Uniqueness
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* Today I’m sharing a guest post from B. Lynn Goodwin as part of her blog tour with WOW! Women on Writing. Thanks so much for the post, Lynn!
The experts say that you should write about what you know, and I agree, with one small disclaimer. Sometimes you don’t know what you do and don’t know until you start writing about it and dig deeply to discover what you really believe and why.
Disrupted is partly about a high school play. I directed high school theatre before I directed in college and community theatre. Maybe the drama teacher has something in common with me, or maybe she was the person I wished I could be. Snatches of students and their traits are borrowed from my former students, some of whom have retired. Is my age showing?
Oddly, I can still write believable high school characters because I know what they want, what they can do to get it as well as what’s in their way. The core things they want, acceptance, approval, and a successful future haven’t really changed, though classes, technology, and cell phones put them in a different world than the one my students were in. Now you might think that lots of teens have those things, but below that appearance, most of them have insecurities and fears.
My story is a blend of what I know and lots of “what ifs.”
What if we’d had an earthquake along the Hayward Fault during rehearsal?
What if I’d taught in a school that closed down?
What if I’d had both ambitious, motivated students and some manipulators? Wait a minute. No “what if” there.
What if I had a brother?
What if I’d lost a sibling and was the only child living with two grieving parents?
I can imagine what might have happened, and my answers to those questions are part of what makes my story unique. They’re drawn from stories that only I can tell.
So, I write about what I know, what I observed, and I base my “what ifs” on real life. I dug deeply, looked at life through Sandee Mason’s eyes, and set the story in a world I’m familiar with, though there’s never been a 7.1 earthquake on the Hayward Fault. If I’m not sure whether someone works, I ask writers I know and trust.
I also give Sandee the outcome I wished for all of my students. I hope they have found the acceptance and approval that everyone deserves.
About B. Lynn Goodwin
B. Lynn Goodwin is the owner of Writer Advice, www.writeradvice.com.
Talent was short-listed for a Literary Lightbox Award and won a bronze medal in the Moonbeam Children’s Book Awards and was a finalist for a Sarton Women’s Book Award. A second edition cane out on November 1, 2020 from Koehler Books. She also wrote You Want Me to Do WHAT? Journaling for Caregivers.
Her memoir, Never Too Late: From Wannabe to Wife at 62 won a National Indie Excellence Award, a Human Relations Indie Book Awards Winner, a Dragonfly Book Award, Next Generation Indie Book Awards, Best Book Awards Finalist & NABE Pinnacle Book Achievement Award Winner.
Her latest book, Disrupted, was out on January 25th.
Goodwin’s work has appeared in Voices of Caregivers, Hip Mama, Dramatics Magazine, Inspire Me Today, The Sun, Good Housekeeping.com, Purple Clover.com, and elsewhere. She is a reviewer and teacher at Story Circle Network, and she is a manuscript coach at Writer Advice. She always has time to write guest blog posts and answer questions. She loves working one on one, trouble-shooting, and helping writers find what works. Contact her to see how she can help you.
Connect with Lynn online at:
Her website: https://www.writeradvice.com
Twitter: https://twitter.com/Lgood67334
Personal Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/blynn.goodwin
Website Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/writeradvice/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/blynngoodwin/
Her Books: https://writeradvice.com/books-by-lynn/
About Disrupted
The San Ramos High students are busy rehearsing their performance of Our Town when the school and the surrounding towns are rocked by a 7.1 earthquake. As a series of unusual aftershocks disrupt the town further, their school is deemed unsafe, and the show is postponed indefinitely unless they can find a way to turn that bad luck around. Dealing with their own personal difficulties and led by the stage manager, Sandee, who is working her way through the loss of her brother, they attempt to bring the community together, make the performance a success, and do their share to raise funds to rebuild. Both the show and life must go on!
Publisher: Olympia Publishers
ISBN-10: 1804393487
ISBN-13: 978-1804393482
ASIN: B0CTKPM735
Print Length: 238 pages
Purchase a copy of Disrupted on Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and Bookshop.org. You can also add it to your Goodreads reading list.
Follow the Blog Tour
March 18th @ The Muffin
Join us on WOW as we celebrate the launch of B. Lynn Goodwin's newest book Disrupted. Read an interview with the author and enter to win a copy for yourself.
https://muffin.wow-womenonwriting.com
March 19th @ Rockin Book Reviews
Join Lu Ann for her review of Disrupted by B. Lynn Goodwin.
https://www.rockinbookreviews.com/
March 20th @ Lisa Haselton's Reviews and Interviews
Join Lisa for her interview with B. Lynn Goodwin about her writing journey and her newest book Disrupted.
https://lisahaselton.com/blog/
March 22nd @ The Faerie Review
Visit Lily's blog for a spotlight of Disrupted by B. Lynn Goodwin.
https://www.thefaeriereview.com/
March 23rd @ Word Magic
Join Fiona's blog for a guest post about earthquakes. Learn some interesting facts and mysteries behind this geographical event.
https://fionaingramauthor.blogspot.com/
March 25th @ Michelle Cornish's blog
Join Michelle for a guest post by B. Lynn Goodwin about what makes your story unique.
https://www.michellecornish.com/blog
March 30th @ Chapter Break
Visit Julie's blog for a guest post by B. Lynn Goodwin about the benefits of writing what you know.
March 31st @ A Wonderful World of Books
Visit Joy's blog for a spotlight of Disrupted and a giveaway of a copy of the e-book.
https://awonderfulworldofwordsa.blogspot.com/
April 2nd @ World of My Imagination
Visit Nicole's blog for her review of Disrupted by B. Lynn Goodwin.
https://worldofmyimagination.com
April 6th @ Boots, Shoes, and Fashion
Join Linda's blog for her interview with B. Lynn Goodwin about her new book Disrupted.
https://bootsshoesandfashion.com
April 8th @ Sara Trimble's blog
Join Sara for her review of Disrupted by B. Lynn Goodwin. You can also win a digital copy of the book.
https://saratrimble.wordpress.com/
April 10th @ Susan Uhlig's blog
Visit Susan's blog for a guest post by B. Lynn Goodwin about how loss affects teens.
April 13th @ Book Review From an Avid Reader
Visit Joan's blog for her review of Disrupted by B. Lynn Goodwin.
https://bookwomanjoan.blogspot.com/
April 14th @ Boys Moms' Reads
Join Karen for her review of Disrupted by B. Lynn Goodwin.
https://karensiddall.wordpress.com/
April 15th @ Choices
Visit Madeline Sharples' blog for a guest post by B. Lynn Goodwin about pantsing or plotting and whether that matters.
https://www.madelinesharples.com/
April 16th @ Storeybook Reviews
Join Leslie for a guest post by B. Lynn Goodwin about rising above fear.
https://storeybookreviews.com/
April 17th @ Just Katherine
Join Katherine for her review of Disrupted by B. Lynn Goodwin.
https://justkatherineblog.wordpress.com/
April 19th @ Just Katherine
Visit Katherine's blog again for a guest post by B. Lynn Goodwin about journaling for writers.
