When did you know you wanted to become a writer? Was it a childhood dream? Something you arrived at kicking and screaming? Was there a particular trigger when you thought to yourself, “You know, what I really want to be doing is staring at a computer screen on my nights and weekends, inventing worlds and stuff”?
I came to the writing game pretty late. I had taken some short story classes in college, wrote a screenplay in my early 20’s, but never really thought I’d write a novel. I was 25 before I started writing in earnest, on a novel that didn’t work out, and I was 27 when I started JACOB WONDERBAR.
What about you? When did you know you wanted to write?
Art: “Woman Writing a Letter” by Frans van Mieris
For me I always loved to write and it was something I wanted to do since I was a kid…To create a story and bring it to life was my way of expressing myself…I had no idea about publishing and how to even get published until a few years ago..Even if I never got published I would still write just because it is my passion..
I always loved stories and reading. But I never really had the patience for writing or an idea that got me excited. I started to go for it about two years ago and now I go back and forth between "this is crazy" and spending hours in front of my computer.
I knew when I was eight that I wanted to be a writer. My siblings were a lot older than me- in college and they were my audience as I'd write stories for them. But then I let all the adults in my life get into my head and I stopped dreaming. I wrote in notebooks and hid myself from the world. Then I had kids and as I encouraged them to be brave and be proud of who they were, I realized I needed to do the same. Wahlah. I'm working on being published in YA and MG and will never stop writing again.
I was ten when I started working on my first book, but I didn't actually consider being an author as a career until a few years ago, when I wrote my second complete novel, I'M SORRY. The feeling I got while working on it, and when I heard people's feedback on it… that's when I knew it was what I wanted to do for the rest of my life. It'll be tough, I know it, but it's worth it if I get to feel that for years and years to come.
Funny thing -today in the mail my mom sent me the certificate I got when I published my first piece. It was in Cricket Magazine, and I was 12. I had forgotten all about it.
So I guess I've wanted to be a writer for a long, long time.
When I was in lower elementary, my teacher would have us write stories on papers shaped like the topic. I remember the elephant story specifically. I filled up 5-6 elephants with my story and all my classmates just stared in disbelief. I was hooked on story-telling from that point on.
I was twelve, and I still remember the first thing I wrote. It was a six-page short story. When kids in school talked about having no clue what they wanted to do with their lives, I had no idea what that was like. I always knew, but I'm not sure if that's a blessing or a curse.
I wrote my first "book" in the 3rd grade and presented it to my baby sitter. Then I took a break until highschool when I started up with poetry. Finally, in college, my writing instructor told me she always saved my assignments to read last because she knew they'd make her laugh. That's why I write. Because I like to make people laugh.
I knew I was a writer when, night after night, I would go straight to the computer after getting my daughter to sleep. It didn't take me long before I said to my husband, "I think I'm writing a novel.". I have been writing about 350 nights a year for the past five years.
About a month after the armed robbery. I found myself compulsively telling the story, to get over the experience.
Then I added the other knife point confrontations, and had a total of 5 stories, and people wanted to hear them. So I told the stories many times.
The final step was overcoming the baggage of my childhood. My mother and father telling me that I talked to hear the sound of my own voice, and that anything I said was without value or merit.
Then I could say, I want to create stories.
I started writing stories and songs at the age of six.I decided I wanted to write novels at the age of fifty.I love to read and maybe writing was a natural progression for me.I have finished two romance suspense novels,one fantasy just started and a paranormal/sci-fic that I am half way through.I am slowly working on a book of my original bedtime stories for children.At present I am looking for an agent. Writing is what I do.A writer is who I am.
Like many others here, I've had the writer in me since I was young–nine to be exact. But I didn't start writing fiction in earnest until I was 55.
When I was five or six I took pencil to paper to find out how many sentences I could come up with. When I hit about twenty I realized I could go on forever. This was when my love affair with words and sentences began. Not until four or five months ago, however, at age 38 did I seriously begin my first novel. Before then (now) I've simply always been a writer wannabe.
Since I was five years old? Before I could physically write a story. I was making them up in my head.
The first time I wrote something for "pleasure" was when I was sixteen. I had just returned from a backpacking trip that I wanted to treasure for years to come. And so I set out to document every feature of it.
The after-the-fact journal turned into a 200-page, handwritten notebook full of keepsakes, mementos, and memories.
There was no stopping me after that! I've been writing ever since.
It happened after I read Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban and I thought, "I'd love to be able to write something that amusing." and gosh-darn-it, I did and haven't stopped yet!
When I was in high school and we had to write a 20 page story and while everyone else groaned at how long it was,I realized that wasn't long enough for the story I wanted to write. I've been writing the great American novel (in my head) ever since.
After typing a few MS for a published author and learning a lot about the process, I really got serious about doing my own last year. Now if I'm not writing,reading or researching, I feel like I'm slacking off. I am about to face a really long daily commute and am looking forward to the 3 hours of writing time a day on the bus. Writing isn't a calling, it's a sickness.
I went to a power crochet class, to discover it wasn't my thing. Then I tried a writing class – and it was like a lightbulb turned on in me. I gave up my job and ever since than: I've been tapping away, like a obsessed nutter.
Well, I always knew I wanted to be a story teller. I've been dreaming up stories all my life!
I've come up with 13 pretty well developed stories since 2004 – and that's not including all the sequels and prequels some have. Oh, dear. Well, I love them all dearly.
I'm going to college to study TV production because I never thought I'd be able to write everything out accurately. I've recently been trying to though! It's so hard when you've got so many ideas and you don't know what to pay attention to. Booooo.
Mr. Bransford, I have been writing thirty-five years.I am now ready to expand,publish and print. I mainly write rhyming/poem/lyric/songs to shortly be put to music. I also write childrens books that rhyme. I also have many assorted acticles that I would like to put on paper the drafts are in my mind. I can write ballads and poems on a contract basis. Since most of my work is completed I don't go into paying to have my works published. My payment has been the many years of studying and writing. I want to be contracted to write on specific topics. I do not believe on giving up my art and copywrite for some sort of gallery. I want to be compensated for my years of effort. Kindly write me back and give me your feedback on my comments. Sincerely, John Thomas Nicholson Jr. My hotmail address is:johnthomasnicholsonjr@hotmail.com
I retired 2 years ago and because I am not 2 much a TV person, I was attached to my PC. At first I was on facebook and twitter the social media and accumulated bunch of associates. One day I did a review of my tweets and was amazed, so I decided to start writing. Check out "Visions for your mission" & "Impact your life" on kindle. also https://www.lifedirections4u.com
My English teacher, 11th grade, inspired me to write about an UBI, unifying big idea. It's help simplify my ideas and my thinking. I'm working on a manifesto now, a blend of Seth Godin's Poke the Box and Weird books. I'm going to sell it on the Kindle.
Here's the first self-help book and Kindle book I wrote: https://www.amazon.com/Rule-OCD-Practical-Overcoming-ebook/dp/B004ZS8EZQ
Always wanted to write but could never be one of those people who write in their spare time…had to devote myself to it. Started twelve years ago and am still loving it.
I suspected I was a writer when I was dubbed "The Blood King" during the creative writing section of my high school sophomore English class. I was shy, reserved, and a heavy reader. But when I read my stories out loud to the class, I felt a thrill unlike any other. Once bit by the storytelling bug, it is now an itch I need to scratch to use the first tired metaphor that comes to mind.
I came to the writing game pretty late…. I was 25 before I started writing in earnest, on a novel that didn't work out, and I was 27…
Ouch! 42 and slogging through my first novel. Better late then never?