Maybe it began when I was a young girl living in a small English town and inventing stories to entertain my younger sister...nope. J.K. Rowling.
My story is far less exciting. After being forever warped by a babysitting episode when I was five in which my brother let me watch 'Carrie' while he made out with his girlfriend, I was hooked. When I turned eight, my parents decided to completely do away with our televisions for religious reasons. The Horror. But it forced me to read. And read. And read.
The love of a good story morphed into a life long affair with the written word. I devoured whatever I could find from Flowers in the Attic by V.C. Andrews to The Sacketts by Louis L'Amour. And anything/everything by Stephen King. I delighted in writing horrific short stories to scare my sister with. I may still have the first five chapters of a western I wrote when I was thirteen...in pencil.
My future was mapped out by the time I was in 5th grade. I would attend college, before becoming a foreign correspondent. Then later take Katie Couric's place on the Today Show. After a few years of that, I would settle down with some very handsome wealthy man (preferably a celebrity, at the time this may have been Tom Cruise. Don't judge me.) and have a few kids, all the while writing best-selling novels.
Instead I met my soul mate in a crappy little town on the far side of Arizona when I was still a teenager and my plans went all to hell. It's ok. Wingin' it hasn't been so bad. For a long time I gave up on dreams that seemed so far out of reach.
Then one day I had an epiphany. Time was passing and if I didn't want to end up an old lady in a rocking chair wishing I'd at least given my dreams a fair shot, then I better get my ass in gear.
Besides, if some Mormon housewife with three kids could pump out a bestseller...so could I.
Now I can't imagine ever giving it up. And that's my story.
What's yours?
This blogfest is being hosted by Alex J. Cavanaugh, DL Hammons, Katie Mills, and Matthew MacNish.
Wow, I still can't believe you met your husband when you were a teenager. And I'm glad you got your ass in gear. You're too good of a writer to let all that sarcasm go to waste. :)
ReplyDeleteI think deep-down, we all write to preserve ourselves in some way, a legacy. I'm following you now.
ReplyDeleteSome guy in a trench coat was selling books for fifty cents. He said I could just try one. I could stop reading any time.
ReplyDeleteI told myself: Just once.
Just once.
But it's okay. I can quit whenever I want to.
Many writers (at least in this blogfest) seem to return to writing after some time has passed. I guess it's one of those things that endures. :)
ReplyDeleteWow, I really wish I had my binder from high school! It had all of my short stories. It's funny, though, that the stories were all horror, considering I now write romance, lol. I'm glad you found your calling, even if it took a while. Sometimes the odds of missing out are enough to get you moving :)
ReplyDeleteMy story is a lot like yours. I have been reading since I was four years old, and I was writing stories in elementary school. When I went off to college, I was even a journalism major! But then I met my now-husband, I switched majors for reasons beyond me, and I just lost track of my future. Then about two years ago, it dawned on me just how UNHAPPY I was, and I figured it out - I wasn't writing and I wasn't reading anymore. So the next thing I did was read non-stop and write like there was no tomorrow. And now, I'm feeling like things are back to normal. :)
ReplyDeleteLouis L'Amour! Very cool. As is getting your ass in gear.
ReplyDeleteAnd I wish I'd spent my youth reading more instead of watching "Gomer Pyle" reruns.
I've always wanted to write. Started a few novels freshman year of college, abandoned them. Passed a few years studying and playing basketball, all the while wanting to write but never making the time. Graduate school thesis rolls around and suddenly writing FOR FUN is so intoxicating that I can't quit. I don't know why I ever did, and now I never will. :)
ReplyDeleteI'm glad you stuck with that dream, with some revisions, and are not trying to make it happen. Nice to know your origins.
ReplyDeleteNow that's what I call writing with attitude. Don't ever give it up.
ReplyDeleteI think winging it is the best way to go! Thanks so much for sharing your origins!
ReplyDeleteHi, I'm now following compliments of the Origins blogfest. I've seen you around on some of the blogs I follow. Nice to meet you.
ReplyDeleteLiked your post. I'll be checking in to read some of your other posts on another less hectic day.
Get your ass in gear! Amen Sister! I've said that to myself several times and one of these years I'll gain enough traction to get going! Loved your ORIGIN story! :)
ReplyDeleteI can't imagine giving it up either :)
ReplyDeleteWatching 'Carrie' made me want to read the STAND by S. King. My eldest daughter got me to read 'Hearts in Atlantis' by King first. But I wouldn't have given those books a blink if I hadn't seen the movie 'Carrie' first.
ReplyDeleteWhatever gets you writing, that's a good thing. Thanks for sharing.
Writing is in your DNA. And yes, if a certain Mormon housewife can write bestsellers and launch a bajillion-dollar franchise, OF COURSE YOU CAN, TOO.
ReplyDeleteWhat would this world be without your funny, sarcastic voice telling it like it is? I shudder to imagine. :)
I wonder how your sister survived all those "horrific" stories you wrote. Did she eventually get into reading horror stuff as well?
ReplyDeleteGreat to meet you on this blogfest.
your newest follower,
Nutschell
www.thewritingnut.com
I love this post. Your voice really shines through, especially in the "while my brother made out with his girlfriend" part. Ha!
ReplyDeleteAnd yes, you can! Good luck!
lol.... taking Katie's place on the Today show. Man, reading Flowers in the Attic was such an eye opening experience for me. I remember being wowed.
ReplyDeleteI love your story! just do what you want don't give up stay on your path.
ReplyDelete