“I want to learn everything I can, and I write down everything I see”: The Four Movies That Taught Me How To Be All Write

I’ve been writing for almost as long as I can remember. It started with a Barbie-themed diary, and I’ve worked my way up to a black off-brand Moleskine. Along the way, there have been four major movies that have not only encouraged me to write but to always write my truth. They are, in no particular order, Harriet the Spy, Never Been Kissed, Almost Famous, and Cruel Intentions. On the surface, these movies seem in no way connected, but I can assure you they’ve all contributed to the writing of yours truly in one way or another, so grab your notebook and get ready to take notes. 

Harriet the Spy should be an obvious influence of mine. She taught me to find inspiration in those around me and to write down EVERYTHING I see. Harriet made writing magical by illuminating even the most ordinary of things. She was fearless. She was the reason I got my first composition notebook. She really taught me the importance of capturing everything on paper. She showed me how to start writing and because of her, I’ve never stopped. 

Speaking of never, Never Been Kissed is next up on our list. Drew Barrymore’s Josie Geller has resonated with me from adolescence onward. Josie taught me how to get out of my comfort zone (especially as someone who was also never kissed in high school). She taught me to always write my truth, no matter how embarrassing. She’s why I’ve always stuck up for the truth in my writing and will never compromise my honesty for the sake of journalism. Her vulnerability on that baseball field helped me become vulnerable in my writing in a way I never thought I could. She showed me how to find my unique voice. She showed me how to not be afraid. She showed me a great movie. 

I know Almost Famous is arguably one of the best movies ever, and a lot of people cite it as inspiration for a lot of different reasons, but for me, it’s all about Patrick Fugit’s William Miller. As a kid jotting down entries in my little black pens and composition notebooks, I understand how absolutely incredible the opportunity to write a piece for Rolling Stone would be, especially as a teenager. William Miller taught me to write what I see. He taught me how complex people are and how failure isn’t the end of the world. He taught me how to take chances. He taught me how support comes from the unlikeliest of places. He taught me to listen and to trust the power of music and of words and how lyrics and reviews are harmonious. 

Finally, we have the wild card of Cruel Intentions. I’ll be the first to admit Sebastian Valmont is a reformed hellion, and I know he’s absolutely not the prime example of goodness, and he’s the epitome of a tragic hero. However, he still showed me something important. Although Sebastian was keen on preserving his reputation, he wrote to cope. His journal was 100% honest, and before he met Annette, it was his one true outlet. Sebastian used writing as his way of coping with all of his sins. I’m obviously not ruining the reputations of prep school girls or my psychiatrist, but I do using writing as my coping mechanism. I use writing to express myself when I’m depressed. I use writing to express myself with I’m happy. I use writing as a way to articulate all of the thoughts I internalized, and I can thank Sebastian Valmont for that. 

Now, there are obviously a lot more inspirations and means of support that contribute to my writing like my mom who has encouraged me from day one and my friends who have read drafts and pieces for years. In addition to writing, movies have always been a major part of my life (I’m named after the lead character in Highlander for crying out loud), so the likes of Harriet, Josie, William, and Sebastian have also played a pivotal role in my development as a writer. They’re the characters in movies I watch over and over again, and they’re characters who have taught me to be bold and genuine in everything I write. They’ve taught me to be relentlessly and unapologetically me. I can only say that in so many different ways, so I’ll leave you the words of Josie Geller, “Find out who you are and try not to be afraid of it.”