Billy Coffey
Billy Coffey

Shining a Light

February 26, 2010  

photo by photobucket.com

photo by photobucket.com

Princess     Amy

Once    upon   a   time  there  was  a   princess  her   name   was   Amy.    She   had   blond   hair   and   colorful    dresses.    Princess    Amy   was   determined     to   find    her   true    love.   One    day     she    started  singing   “My  true   love   I  will  find . Oh  yes   I  will  find  him”.   Then  a  handsome   young    boy  heard   her  over  the  palace  wall.  He  came  in  the  garden   gate.  She  soon  saw  him.  She  started  to  sing.”Now  that  I  found  you  I  will  love  you”.  She  came  down  the  stairs  and  they  met    in  the  garden.  My  name  is  Amy  she  said.  My  name  is  Jeremy  he  said.  Then   she  introduced   him  to  her  father.  Soon  they  got  married.

                                             THE

                                             END

My daughter’s first attempt at authorship.

Despite the fact it’s filled with references to things no father in his right mind believes his eight-year-old daughter should be thinking about, it’s rather good. And I told her such. All the elements of a good story are there—characters, plot, scene, and the tension of whether or not Princess Amy will indeed find her true love. And of course there’s the happy ending.

We have spoken at length in those quiet hours before bedtime of her desire to be a storyteller one day. “Just like you, Daddy,” she says. I’ve at times wondered if that wish would correspond to anything I happened to be. If I were a garbage man or a dentist, would she spend her time picking up the household trash or staring at teeth?

I somehow doubt it. Indeed, she spends as much time with her nose in a book, whether one that’s written or one she’s intent to write, as I do. And though I have my misgivings about encouraging anyone regardless of age to take those first steps upon the road to publication, I do so with her. It gives her joy, and I’m all for allowing anyone to drink his or her fill of that.

Thus far it is the romance she seems most interested in pursuing. She’s tried her hand at poetry and managed to fill a few pages of “Roses are red, Violets are blue…” Not her thing, she said. She’s gone the non-fiction route and written two paragraphs on Easter Island and bunnies. Too boring, she announced. No, it’s the romance for her. That’s her thing.

Knowing my feelings regarding talk of love and marriage to anyone other than her father, she’s asked my blessing to continue her stories. I’ve given it—how could I not?—and whatever reservations I had were nicely disguised in layers of excitement. And to be honest, I am excited. Not that she may soon be penning stories in which she marries herself off to someone in her second grade class, but because of what those stories may eventually lead to.

Truth.

In the end, that is the aim of all writing. We tell our stories so that we may come to some morsel of truth in the end, however uplifting or sad that truth may be. We write to give meaning to our lives and the circumstances within them. It is a holy act, a means by which we elevate ourselves above chance and fate.

Which is why I consider all writing to be of value, whether they are written for the ages or merely for the times. Every book, every letter, every blog post is a victory over the crushing weight of anonymity that presses down upon us.

Fantasy is just as relevant as literary fiction. The young adult novel is just as meaningful as a poem. Each medium and genre, however different, still contain within them the very same struggles and hardships. They speak of the human condition, of our shared fears and hopes, our triumphs and struggles.

I didn’t tell my daughter that; I’ll let her find that bit of treasure on her own. But I did tell her this, and now I’ll tell you:

Putting pen to paper is unlocking the door to a very dark room to which you intend to bring light. It matters not if that illumination comes from a lantern or a candle or a flashlight. All that matters is that, for even the briefest of moments, a bit of the darkness is chased away.

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Comments

  • http://katshappyathome.blogspot.com Kathy

    I love this and I love that you are encouraging your daughter to do what she loves!

  • http://debholmes1.blogspot.com Deb

    That’s beautiful Billy…thanks.

  • http://building-his-body.blogspot.com/ Anne Lang Bundy

    Writing … is a holy act, a means by which we elevate ourselves above chance and fate … a victory over the crushing weight of anonymity that presses down upon us.

    And that is the reason we say, “I can’t not write”–though I’m not sure I can again say that devoid of guilt for its lack of eloquence.

    Eloquence you’ve presented here as a gift to writers everywhere. Thank you for the gift, Billy.

  • http://www.redletterbelievers.com David @ Red Letter Believer

    Isn’t it interesting that even the young girl still looks for a prince?

    David, http://www.redletterbelievers.com

  • http://hisfirefly.blogspot.com HisFireFly

    Your words again are sweet, true and reach places in the heart that God has already prepared. May your little one find the same ability, and I also pray she find the One True Prince Who will flood her life with peace.

  • http://thereluctanthomefront.blogspot.com Rebecca

    I love her enthusiasm for writing…I can remember writing stories just like that in elementary school, and it’s never stopped since. Having a father’s blessing helps tremendously…thanks for nurturing the writer in the girl, Billy. :)

  • http://mainelymyles.blogspot.com Jo@Mylestones

    Loved this: “Every book, every letter, every blog post is a victory over the crushing weight of anonymity that presses down upon us.” And this: “All that matters is that, for even the briefest of moments, a bit of the darkness is chased away.”
    Great post.

  • http://www.jeannedamoff.com Jeanne Damoff

    Love it! All of it. Her story, and your thoughts about writing. Thanks. Oh, and don’t worry too much about your daughter’s romantic fantasies, Billy. At least princess Amy of the blond hair and colorful dresses introduced the young boy to her father before she married him. You’re still in the loop.

    J.

  • http://meganwillome.highcalliingblogs.com Megan Willome

    Even we non-fiction writers have our place! Kudos to your daughter.

  • http://nikkirivera.blogspot.com Nicole

    Love it. I have many of those princess romance stories in journals from my childhood as well it just took me a little longer to figure out that writing is what I should do for a living. Very touching story :)

  • http://togetherforgood.wordpress.com Erin

    My son has started to say that he wants to be a writer. It makes me happy. :)

  • http://sandraking-beholding-god.blogspot.com/ Sandra Heska King

    I have a feeling that all of her princes will have a semblance of her daddy.

  • http://www.ubervu.com/conversations/www.billycoffey.com/2010/02/shining-a-light/ uberVU – social comments

    Social comments and analytics for this post…

    This post was mentioned on Twitter by sarahmsalter: RT @katdish: It must be Friday somewhere…Another writing post from @billycoffey: Shining a Light http://bit.ly/cq40QG…

  • http://museandvent.blogspot.com Bobbie

    “We write to give meaning to our lives and the circumstances within them. It is a holy act, a means by which we elevate ourselves above chance and fate.”

    Beautiful. Two of the best lines I’ve read about writing in a long time.

    I’m glad I found your blog.

  • http://www.BridgetChumbley.com Bridget

    Loved this! My daughter is hoping to travel the long and windy road of writing. She’s very talented and outshines her mom quite often! My son is now writing lyrics for songs and we were shocked to see how much passion and emotion he puts into them.

    At 12 and 14, what better way to let your feelings out?

    Thanks for all the wonderful thoughts you’ve been sharing on writing, and the journey, Billy.

  • http://cindyhan111.wordpress.com cindy hanson

    it’s been sooo long since I’ve been able to go places on the net, thank God I made it here today!!!! Thank you Billy, you lift all of us up!!!!

  • http://susan-moment.blogspot.com/ Susan

    what a fortunate little girl to have a daddy who encourages her in her dreams … and has an insider’s understanding of what’s involved in those dreams

  • http://blog.breakthroughalaska.com jasonS

    Wonderful post, BIlly. As a father, there doesn’t seem to be anything better than encouraging my kids to dream and then pursue those dreams. They’re still pretty young, and I know some will stick while others fade to the background… But believing in the power of those dreams, working at it, and pursuing it is maybe the most valuable skill we can learn. Thanks.

  • http://aspiretoleadaquietlife.blogspot.com A Simple Country Girl

    …a victory over the crushing weight of anonymity…a bit of the darkness is chased away…

    I really needed those words today.

    Blessings.

  • http://lexiconluvr.blogspot.com L.T. Elliot

    That darkness being chased away? That’s the “truth” I seek between every page–whether I read it or write it.

  • http://buzzbyannies.blogspot.com Annie K

    Oh wow, this reminded me of all the journals I have sitting in a box somewhere…full of poems I wrote when I was a kid. I’m gonna have to go dig those out.

    Great post Billy.

  • http://godsheart-heart2heart.blogspot.com Kat

    Billy,

    As always saving the best for the last with your parting words! Love this post!

    Love and Hugs ~ Kat

  • http://www.maryaalgaard.blogspot.com Mary Aalgaard

    Thanks for shining YOUR light. Congrats on the book deal, and being featured at Rachelle Gardner’s blog.

  • Caroline

    Wonderful post. That last paragraph has encouraged me to know why it is I want to write what I want to write about. Thank you!

  • http://ginacalvert.blogspot.com Gina Calvert

    You have quiet moments with your children before bedtime? My husband always thought that was the time to have a free-for-all!

    But seriously, the truth behind your daughter’s desire to write romances is her romance with Jesus, who is already wooing her through her awesome dad.

    Thanks for sharing not only your wisdom with her but with us. God is calling me to enter into one of those dark worlds on paper by first entering one of those dark worlds in the world (Ghana, slave trafficking, going there this week). I think I will copy your last paragraph onto the first page of my journal to remind me of what I’m doing.

  • http://quiveringdaughters.blogspot.com Quivering Daughters

    “Putting pen to paper is unlocking the door to a very dark room to which you intend to bring light. It matters not if that illumination comes from a lantern or a candle or a flashlight. All that matters is that, for even the briefest of moments, a bit of the darkness is chased away.”

    So.very.poignant. Thank you.

  • http://www.anoldfamiliarplace.blogspot.com/ Jane Bennett Gaddy

    Beautiful! Your last paragraph got me. “Putting pen to paper is unlocking the door to a very dark room … All that matters is that, for even the briefest of moments, a bit of the darkness is chased away.”

    I’m writing life story for a soccer coach from England. Very poignant, sensitive story. He cries as I probe for more. Although I’m doing the writing, he’s giving the story to me, and every time we meet, he talks about the dark room that is beginning to “light up.” Thanks for sharing this. It helps me as I write for him.

  • http://robinmarnold.blogspot.com Robin Arnold

    When my niece was your daughter’s age, because I moved far far away to the Republic of Texas, we started to correspond in chapters. She’d write a chapter, then I’d write one. The rules were you had to pick up where the other left off, and keep things flowing. We had fun and it was a great way to stay connected. It was also a great way to direct traffic if need be, and answer questions. That might be something you could share?

    Be prepared it’s a daddy/daughter interest thing though, because our daughter wanted to be a sausage maker like her daddy at that age, Now she writes for a living and is a very discerning sausage foodie.

  • http://martyduane.com Marty Duane

    I wrote a very similar post the other day. Of course, it wasn’t as beautifully penned, but it held the same storyline. :) Really appreciated this one, Billy.