Ep 146: Your Writing Life Beginnings
The past two weeks, I shared with you parts one and two of my writing life beginnings. I reflected back on when, where, and how I began to dream of writing, pursue writing, and latch on to the writing identity.\n\nI included some of the people involved in the process\u2014people who encouraged me and people who created a challenge for me, even when they didn\u2019t mean to.\n\nAnd I did my best to convey some of those memories and reflections through scenes.\nYour Writing Life Beginnings\nNow it\u2019s your turn.\n\nI encourage you to think back to your writing life beginnings.\n\nWhen did you first find yourself drawn to writing? When did you first imagine being a writer? What held you back? Who held you back? What happened next?\n\nDo you remember a moment, an interaction, a scene from your life that formed you and your view of yourself as a writer, for better or for worse?\n\nWhat happened to reinforce or change that perception?\n\nWhen did you first tiptoe in\u2014or, heck, when did you dive full force into\u2014the writing life?\nPreserve Your Story\nTake time to remember.\n\nWrite it down.\n\nPreserve it.\n\nAnd when you face discouragement\u2014when you question your purpose or your identity as a writer\u2014you\u2019ll have this pivotal story to look back on: your story of your writing life beginnings.\nBeginnings\nYou\u2019ll remember the moments you pushed through and the people who shaped you.\n\nYou\u2019ll feel strengthened to recall the first words you shared with the world or the first pieces that were published.\n\nMaybe your story will begin all the way back in grade school and the first picture book you read over and over and hid under your pillow hoping the story would drift into your dreams at night.\n\nMaybe you\u2019ll recreate the day someone read a poem you wrote on blue construction paper and decorated with glitter\u2014you\u2019ll describe how their eyes lit up and they looked down at you, the young hopeful, sensitive poet, and they said, \u201cThat\u2019s so beautiful.\u201d And you knew. In that moment, you knew this is what you wanted in life: to be a poet.\n\nMaybe you\u2019ll describe the time your words were brushed aside. You slammed shut your notebook and snapped your pencil in two. Your swore you would never write another story. Two decades passed before you ventured back into the world of words, and you\u2019ll share about your first writing attempt after that bitter episode years earlier\u2014you\u2019ll recall a sentence you wrote on the back of an envelope, while you rode a bus on the commute into the city. You\u2019ll remember each word of that sentence, and how you shoved the envelope in your pocket, flushed with hope, and finally felt free to write again.\n\nWhen you capture those moments, you\u2019ll realize this writing dream\u2014this drive to put pen to paper\u2014is no surprise, not really. You\u2019ll grin when you understand that your love of literature traces back\u2026wayyyy back.\nWhen the Going Gets Tough\nIt\u2019s worth it to invest a few minutes in preserving this part of your history.\n\nIt\u2019s worth it, because you can return to it when the going gets tough.\n\nAnd the going will get tough.\n\nWriting is hard. Editing is hard. Publishing is hard\u2014sometimes brutal. You\u2019ll have bad days, when you question it all and want to give up.\n\nGo back to this. Go back to your writing life beginnings. Write it down. Read it. Remember.\n\nRemember how you wanted it\u2014fought for it\u2014and resolved to make words integral to your life.\n\nThen go back to the keyboard or the notebook or whatever you write with, and begin again. Because when you remember your writing roots, you\u2019ll know in your gut or your heart or your spirit, that this is who you are.\n\nA writer.\nResources:\n\n \tMy Writing Life: Beginnings, Pt 1\n \tMy Writing Life: Beginnings, Pt 2\n \tAll podcast episodes\n\n* * *\nYou can subscribe\xa0with iTunes.\xa0If you subscribe, rate, and leave a review, you'll help others discover this content and grow as a writer. You should be able to search for and find \u201cAnn Kroeker, Writing Coach\u201d in any podcast player.