Monday, February 13, 2012

Origins



Thanks D L HammondKatie MillsAlex J Cavanaugh, and Matthew MacNish for hosting this blogfest! Hop over and check out all the other writer origins :)

I am a wielder of words, a teller of tales, a deliverer of dialogue, and a painter of pictures. Be careful, for I will monopolize your mind with letters and punctuation, taking over your thoughts with images and emotions. That is my super power. You have been warned.


Memories of Writing

Sixth grade--Mr. Smiley (yep, that's really his name) our principal, shakes my hand and gives me a certificate for outstanding writing. My story was about a cat (big surprise) and it was good enough to get me up on the stage for the monthly writing award. 

Junior year High School--Mr. Kelley calls me back to his desk in Advanced Writing Composition, showing me my paper. A large red B looms at the top. My pulse zooms and my heart's pissed. I deserve better than a B. He tells me he will be grading me harder than the rest of the class because I'm capable of writing better than what is expected. His back-handed compliment did the trick. I tried harder. But now I realize he probably pulled everyone back to his desk throughout the semester, feeding them the same line. Touche Mr. Kelley, touche!

Freshman year UW--My Creative Writing TA (for those of you who didn't go to a giant school, you have a lecture once or twice a week from a professor and a smaller-group session headed by a TA two or three days a week with whom you learn more from than the actual professor) tells me almost the same thing as my high school English teacher. I need to push myself and spend more than fifteen minutes writing to the weekly prompts, then I can 'earn' the 4.0 I'm getting.

2004--I have been a stay-at-home mom for sixth months now. My days full of smiles, dirty diapers, the rocking chair, giggles, HGTV, board books, bottles, cooes, wet wipes,  kisses (millions of kisses), excessive cleaning, burping, sleeping, you get the picture. My brain was starving for a higher level of stimulation. As soon as my husband walks through the door every evening, I hand him darling baby boy and plug into my computer for hours of MS Word therapy. What was born from that much needed neural activity now resides in a box in my attic. 

2009--With the shelving of my first experience of 'really' writing, I don't expect to ever sit down and attempt it again. But after my husband and I go out to sushi with the Chambers and see Fast and Furious, a vivid dream sends me back to the computer for another round. Long-time friends, raw fish, and Paul Walker are the origin of my current WiP--My Protector.                                                                                     
                                                                                                
     +   = 

29 comments:

  1. So, you always had a talent for writing! Excellent story :D

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    1. I wouldn't say I had a talent for writing, I'd say I always liked it :)

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  2. lol. Thanks for sharing those moments that prompted you to get where you are. And so funny how little unrelated things can suddenly form a story in our minds:)

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    1. Inspiration is a strange thing :) Thanks for the blogfest!

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  3. I'm detecting a theme here. Lots of teachers had a hand in pushing us to write. Thanks for sharing all the moments that added up to you writing today!

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  4. What an unusual combination! You should have sushi stocked in your fridge ready for their visit.

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  5. I love the story about Mr. Kelley. But it made you try harder and that's what matters ;)

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  6. What a great story. I can relate to the need for neural activity after a long day with the babies. Love them to death, but thank goodness that's passed. Thanks for sharing!

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  7. The very best teachers have a knack for encouraging their students to try harder. I'm glad your writing bug outlasted your baby-rearing years. Nice to meetcha. Fun blogfest, isn't it? Count me in as your newest follower.

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  8. Inspiration can come from the strangest places. Yours was a very yummy place. Sushi and Paul Walker= Very Nice and yummy :)

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  9. I'm glad you're still writing, Hope... and it's crazy when the inspiration hits--you just *know* ... And so great to have this outlet in the midst of babies, diapers, bottles, etc... gosh, I swear sometimes writing is the only thing that keeps me sane... to have that push, desire, release... so important ;)

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  10. Yes! Another cinema-inspired writer.
    Thanks for participating in the blogfest.

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  11. Thank goodness for great teachers who pushed you. And it's funny where we get our inspiration from.

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  12. I'm really lovin' these Origins stories. I love that your teachers saw your potential and pushed you. And I love that Fast and the Furious was part of your inspiration for Protector!

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  13. Hey there,
    Just wanted to let you know, I tagged you on my blog :D
    Hope you're doing well,
    Ninja Girl

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  14. Paul Walker is the beginning of a lot of my daydreams, too. Ha!
    Seriously though, great story! Thanks for sharing your beginnings.

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  15. Great story of your writing beginnings =)

    Btw, there's a game of tag I tagged you in, check it out on my blog =)

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  16. You're awesome Hope! Love it all. I can completely relate to the "higher level of stimulation" that the brain needs when spending 24/7 raising kids. Fab stuff :)

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  17. Lol, I want to see where the sushi comes in! Great story. :)

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  18. I had a little hiatus, too, but came back to writing. It's good to have something that's all yours. I like your little snippets of inspiring moments. Great post!

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  19. Touche Mr. Kelley, touche!

    I think everyone who has pursued a career in writing or tried to write a novel has one sitting in a box in the attic. Glad you were able to shake the dust off and start a new one!

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  20. An amazing story! Goes to show inspiration comes in all forms! Teachers ought to know just how important their jobs are to budding writers!

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  21. I've gone on record before but will say again: I heart Paul Walker. How cool that a dream brought you back to writing. I think writing is great therapy. I know about the mommification that you speak of and I have written 2 novels since my daughter was born. It's often the mental/intellectual adult stimulation my brain craves! Great post!

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  22. Wow, thats a fantastic journey. I hope Protector doesn't end in a box this time.

    ........dhole

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  23. Terrific. Thanks for sharing that with us, Hope.

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  24. Great story, Hope!
    Thanks for sharing!

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  25. May you continue to 'really write' a whole heap more. The MS Word Therapy will surely be very beneficial for not only the writer, but for the readers as well. May you always have a WiP.

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  26. I love how you tell your ORIGIN story in flashbacks. Very well done and thouroughly entertaining! Thank you!! :)

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  27. I love how you won the award when you were in 6th grade. You definitely got bit by the writing bug young! :)

    your newest follower,
    Nutschell
    www.thewritingnut.com

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