When I first sat down to write this blog, I had no idea what I was going to write. I still have no idea.

Basically, it all goes back to May 19 when I watched a movie called The Soloist. When I started watching it, I had no idea what it was about. To me it seemed like two people arguing all the time. When my teacher came back from maternity leave, he explained to us what the movie was about and then I understood what was happening and the significance of it all. 

Steve Lopez, a writer for the Los Angeles Times and author of the novel The Soloist, helped me realize that even the best of writers have trouble writing. As I sat down to read the first portion of the book, I started taking notes in the book as to how I felt and the connections I made with it, etc. One of those comments was, “he wrote a whole book on someone when he didn’t even know where it would go.” And the other comment I made on that same page was, “I find myself writing like this in journalism class.”

Half the time I cant even think of something to write. I feel clueless and that my writing is horrible. But when I read, “I make note on the yellow legal pad where I keep a list of possibilities. Violin Man. It’s got potential. Who knows where it will go?” I thought to myself, I’m not alone in the world of journalism. There are even the best writers who get stuck every now and then.

The thing that grabs my attention the most is, how he wrote many articles on Nathaniel, and each story written is an amazing piece of work. I figured, if someone can write this well about something that they didn’t even know where it will go, I figured so can I. 

So here I am at my computer, ready to say thank you, Mr. Lopez. You wrote an inspirational story that I will always remember, and every time I get stuck, or I have a good idea for a story, to never give up. Who knows where it will go? You just have to keep digging for those facts, right?

A story can be found anywhere, on anything, at any time of the day, any day of the week, month, or year. That advice even helped me to write this, whatever it shall be called. I had no idea what I was going to write, and I just sat down and started writing like crazy, letting my fingers do the work, and having my mind do the work, not getting stressed out about what I’m going to write. I figured it will come to me soon enough, and, sure enough, it did. So thank you Mr. Lopez.

Also I would like to say thank you to Nathaniel, although it was, indirectly, he who taught me to never give up on my dreams, and therefore I will never give up on my dreams. Even though Nathaniel dropped out of the best music school to be found, Julliard, he never stopped playing, and even with the schizophrenia that just made it harder. He never stopped playing.

So, thank you Mr. Lopez and Mr. Ayers. You both have been an amazing inspiration to me. The Soloist has touched me deeply. I will always remember what I have learned these past few weeks from you.