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Writing Prompt: Barbara Delinsky Does Not Need Me

November 4, 2007

Each month, we post a writing prompt tied to the current month's essay. Please email your responses of 500 words or less to lmreflections (at) literarymama (dot) com with the words "writing prompt" in the subject line so that we know it's not an essay submission. Submissions should be in the text of an email (please do not send attachments). We will accept responses until the 15th of each month and offer our feedback on each response privately before the end of the month. We hope you'll take this opportunity to get inspired, share your work, and find community with other writers! We'll post our favorites on our blog.

In her essay, "Barbara Delinsky Does Not Need Me," Sandra Miller expresses great admiration for and a personal connection to bestselling author Barbara Delinsky. Describing the opportunity she had to interview Barbara, Miller writes:

"... I felt a kindred spirit in her ... she began writing when [her sons] started kindergarten. That's my position now as a mother with her youngest in kindergarten. Twenty-five years ago, Barbara was as I am today, a stay-at-home mom trying to find her stride as a writer... Her ... mother had died, when Barbara was just eight, on December 13th... The day my father died 23 years ago, when I was still a teenager ... I asked if I could interview [Barbara] who with diligence and grit wrote her way from stay-at-home Mom to bestselling author with staying power. I am a writer. I've published profiles. But this felt more personal, a little embarrassing. As much as I wanted to write a profile of this author I admired, I really wanted to meet the woman who shared my saddest day..."

Prompt: Who is an author you admire or with whom you feel personally connected? Write about the traits you admire and explain the details that connect the two of you.

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