Writing, etc.

I was lucky – I knew from the time I was in the first grade that I wanted to be a writer. Learning to read with the ‘Dick and Jane’ books and sounding out words like ‘See Spot Run!’ absolutely enchanted me. As blond and placid as they were, I was drawn into Dick and Jane’s world and the spark was fired: I wanted to create worlds of enchantment and invite people into them.
As I learned to read, I wrote. My first grade teacher, Miss Carlson wore cashmere sweaters and her hair in a flip and I was in love with her in the way kids are in love with kind and lovely teachers who make learning an exciting adventure. I remember standing at the blackboard in her classroom, chalk in hand, writing straight and tall capitol letters and round lower-case ones, letters that turned into words that turned into sentences. Shazzam – magic.
My desire to be a writer never wavered, even as I briefly considered a career in baton twirling. (I didn’t even own a baton but was awfully fond of the twirlers’ fringed boots.) I wrote stories throughout grade school, through junior high, through high school with a deep and simple knowledge that some day I would write novels.
And I’d act on the side.
This was another fun discovery – I could make-believe not just on paper but in front of people. I especially liked to be in those plays and skits that made people laugh – wow, what a payoff that was!
Writing is my first and deepest love, but it doesn’t demand absolute monogamy: I’m allowed to fool around! So throughout the years, I’ve been in improv groups,
theater groups, comedy troupes.
Right now I’m performing in a one-woman all-improvised show called, ‘Party in the Rec Room.’ With my trove of wigs, hats and glasses, I create characters and monologues based on audience suggestions. I also mix up a batch of margaritas on stage, which has to be my all-time favorite stage prop.
In performing, I get instantaneous reaction; I know immediately what an audience likes and doesn’t like. In writing, I am my own audience and write as a reader: how does this touch me, intrigue me, make me laugh?
I’ll close by amending the words I began this with: I am lucky.