WATCH: Katy Perry - Chained To The Rhythm Video

I often describe the town I grew up in as a bubble. It wasn't until I went to college that I started to even remotely realize just how sheltered I was and how different the whole town was compared to the rest of the world. 

Watching Katy Perry's performance at the Grammy Awards made me think of my childhood but also of the world we live in today. There are so many things we perceive that might or might not be true. And there is so much that we have to question and analyze and decide about, especially in a world of supposed fake news and social media.

I wanted to bring awareness to this song and this performance because it impacted me in terms of how I think about and view the world but also in my own writing. I've been working on revisions of a young adult novel and in this particular book, the main character has a lot going on in her head. She's trying to cover the sadness and insecurity she faces. So much of this story in particular is about what people see on the outside versus what a person is experiencing on the inside. Many if not most books are like this and it's one reason I love reading and writing so much. I've discovered so much from getting to know a main character as I'm reading. As a writer, I love that I have the opportunity to help readers see that there is more to us than meets the eye. It's fascinating to think about and I hope you get some inspiration. 

Watch and think about your own life or your own writing. Can you recognize examples of how something portrayed to others is different from the reality? Explore this in your own writing - either about yourself or in connection to your main character. I've recognized that in order for readers to connect with your character, they need to know what the scoop is. Here's a great blog post from Adventures in YA Publishing about a blueprint for writing that I found to be super helpful. It refers to your protagonist and what's going on under the surface and I hope you find it helpful!