Writers, What's on Your Lizard List?

Three straightforward inquiries for authors to ponder and respond to...

"I still want that list," the playful lizard hissed, sharpening her fangs on a fossilized dinosaur egg.

Lizzie expressed a desire to delve into the layers of a new favorite author. Weeks prior, she had come across a mysterious piece by a novice writer stepping outside their usual boundaries. "I would certainly read a book by this individual," she mused. Little did this self-aware gecko realize that this simple remark was one of the most humbling and impactful comments the author had ever received. While anyone can purchase a book, the author's shelves are often filled with unread titles. But actually engaging with a book? Now, that's something remarkable.

Reflect on the disparity between a thousand-word short story and a full-length novel containing 100,000 words. Spending eight minutes in the world crafted by an author or eight hours immersed in their imaginative paradise? It’s akin to deciding to buy a car just twelve seconds into a test drive or proposing marriage moments after the first appetizer is ordered.

Yet the curious salamander yearned for more insights. "Tell me about which of your works," she inquired,

1. You take the most pride in
2. Came together the most effortlessly
3. You found the most joy in writing

After weeks of patient anticipation, the author finally replied—abandoning the tedious third-person narrative.

Proud Work:

"Today is the Worst Day in Human History—And why it fills me with hope for the future." This piece examines the historical and spiritual significance of Good Friday and Easter from a biblical Christian viewpoint. I approached it with the awareness that many individuals harbor animosity towards religion and Christians specifically. I take pride in this story because, although I am a follower of Jesus, I rarely express my faith in my writing.

This was the most daunting piece for me to publish due to the weighty social implications surrounding the subject. Every fear was triggered: Would I face backlash? Would I lose friends because of someone’s traumatic experience with the church? Would they label me a bigot?

I confided my fears about being judged for my faith to a friend who identifies as trans, and they offered a profound perspective. "It’s similar to fearing coming out of the closet." They were spot on. This realization led us both to empathize with the experiences of the other.

So, I published the story, bracing for the worst. But the anticipated fallout never materialized—mainly because it went unnoticed.

Runner-Up:

"Yelp Review of the Water Park First Aid Station"—"Bandages covered a full 70% of my open head wound. Superb!" Out of countless humorous tales, this was the only one my wife found "kind of funny." Given her usual disdain for satire, that was high praise indeed.

Flowed Most Naturally:

"The Forbidden Basement"—"He loves me, and I have nothing to fear." This was my first attempt at suspense writing, and it was the sole occasion I experienced the flow state described by Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi. The vision of the basement stairs was so vivid in my mind that I fully immersed myself in the emotions I aimed to convey to the reader. I got goosebumps.

Enjoyed Writing the Most:

I revel in crafting absurd listicles and self-deprecating humor. Dismiss the list format if you wish, but I find joy in opening my mind to endless creativity and capturing random bursts of inspiration. One story that epitomizes this is "Why YOU should be Thankful for ME— I won't hide bubble wrap under the carpet again." It humorously catalogs my numerous character flaws. Writing it felt liberating and oddly cathartic. Making people laugh by embracing my quirks? Absolutely!

Runner-Up:

"100% Email Open Rates—Guaranteed—You can't spell Marketing without Mark." The playful challenge of writing misleading email subject lines became a delightful game, and I find myself eager to create a sequel.

Conclusion

Writers ought to be able to respond to these three questions with clarity—because those are the narratives we yearn to explore.

What tales comprise your Lizard List? Share up to five!

In this engaging video titled "Weekly Read Alouds with Laurie Brooks: What is a Reptile?", you can discover fascinating insights about reptiles, which serve as a delightful parallel to our exploration of creativity.

The second video, "Ranking BEST to WORST Reptile Products On The Market," humorously evaluates various reptile products, drawing a whimsical connection to the quirky nature of our writing journeys.