Influence of Childhood

How might a writer’s childhood experiences influence his or her writing? Do you think your unique experiences in life would be a good source of inspiration for a story or book? 



A writer's childhood experiences may influence his or her writing, leaving behind a unique fingerprint that tells others of the story's individuality and personal meaning. It is during a person's childhood, and the transition between child and adult, that one gains much knowledge and basic experiences of life. This is one of the grounds of how that person's character and personality is. In addition, many people are inclined to remember certain childhood events or meaningful experiences, regardless whether good or bad. With this in mind, an author's writing may echo his own past and his feelings about the topic.


The book or story written by the author is also needed to be taken into consideration. If the story is a personal memoir or autobiography, then of course, the author's childhood experiences are resolutely presented. For example, in Barack Obama's personal memoir Dreams from my Father, Barack cites multiple childhood experiences, and these experiences are the basis for the story itself.


Apart form memoirs, other genres can also contain elements that are imprints of the author's childhood experiences. H. H. Munro, for example, often includes pompous and/or cruel aunts in his stories, an allusion to his own childhood, where he lived with his aunts. Dickens' books often referenced the separations of society, which were prominent in his past as well, and some of Shakespeare's plays also hint the experiences of his own life.


Would my experiences make a good story? Not unless you like boring novels. Each person's tale of childhood is different in one way or another, and I don't believe that my childhood would contain enough memories or interesting experiences to fill up a story. They are personal sediments, personal remembrances, that do not have a need to be shared.