I don't know where to start, one {writing student} will wail. Start with your childhood, I tell them. Plug your nose and jump in, and write down all your memories as truthfully as you can. Flannery O' Connor said that anyone who has survived childhood has enough material to write for the rest of his or her life. Maybe your childhood was grim and horrible, but grim and horrible is Okay if it is well done. Don't worry about doing it well yet, though. Just get it down.
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In her book "Bird by Bird," Anne Lamott encourages writing students who feel lost to start by reflecting on their childhood experiences. She suggests that everyone has a wealth of material from their early years, regardless of whether those memories are joyful or painful. The key is to write truthfully and to simply get those memories down on paper, without worrying about perfection at this stage.
Lamott cites Flannery O'Connor, who believed that anyone who has navigated childhood possesses enough content to fuel a lifetime of writing. She reassures her students that even difficult experiences can make compelling narratives, emphasizing the importance of authenticity over craft initially.
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