I love a good inspirational story – especially when I’m feeling down in the dumps. So yesterday when it rained for maybe the twentieth day in a row and I kept thinking about everything that was wrong with my WIP, I was pretty desperate for something inspirational.
And along came The Help.
I read the book a couple of months ago and approached the film like I do every film that adapts a book I enjoyed – nervously. The story if you don’t know it by now is about black maids in 1960′s Mississippi who look after white children. When Miss Skeeter, a young white woman just out of college, decides to tell their story she forms a unique friendship with two of the maids and rocks the town of Jackson and the publishing world. Although the story looks at racism and Civil Rights, it focuses on friendship and the inspirational women who lived in that time and place.
The film captured the heart of the book for me – it was funny, moving and a brilliant character study. The actors were who I imagined the characters would look and sound and act like and the setting was perfect on screen. I had tears in my eyes at the end.
The story of The Help is inspiring in itself but so is the story behind it. The author Kathryn Stockett was rejected by over sixty literary agents but she never gave up, so determined to tell the story. She in turn was inspired by her own black maid growing up. The film also has its own inspiring story – her friend decided to film the story even before she had an agent or a book deal but no studio wanted to back it. Once she got published and the book started selling, the big-wigs read his screenplay and backed him. Again, they could have both given up but they didn’t and they got a best-selling books and Oscar-winning film in the end.
In an interview with the author on the DVD, she says that when anyone tells her she can’t have or do something, it makes her want it even more. If that isn’t inspiring, I don’t know what it is 
Did anything inspire you this weekend?
Victoria
xoxo
I Made You A Mixtape
/ May 8, 2012I have not read the book, but I enjoyed the film so much I believe the book must be fabulous! I thought it was such a good heart warming film, and one that also makes you think…
Victoria-writes
/ May 8, 2012I agree, it has a great message!
Shimky
/ May 8, 2012We all need a little encouragement through inspiration and other means!
Victoria-writes
/ May 9, 2012Very true
thoughtsappear
/ May 8, 2012Rejected by 60 agents? Wow!
Victoria-writes
/ May 9, 2012Yep – keeps me going
leashieloo
/ May 8, 2012I never saw the movie, but I did enjoy the book. Sixty agents?? That IS inspirational!
Victoria-writes
/ May 9, 2012It stayed true to the book. I know, right? Never give up
Vanessa
/ May 8, 2012Great post! I haven’t seen The Help yet, but this does make it sound good. As for inspirational… probably my crit partners. They’re the best!
Victoria-writes
/ May 9, 2012Aw that’s cute. I agree, other writers inspire me a lot!
Bonnie
/ May 8, 2012My dad read this book before he saw the movie and said both were fabulous. I probably won’t get around to reading the book, but look forward to seeing the movie!
Victoria-writes
/ May 9, 2012Let me know what you think if you do!
Samir
/ May 8, 2012It’s so hard to believe that she had 60 rejections before publication. I wonder sometimes what those agents think when they pass over a book that becomes a mega-success.
Victoria-writes
/ May 9, 2012I know, I guess they must have had reasons but they must feel a little annoyed. What about the ones that passed on Harry Potter?!
Rach @ This Italian Family
/ May 8, 2012That IS inspiring!
Victoria-writes
/ May 9, 2012barb19
/ May 8, 2012Your post is very inspiring itself Victoria!
I haven’t read the book or seen the movie, but you have inspired me to read the book, it sounds like my cup of tea – a book with a message.
Victoria-writes
/ May 9, 2012Thanks Barb! I hope you enjoy it, let me know!
barb19
/ May 9, 2012I definitely will!
Kourtney Heintz
/ May 9, 2012I read an article on how she would lie to her family about spa weekends and go stay at a motel to revise in hiding because she didn’t want anyone to know she was still working on a book that no one seemed to want. She is so very inspiring. Believe in your story. Believe in your writing. Every draft is riddled with issues. And each new draft will have new issues. But when you put in the time and effort–good things happen!
I spent this afternoon at archery with my cousin. We had a blast. Sometimes our arrows went astray. Sometimes we hit the bullseye. But we celebrated our victories and commiserated over our wild shots together. It was fun. The learning is what makes life interesting.
Victoria-writes
/ May 9, 2012Aw bless her, it’s tough isn’t when you get so many rejections but like you said, she’s proof that we should keep going! Archery sounds lots of fun, although I have no hand/eye coordination so I’d probably injure someone if I tried
Kourtney Heintz
/ May 9, 2012Victoria, I am the consummate nerd. Dodge Ball was just “hit Kourtney with the ball.” But archery is actually pretty easy. You plant your feet so it’s just arm movement.
Way easier than dancing.
Victoria-writes
/ May 10, 2012Haha you’ve given me flashbacks to sport at school *shudders*
Nicole
/ May 10, 2012I LOVE ‘The Help’ so much! It’s the best book I’ve read in awhile, and the movie is amazing as well!
Victoria-writes
/ May 10, 2012It’s so rare that you love both!
nrhatch
/ May 14, 2012Loved the movie. One of the best I’ve seen in the past year. Glad you enjoyed!
Victoria-writes
/ May 14, 2012I agree Nancy!