Before I get into the fun of this blog and the fun of sharing my writing experiences with you, I thought we needed to get some of the formality out of the way. I say “we” because well, as much as I would like to think writing books is my journey, it’s actually “our” journey. Every time I think about writing and the idea that hopefully in the next few months you will all have my second book in your hands just baffles me. Something my mind thought up, something I created. I’ve never been good at sports or science or music, and I can’t carry a tune in a bucket; but words, well, that’s a different story.
I’ve always wanted to write, just like my mom I would sit and practice my handwriting for hours trying to get it just right. Even at that young of age, I felt like I was grooming myself for something bigger. Needless to say since that time they’ve come out with computers and I don’t have to write everything out by hand, thank god. So as a child, I read. I don’t mean your typical Boxcar Children, Goosebumps, R.L. Stein or Judy Blume books – ya I did read those, but I read everything! I read the cereal box, the shampoo bottle, the newspaper (when I could find a story to hold my attention), even my dad’s car magazines.
The first books I remember my mom letting me pick out to read for myself weren’t the popular kids books, but the young adult classics books. I read The Three Musketeers, Great Expectations, Swiss Family Robinson, etc. My favorite book though that I ever owned was a BEAUTIFUL hard backed copy of Little Women which at the time cost my mom more than I think she’d care to admit. This book had a dust cover and the smoothest, most vibrant cover. The pages, I remember, felt like thick parchment paper, and the illustrations were so crisp and detailed. I was completely enamored by the sheer beauty of this book. A book is something that looks so simple, but as soon as you open the cover and turn the pages you can’t help but be in awe of the amount of sheer awesome that went into putting that book in your hands. Someone had to think up that story, then take their time to put it down on paper, and finally have the courage to share it with the world. I was instantly in love with the idea of being a writer.
I didn’t know how to just break into the writing world, so I thought about it for a long time and decided I would try my hand at blogging and see how that felt. Now, almost two years later, I realize it was the best decision I’ve ever made. Throughout my blogging career I’ve met some pretty amazing people. Kim Holden and Chelle Craze are the two people who inspired me to write my debut novel. These two beautifully amazing women have supported me when I wanted to throw my hands up and walk away, when I sent out my first couple of chapters thinking they were going to be complete crap, and every.single.time they beg for more of my book I gain another level of confidence in myself and my abilities.
So, I guess, the point of the post is to tell all five of you who are probably reading this; how I came to be where I am on our journey. Clearly, if I can do it, than I know YOU CAN TOO! In all honesty though, if you want to write, do it for you not for anyone else. Write what’s in your heart, and don’t expect every word, sentence, paragraph, or page to be perfect the first time through. Just write, you can edit later. Don’t over think, just allow your fingers to slide over the keys and create.
I’ve always wanted to write, just like my mom I would sit and practice my handwriting for hours trying to get it just right. Even at that young of age, I felt like I was grooming myself for something bigger. Needless to say since that time they’ve come out with computers and I don’t have to write everything out by hand, thank god. So as a child, I read. I don’t mean your typical Boxcar Children, Goosebumps, R.L. Stein or Judy Blume books – ya I did read those, but I read everything! I read the cereal box, the shampoo bottle, the newspaper (when I could find a story to hold my attention), even my dad’s car magazines.
The first books I remember my mom letting me pick out to read for myself weren’t the popular kids books, but the young adult classics books. I read The Three Musketeers, Great Expectations, Swiss Family Robinson, etc. My favorite book though that I ever owned was a BEAUTIFUL hard backed copy of Little Women which at the time cost my mom more than I think she’d care to admit. This book had a dust cover and the smoothest, most vibrant cover. The pages, I remember, felt like thick parchment paper, and the illustrations were so crisp and detailed. I was completely enamored by the sheer beauty of this book. A book is something that looks so simple, but as soon as you open the cover and turn the pages you can’t help but be in awe of the amount of sheer awesome that went into putting that book in your hands. Someone had to think up that story, then take their time to put it down on paper, and finally have the courage to share it with the world. I was instantly in love with the idea of being a writer.
I didn’t know how to just break into the writing world, so I thought about it for a long time and decided I would try my hand at blogging and see how that felt. Now, almost two years later, I realize it was the best decision I’ve ever made. Throughout my blogging career I’ve met some pretty amazing people. Kim Holden and Chelle Craze are the two people who inspired me to write my debut novel. These two beautifully amazing women have supported me when I wanted to throw my hands up and walk away, when I sent out my first couple of chapters thinking they were going to be complete crap, and every.single.time they beg for more of my book I gain another level of confidence in myself and my abilities.
So, I guess, the point of the post is to tell all five of you who are probably reading this; how I came to be where I am on our journey. Clearly, if I can do it, than I know YOU CAN TOO! In all honesty though, if you want to write, do it for you not for anyone else. Write what’s in your heart, and don’t expect every word, sentence, paragraph, or page to be perfect the first time through. Just write, you can edit later. Don’t over think, just allow your fingers to slide over the keys and create.