I remember a story I wrote in 6th grade, called The Summer I Went to Honolulu (and no, I’d never been to Hawaii). I also remember one of my teachers complimenting me and encouraging me to enter it in a contest. I never did enter, which I regret to this day.
I’m thinking because this story is so memorable for me (I still have it), that it was around the age of 12 when I started to fall in love with writing.
So today’s question is this: Is there a particular story, poem, non-fiction piece, etc. you remember writing as a child? Maybe the very first thing you ever wrote or a specific moment you fell in love with the writing process?
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I started a book in 4th grade, so I must have been 9 or 10? It’s a ghost story but I honestly don’t remember the title of it but I do still have it in the attic somewhere!
I wrote an article that was published in the Junior High news paper when I was 13. Our building was going to be torn down after that year because it was so old. So I wrote the article from the perspective of the school and it’s memories. The teachers loved it.
I won a poetry contest when I was in the 5th Grade. The poem was about fairy tales. Then, when I was in high school I placed first in an essay contest. For this one, I won $25.00!
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I was lounging on a bench in the garden at Boarding School when a Nun decided it was characteristically lazy and I was banished indoors to write an essay. I discovered I loved the punishment more than the crime and love turned to delight when I discovered I had a captive audience–the Nun had to read it to ensure my compliance.
She read with boggle eyes and laughter–better still.
Ever since then the pen has been mightier than the sword for me.
I don’t remember any exact time that I fell in love with writing. However, I do remember the moment when writing became my best friend. I was in college (1st year) and hadn’t learned that good grades don’t simply follow me around everywhere I went. (That was a very sad moment for me).
In Lit class, I was to read a book that needed a magnifying glass to see the words and my eyes were tired. Then I was to write an essay about Ben Franklin, although I can’t remember the topic any further than him I do remember that I did NOT read the assigned pages. It was far more important for this 18 year old to sprout wings and play. LOL
SO, I wrote about a boy who stepped into a time machine and visited Ben Franklin. I don’t think the paper fit topic, but I received an A on the paper. The professor thought it creative and I must have hit a few of his major points close enough to impress him.
It was then that I realized that I could use the pen to write myself out of a jam. *giggle*.
Love that, Karlene!
I remember in the 6th grade the teacher in charge of the school paper asked if I could write something up on Martin Luther King, Jr. I handed her a poem 20 minutes later and she just stood there. I thought something was wrong and she said no, she had never seen something written in 20 minutes that moved her so in a good way. It was surreal and I have no idea where the copy is.
In the 7th grade I received a 98 for a homespun diary and the teacher remarked how well written it was and realistic the characters were. I have that copy and I remember that day thinking, Yes! I AM going to be the next Laura Ingalls Wilder, lol!
My first poem, at age… 6 or so?
The cabbage is old
The cabbage is cold
The cabbage is bold
Or so I’m told.
I was thinking of rhymes and my mom suggested “bold”. I had no idea what she was talking about, but I put it in anyway. I feel like I should be Poet Laureate of somewhere.
I led a lonely life as a child. Just my mother and me. Not allowed to play with other children. So I wrote a story. On and on. About a girl named Starr. She didn’t have any friends and wanted to leave Kansas.
For me, it was a poem inspired by my english teacher in 11th grade. We were to write a when, what and where kind of poem. I wrote a poem on how to be a christian.
It fit the topic perfectlly. To my surprise I scored an “A” on the assignment. That teacher never really knew what her love for English for a kid like me.
Nevertheless, it didn’t grow until recently about three years ago when I began to think about how to write about myself. I’ve been through some horrific experiences in my life that has changed me forever.
Because of this, I’ve found my joy again. Now, it remains with me “..for as long as we both shall live.” LOL!
I never in a million years ever expected to call myself a writer. But, here I am a member of FW and on my way to being published!