Write About What You Know?
Cindy Woodsmall had always been told "write about what you know" but she choose to write about something she knew very little about and came out with a best seller.
Cindy Woodsmall of Flowery Branch, Georgia was always told, “Write about what you know.” but Cindy wanted to write about something she knew very little about, and her book landed on the best sellers book list. More than a half million copies of her book are in print right now. Most of them bought by mainstream readers captivated by the charming lives of the Amish she portrays so realistically in her book.
Cindy’s interest in the Amish goes back to elementary school in Maryland where her best friend was Amish Mennonite. She recalls visiting her friend’s house where she saw a huge difference the moment she stepped in the front door. “It was peaceful and quiet…and different. It made a great impact on me.”
Image via Wikipedia
During her research Cindy felt she needed hands on research to to be able to feel the life style, hold it, touch it. So she went in search of an Amish person who could answer her questions and give her an understanding of the Amish lifestyle. Here is how she managed to find her way into an Old Order Amish community in Pennsylvania.
Cindy’s sister knew someone who knew some one who’d worked at an Amish birthing center. That woman knew of an Amish family who might be willing to help. So Cindy found Miriam Flaud who under took to help her. For a year Cindy and Miriam communicated through the birthing center go between. And then one day Mariam said,”Why don’t you have Cindy come visit me?”
Image via Wikipedia
Cindy remembers the midnight train she and husband Tyler took from Gainesville, Georgia: Her book begins with it’s frightened 17 year old heroine, Hannah Lapp, taking a similar late night train ride.” I spent 18 hours on a train to get three sentences just right,” laughs Cindy. “but even better, it brought me to Miriam.” Under Miriam’s watchful eye, Cindy has written about everything from a whipsmart Amish businesswoman trying to balance competing demands of Old Order and English worlds to an Amish who extends a helping hand to a destitute single mother and is shunned by his community as a result. Along with a sub-plot about the modern realities like physical abuse and the lingering effects of 9-11.
Image by Jeremy & Taylor via Flickr
The difference in both womens worlds are wide. There are certain aspects of the Amish world that Miriam will not share with Cindy and most of their communication is done by snail mail. But the two women have grown close. Miriam reads the manuscripts Cindy mails to her by kerosene lantern after the sun sets on the 150 acre family farm in Pennsylvania. Cindy and Miriam are presently working on a non fiction book of short essays addressing the same topics, from their respective Amish and English points of view.
“Its unique” said Shannon Marchese, Cindy’s editor at WaterBrook Press, of the relationship that’s developed between the author who works on a laptop in front of a 54 inch flat TV set and Miriam, whose simple handcrafts hang on a wall in the Flowery branch home.
http://quazen.com/arts/visual-arts/ellen-crafts-illusions-and-artful-doges/
http://quazen.com/reference/biography/mary-mcleod-bethume-miracle-worker/
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44 Comments
MMV Abad, posted this comment on Nov 15th, 2009
Very nice piece. Such an inspiration. No wonder its the ‘hottest’. Well done Ruby.
A.W.H., posted this comment on Nov 15th, 2009
Very nice article and good use of pictures!
Best regards,
Anders
Darla Smith, posted this comment on Nov 15th, 2009
Very interesting article. Thanks for sharing.
Shirley Shuler, posted this comment on Nov 15th, 2009
Great article, Ruby. I love the pictures.
ken bultman, posted this comment on Nov 15th, 2009
Enjoyed this review. I worked closely with Amish families in Indiana as they fought successfully to keep their children out of the public school system and unsuccessfully to keep the orange safety triangles off their buggies and wagons.
AlmaG, posted this comment on Nov 15th, 2009
This is a great article… Thaks for sharing 
Mystify, posted this comment on Nov 15th, 2009
They sure are the opposite of one another but that is what works for them! She did know a bit about the Amish lifestyle because her interests lay there so in a way she was writing about what she knew as she researched it thoroughly,so well infact she was able to write a best seller! I think every good author is able to know very little about something,then research the subject that interests them, eventually coming to know a lot about that subject and are able to write about it. Very thought provoking article Ruby! Brilliant work and a very enjoyable read!
Liane Schmidt, posted this comment on Nov 15th, 2009
When you’re gifted you can turn anything into a success! *:)
Blessings.
Sincerely,
-Liane Schmidt.
PR Mace, posted this comment on Nov 15th, 2009
Such a thought provoking article and an interesting read. You can always take me to a place or a subject matter and turn it into a good read.
Papa Sparks, posted this comment on Nov 15th, 2009
You are so right. If one taps into what they already know or what they like, there’s the chance that there is a good story or more waiting to be written.
sweet sunshine143, posted this comment on Nov 15th, 2009
Great and inspirational story. Good job
Frances Lawrence, posted this comment on Nov 15th, 2009
That was very interesting, all her research paid off. Just writing about what you know can be a bit limiting, it is good to reach out somtimes, but you have to put in the effort.
drelayaraja, posted this comment on Nov 15th, 2009
Wonderful story. Very informative for all of us. Keep writing about all that you know.
Teves, posted this comment on Nov 15th, 2009
Nice article…
Jenny Heart, posted this comment on Nov 15th, 2009
Thought provoking indeed!
chitragopi, posted this comment on Nov 15th, 2009
This is so good. Inspiring.
Authoress Terry E. Lyle, posted this comment on Nov 15th, 2009
This is a very well thought out article, inspiring and thought provoking. Keep up the good work and thanks for sharing the lifestyle of the Amish.
abhishek40914, posted this comment on Nov 15th, 2009
interesting
Eunice Tan, posted this comment on Nov 15th, 2009
I like the idea about ‘write what you know’ and really like Triond’s advice to write what ‘you most passionate about’. It really works.
wonder, posted this comment on Nov 15th, 2009
Towards the unknown we look, towards the known we overlook with jaded eyes perhaps–this is what I realise after reading this.
The contrast between the two women, how they go about is interesting.
Judy Sheldon, posted this comment on Nov 15th, 2009
Sounds like a fascinating topic. I can see why it did well.
Mary Patricia Bird, posted this comment on Nov 15th, 2009
Jodi Picoult’s “Plain Truth” is a well-written and researched story of an amish family. I must have missed something in this article… what is the title of Cindy’s book?
Snooky, posted this comment on Nov 15th, 2009
Unique, a good word for this article
Borneon, posted this comment on Nov 15th, 2009
It is nice to write something about that you really had the chance to experience it. Bring the story more real and hearfelt to write.
svishnugopal, posted this comment on Nov 16th, 2009
very interesting…thanks for posting..
Lorenzo A. Fernandez Jr., posted this comment on Nov 16th, 2009
Well, research when you know a little; that’s the best thing to do…
Yovita Siswati, posted this comment on Nov 16th, 2009
Very inspirational. Great article!
Francois Hagnere, posted this comment on Nov 16th, 2009
Another well researched article. Thought provoking indeed!
Thank you Ruby.
Glynis Smy, posted this comment on Nov 16th, 2009
I enjoyed this, what an interesting line of research for the author of the book.
What is the name of the book she wrote? From your description, I don’t think I have read it so would like to look it up Ruby.
Alexa Gates, posted this comment on Nov 16th, 2009
Very inspirational great article
Judy Kaelin, posted this comment on Nov 16th, 2009
Nice article, Thanks
Netty net, posted this comment on Nov 16th, 2009
I read a book about the Amish. I forget what the name of the book was but it was a good book.
deep blue, posted this comment on Nov 17th, 2009
A very interesting post, Ruby. Sometimes, destiny has its way. I mean not sometimes but oftentimes.
Annettenasser, posted this comment on Nov 17th, 2009
this is inspiring article, meaning if you have a small knowledge of something, go on and search for the rest of the story,,
Lovely
lillyrose, posted this comment on Nov 17th, 2009
Lovely Article, sometimes you just have to step outside your comfort zone I guess.
Nydia Esther, posted this comment on Nov 17th, 2009
nice read!
Patrick Regoniel, posted this comment on Nov 17th, 2009
That sure is a nice combination. Polarity brings creativity. I think the Amish way of life is a reflection of what a society should be to avoid all those externalities associated with too modern a civilization. Thanks Ruby. It’s a nice piece.
CHAN LEE PENG, posted this comment on Nov 17th, 2009
You’re right! We should write what we know.
SharifaMcFarlane, posted this comment on Nov 17th, 2009
I would like to read that book!
BeatsMe, posted this comment on Nov 18th, 2009
I guess some people really have the luck and the smarts to put anything into bestsellers.
Jill Tate, posted this comment on Nov 18th, 2009
Interesting!
Mark Gordon Brown, posted this comment on Nov 18th, 2009
Her book was a best seller because she did research, so in the end she did write about something she knew, she just didnt know it at the time.
Vladislav, posted this comment on Nov 19th, 2009
I like it!
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Themax, posted this comment on Nov 15th, 2009
Very interesting story!
Thanks Ruby!