I did not want to be a journalist, but I figured it was the closest thing available to assist my writing ambitions. The dream of writing my own series of mysteries, the first terribly awful one written in the seventh grade, was squashed. Squashed by one teacher, in one day, in one class and by one cutting remark. I left that class filled with bitterness and a disdain for that instructor. High school journalism was only the mecca for the select chosen few of her classes. She appeared to be more intent on winning awards in those final years before her retirement , overlooking students who truly intended to write because they have a passion for words and not just to have an award on a college application.
I was convinced that if this one person thought so harshly of my work at age 15, I was then doomed for life. I avoided writing for many years. This blog is the first writing I have ever shown an audience of more than one best friend. So what makes finding this blog hop so special? I am preparing to show the first chapter of my current work in progress to my writing group this week. One chapter has consumed all of my free time for 4 days and I am sure it will right up until the reading on Saturday morning.
11 comments:
oh I need a writing group! I'm a proud member of the Insecure Writers Support Group. Sharing my writing was very hard for me, but it gets easier with time. Nice to meet you Jane! (p.s. will you come over to my house and explain twitter to me)
Way to go being willing to share your work. Those teachers don't know how much influence they can have, do they? Looking forward to the Roller Derby novel.
That teacher sounds terrible. Good luck with your writing group! I hope there are no unkind teachers in your group....
As a teacher, your blog truly broke my heart. I strive to be the kind of teacher that kids will run up to 10 yrs later when they see me in the mall and say, "You were the best teacher I ever had. I had so much FUN while LEARNING in your class." And now that I've been teaching for 11 yrs., that's happening:) But I also hope and pray I didn't say some off remark that destroyed some kid when I was having a frustrating day. Yikes! I'm soooooooo glad you have decided to write again. I just found the IWSG too~cheers!
Go for it! And glad you were inspired to return to your dream. Sad how one person can crush a dream.
Thanks for joining the IWSG. We post the first Wednesday of every month, so hope to see you again in February.
Glad to meet you. Hope you find the way to do what you want to do.
I'm so pleased you "hopped"on. As to titles . . . OMG. I am the very worst. My first book, which I thought was perfectly titled, almost made me crazy. My editor would have nothing to do with my choice. We went round and round. I still loved mine, but I lost my battle.
Great to meet you. Thanks for visiting the Write Game. I really appreciate it.
Yay! A fellow closet addict! Good for you getting out here. I know how hard it is. You're in good company!
I love all the writer's support group posts. I hope you get that chapter figured out. I struggled with the beginning of my WIP but once I let go, stopped thinking, and allowed myself to just write, things got a lot easier. Good luck!
Sorry to hear you had such a rough start back in school. It's hard enough to write without that kind of thing hanging over you. Just keep working at it.
Glad you joined the blog hop!
Good luck with your writing group! Kudos to you for sharing your work for the first time.
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