How I Found the Write Path bloghop

The awesome Carrie Butler and PJ Hrezo put together this awesome series of posts discussing the many roads we've all traveled in our writing lives. Check out the full list of participants here--there are some amazing posts to read!

Dear 2003 me,

First off, for the love of all things, please learn how to correctly use a comma. It would be SO super useful now and spare your poor copy editor a huge headache :)

Okay, writing, you know, that hobby thing that you've always wanted to do more with, and after taking a few great courses in college, actually want to try and find a way to be published. It's time to get to work. I know you spend much of your spare time behind your keyboard, but if you want to get something out into the world, it's time to start spending some serious time with the craft. Learn how to create a character arc, how to build the world on paper that's been living in your head, and how to ask for help. Finding a great community of other writers will be the best thing you ever do: get on that!

Me and my college roommate (she's the one in red) in 2013!Also, it's time to get over yourself. As in, stop being so shy about your writing. It's nothing to be ashamed of. You know, your friends will probably be interested in what you write about, if you'd ever tell them. Your family will eventually come to grips that you'd much rather write YA fantasy than the next great American novel, and the sooner that happens, the better. So find a way to get out of your shell a little. The real world doesn't bite--too hard at least.

The writing world is going to take you for a serious ride. There will be a whole lot of ups, downs, and
blind corners. And there will be times you want to quit. (Hello, stay AWAY from that delete all button--you know what I'm talking about!) But sticking with it will have its rewards. Especially in the awesome people you'll meet along the way. And while I can't say yet whether it's totally worth it, it has been a blast. So dig in, have some fun, and for the love of Pete, learn how to use that comma!

~2014 me