Thursday, November 1, 2007
Buried Treasure
Many famous authors have credited writing talent in their early childhood. At ten years of age, Jane Austen wrote snippets of Sense and Sensibility in the form of letters and shared them with her family. She was one of the most influential and honored novelists in English Literature but published four of her novels anonymously. She had a tongue in cheek attitude about her talent, but how could one not win with an opening line like the one in the classic Pride and Prejudice.
"It is a truth universally acknowledged that a single man in possession of a good fortune, must be in want of a wife."
So my question is this. How did Jane discover her talent? Did she pick up a quill one day in an attempt to express her feelings or did she have thought provoking ideas for stories that needed to be told?
How did you discover your writing talent?
Did you discover it as I did in an American Literature class in high school? Or maybe you wrote in a diary as a child and have always used writing as a form of expression.
I enjoyed writing in high school. I credit my American Literature teacher for my desire to write. She complimented me about an essay I wrote about the miracles of nature. After writing that essay, my desire for writing changed. I discovered that words of praise and persuasion could foster a desire for further talent. But I was a typical high school teenager. At the time, I was more interested in extracurricular activities beyond the literary world. I didn’t take the desire seriously until I thought about a career. When I started applying to colleges I told my mom that I wanted to be a journalist and she laughed and said I needed to be a nurse. She explained the merits of job opportunities and salaries for nurses. I guess she couldn't envision me as a struggling writer. To make a long story short, I was a teen volunteer at the local hospital the summer of my senior year and I enjoyed it, so I took her advice. I don’t regret my career choice completely, because I believe you become the person you are because of life experiences. I like who I am so life has been good to me.
The next time I uncovered my desire to write was after reading The Stephanie Plum series by Janet Evanovich. I stumbled into the world of fan fiction. I never knew such writing existed. I read all that was out there in the Plum fan fiction world. It fueled a desire inside of me to write, and something transformed inside of me in the process. I realized that the more I wrote the more I wanted to write, and with that came more recognition from my peers. With that recognition, I started to believe in my talent, and that stoked a burning desire to write something I could call my own.
Three years ago when I discovered writing again, I would have never believed it would foster a WIP. It took me twenty-four years to find my way back to my buried treasure. But the time is not what is important to me, it is what I choose to do with the discovery that counts.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
Books by the Crew
35 comments:
Nice topic. Perfect for the beginning of NaNo month. I credit my 7th grade English teacher for my love of writing stories. Miss Bernabie gave us small writing assignments each week where she would give us one sentence and we could run with it. I loved those stories and it was always fun to see how each of us wrote something different with the same first line.
The rest of the credit goes to Sr. Eleanor. She taught me Freshman and Senior Accel. English and she took no prisoners. Every paper was written double spaced so she could write in comments/corrections and then she made us re-write it until we got it right. Yes, those were my first revisions. LOL!
I've always loved to write but I think the story telling is where I find my joy. Which means telling stories in person too. I'm a talker more than a writer to be honest but I'm working hard to make these talents work together. When friends or family read my work they say, "I could hear your voice in my head as I was reading." That always makes me smile. *g*
I've always been a story teller. At a early age I can remember making up a story that included everyone in my third grade class. I recited the story in front of the class and my teacher Mrs. Seely smiled and said I should write my story.
I love to embellish a story. I love being given a word or first sentence and rolling with it:)
The greatest joy I find in writing is the ability to express my feelings when I can't find another credible way to let out my frustrations.
Lissa - do you keep a journal? It's the strangest thing but I've found that when I'm happy or settled in life, I don't write in my journal. But when things are all up in the air and crazy and I'm longing for something or craving a change, then I write almost every night.
I started my first journal when I was a Sr in HS and then carried through others in my early 20s. Some of the funniest entries to go back and read are the ones I wrote after drinking waaaaaay too much. LOL! And I love it when I read a particular one about some guy I wanted but couldn't have and now I can't even remember who I was talking about!
Terri - that sounds sooo much like my journals. I have so many journals and I kept them from middle school until I met my husband. But, there are some missing chunks when I was really happy with my life and had nothing to vent about.
I started writing in middle school due to my 6th grade teacher, Mrs. Sossong. She also gave us writing prompts and would let us run with them. Then she would read some of her favorites to the class. My writing was read sometimes, not as often as I would have liked, but I remember one where I wrote about the torturous life of pencil. LOL
On into Honors English and then into college, all of my teachers were very supportive. That's part of the reason I went into teaching English. The written word has such power to move people, it's so important that a desire to create is fostered in people at a young age.
*Marnee steps off her soapbox*
Great blog Lissa! Funny you should bring up journaling, Terri! That's how I got started writing. I always lived a little in my imagination as a kid and it helped to put some of that stuff down on paper. I find I do the same thing, though, if life is going good I don't write. If it sucks, I can crank out pages at a time! LOL
I started my pretty intense journal writing when I first met my DH and couldn't really talk to anyone about him. When I go back now and read what I wrote it's pretty hilarious. I was a real drama queen! Everything was life or death. Although, I really think that it's an accurate depiction of the feelings a lot of teenagers have. I'm hoping it's going to help me when it comes time to deal with my kids and their very real teenage dramas.
I had a diary when I was in grade school but I gravitated away from it when my brother discovered it and made fun of me. I'm kind of weird that way. I don't like to record thoughts when it's possible they can be seen at some point:)
I would rather express my emotional retardation through my characters. LOL
I haven't thought about journaling for years. I have too many close friends that I share all my secrets and pent up frustrations with now. I do know writers who highly recommend writing down life experiences for future stories. That I can fully understand:)
*snort* The Little Mermaid. "But I want to be human!" "NO!"
Excellent blog, PM Lisa! I love the use of P&P--and the sort of suggestion that it's never too late to chase your destiny.
My 5th grade teacher Mrs Proctor was my writing inspiration. Although in 1st grade, I do remember writing my first story, which featured me riding a horse (which I had to ask my dad to spell for me) and we "gumped" over a creek. It was an action packed story; and proof that Phonics doesn't always work.
In 5th grade, Mrs. Proctor made us keep journals. We also wrote poetry and glued pipecleaners to our writings. It was the best of all worlds for my creative little mind. It was easily my best subject; and we read other author's books--this was the year I heard Bridge to Terabithia.I became aware that being an Author was a real job. People got paid for writing books; and I wanted to write books too. And maybe glue some pipecleaners to the edges.
I didn't think about that venting to friends thing Lissa. That's a great point. Back when I was writing I felt alone and like I couldn't find someone to understand but as I've gotten older I've found friends who get me and what I'm feeling. How enlightening! LOL!
Never worry about climbing onto a soapbox around here, Marnee Jo. Or computer glitches. LOL! I'm pretty sure this ship was made out of soapboxes (and several glitches...LOL!)
I think a lot of that is true Lissa. I would write some pretty personal stuff in there and I started getting uncomfortable with someone reading it some day. I suppose after I got married and had kids a lot of my stress centered around my DH and the kids. To write that down and have them find it and read it would rip my heart out. It was typical relationship and overhwhelmed mommy stuff but sometimes it got pretty hairy!
"I would rather express my emotional retardation through my characters"--I can totally empathize with that, Lissa! *ROTFLMAO*
Irish - I never thought of that dramatic stuff helping me deal with my teen but I guess it could help. Especially if I let her read some of it and show her I once felt the same way she does.
I think getting the kids to talk first is the hard part. You know, us lame old people couldn't possibly understand what they are going through - seeing as how we were born fully grown.
I love how we can use writng to deal with the feelings we have towrd people who make our lives miserable.
I can remember being really upset when I came home from work a couple of months ago. I sat down at the computer and wrote two chapters of the best work I had accomplished in months. I can honestly say my co worker fostered something good with her stupidity:)
I am living proof of that be careful what you write down in a journal thing. While still married I once wrote I WANT A DIVORCE very big across the top of one page.
Guess who found it? LOL!
*LOL*
See, that's why I don't journal. Right there.
Nah. It all worked out in the end. I got what I wanted. *g*
I forgot to mention another very impressive influence on my writing career.....a dead sexy character named Carlos Ricardo Manoso aka Ranger.
Not only has he given me the desire to create dead sexy characters of my own...he inspires me in ways I can't even express.
*hot flash*
Thanks Hellion...LOL I too have a pipe cleaner fetish. That's too funny!
Irish- I can see how journaling has been very beneficial to you:)And I totally agree it can be a writers best friend personally as well as professionally.
I should have never listened to my brother...he also ruined my experice as a Brownie when I was in grade school. He said I looked like a turd in my uniform and I never went to another meeting.
What a lost for the Girl Scouts of America!
Great blog babe!
I must say, I never thought much of writing when I was young. The first time I wrote something as other than school work was the Electric Cooperative essay contest for a trip to DC. And I didn't want to. I got coarsed into it and then threatened and then bribed. And I won. And I didn't write again until years later when I was inspired to write a sex scene between two characters that were obviously sexually frustrated. LOL. It kinda stuck with me after that. That one sex scene turned into 80 thousand words and my first fiction piece.
So now my warped little mind seems to think tackling a WIP head-on is a wonderful idea. I'll let you know if it is once I finish.
What a fabulous sex scene that was too...if it's the one I'm thinking of:)
You are a woman after my own heart Babe. The whole ball of wax started for you because of sex!
...and a piratess was born.
LOL!
Lis, the wall sex scene? Is that what you're talking about? Probably my worst attempt overall for writing sex, but by God, I did it and didn't even blush when I posted it. LOL. It means a lot to me that you say that it was fabulous. Knowing what I know now, I would've never had the balls to post it. But it brought me fabulous company, that's for sure!
LOL, Ter. I suppose your right. A piratess was born that day. You can't have fiction without sex (well my fiction at least, LOL). Well you can, but without some kind of sexual tension, I think the story lacks that edge to keep the reader going.
How did your first scene go? Did you get it written yet?
As a matter of fact, I've found myself in a mostly empty office this afternoon with some time on my hands and inspiration from somewhere. I've written the first two pages of my erotica novella and boy, this is fun. LOL!
Lets just say, it starts off as it intends to go on (as Maggie would say). LOL!
You go, piratess!
And I love that. I'm working on my erotica as well (though not right at the moment) but it's fun to write about sex. And sex. And a little plot. And sex.
Are you entering the same contest as me?
No contest. At least I don't think so. It's for an open submission call for novellas that will make up a HOT summer anthology next year. I never thought of doing this until a few days ago but I'm really having fun with it. LOL!
It IS hot. I just read it. I think Terri has found her calling!!!
Lissa, I think Ranger inspires us in beautiful, beautiful ways. Although I wrote before I met him, he will always live high in my fantasy world for when I write a love scene. His way with...actions louder than words is something to behold.
Plus...that whole ability of dialogue when he does bother to speak. I just love him. "They don't serve the kind of pie I eat here." O. M. G.
Sin, whatever got you back in writing--I'm glad. Ranger be praised. You're a star, woman, and don't ever forget it.
Way to go Ter!
I dunno what inspired me. I just found myself knowing too much about DV and I can't write like that. I can't write when the story owns me like DV does. It sucks my soul out and I'm not all about soul sucking WIP. I want to have fun like I used to. Writing this erotica has been fun. Granted it's in pieces and I've not written an beginning to stick to yet, but I'll get there.
Eventually. *ducking*
*makes a deep piratey bow*
Thank you. Thank you very much.
LOL! I never knew writing smut could be so fun. Consider me a convert, wenches.
I missed it, where's the smut?
Marnee, she posted on VaNo--aren't you a part of that group?
No, I'm not part of Vano. How do I join?
Marnee Jo - VaNo is an Yahoo group/email loop. Very exclusive. LOL! Just kidding. I think it's highly possible I could get you in. Let me talk to the higher ups. I'll need an email address though.
Do you by chance go on the Eloisa James/Julia Quinn Bulletin Board? If so, you can send me your address in a private message over there. Here's the link to the board in case you need it.
http://eloisajames.net/board/
PS: Or you can give me your email and I can just send you the smut in there. LOL!
I don't really hang out over there, though I'm not sure why not. I should, I love them both and it appears all the people I chat with here and at the Vagabonds are there too.
Ah, one more bit of procrastination. :) LOL!!
I saw a private email over there, is that ok to use? It's a yahoo email? Then you can just send me back the smut as I'm very interested to read. :)
Personally, I'm terrified about writing my first sex scene. So, any thoughts/examples/help always useful.
*Marnee, tapping furiously at her keyboard, attempting to make her daily quota for Nano.*
Yep, that address works for me. I forgot you can get to it over there. LOL!
Send me your address and I'll send the smut. Why does that sound like some illegal exchange? LOL!
Post a Comment