We’ve touched on many writing goals and techniques to meet those goals so far this month. I’ve enjoyed all the blogs. I did get tired just reading Starla’s. That woman has motivation.
With that word in mind, I wanted to take a moment for us to remember why we are setting these writing goal be they seven pages or seven novels we want to complete this year. The why is as important as how.
For me, the why is internal. I come from a long line of storytellers. My grandmothers, my great uncles, they told the most wonderful stories about their lives. I learned early that even the simple things that happen to us could be transformed into a story.
When I learned to read, I fell in love with books. They told me stories about far-away places and took me far beyond our Kansas farm and back again without leaving my room.
It may seem odd, but I never once thought about writing my own stories.
During high school, my best friend was not allowed to watch TV after 8pm. During our lunch hour, I would repeat to her the story and dialogue of the shows she couldn’t watch. I found out I loved to tell stories.
Then a strange thing happened. In college, I was looking for an easy course so I enrolled in Creative Writing. Oh, what fun I had. Near the end of the semester, my teacher stopped me and asked, “Have you ever thought about trying to get published?”
The thought had never crossed my mind, but after that day, it never went away.
That teacher’s words lit a slow fuse in my soul. I got married, had a baby and a career, read voraciously, but never stopped thinking that someday I would write my own book. I think now that I was born to tell stories. I believe it is a gift from God.
It isn’t easy, but I can’t stop doing it.
Why do you want to be a writer?
Where does that desire come from?
When did you know you could put words together and make a story happen?
Who showed you the way?
Who encouraged you?
Who discouraged you?
What do you want your writing to bring you?
Share with us.
With that word in mind, I wanted to take a moment for us to remember why we are setting these writing goal be they seven pages or seven novels we want to complete this year. The why is as important as how.
For me, the why is internal. I come from a long line of storytellers. My grandmothers, my great uncles, they told the most wonderful stories about their lives. I learned early that even the simple things that happen to us could be transformed into a story.
When I learned to read, I fell in love with books. They told me stories about far-away places and took me far beyond our Kansas farm and back again without leaving my room.
It may seem odd, but I never once thought about writing my own stories.
During high school, my best friend was not allowed to watch TV after 8pm. During our lunch hour, I would repeat to her the story and dialogue of the shows she couldn’t watch. I found out I loved to tell stories.
Then a strange thing happened. In college, I was looking for an easy course so I enrolled in Creative Writing. Oh, what fun I had. Near the end of the semester, my teacher stopped me and asked, “Have you ever thought about trying to get published?”
The thought had never crossed my mind, but after that day, it never went away.
That teacher’s words lit a slow fuse in my soul. I got married, had a baby and a career, read voraciously, but never stopped thinking that someday I would write my own book. I think now that I was born to tell stories. I believe it is a gift from God.
It isn’t easy, but I can’t stop doing it.
Why do you want to be a writer?
Where does that desire come from?
When did you know you could put words together and make a story happen?
Who showed you the way?
Who encouraged you?
Who discouraged you?
What do you want your writing to bring you?
Share with us.
Pat
8 comments:
Hey Miss Pat!
I too have always loved to read and I have always loved to put words on paper. I was better at writing than talking because I used to be very shy. I wrote my first official story in 3rd grade. It was a horror story somewhat influenced by "The Creature From the Black Lagoon." My teacher was so excited she wanted to read it to the whole class but the thought petrified me and I said, "No thanks." I used my writing skills mostly for letters, schoolwork and the occasional diary/journal entry until a few years ago when God said to just, "Sit down and do it." I did and was amazed that I could actually get the story out of my head and on to my computer. After that, it was stumbling around in the dark until Jeannie invited me to WARA and a mere one year later, I finally showed up. I can't imagine my life without writing in it now. So thanks to my encouraging teachers, Miss Jeannie and her invitation, WARA and a nudge from the Lord, I now consider myself a writer and one day soon, I'll even get paid for it! :)
Becky,
Thanks for sharing. I can't see you as shy. You seem so together. I know your hard work will be blessed someday.
Pat
I've always wanted to be a writer. In the 5th grade we were required to write a short story. I remember writing mine and then half of my friends stories too. Since then I've carried the dream in my heart.
The years following weren't always easy ones. I raised a family and dealt with serious issues that made it hard to stay focused or maintain any confidence. At times I had to be both mom and dad and I dedicated myself to that task--losing myself along the way. Like most moms, my needs, wants and personal time came last. Now that my family is grown I have more time and the desire is definitely still there, but I also know how much I have to learn. I read good books and say "I wish I could write like that."
So, I keep on writing. Trying to get better. Trying to learn more about the business. Trying to succeed when the odds are against me in the hopes that someday I will be successful at something other than baking cookies, doing laundry and driving to soccer practice.
If I give up then it will never happen. The dream will die in my heart and I can't live with that.
PS> great picture of you and Josh. XOXO
I've always written, but I didn't "decide" to write until my oldest was in middle school. When I was 18-19, I wrote a thousand word book--or something close to it. I never counted the pages, but it was endless. LOL I wrote plays as a child--with 14-15 acts. (Okay, stop rolling on the floor.) At one time, I had 5 penpals. I faked my way through term papers in high school and received good grades for doing it. *grin*
I think being an only child is one of the reasons I lived in fantasyland much of the time. Between reading and making up my own stories in my head, I could live in worlds I would never see and do things I would never do...as someone else. Another reason why I loved theater so much, I'm sure.
I made up stories based on cloud formations (still do) since I was nine or so and responsible for 3 younger siblings. They also loved stories about the stars at night. I was always a voracious reader, even to the point of "borrowing" my dad's cowboy fiction he didn't think suitable for me. I wrote plays--had the younger siblings act in them, told more stories --ever longer and more complex. In college I wrote a short story that was my family's chaos thinly disguised. The teacher gave me my first "C" ever and told me I was NOT meant to be writer. Then came marriage, kids, life. But I still thought "what if" about settings and people. Strange to me at the time, it was as my world got more and more constrained and reduced due to increasing problems with asthma etc. that a story idea grew and grew until I had to write it down. Writing has always seemed such a wondrous gift, a blessing that keeps me sane amid all the meds. And that long ago teacher who discouraged me--she taught me the best lesson I ever learned which I was able to use when I taught. Never tell anyone they can't achieve. Always insist they can and they will.
Cloud stories. How cute. I'm glad you proved that imagination-impared teacher wrong. Keep writing and I hope you feel better and better.
Pat
Pat, I love how your teacher encouraged you. And, Joan, I think it's so sad that your teacher said you weren't meant to be a writer. That's just mean and so untrue. I'm so glad you didn't listen. :D
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