Every Sunday, dailywaffle.co.uk will bring you a quick 60 second interview with a different member of our writing team. This weeks questions are tackled by one of our newest writers, our American Dream, Bridget (@OurRedMama)
What / Who inspired you to write?
I’d have to say my parents. I have been a voracious reader since a very young age, thanks to them. They were always giving my younger sister and I new books and always set aside time to read to us. I feel that writing inspiration is just a natural progression from avid reading!
What advice would you give to someone who wanted to take up writing?
Don’t force it. The best writing just flows naturally. Whether it’s fiction or journalism, I am a firm believer that your best stuff will come when you let it. There’s nothing worse than staring at a blank page and feeling overwhelmed. Take a break, do something else for a while and try again later. Odds are, your inspiration will come at the most inconvenient times. Which leads to my second piece of advice — carry notebooks at all times! 🙂
Name 3 people who inspire you
- Franklin D. Roosevelt. I was political in my former workforce life, and a lot of my heroes are leftover from that era! FDR was an amazing man who overcame great adversity to become one of the most famous US Presidents in history. His many achievements have had long lasting effect on our government, even today. He was also vocal and unapologetic about caring, whether it was people or the environment.
- My parents, for giving me the love of words.
- My boys, for inspiring me to always be the best me I can be, in all that I do. I always want to be an example of hard work and determination for them.
Give me one fact about yourself.
I am something of a medical anomaly…I have had arthritis since age 17 (2 titanium hips — it’s a nightmare going to the airport with me!) and I had a stroke and subsequent brain surgery at age 32. But I keep on truckin’ — it’ll take more than that to stop me 😉
What is the most blatant lie you have ever told?
‘No, honey, really — I don’t need any gifts for Valentine’s Day…’ 😉
