We’ve all heard the adage: write what you know. But let’s push further and explore the power of writing what scares you, exemplified through the creation of books like “A Blind Guide to Stinkville” and the journey of its author, Beth Vrabel.
In The Reckless Club, five high schoolers face detention together, revealing their true selves and shedding their labels. This story, like Vrabel’s other works, delves into the author’s own fears: feeling unworthy, grieving loss, hurting loved ones, losing friendships, and facing judgment. By putting characters through challenging experiences, Vrabel offers readers the understanding that they, too, can overcome adversity.
9780762490400_cover_retail.jpg
The Reckless Club presented Vrabel with a unique challenge. Known for writing in first person, from a single perspective, and in the past tense, she wanted to push her boundaries. The Reckless Club demanded five viewpoints, written in the third person, to protect each character’s secrets, and in the present tense, to capture the feeling that anything could happen at any moment.
Vrabel recalls a moment of doubt, sitting at her kitchen table, questioning if she could handle such a drastic departure from her comfort zone. Looking at her character sketches, she found the motivation to proceed. With eight books already written, she knew that each project had pushed her further as a writer and a person, making it worth facing the fear.
Vrabel also had a strong support system in place, including word count goals, a favorite coffee shop, and friends who could offer encouragement. Feeling supported, she dove into the project.
Soon after signing the contract, Vrabel’s family moved from New England to a suburb of Dallas. This move disrupted her support system and added pressure to her deadline.
Navigating a new environment, surrounded by unfamiliar faces, Vrabel faced her fear of incompetence head-on, mirroring the struggles of her characters.
She leaned into this connection, intertwining “write what you know” with “write what scares you.” While she doesn’t recommend moving across the country during a deadline, Vrabel encourages writers to step outside their comfort zones. Allowing yourself to feel unmoored can lead to growth and a stronger story.
“A Blind Guide to Stinkville,” like its author, is a testament to the power of embracing challenges and pushing creative boundaries. This can be further seen in the creation of A Blind Guide To Stinkville Book Trailer, an effort that would also push Vrabel to explore unfamiliar territory in promoting her books.
Beth Vrabel is the award-winning author of Caleb and Kit, A Blind Guide to Stinkville, A Blind Guide to Normal, and the Pack of Dorks series. She lives in Texas, in the Dallas area.
