May 20, 2022

Stories Make My Heart Sing by Tracy Krauss



My heart sings when I'm writing fiction. There. I've answered this month's question, so I guess I can go back to my latest story now.

Just kidding, of course. I won't leave it at that without further explanation. As a person who writes in a variety of genres, I generally enjoy the writing process, no matter the project. I blog, I write articles, I dabble in devotionals... If I didn't enjoy these pursuits, I doubt I would do them. There have been times when one of the aforementioned pieces felt burdensome, though, but I persevered through the project because I believed it had value, not necessarily because it made me "happy". 

However, I can say without hesitation that my favorite thing--the thing that makes my heart sing--is getting lost in a story. 

I've been known to laugh out loud (literally) at my own jokes or smile at a particularly clever piece of dialogue that comes out of a character's mouth. Cliche aside, I actually do lose track of time as I clack away. Sometimes I feel annoyed by the realities of life that keep me from my made-up world which often feels just as real. I've been known to stay up half the night working on a stage play or get up in the wee hours to write down the perfect line. It's why I LOVE November and Nanwrimo. It's the perfect excuse to let my imagination fly! 

I started writing consistently when my eldest daughter was just a baby. She's turning 37 this summer, so that gives you some idea how long I've been clacking at the keys. However, I got lost in my own head long before that, composing make-believe worlds in scrapbook form through pictures and snippets of dialogue ever since I could hold a pencil. As a youngster, I mostly drew. Rarely did I ever NOT draw, even on vacation. I realized later that these were all actually stories or characters from stories that I was reenacting in my head. In school, I did write my first play when I was in Grade Four, and later in high school, my English teacher encouraged me to attend a writing camp. But it wasn't until I was a young mom that I started to write in earnest. I haven't stopped.

Sometimes I wonder if there is a point to all this writing; all these stories. Fiction is just fluff, right? Well, I believe fiction can have a real impact on those who read it--maybe as much or more as a factual book. 

If I had to, I could give up writing non-fiction pieces like blog posts, articles, and the like. But fiction? I know I will never quit as long as I have the strength and there are stories bursting to emerge from my mind. Writing fiction makes my heart sing!


Tracy Krauss writes from her home in Tumbler Ridge, BC. Visit her website for more on her many novels, short stories, stage plays -- and non-fiction, too! https://tracykrauss.com

13 comments:

  1. It was inspiring to read how you've loved writing from a young age, Tracy, especially fiction. On reading your post, I thought that your writing matches what CS Lewis said, "Any amount of theology can now be smuggled into people's minds under cover of romance (ie fiction) without their knowing it." Keep writing!!

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    1. That is an amazing quote! I love it and it is exactly how I feel! Thanks for the encouragement, Sandi.

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  2. What an encouraging post, Tracy. I love that you laugh at your own jokes and the pure enjoyment you get from the process, even when it’s tough, because you know it’s worth it. Thanks for sharing your many talents with us. Blessings on your day.

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    1. I appreciate the comment Sharon. Ya... we nerds don't mind laughing at our own jokes! LOL

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    2. I too laugh at my own puns. Then I pass them on.

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  3. Thank you, dear Tracy, for this glimpse into your writing life. It's always a good sign when writing touches the author's heart. It's proof it will also hold the reader's interest too.
    Blessings as you continue to share your gift with a world in need of His light and love.
    P.S. I love the nature artwork.

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    1. This was actually a giant mural I painted 12 feet by 35 feet. This part was above the library door, thus the books. I don't know why, but I thought it matched the post.

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  4. Your love of writing fiction echos my own, Traci. Getting lost in the story, not wanting to come back to reality, falling in love with my own characters. I get it!
    This line spoke to me, " I believe fiction can have a real impact on those who read it--maybe as much or more as a factual book." Good fiction is not fluff. Jesus used many engaging stories to convey spiritual truth. So can we.

    I recently shared with my granddaughter that I tell myself stories in bed at night, to help get to sleep. "But, Grandma!", she said, "That's what kids do!"

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    1. Haha! Love that you're still a kid at heart, Valerie!

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  5. I seem to have lost the joy of fiction. I'm glad you still have it, Tracy.

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    1. But I can tell you take a lot of pleasure in music, Bruce.

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  6. Tracy, I loved your opening lines - declaring that fiction has always made your heart sing. I'm drawn to the fact that you draw/paint and I wonder if there is an interplay between your art and your writing. Does your art impact your writing? Does your writing impact your art? I'm currently reading Amy Tan's writing memoir, Where the Past Begins, and she kind of plays with that idea--she too has a lifelong enjoyment in drawing, birds, in her case.

    Anyways, I loved your post. I felt the joy in it. Thanks, Tracy.

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