Now, for all you writer's out there, when did you know you were a writer? Was it last night? Last year? Since mama brought you into this giant world? With a whole lotta help from God, I might add.
Did you always know? Did you discover writing through another vocation like teaching? What is it about writing that makes you know that you know that you know that you LOVE it?
For me, I discovered writing through home-schooling. I noticed how wonderful it made me feel to write. And I always loved reading so it was a natural fit for me. So for me it took a few years(yeah, I'm a little slow) to finally realize that I should consider writing picture books. And then a couple more years before deciding to write a novel.
Tell me how it happened for you. I really want to know. And thanks. :)
I guess I was always a writer, just didn't figure it out until I was 20.
ReplyDeleteI always (still do) had an active imagination. I grew up in the days before video games and computers, so we were always outside playing . . . and using our imaginations.
I finally started writing when I wanted to know more about what happened to some characters in a book after 'The End'. From there, well, I was hooked and haven't stopped.
I love writing. I love creating characters, worlds, situations, and everything.
Writing brings a sense of satisfcation and accomplishment to my life.
I knew I was a writer when I realised that the only time I'm truly still and at peace with myself is when I'm writing. While being published *will* be a dream come true, I've slowly come to know that, even if I'm never published (which is, I think, a possibility every writer has to face at some point or other), I must still write if I am to maintain any sort of inner equilibrium and happiness. This realisation wasn't a sudden epiphany, but took years to crystallise. It's only since 2008 I've known for sure that I am "A Writer".
ReplyDeleteGood question! I wrote since I could 'put pen to paper' so to speak. I wrote two novels and more picture books than I can count during junior high and high school. I LOVED writing. My parents...well, they wanted me to be realistic. Then, they read my journal and acted upon what they read (which was simply put, a 12 yr old girl's reaction to getting grounded) Then I found out they were reading my mail between me and my Aunt. We wrote letters that were like stories-imaginative and maybe sometimes silly. I stopped writing for TONS of years. Too many. My husband actually suggested that I take the writing course through Institute of Children's Literature after having our son. He's kept on me to keep writing-without him, I may never have KNOWN. :)
ReplyDeleteScott, once a writer always a writer. Or in your case, just always. But wasn't it better for you, growing up without the computer, video games or T.V.? Ahahahahaha Just kidding about the last one, my friend. :)
ReplyDeleteKristi, Love your play on words. So if it wasn't for your husband we would not have met. Thank him for me will ya? And mine is the same way. Especially when I'm discouraged. He pushes me out of the funk and moves me forward. :)
In first grade when I wrote a cheesy poem for a class assignment, the teacher praised my poem to no end. From that point on, I coul dnever convince myself I wasn't a writer. I just kept creating longer, more involved tales.
ReplyDeleteI've always loved to write, but I only recently attempted an entire novel. I just woke up one morning and thought, I'm going to give it a shot.
ReplyDeleteOh man, this is so embarrassing...but I'd have to say I figured it out in High School when friends would ask me to write stories about them and the guys they liked. I would write the most whacked out stories and situations featuring all their crushes (and a few of my own). Then I started doing it for everything--I ran the student paper and would write fiction pieces about teachers and thier well known qualities. Like I had two teachers who were notorious 'spitters' when they got all jazzed up about a topic...everyone knew to not pick a seat in the front row in their classes. Anyway I'd write stories about how they were actually twins seperated at birth and reunited by their talent to soak all the kids in the front row...stuff like that. I also wrote stories about teachers for school assignments--one was a serial killer, the other worshipped math text books a la cult...oh I was a real pleasure as a student i'm sure...hahaaa
ReplyDeleteI still question my own abilities, so I can't currently say that I KNOW that I'm meant to be a writer. In all fairness, I'm probably not. But, the even that got me hooked on writing was a high school English class assignment. It was just a few weeks before graduation and we were told to write about our hometown. It was the first time I wrote something honest instead of trying to be "right", and my class's positive reaction to it made me realize that people actually cared about what I had to say.
ReplyDeleteAnn, writing brings true peace and contentment to me also. And I agree that the BIGGEST issue writers have to face is the published/not published thing. And if I never get published(but I want to so badly) I will still write. It gives me so much enjoyment. :)
ReplyDeleteAh Linda, I bet that poem rivaled the greatest poems from the masters. :)
Susan, isn't that something? I bet your family supports this decision. I find it really fascinating to hear these stories of how we all came to be in this place we are in. :) Thanks
Angela, Yeah, I'm sure the teachers found you amazing. :) I'd love to read the stories about the girls and their crushes. Those HAVE to be good. And the spitting twins. Ahahaha At least you discovered what you were made to do. I loved reading it. :)
Davin, I love hearing this and I DEFINITELY consider you a writer. I have read some of your stuff. And I love it. But isn't that amazing that because of the positive response you received, you became a writer. It might have been much different if the response had been negative.
ReplyDeleteThat is why when I give my opinion on a story, I ALWAYS encourage. That is the BEST thing I can offer someone. Your class did a wonderful thing for you. Thanks for sharing. :)
I have a thing for pens. I discovered this when I was little, and I was constantly in trouble for writing on the walls. I was 9 when I started my first diary...and yes, I still have it. Somehow, I never stopped.
ReplyDeleteAll do to your pen fetish. Bet you're glad you have that now.
ReplyDeleteActually, I meant all due to your pen fetish.
ReplyDeleteWhat a great question! I've known, I think, from the moment I learned to read. I wrote my first "book" when I was six or seven - it was about Candyland, and I illustrated it, too. Of course, the main character was my favorite piece of candy - Mint.
ReplyDeleteI didn't actually get a whole lot of support back then for my writing. But it never seemed to bother me. I just kept writing because it was play. I lost that sense of play for a long time, and really, it's only just started coming back for me!
I'd say for certain junior high but I wrote even before that. It's just natural for me to consider writing as a profession or pastime since I absolutely loved reading and still do!
ReplyDeleteBelle, Candyland. I hope you still have that little piece of history. When you become a famous writer they will auction it off for loads of money. :) Hey Belle, run on.
ReplyDeleteT.Anne, my friend! I love reading too. My life has always been filled with books. So writing was a next step for me too. :)
Forever. And not yet.
ReplyDeleteSuzanne, I love it! Too cool. :)
ReplyDeleteI think the moment I knew was when I sat down to write my first book. It was a "this is for me," epiphany. And I've written ever since! If I didn't love it, I would have given up by now, lol. :D
ReplyDeleteBJ, Me too. Long, long ago. :)
ReplyDeleteI remember writing novels (or begining them at least) in 6th grade. Then I fell in love with drama and other artistic endeavors. It wasn't until I was 30ish that I bumped back into writing and decided to really apply myself.
ReplyDeleteThanks for helping me remember that -- it was fun .
As long as I can remember I loved writing and knew I wanted to be a writer. I always say age 6, when I began to read. I wanted to be Lois Lane, intrepid woman reporter with my very own Superman. I wrote stories for my dad. I always knew I'd be a journalist. But then, when it was time for college I took bad advice and didn't go into journalism because I was told the field was flooded because of the Watergate Scandal - everybody wanted to be journalists. I went into Accounting - and I HATED it! I still wanted to be a writer. So I started writing again in my off time. Only now I was writing more than short stories, I was writing romance novels.
ReplyDeleteIf I could go back...I'd major in Journalism no matter what anybody else said.
Tess, it is fun to think back to THE day isn't it? I had the same reaction as I drifted back into my junior high years. (that's what it was called back in my day):)
ReplyDeleteAshley, I had the same dream. Journalism. I too was talked out of it and you're not going to believe this, but I ended up as a bookkeeper. Is that weird or what? And I would never let myself be talked out of it...again either. :) Ah the memories. Thanks!
I knew in first grade after I learned to write the alphabet and then sentences. I was hooked from there. I got side-tracked by art in 5th or 6th grade. From there it was one thing after another that caught my imagination and writing took a back-seat.
ReplyDeleteIt's a long and winding story but, the bottom line is this. I did not starting writing seriously until 2008, after my baby son left home to live on his own. WOW!
I am a "LateBloomer".
Robyn, I was always an avid reader in elementary & junior high school, but I think what clinched it for me was when I had creative writing for one semester during my junior year in high school. I'd often receive a fiction writing assignment handed back with "Is this real?" or "Did this really happen?" jotted at the bottom of a story. But I did not seriously think of writing for publication (or even writing children's books at all) till roughly 20 years later (@ 5 years ago).
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