Today’s Coffee of Choice: Sheetz Breakfast Blend (Sheetz coffee always makes traveling a little easier for me.)
Today’s Scripture: …suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us. – Romans 5:3b-5
I remember the moment when I decided I wanted to be a writer with poignant clarity. I was eight years old sitting in my mom’s favorite armchair. To a kid, it was this weird pink thing that made no sense. On this particular day, however, I was too engrossed in the book I was reading to care about my surroundings.
I was an avid reader when I was younger. I still am. Back then, I read everything from Laura Ingalls Wilder to Carolyn Keene (who is really a bunch of different authors) to John Bunyan. During my moment of epiphany, I was reading an author I had found at the local library a few weeks earlier: John D. Fitzgerald. Fitzgerald wrote a series of books based on the antics of a young boy nicknamed The Great Brain. I had nothing in common with the characters in his stories, but I was enthralled. As I sat in my mom’s unique salmon chair reading the first book in the series for the second time I thought: “I want to do that! I want to help kids relate to people they know nothing about and write a good story at the same time! I want to write stories they can escape into and lose track of time with.” After this, I have a vague memory of my mom yelling into the living room about the chores I hadn’t finished yet.
As I grew older, my future as a writer was shaped in both positive and negative ways when it came to my goal. One positive happened when I landed Mrs. Beaver for freshman English in high school. She was passionate about literature, and her unit on The Odyssey still remains one of the best literary learning experiences I’ve had in my life. When my parents suggested I take a more practical route while fulfilling my dream of playing Division I softball after I graduated high school, I settled on a major in English Education. They said my initial plan to major in Creative Writing wasn’t a well thought out one and that teaching would secure me a job. I also loved working with kids, so I went along with their advice and had a fantastic undergraduate experience.
After an onslaught of funerals of family and close friends in 2010, I finally sat down and started writing fiction manuscripts. I have two I’ve recently sent out to agents and editors to a very positive reception. I’m in a bit of a waiting game at the moment, but this crazy writing life is where I know I’m supposed to be. Writing has been the one consistent vehicle of growth in my life, and I’ve found a bit of a niche as a freelancer. The more I learn along the way, the more I realize I have so much more to learn.
This past weekend I had yet another opportunity to grow as a writer thanks to the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators. The excellence and appreciation of writing as an art form I found at one of their local conferences was right up my alley. The conversations with professionals (including some very sincere, talented editors) blessed me so much and encouraged me to continue on the path I’m on.
The path I travel is one of perseverance. I’ll be the first to tell you I haven’t arrived when it comes to writing, or even the wisdom I need to be a good writer, yet. One thing I have discovered is the learning process is often more important than the end result. I know the proper journey yields an excellent end result, but it’s the people you meet and the places you go along the way which make the effort a joyful, fulfilling one.
What about you? What are some of the moments of encouragement you’ve had along the way in your journey as a writer? I’ll be giving away some goodies I picked up at the SCBWI conference to one random commenter who responds before midnight of April 1, 2013. They are pictured below.
If you’re not a writer, feel free to also respond as it relates to your life as a parent or professional. You’ll also be eligible! I look forward to your comments.
Spoonfuls of Grace 