Why We Write: Inspiration from Neil Gaiman

"We who make stories know that we tell lies for a living. But they are good lies that say true things, and we owe it to our readers to build them as best we can. Because somewhere out there is someone who needs that story. Someone who will grow up with a different landscape, who without that story will be a different person. And who with that story may have hope, or wisdom, or kindness, or comfort. And that is why we write."
​~ Neil Gaiman

On July 12, 2009, Neil Gaiman traveled to Chicago to speak at the annual conference of the American Library Association. He was at the conference to accept the Newbery Medal for The Graveyard Book.

He spoke about his children; he spoke about his own childhood, growing up amongst the stacks of his local public library; and he spoke about the encounters he has had with those of us who read his work. It gave a glimpse into the author's life.

The speech was printed at the end of my copy of The Graveyard Book, which I just finished reading. I wasn't completely sure why it was included, but I was curious. And I always read the back matter.

In the speech, Gaiman talked about the very moment the germ of an idea for The Graveyard Book was born. There were no bolts of lightening. He was just watching his son ride a tricycle through the graveyard. It took him twenty years for that idea to become a book.

Luckily for us, the idea never let go of Gaiman's imagination.

I loved this part of the story. In part, because I have had an idea for a novel gnawing at my imagination for almost five years now. But it was the quote above, the very last paragraphs of his acceptance speech, that really struck a chord:

"We who make stories know that we tell lies for a living. But they are good lies that say true things, and we owe it to our readers to build the as best we can. Because somewhere out there is someone who needs that story. Someone who will grow up with a different landscape, who without that story will be a different person. And who with that story may have hope, or wisdom, or kindness, or comfort. And that is why we write."

Reading this reminded me that the story that I have unsuccessfully tried to ignore is important. Everyone has a story; and those stories matter. But that truth does not negate the fact that made up stories matter, too.

It's time to get to work.