Monday, February 13, 2012

Origins: How I Became A Writer


I have an innate love for stories. I've loved them since before I can remember, and it was this innate love that led me to where I am right now, sitting in front of the computer writing about how I became a writer. It's this innate love that will lead me into the future.

Before I could write, I simply started with telling stories in any other way I could. And there stories weren't always mine - in fact, mostly they were other peoples'. In particular, I remember being obsessed with Peter Pan to the point where I re-created it through the use of designing fridge magnets of the characters and props.

I upped the ante when I was five by learning to read, write and hold a pencil. Suddenly my love of stories was coupled with a love of words, sentences and writing in general. I no longer had to resort to fridge magnets.

Over the next several years I made writing a good hobby. I wrote approximately five gazillion first pages to many different stories - all of which are locked somewhere deep down in the dungeons of my laptop and haven't seen the light of day since I first created them. I never really advanced in my writing during that time period, but writing never really left me either.

When I started high school, I was required to do a year-long project as homework. In other words (or the same words rearranged), a homework project that took the whole year. I decided to take a shot at writing a novel, with absolutely no idea whatsoever about what I was in for. I thought that I could learn how to do everything involved with writing a novel in a couple of weeks, plan out a story, write it, revise, and then get it published - in a year. And then it would probably become a best-seller, too.

One year later, I handed in a terrible plot outline and 5,000 words to my teachers.

But it doesn't matter, because I learned so much that year, and I began to get serious about writing. I began to call myself a writer. And once I began to call myself a writer, it's then that I became one.

Then, a year ago today, I plunged another similar world, again with no idea what I was doing. One year ago today I started this blog, which was Ellipsis Station at that point. It took awhile to get things rolling, but eventually I found a whole bunch of awesome people - and not just people, writers! I found you! So thanks for being awesome, keeping me company, and convincing me that I'm not the only one out there crazy enough to love writing.

So, that's how I started. What about you?

54 comments:

  1. You have a very eventful journey into the world of writing! It's nice to read about your journey! I hope it goes as well in the future!

    Mines just really straightforward. I just found that telling stories gets you into less trouble than lying lol!

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    1. Haha . . . sometimes they're the same thing, though. :D

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    2. Becki: I disagree, I think telling stories is a very truthful art ;) Stephen King talks about it in On Writing (great writing book, by the way). :)

      Kamille: I suppose so :) It was really that year-long project that did it, so I'm ridiculously grateful for that. Telling stories is more fun, too! I'm glad you got into writing :) Best passtime ever.

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    3. No, I mean as in, sometimes it's called "telling stories," when you lie. Oh, never mind. :D

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  2. Hmm . . . I started writing at about age seven. It was a nonfiction story, and terrible, but I had done it. I never consciously said, "I think I want to be a writer when I grow up." It was part of my family culture that books are important. I learned to read at four, and told stories to myself in the car. Sometimes I would look up, and my siblings would be staring at me. I'd say, "What?" And then they'd say, "No, no, just keep going!" Then I'd realize I was talking out loud.

    I just kind of took off from there. I always had my nose in a book, whether it was mine or someone elses, and I would read pretty much anything except autobiographies (it's a lot more interesting if someone else is telling about a famous person's life, I've found). Strangely enough, though, I'd rather publish books than write them, and I'd rather promote books than write them. I'm a strange writer. :D

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    1. That's a great story. We don't really have the same culture in our house, but books are still valued :) For me, I always wanted to write.

      Maybe you could become an agent or editor? Or publicist or something?

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    2. :D Actually, I'm looking at starting a publishing company specifically for teen writers. :) Should be fun.

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    3. Go for it! Sky's the limit :)

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  3. I love that you started out by creating stories that already existed-- I did that too! My first stories were totally stolen from other books. :)

    Way to find what you love and keep at it. Good luck!

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    1. Yep, I copied everything - I can't even really call it fanfiction. More like plagiarism :P Thanks! I sure will :)

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  4. Great story, thanks for sharing. A year-long homework project? My kids had a portfolio they had to present, which represented different studies and their own opinions of how they grew over the course of the year, but yours is a completely different animal. I'm curious how your teacher responded.

    As for my own start, sixth grade, a short story assignment. The floodgates opened.

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    1. That sounds interesting, recording how they grew over the year. My teachers didn't really mind too much because I explained exactly why I hadn't got as much done as I thought - and considering that a novel was larger than what most of the others in my class were doing, they were pretty lenient.

      "The floodgates opened." I love that. It's amazing that school can really be useful in kicking off these dreams.

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  5. Very cool to get to know you better, Nick!

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  6. Cool post and story. I also tried to write a book in a year for my lit. class. FAIL!
    When I was very little, I wrote and illustrated books all the time. I even entered some contests for little kids. It didn't amount to much.
    Then, in eighth grade my creative writing teacher challenged the class to either write a collection of 20 short stories or attempt a novel. I choose the novel. Fast-forward a year and a half to now. The first draft of my first novel is done at 60,00 words and I've devoured dozens of writing books and blogs.
    And that's the story of my story.
    ~Sarah F.

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    1. Ah, I'm not the only one who tried (and then crashed and burned)! That's so cool - I'm surprised that you also started of writing because of a school novel assignment. That's awesome. All the best for the future of your writing, Sarah :)

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  7. A year long project? Man, you really gotta love what you're doing to stick with that. But you got something out it - the love of writing! Also, TAG! You're it! You've been tagged in the 11 Questions game that is being passed along by the Platform-Building Campaigners. Here is the link to your questions: http://rungwenrun.blogspot.com/2012/02/11-questions-from-platform-building.html

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    1. Yeah, it was a bit tough. But it was still cool, and you're right, I got a lot out of it. Thanks for tagging me :)

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  8. I really enjoyed this. I love the way you tell your story, which is always good news for a writer :-)

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    1. Thanks! I'm glad you enjoyed reading this :)

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  9. I'm always wanting to cheer on clever, young talent. I like your humor too e.g."In other words (or the same words rearranged)" Good one!

    Nice to meet you via the blogfest.
    I'm following too.

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    1. Thank you! It's great getting so much encouragement from so many awesome people. And I'm glad that you like my humour :P I try my best.

      Thanks for the follow!

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  10. I'm doing the blogfest as well!

    I think it's when we don't know what we're doing that can manifest the most profound outcomes. With nothing to hold you back, all you've got is PURE potential. Powerful stuff.

    For me, it was one book that captivated my imagination. And combined with my love for everything mythology, it's shaped what I love to read and write today.

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    1. That's true, actually. Very true. If I hadn't know, I would have found everything way too daunting.

      One book. That happened to me too! That's pretty cool when that happens :)

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  11. Cool blog. It's great that you're getting started on your writing journey at this point in your life. Some of my son's fave books are the Eragon series, and I'm pretty sure he started writing those as a teen. Nice to meet you through the blogfest.

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    1. Thanks, Heather! Yep, Christopher wrote Eragon and some of Eldest as a teen :) He's one of my biggest inspirations, and Eragon is pretty much my favourite book :)

      Nice to meet you!

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  12. You have a very bright future ahead of you Nick! Keep the dream alive!!

    Thank you for sharing your ORIGIN with us today! :)

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  13. I think blogging is a big part of being a writer these days. And I'm very fascinated by your story, Nick. I'm glad I found you through the Origins bloghop. I'm a new follower. You're the first teen-aged boy I've followed. And how cool you're from NZ! I look forward to reading great things from you!

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    1. I never realised until just about half a year ago that, yes, blogging is quite important now. Thanks for following! It's gonna be great getting to know you :)

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  14. Heh, I started similarly, trying to write a novel and all--in 4th grade. I had even less words than you.

    Hmm...since we're both aspiring writers and the Blog Archive looks promising, I'm adding this to my blogroll.

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    1. Awesome! I really don't regret jumping into it too fast, but I learned a lot. I suppose the same happened to you. Better to try and fail than never try at all, right?

      Thanks for following!

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  15. The blog is a great step towards being a writer. After all, it helps develop a habit.

    I wish they'd had that homework assignment when I was in school, but I'm so glad yours made you realize your love of writing.

    Keep up the love for it. I'll be looking for your books.

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    1. It really does, you're right. This year, I think it'll teach me a lot about discipline, too. To be honest, I wish everyone could have done the assignment I did. It was a fantastic tool for unlocking potential :)

      Thanks so much K.T. :)

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  16. way to go, sprite! you are the future =)
    great beginning and happy blogaversay!

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  17. This is awesome. Did you know that one of my favorite stories is Peter Pan?

    I started writing when I became a mom, but now that I look back at my life I realize that I've loved writing since I was in 6th grade. It just took me long enough to figure it out.

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    1. Really!? I think that pretty much makes you ten times more awesome than you already were :D

      Your origin sounds like a bit of a romance story! I'm glad that you found your love for writing :)

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  18. I'm so jealous your generation has access to blogs at such a young age. I'm pretty sure I would started blogging if the internet were around when I was in grade school :)
    great to meet you through this blogfest. Keep on writing!

    your newest follower,
    Nutschell
    www.thewritingnut.com

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    1. Thanks nutschell! I really like blogging :) I used to think that writing was a solitary art - not any more. Nice to meet you :)

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  19. It's awesome that you already know what you want to do with your life. I was always told I "couldn't" do this, but here I am now, hoping to prove everyone wrong.

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    1. Good on you! You'll prove them wrong, I'm sure. If you've got the passion, then you will :) It's great to meet you :)

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  20. Loved hearing about your humble beginnings. You've got a great attitude about this business. Keep it up. You'll go places. :)

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  21. Tag, you're it! You've been tagged in a game of 11 Questions being passed around by the Platform-Building campaigners. You can pick up your questions at this link: http://inklinedwriters.blogspot.com/2012/02/11-questions.html
    ~Sarah F.

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  22. Congratulation Nick , because you are too young to think in that way. I greet you from Argentina.Elen Lackner

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    1. Thanks Elen! I like to try and start things early :) Argentina, wow! It's great to meet you :)

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  23. We all cringe at the memory of our first novel attempt. I'm sure your teacher would have been blown away that you got that far with it. Writing a novel is a huge thing, it takes time, work, dedication and imagination - sounds like you have all the right ingredients!
    Over from the Platform Building Campaign :)
    Wagging Tales

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  24. I love this post! What fun to hear about your innate love of stories evolving into writing stories of your own. And that magnet storytelling you did as a kid is awesome! Maybe I'll try that on my magnetic dry-erase board to brainstorm the stories I write! :D

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  25. What an awesome story! And don't even talk to me about my first novel....it was godawful! I'm embarrassed just thinking about it. But that's the way we get better. If I had known how many books it would take me to get published, I might've been too daunted by the task!

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  26. Yes, it was definitely a cringe-worthy story. But I'm entirely grateful I did it, because look what it lead to (and is leading to)! Thanks for stopping by :)

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  27. You'll prove them wrong, I'm sure. If you've got the passion, then you will. Thank you for sharing your story.:-)

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