Its Just Your Perspective

Last weekend, we took a drive to Amish Country, which is always a fun excursion: bebe loves to see the horse-and-buggies, the countryside is really pretty and there is fun shopping. We hadn't been for a couple of years. So imagine my surprise when Amish Country went...well, country.

For anyone who doesn't know, Amish isn't 'country', it's a religious order in which the people forego electricity and modern ways for a more simplified lifestyle.

Not country. Just simple. And on with the blog:

I took the picture above for Wrangler D'Ann, who tells me this (and a few other things) often enough. And she knows what she's talking about because she is a cowboy - she lives in the west, raises and rides horses. When I have a horse question, she is the one I turn to. We've laughed together about the WalMart Cowboy Syndrome (in which a city guy goes to WalMart to get fitted for a county fair and tries to pass himself off as country)...

The picture also reminds me to tell my stories in my own way. Because readers can tell when you're stretching your wings and growing as a writer...and when you're trying too hard. Writing too outside the norm, going for topics that don't necessarily interest you just for the shock value or to 'write to the market'. We're told as beginning writers to listen to our hearts, to write the books we are interested in reading. Sometimes, as we grow, that early lesson is forgotten. But the picture above will help me remember: to tell my story in my way and not try to be something I'm not.

How about you?

Comments

  1. I love that picture, and that's a really good lesson.

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  2. When I would come home from college, there was always an Amish cart on the side of the road selling their wares. Oh the food! Oh the COOKIES! The Amish know how to COOK. I would always stop and buy these gi-normous cookies that were as big as dinner plates. I haven't been that way in years but I've heard that particular Amish family has expanded and now instead of a buggy on the side of the road they have a whole shopping area. Sigh. I want an Amish cookie now.

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  3. Oh, Amish cookies...and their peanut butter/honey spread stuff...Sharon, their food is awesome!

    Thanks for visiting, Liz!

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  4. I never write to the market. That's probably why I hadn't hit it yet. I write what I want to write or I can't write at all.

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  5. Lovely photo...and maybe you've persuaded me to keep on with WIP and not start the new one in my head...maybe. lol. Great post.

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  6. Love that pic! When we went to Ohio, to QH Congress, we toured the state. Much to our HUGE disapointment, we saw ONE Amish man. I'd love to return sometime and eat those cookies!

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  7. I love that pic too. As for Amish food...I am feeling like taking a road trip...they make some awesome cookies, pies and jelly. YUM!

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  8. Great pic!! And so true! I make homemade freezer jam every year and the only strawberries I will use come from the Amish. One year I was too late in getting there and had to get them from the store and guess what? The jam was still in my freezer a year later! No one would eat it! They complained it didn't taste right. And the year I canned bread and butter pickles with baby cukes from the Amish-oh my goodness! Yep, no comparison.

    And I have never written for the market. I write from the heart, no matter what because if I don't love the story my readers won't either :)

    Now I'm hungry, lol!

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  9. Jennifer, you're making me hungry, too! Dang it, it's not even lunchtime yet!

    D'Ann, come on out...I'll show you some Amish!! :D

    Jerri, I'm a firm believer that if you write what is in your heart the readers will find you...it just may take a little longer. Hang in there!

    Cait, finish that story - I wanna read it!

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  10. I, obviously, didn't write to the market. Writing what I wanted, what was fun, made work less of a chore and more of a joy. LOL @ the WalMart cowboy!

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  11. I love your stories, Sheri, and you kept your joy in the process - so awesome job!

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  12. Here in Central PA we have a lot of Amish and Mennonite (in fact my step-mom is Mennonite). Love the food! Great picture and very true.

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  13. Thanks for visiting, Sara! The food...oh, the food!

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  14. I've never lived anywhere near an Amish or Mennonite community. Someday I'll visit one. Tweeted.

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  15. You guys all made me hungry. :) Those Amish cookies sound amazing. And we don't have any out here either, Ella.

    And I think Walmart Cowboy would be a great title :) LOL

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