Elana Johnson asked a question in her blog today about how folks got started writing. As usual, it's a great post, and the comments are lively. If you haven't, go read it and then come back here.
Welcome back! :)
Here's the thing. I have no idea how I got started writing. I really don't. I don't have the drive to write; I just write. It's just been part of what I do for as long as I can remember. And I thought it might be fun to start a new series in my blog where I chronicle a bit of my development as a writer, so you can see where I've been. Love to hear from you in the comments if you had any of the same experiences.
Today: Young Author's Contest Winner
I'd been doodling around with stories as long as I can remember. When my school system hosted a young author's contest for a elementary school and middle school kids to write children's books, I was all over it. I think I was in fifth grade, but I'm not sure. Anyway, I wrote this story about a rabbit that helped his animal friends out and learned the value of being a nice person. It had to be "bound," so I cut the cover and pages in the shape of a rabbit, protected the covers with contact paper, and stapled the crap out of it.
And I won!
I was very proud. You would think that winning the first contest I entered would have made me pretty confident about submissions, but I think it had the opposite effect. "Oh sh--, it's gotta be all downhill from here."
And so I went something like seven years without submitting anything else.
Anyone else have any interesting childhood writing stories to share?
Next time on this thread: My very first novel: "Crow."
.Nevets.
Way to go on the contest! At least that's something tangible you remember about your writing career. :)
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