage to share it without requiring the approval of others was a big step for me.  And although I do hope to become a published author someday, if that should never happen it doesn't devalue the fact that I'm a writer.  You see, I crossed the threshold to becoming real when I understood my purpose. It was then that I began to grow as a writer and commit to learning to do it well. And ultimately for an Audience of One. I have come to know that being a writer is more of a calling for me. It is real. It is what I do. It's what I am.  I am a real writer.




The Velveteen Rabbit

See Related Post: Childhood Inspiration: Joan Walsh Anglund

 




When did you know you were a "real" writer?

13 comments:

  1. I'd dreamed of being a writer since I was six. Forty years passed before I decided to make that dream a reality. When our daughter was in high school and my time as a volunteer in her schools drew to a close, I began writing my first inspirational historical romance. I've been a novelist over four years now and am enjoying my journey.

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  2. The Velveteen Rabbit - My favorite book.

    I've always written whether it was poems, short stories, or my attempts at novels. My first writings began around the age of 8 or 9. Then as I ventured into my teenage years, I started writing journals and poetry to deal with the stresses and daily ins and outs of the teenage years. I quit writing for a while then when I got sick in 2004 I began to write all the time, not just for work, but for everything. I have continued to write since then.

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  3. The Velveteen Rabbit is one of my favorite books. I "became real" as a writer in stages. Fits and starts. But I think it finally happened through my blog. I know I'm writing things that are put on my heart by the Lord, and that matter to others. It gives me deep satisfaction.
    Blessings,
    Wendy
    *Check out my post today "The Flipside of the Coin: What are you getting so upset about?!" What to do when the "little" irritations make a minefield out of marriage.*

    I'm excited: I'm going to my first "Writers Seminar" on Saturday.

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  4. Love the Velveteen Rabbit!
    Blessings, andrea

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  5. I love anything that's Velveteen Rabbit! I have used the analogy myself many times. I think I knew I was a writer when I got paid for an article, but it really hit home when my husband first called me a writer. It takes a while to be able to call yourself a writer - sounded funny the first time I said it.

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  6. Love this post, Carla!! You're absolutely right, "When I started to realize that the ideas were not from me alone, but a gift of the one who created me, I began to consider that perhaps he might want me to share at least some of them with others." Isn't it amazing that He created us with abilities that allow us to connect with others that we can in turn, point them to Him?! What a creative God! Praying for His blessings on you today!

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  7. I caught the writing bug as a 3rd grader. I wrote off and on until 1991, when in my early twenties I suddenly got serious about it. I haven't stopped being serious about it since. :)

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  8. Great post, Carla. I think writers are born, not made, and usually fall in love with words at an early age. I was about 7, I think. At least that's when my mom found me writing a story about ships. Wish I still had that one:) I think it must be a wonderful thing to write children's books like TVR - and illustrate them.

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  9. Affirmation from others gave me the confidence to continue sharing my writing,, I admit. After teaching "Language Arts" for quite a few years, I appreciate anew the "art of language", the whole connection of writing and speaking.
    My favorite childhood book was a tiny volume called, "A Quiet Place". Very precious.

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  10. How wonderful to hear your thoughts and learn when you became a "real" writer!

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  11. I loved the Velveteen Rabbit when I was little! Lol...

    I'm not a writer, per se, so that's kind of a hard question ; )

    Thanks for becoming a follower of my blog! You tipped me over to 20 Followers!! There's a celebration party going on right now, if you want to stop by and join me!
    Thanks,
    Hannah (Project Journal)

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  12. When someone came up to me with tears in their eyes and said they'd been blessed, I knew I was a real writer.

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  13. I did a great deal of technical writing in my former occupation, and loved it. Being able to communicate difficult legal information to others made me feel like a real writer, but fiction was what I wanted to focus on. Now I have that opportunity, and I hope one day I'll feel like "a real fiction writer."

    Carol

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