I know this sounds like a rather oblique title, but I wanted to write about why I write, the essence of who I am and why I feel the need.
Writing is something I have been passionate about since I discovered it in Intermediate. I immediately started writing a story which had no ending – embarrassingly called “My Idol, Simon Le Bon”. I won’t go into details because it was a very sad offering, but me and my friends had a bit of fun with it. It has long since disappeared, and I hope, like hell, that it ended up in a rubbish bin somewhere.
From there, story ideas evolved. When I got to College, we had free reign in 6th form (year 11 or 12 I think) over what we submitted for marking at the end of the year. We had three projects, to submit, and once of them was a novella, based on a dream of a friend. The story was well received by one teacher in particular, and got scored well (the other two projects didn’t, but this was in a time when 50% had to pass and 50% had to fail).
Over the years, I have filled exercise books with stories, I have a concertina file full of story ideas, exercise books and notebooks.
About three years ago, I felt like I was going mad, and was discussing my life goals with my husband when he muttered the immortal (and words he now wishes he had never said), “You will never become a famous writer unless you write.”
His words spurred me on, and I knew he was right. They are words he has probably come to regret, but they are words that will always remind me that if I want something, I actually have to work towards achieving it. I won’t win Lotto unless I buy a ticket. I won’t write a book without sitting at a computer and typing it.
So, that is my journey to writing. Why do I write? That is something I have discussed hundreds of times before. I guess my overactive imagination has something to do with it, but I also need some outlet for my creativity. I am not an artistic person by nature, but I like to weave tales, stories that people will enjoy and read.
That is all about me, what about you? What inspired you to write?
I write because I have to. When I don’t write I get apathetic and moody. I started writing at school with badly rhyming poems of teenage angst. Later, while travelling, I wrote to try to explain my vagabond life to friends and family who stayed at home. At university I wrote to get good marks. As a teacher of English I wrote unit plans, reports and lessons because it was part of the job. That was never enough. I need to write creatively. I need to write factually. Sometimes I need to rant. I write full time at the moment so making money is a part of why I write. But the money can never be all of it. I just have to write. I write therefore I am.
Paul, writing is something that is personal to everyone who does it, keep up the great work, one day, with enough determination, you will make it!
Spinning stories seems to be something I have always done, making up adventures to amuse myself. When I was eleven, I realized one could write them down. Now twenty-two years later, I think I have the creation part covered and need to get over my fear of the submissions process.
KLC, submissions are hard, but you just have to wish your story luck as you send it away. Sometimes it isn’t accepted, but that doesn’t mean it isn’t a great story. Just keep going, because it will happen!
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