How I was inspired to write

I met a wonderful man, George Mitrovich, who ran the Great Fenway Park Writers Series. I was writing a weekly column for the Metrowest division of Community Newspapers covering local political issues and translating them down into easily digestible columns for people who normally didn't "do" politics. He became a dear friend over the course of the years and, shortly after we met, he asked one of the most frequent questions I get: what inspired you to write?

I told him, for me, it's more of a "who" than a "what" question. And told him a story.

My mother was a reader and she left books she was reading in the bookcases in our family room. Along with her books were books my older siblings read in school and then stuck on the shelves as well.

I still remember the first book that I was given ("If I Ran the Zoo" by Dr. Seuss, which was a Christmas present from my oldest brother) and the first book I purchased ("The How and Why Book of Dinosaurs"). Both at a very early age.

Being a bit precocious, after I had learned to read on my own, I would often peruse the books for something to read which is how I discovered George Plimpton's "Paper Lion." Now, I was young... really young... and didn't understand most of it. But what I remember was a sports reporter was paid to try out for the Detroit Lions and write articles and, later, a book about it. When I finished it, my first thought was, "I can get paid for writing about sports and maybe try out for a team. Where do I sign up!"

By the time I met Mitrovich, I had become a political columnist who wanted to write about sports. I had a regular column for a Red Sox fan site, that was really about the love of baseball with some snark about the Yankees thrown in for fun. I was in the middle of an experiment tweeting haiku about the Red Sox via Twitter when a coworker challenged me that season while debating if I wanted to go back to school so I could be a teacher.

When I told the story of reading "Paper Lion," Mitrovich laughed. He had been close friends with Plimpton and said, "I wish he were still alive, he'd get such a kick out of that story and be honored he inspired you."

Those were words that I carry in my heart.

Now, I should make it clear, I am NOT a football fan. Yes, I can speak on football in general terms as a sportsperson, watch games with friends, and watch the Super Bowl for ads and half-time performances. I have never enjoyed the game, but something about "Paper Lion" made me smile and dream of what was out there in terms of storytelling.

Mitrovich did introduce me to another writer hero of mine, Frank DeFord. You see, DeFord and Plimpton were the type of men who didn't recall a box score, they told the story of the game from new angles. It brought the games and sports to life as more than a recap, more than a retelling. It was a whole new story filled with details, nuances, and dreams.

Football season started last week, and I am thinking a lot about those two Georges I hold dear in my heart.

I admit I always keep an eye on the Lions. I was rooting for them last year, here in the heart of Patriots country. I'm rooting for them again this year.

In all those "if you could talk to anyone for <some period of time> living or dead" questions, I often wish I could spend some time with Plimpton to let him know how he inspired me. I also want to let him know he also inspired one of my sons. My oldest read "The Curious Case of Sidd Finch" back when he wanted to be in the starting lineup for the Red Sox. Like his mom, my son appreciated being in the story of this kid raised by Tibetian monks who could throw a fastball so fast, that the catcher had to train by having balls dropped from the Goodyear blimp. My son, like his mother and grandmother, was a voracious reader. Like his mom, he also stinks at baseball but also became a writer.

Currently, I write Steampunk fiction. Steampunk is often easily described as Victorian-style/era science fiction - about as far from football, politics, and sports as you can get. I still carry that sense of amazement and wonder, as well as telling the story from the middle of the situation, I got from reading "Paper Lion" all those decades ago. That wonderful belief of hoping and wishing it can all come true, even while knowing it's a vehicle to a (hopefully) wonder-filled story.