Things Mothers Said About Writing

By DiAnn Mills @DiAnnMills

Our mothers are notorious for giving us advice about life. Sometimes their guidelines are appreciated and sometimes not so much. The older we grow, the smarter our mothers become. Quotes from mothers play an inspiring role in the lives of writers, and I think you might enjoy a few.

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“My mother had a great deal of trouble with me, but I think she enjoyed it.” Mark Twain

How much of Mark Twain was in Tom Sawyer and Huckleberry Finn? Did he attempt to float a raft down the Mississippi? Escape from painting a fence? Fall in love with a pretty little girl named Becky?

“I got to grow up with a mother who taught me to believe in me.” Antonio Villaraigosa

Mothers long for their children to become a productive member of society. When they believe in us and our aspirations, we become superheroes—at least in their eyes. Thanks, Mom!

“Mothers are all slightly insane.” J.D. Salinger

That’s probably 90% spot-on for mothers of writers. Where else would we inherit the quirky genes that lead to creativity? We look at life a little skewed, and then we’re thrilled with the words to describe it. Sprinkle sensory perception onto the page with strong nouns and verbs, and the writer has penned a crazy adventure.

“That strong mother doesn’t tell her cub, Son, stay weak so the wolves can get you. She says, Toughen up, this is reality we are living in.” Lauryn Hill

A wise mother provides guidance for her children to accept the hard knocks of life, like rejections, bad reviews, low advances, and publishing house changes. Toughen up! Hey Mom, no wolf is going to eat me!

“My mother taught me about the power of inspiration and courage, and she did it with a strength and a passion that I wish could be bottled.” Carly Fiorina

Every writer needs a cheerleader, and who does it best but a mother? Writers need self-confidence to stand up under the pressures of an often hectic writing scheduled. When a writer slips in the confidence arena, her work suffers until she snatches courage and gains her momentum. Go Mom!

“My mother used to spank me for lying. Now I get paid for it.” DiAnn Mills

Yep, this is mine, and it’s true. Of course when I published my first book, she purchased a new bookcase and challenged me to fill it up. And I have. My stories aren’t driven by filling up Mom’s shelves, but it does offer a good chuckle.

Mothers are an asset to writers. They take our side at family reunions when well-meaning relatives ask why we don’t have a real job. They read our stories and tell everyone about our incredible talent. They pass our books along to their friends and offer bookmarks. But most of all, mothers love us and that’s the best news of all.