Why Old Trucks Are Like Writers

Photo Credit: Stuck in Customs/Creative Commons

Where I live there are a lot of hills, hollows, and hayfields. And cows, barns, farms, and old trucks. The land is ripe with color and rich in stories. And, of course, for this writer those stories are my lifeblood.

Some of those stories will get passed down to my children. Others, perhaps, will find their way to future books. Like the story about the retired red truck that’s perched high atop a far away field.

We note “the truck” (not the one in the photo) every Sunday morning as we drive the same route to church. It’s been relegated to a spot of prominence overlooking a tiny white farmhouse and glorious, green pastures. Rather than give the truck a proper burial, it would seem that its owner has deemed it fitting to leave it as a monument. Why else would the old clunker stand guard day after lonesome day with only a smattering of trees and a few fat hens for company?

It’s not out of consideration for the steady stream of drive-bys. Their reaction is probably the same as ours.

Why doesn’t someone just move that thing? It’s of no use to anyone just sitting there…

Well…maybe that’s not exactly true.

“Usefulness,” I suppose, is in the eye of the beholder.

Last Sunday, I saw the old truck in a new light. It struck me why.

Words like resilient, dependable, and cherished swirled in my brain. I saw a story there.

At one time, that old truck had probably served faithfully and endured a lot of hardship. Inanimate object thought it might be, it had seen a great deal of life and driven countless miles.

It might be on its last legs now, but given a tune-up and a little TLC, I bet it could be nursed back to life to fulfill an even greater destiny than languishing in a hayfield.

It’s easy to see where my mind went from there. In a notepad, I quickly jotted some thoughts as we got closer to church. No story yet, but I made some observations.

Why Old Trucks Are Like Writers:

• Many have taken a lickin’ and kept on tickin’.
• They’ve delivered.
• They’ve endured.
• They’re well-traveled.
• They have some dents.
• They have character.
• They’re colorful.
• They’re loved.

(A fun side note– a main character in one of my novels owns and drives an old relic of a pickup truck. He even refers to her by name!)

Writers, where does your inspiration come from?

Readers, what brings a story to life for you?

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Today I’m guest-posting over on the ACFW blog (Writing Despite Adversity). I hope you’ll stop by and say hi!

Also, please join me this Friday when author Marjorie Vawter is my very special guest. We’ll hand out cyber donuts and do a giveaway!

Photo Credit: Stuck in Customs/Creative Commons

Blessings Always,