The saying goes ‘Giving is better than receiving.’ Well, that is so true especially when one is lucky and has the opportunity to give the gift of inspiration.
I was this lucky, it happened at a recent book signing:
A young couple with a small child walked in to the store and approached my table. I was just finishing up a conversation with a lady when I saw that the young man took my book, obviously intrigued by the cover. After a quick 'Hello - how ya doing' his wife took her son and walked off toward another section of books.
The young father however stayed behind and we talked about my novel. Soon, he shared with me that his wife was a writer, too. I kindly asked about her work and he explained, but I had the feeling that he was withholding something. As we put it do fitting in Germany ‘he talked around the pudding.’

He kept asking me questions about the publishing progress and if it was difficult to find a good editor. I answered his questions to the best of my knowledge and told him to e-mail me in the future with additional thoughts that might occur. He said he would, had me sign a copy of my book, and as he was just about to walk off, he popped out with what seemed to have been bothering him; "I'm trying to be a writer, too." he said, emphasizing the word ‘trying’.
"Great!" I replied and asked him for his work.
He got a little embarrassed and explained that he 'tried' to be a writer, but he didn't know if he'd ever publish something, because he didn't have a degree in English.
I literally sat back and just looked at him for a second, wondering. Then, I responded, "A degree in English? You don't need a degree in English! Look at me - this is my second language and I'm miles away from having some sort of a degree in English." I went on that I believed a fiction writer doesn't have to have any kind of degree and that the professionals in the book business, i.e. editors, take care of ‘the English'.

The young man fell silent, just looking at me. He was obviously fascinated by what I just told him. So I continued, "There are authors out there who are very well educated. For all I care they can have a PhD in English and speak five other languages, but if they're not a good story teller, forget it! To be a fiction writer, all you need to be is a good story teller. Honestly, that's all it takes!"
The next thing I knew was his hand sticking out to shake mine. With a touched expression on his face he just murmured a sincere "Thank you so much." and away he went.
In that moment the satisfaction of being an inspiration was greater than any amount of books I could have signed.

I'd like to bet a dollar or two that this young man fired up his laptop that evening and continued his journey of becoming an author.
Rebecca~
www.rebeccalerwill.com