When I Knew I Was A Writer

I don't think there was ever a set defining moment when a pillar of light shone on me and I just knew that I was a writer. Ever since I could write, I've loved it. I have a memory of getting a worksheet back from my teacher in 1st grade, where we had to color in a Raggedy-Ann-type doll and then write a few sentences about our creation. My paper had the comment "GREAT adjectives!". So really, it's been that long.

I wrote my first real short story in 5th grade. All I remember about it was that the story was set during Colonial times, and it was about a girl and her slave, who was her best friend. I wrote it and illustrated the pages myself, and was pretty proud of it. I wish I still had that little stapled, lovingly-created story because I'm sure it would give me lots of laughs!

During the end of my sophomore year of high school and the summer before my junior year, I was working hard on my first attempt at a full-length novel. I entered some of it into a writing contest in my local newspaper, and won first place for the Under-18 division. That was when it actually occurred to me that I might be good at this. 

I still work on the novel from time to time, and I've named it Seashells. I used it as my critique piece in both creative writing classes I took during my years at community college, but aside from my classmates very few people have read it. It's just one of those things that I doubt I will ever attempt to publish, because it's a very personal piece and I love it dearly. Too dearly to have an editor rip it to shreds!

It's my love for writing (and reading, of course) that led me to pursue a career as an English teacher. Writing is a skill that many--kids and adults alike--struggle with, and find to be very frustrating or unpleasant. But if you can really learn how to do it in a way that works for you, it is an incredible tool! I'm hoping that I can teach my students about the power of words, and how anyone can create a story with them.