(You can find the rules and the beginning of my own challenge here.)
Write about someone who inspires you.
I’ve written about how I love Tolkien before; in fact, I dream of writing high fantasy just like him. I don’t want to join the Jacob or Edward fad (where teens are more obsessed with romance than the story) which seems a little too popular in young adult literature today. But I could probably write about how various authors have inspired me to write all day. When it comes down to the nitty gritty, the people who inspire me the most fictional. This has been happening all my life. I’ll watch a movie, connect with a character, and instantly have a drive to do better, be better. A lot of people like to complain about the unrealistic expectations of beauty that Disney princesses shove down the throats of young girls. But truthfully? I’ve never been concerned with their beauty. I wanted Belle’s library. I wanted Ariel’s fins. I wanted Mulan’s strength. Who cared about their waistlines? But I’m not talking about Disney princesses today.
Flint Lockwood from Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs
Flint’s a scientist with big dreams. He sees the world differently from everyone else, so his town thinks he’s weird. Spray on shoes? Worst. Idea. Ever. Right? Flint still jumps into his work. He’s passionate about it even though his father doesn’t understand him. And despite the fact that his town shuns him, he still wants to make it a better place. Does he mess up? Yeah. Big time. And that’s what creativity is all about: sometimes you have a few flaws in the execution of your plan. But in the end, he inspires others to be themselves. I especially like that he teaches Sam Sparks how beautiful her brain really is.
Lewis from Meet the Robinsons
Meet the Robinsons is one of my favorite movies of all time. In a way, the craziness of the Robinsons mirrors my own family’s craziness. I love it. I love them. I also love a movie that just has a good family vibe from it. And once again, Lewis is a scientist. Maybe I should have been an inventor instead of a writer? This time, Lewis is an orphan. He wants a family, but his creativity gets in the way. He struggles to get adopted because he’s different from most pre-teen boys. How many would rather build a PB&J machine than play baseball? He wants to give up on his dream, but a boy named Wilbur Robinson helps him see his potential when someone throws a wrench in his dream. This boy is brilliant. Is he perfect? Not at all! But he learns many, many lessons along the way.
Wirt from Over the Garden Wall
Okay. Confession. I just watched this mini-series last night (your morning if you’re currently not in Japan). That’s the reason I’m posting an evening (my morning) blog instead. Whoops. But from the first episode, I connected with the older of the two step-brothers in this show. I connected with the show as a whole actually. Wirt’s oldest, but he always wants to blame little Greg for getting lost. The Woodsman actually tells Wirt to take responsibility for his actions. He spends the entire show, struggling with this, going back and forth between a passive follower and a leader. He has the talent, and his little brother is constantly trying to point that out, but Wirt refuses to see it. He wants to give up. Towards the end, you see him screaming to break free of his passiveness, and even though he’s still just as awkward, he earns a badge of honor. (I like to think he did join marching band.) I want to be brave like that.
Do you see a theme here?
I always connect with the dreamer. The outcast. Am I that way myself? Not really. I haven’t been scorned for my creativity, mostly because I’m too shy (a little like Wirt) to let it show. I’m inspired by the fact that these people just exude personality all over the place. They follow what they love with the most fiery passion I’ve ever seen. But they still struggle. And I still struggle. I want to be like that. I want to find my thing (whatever that may be) and gush over it all day long.
I guess I have to keep moving forward, huh?
Wandering But Not Quite Lost 