My Art Story - How my love of writing emerged

 I’ve always been creative - in one way or another. I’d say it really started when I was very little - maybe six. 

Recently I’ve been going through old scrapbooks and memory boxes. I found a few pieces of lined paper, torn by little hands, containing some of my early poems. 

Even though they’re not as well done as “don’t go gently into that good night” or any other of the great poems in our history, these scraps began the foundation of my creative life. 

When I was in third grade, I had been working on my poems a little more. One time I wrote a little bit of rhyme, titled Trees, or something of the sort. I read it to my mom, and despite her praise, I never believed those words would make it off the scrap of paper. 

Behind my back, Mom submitted my poem in a contest. She didn’t tell me, partly because I might get my hopes up, and partly because if it did win it would be a great surprise. 

And, well, it was a surprise when my poem got published in a thick book of other lucky children who had submitted their work. 

Seeing that book on the shelf in our living room gave me hope that I can be creative. It was almost like a constant reminder that I am awesome! 

Soon my poetry developed into full writing. I still write, to this day! A few years after my poem got published, I wrote my first novel. It was pretty short, and pretty bad, but still, at ten years old, this was a huge accomplishment. Just after I turned 11, I finished editing it, and was writing a sequel. 

Quite a while later, I finished my second book. Ruth’s Journey. Ruth was based off of my own dog. It was a better book, and quite a bit longer, but still not PERFECT. 

I finished a third novel a year later. I never read it to anyone, and I don’t even remember its title. I was embarrassed, and so scared of it being terrible that I never even read it myself. 

Now, all these years later, I have been writing. I’ve been keeping up with my literature and thankfully my prose is better than my 11 year old self. I’ve been feeling more confident, because I’ve learned that even a terrible book can be made good. A blank page cannot. I’ve also been reading more than ever. 

Reading is what got me interested in writing in the first place. I love reading books, all books, at every age. I read Of Mice and Men when I was 12, which also inspired me to write my books. 

My family has always been interested in literature. My father is in the process of publishing his own novel. My grandfather has published his novel, and my mother has always loved writing stories, especially when she was first married. Growing up in a supportive and literate family has helped fuel my love of the arts and of writing. Family has always been the core of everything I do. Thank you guys. 

So, throughout my whole writing journey, I’ve learned to be myself. Write who YOU are, not who you want to look like for your readers. Make your stories REAL, and trust me, it will work. 

Thanks for reading my story! Love you all!