How do I make my thesis statement more specific?

I need to make a thesis statement on To Kill a Mockingbird! Help?

• I have to write a thesis statement for a research paper on "To Kill a Mockingbird". My research paper is about: How and why do an author's experiences influence and inspire their work? Research the life of Harper Lee and how it influenced and inspired To Kill a Mockingbird. What similarities exist between Lee's life and childhood, and that of Scout in the novel. I think I made some sort of thesis statement: "The childhood of Harper Lee was similar in many ways to the characters in her book "To Kill a Mockingbird" and I'm going to write what inspired her to write this book." What did I do wrong or what I need to add? Can you please make one similar to mine?

• Answer:

  Instead of saying "I'm going to write..." say something like "this essay is about..." This is the way I prefer to write. The invisible author. Other than that, it sounds fascinating. Harper Lee had an interesting life.