Everything I Need to Know About Writing I Learned from a Tom Hanks Movie

By Tamara D. Fickas

It’s no surprise to those who know me that I’m a huge Tom Hanks fan. This started with a little known sitcom from the late 70s called Bosom Buddies. At that time, Tom looked like a guy at school I had a crush on. The Tom appreciation lasted even as the crush didn’t. Over the years, Tom has been prolific in his work, some of it good and some of it not so good. Regardless, I’ve seen them all, and often tell people that all of life can be described by a Tom Hanks movie. Which leads me to the theory that there’s writing wisdom to be found in my celebrity crush?

1. “There’s no crying in (baseball) writing.” Writing is a tough gig. There is rejection from agents, editors, and publishers. In today’s world, there’s also a fair amount of criticism lobbed at anyone brave enough to join in on social media. As writers, we have to develop thick skins to be able to handle this aspect of our careers.

2. “There’s no greater joy than that seen through the eyes of a reader, and there’s a little bit of a reader in all of us.” One of the great things about writing is hearing from our readers. We create worlds and then we invite others into our worlds to experience them in their own unique way. Sharing this joy with a reader makes all the times we want to cry worthwhile.

3. “Reach for the sky!” When it comes to what we can do with our writing, the sky really is the only limit. Never be afraid to take a chance and reach for that dream. The only failure in being a writer is not trying something. So create that world or write that article.

4. “I know what I have to do now. I gotta keep breathing. Because tomorrow the sun will rise. Who knows what the tide could bring.” Sometimes our blog posts bomb. Or that story didn’t resonate with people the way we’d hoped it would. It happens. Don’t let that stop you. Tomorrow there will be another blank page. Keep writing. Keep breathing. Keep waiting for that next tide.

5. “That’s what storytellers do. We restore order with imagination. We instill hope again and again.” As Christian writers, we are able to offer hope through our stories. We are part of the greatest story in history and our faith colors our writing to bring hope and truth to our readers. It’s a great role to play in this world.

That, my friends, is my take on writing from a Tom Hanks fan. He has a quality that inspires and encourages many through his work. We writers have the same ability to inspire and encourage.

Tamara Fickas – Christian, storyteller, writer, speaker, encourager. She lives near the beautiful Rocky Mountains with her beloved kitty boy, Wilson. When not writing she loves adventures, time with her dad, reading, and making people laugh. Life experiences, her vivid imagination, coffee, and Hot Tamales fuel her writing.