A few weeks ago, in a lengthy conversation with a friend, I blurted out (as dramatically as possible) “But I am my writing!” It was in response to my perfectionism getting in the way — again.  

Taking on a journalistic role has pushed me to shift from my usual creative writing style to a more direct, fact-based approach, ensuring that I avoid bias in the stories I tell. Still, I’m always looking for ways to weave creativity into my reporting — and some days, I pull it off better than others (I can’t be perfect, right?).  

Writing — at least for me — goes hand in hand with reading. This week, I’m revisiting “Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland” as the bedtime book of choice for my son. I’ve always read to him (and plan to continue until he stops me). Even when he was still in the womb, I read to him!  

In fact, I like to brag that he got his first library card at just six-months-old (he still uses the same one at age ten), and his very first book was titled “Book” — and no, that wasn’t a mistake.  

Because I’m ensconced in “Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland,” I’m having an even harder time keeping my creative impulses from seeping into my stories for the Life section this week (I’m trying my best, though).  

This week, I focused on a story that reminded me of a magical time I was in England, when the final Harry Potter book debuted. J.K. Rowling did a book signing at midnight, and mini celebrations were taking place all over the streets of Oxford — where I happened to be staying at the time. It felt like a fairytale.  

The story I wrote this week about a local school in Warren building what I (ironically) deem a “wonderland” for students to inhabit on their learning journey reminded me of that fairytale like moment. Hopefully, my writing captures that in a factual, creative way. Feel free to let me know if it doesn’t!  

Speaking of fairytales, one contributor compared hiring a healthcare proxy to the story of “Goldilocks and the Three Bears” in her article this week, so feel free to look at that one too. 

In the meantime, it is getting late, and I need to get back to reading “Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland” to my son. It is a story full of creativity — from how it looks on the page, to who’s speaking, to the story itself — all coming from a child with a very vivid imagination — something I also have. It is something I’ve yet to shed in adulthood, and I’m glad for it.  

My ambitions all stem from that vivid, overdramatic, wondrous emotional place in my mind (and heart) that will somehow always leave me saying, “But I am my writing!” 

Michelle Mercure is editor of the East Bay Life section. Contact her for story ideas, comments, and suggestions at mmercure@eastbaymediagroup.com.