Life imitating art

Set your timer: Write about an experience when something you were writing (or had written) had come true in real life.

Years ago I had read a book on the power of intention. It was along those lines of The Secret and new-agey "seeing" your future as you want it now kind of books. I'm not sure I buy into the whole thing. I think there might be something there, but I really don't think you can wish your future into winning lottery tickets and published books. I really do believe hard work and persistence have a part in there too, however, if the Universe is listening right now, I really, really want an idea for a NYT bestseller :) I want the process of coming up with the idea. I want the note-taking, research, and obsessive thinking about it. I want to write the pages and be surprised by what happens next. I want the whole experience, so when it does become a bestseller, I'll have the pride of knowing how I made that happen.

But this exercise is about an experience that has already happened, right? I have written 2 complete novels so far, and aspects of both of them have come true. With the first one, the main character starts a job at her old high school as a guidance counsellor. On her first day, the athletic director calls her in and gives her a packet for the girls basketball schedule. She hates it, doesn't play sports, and pretty much throws a fit, but has to do it anyways. Shortly after I started this book, I got a call from the head of the EL Soccer youth league asking me if I could coach Evan's soccer team that year. Mind you, I know NOTHING about soccer, other than Toby calling it Cross Country with a ball. She proceeds to tell me that if I don't coach, that there won't be a team this year, because none of the other parents could do it.

Really?

So I do it, and it's as painful as you might expect. Thankfully they were first graders and had no idea how clueless I was. Pretty sure the parents knew though, but were kind enough to let me fumble my way through so they wouldn't have to.

My second book was about a skater, who overcomes obstacles throughout the year only to win Jr. Nationals. I had based the book on someone in particular that I had worked with so, so many years ago, and I'm happy to say that it did come true as well.

Who knows? Maybe there is something about life imitating art. It's safe to say I'm not going to write any murders or deaths into my stories any time soon.

Have a great day!