Writing About Writing

There are several interviews with Laurie Halse Anderson, both online and in the back of the book Speak. They both really give a lot of insight into her writing, and it makes me appreciate the book a little bit more.

She never admits to having a tremendous experience like Melinda's, and in fact says that Melinda was a "voice from a dream". She does talk about her freshman year in high school, which kind of resembled Melinda's. She moved the summer before high school and started ninth grade without knowing anyone. Melinda's struggle to find herself and her identity was basically mirrored off of Laurie's experiences. They gave her a "useful perspective on the absurdities of high school culture".

She also had a few experiences from her childhood that she incorporated into her book like being the obnoxious kid in English, making toxic stews with her father, and having a school with a Hornet mascot. It's clear that she's drawing from past experience, and is able to connect directly with teenagers. She says that she spent a lot of her teen years searching for books with characters that struggled with the same problems that haunted her, but she just couldn't find them, so she decided to write them. She even takes time out to visit places like the mall and Taco Bell to simply hear how and what teenagers talk about. She tries to get inside their minds to "figure out what causes them joy and what causes them pain, then looking inside for the stories I can write that might speak to them."

Her interview really shows the real person, and I think it relates to her character. Obviously her character jumps out of the book and relates to the reader. It was successful enough to even make a movie from. It's funny, because she started writing in a closet, and you can even see that echoed into the book. I like her style of writing, and I like that she tries to be relatable, and that she wants young kids to pick up the book and realize that they aren't alone. I feel that that's the important aspect of this book. That life shouldn't be walked through alone. It should be full of support, and love, and outlets to both.