When I was in grade school, I wrote a story about an avalanche. What did I know about that frightening weather occurrence? Very little, except what I had learned from a short description in my geography book. But that’s how writers begin. Amazed by something I knew nothing about, I wanted to ENTER that experience, write about it as if I were a reporter. My version made sure that everyone was OKAY…a happy ending, reflecting what I was reading at the time: Little Women, biographies of English queens…books that carried me away from the couch in our living room.
THE POINT: I was writing. I saved that early work for many years, but then finally let it go. One piece of notebook paper, with a star on it…given to me by my teacher, who probably told her someone: I’ve got this student in my third grade class. She thinks this is what writers do; probably copied most of the words from our geography book, but it was an attempt, so I tried to encourage her.
THE AFTERMATH
And yes, I kept writing. I had a best friend and we created a story about ourselves: The Two Tornadoes of Wood Street and Our Country: Jean and Beth. And I TRULY BELIEVE….that is how a writer begins. You make stuff up. So I did, falling asleep at night, eventually keeping a diary, moving on to short stories when I was in high school. Was I good at this? My creative writing teacher did encourage me. BUT EVEN THEN, there were students in my class that eclipsed what I wrote. THE STRUGGLE had begun. And yes, I am still writing, still getting rejections, but also being told I have a voice and need to keep going. That I will do.
FINDING A PATHWAY
And Dear Readers, you probably remember a particular moment when the trajectory of your life took shape: you knew what path you wanted to explore. Sometimes it occurs out of necessity: you need a job, an income. I have friends from early years who became doctors, lawyers. But there were also nurses, researchers, artists, musicians, teachers, scientists, lawyers, rock music composers and entrepreneurs in so many different fields.
And it is definitely true, that what we are exposed to in our youth can often help create a final decision, though we are also allowed to change our minds. I went from teaching to nursing…two careers demanding lots of reading, studying, preparation…not to mention patience and love. My final take: both were awesome choices.
AND NOW? I write. Articles, book reviews, novels…I have written three, all unpublished. Two of them I have not read for years, but still think of their characters, their lives, asking myself: is there good writing in those early attempts? Maybe, probably.
But in this moment, I am fulfilled when you read my posts…thanks so much. Writing will always take me places. And as for the photos above: my book of short stories; also a novel and a nonfiction work that I highly recommend.
2 Responses
Beth, We’re so much alike in our need to constantly write. I’ve also written several novels, none published yet, but I keep trying. For me, my English teacher freshman year of high school, Mr. DeWolfe, was my first inkling that I could write. I’ll never forget getting an essay back from him and on top he’d written, “Now this is Laurie.” It changed my life.
I love that. He was zeroing in on YOU, your style, what you had to say. Because sometimes we do feel the need to copy others, or not be our true selves when we write. God bless Mr. DeWolfe and Dr. Michael Fortune who saw in me the ability to read and analyze, which helps one learn the rubric of writing. Then there was my senior year of college History teacher who told me I was a bad writer. I think what was happening was lack of love for the assignment. You have to LOVE what you write. Hugs, Beth