The Makings of a Writer? (Post #2)

As a teenager, I dreamed of being a writer. Many evenings were spent writing stories, plays and poems. My stories ranged from downright silly, a play where the main characters met New Kids on the Block, my idols of the time. To serious, a dancer who was in a terrible car accident and lost her ability to walk. The story followed her through waking up from a coma, to being rehabilitated, falling in love with her physical therapist and finally, dancing once again.

I was determined to be a writer and in high school I took journalism and creative writing classes. It was during this time though, that my dream slipped away.

I wrote a story for my creative writing class and mustered up my confidence, walked up to my teacher and handed it to her for review. As I stood next to her desk at the front of the class, I watched her read it and eventually she began to mark it up with her bright red pen. I was horrified.

What really happened and what I thought happened next were two entirely different things. From my perspective, she told me my story was horrible and I should never write again. What probably happened was that she told me my story could be greatly improved and to please read through her corrections and start again.

I was young, I was heart-broken. I took her critique to heart. I went home and threw away that story; deciding that professional writing just wasn't for me. Wow, I would never let something like that stop me now, but like I said, I was young.

Flash forward to today. I am still not a professional writer and some days, am very self-conscientious of my writing. However, I do not let that stop me. As an adult, any critique I get fuels me to keep going and to challenge myself even that much more.

I have so many ideas for books that I would like to write and in fact, am on the road to writing my first book now. It will be a business book with a major inspirational twist.

I have also always wanted to write a personal memoir - not because I think I am all that interesting - but because some of the things I have been through, like going through a kidney transplant and then living life like there is no tomorrow, I think those things could inspire others to live the dreams they have always wanted.

And now, as I look back at myself as a young, very silly teenager, I realize, that while I may not be the world's best writer, I enjoy it. When you do what you enjoy, the results are always worthwhile. Oh and when it comes to writing (for me specifically), well, that is what great editors are good for