Were you always meant to be a Writer?

[A.J.]

Were you always meant to be a writer? Signposts in a writer’s life: http://awaines.blogspot.com/2014/03/s...

The Blog of A J Waines: author of Girl on a Train and The Evil Beneath:

Both reached No 1 in 'Murder' and 'Psychological Thrillers' in UK Kindle charts.

[Helen]

Thanks A.J., I enjoyed this blog. So very true: I used to write ghost stories around the age of 10/11 and my class teacher used to read them to everyone as a treat every Friday afternoon. When I was 15/16 my English teacher told my parents 'Buy her the Writer's Yearbook - she's going to be a novellist'. I think that I wasn't worried about writing 'real' things even at that age: my classmates wrote quite bland stories while I had the confidence to write about teenage sex and even include swear words, however my teacher always thought my stories were brilliant.
And like you, I did the period of teenage angst and poetry.
But after school, life got in the way. I loved reading (particularly psychological fiction, which is what I write) and I was forever at the library.
In 2007 I did a Creative Writing course as part of a degree through the Open University. My tutor, Ray Robinson (look up his novels, they're great) gave me full marks for my first assignment and told me: 'Write a novel and send it off to an agent. You are a novellist'. I did what I was told, got an agent and my book is currently on submission.

[Chris]

Quality blog post A.J. In 4th grade I won a writing contest, but never thought being a writer was in my future until I needed to explain how to use some complicated software and it seemed like I was the only one who took the time to learn how to use it. Then when I put out my first guide it sold like hotcakes and I realized there was a future in this.

[Julia]

Yes! When I was 6 I wrote a two-page love story where the boy I had a crush on proposed to me (because he totally ignored me in real life.)

I loved reading poetry as a child and I wrote a few poems; I was obsessed with rhyme and metric, and that superseded everything else.

As an adult I tried writing "serious" books for a while, but I kept getting bogged down. I eventually realized that it is true what they say, that you should write the books you like to read. Take it from me: trying to write a coming-of-age novel when you actively hate the genre will get you nothing but grief.

My first book, The Lion of Palmyra, is scheduled for self-publication at the end of May...it is a lovely yaoi romp, pure brain candy, and I've had a blast writing it.

[Jim]

In my particular case, the answer is a resounding no.

In 2009, eight years into my retirement from a 33-year career in management with a major food processing corporation, I decided to write a book just to see if I could and had no intention of seeking publication. I figured that it would be a constructive and interesting way to pass the time for three or four months and then I would move on to something else. It took me fourteen months to produce a completed, polished manuscript.

I included a copy of the manuscript as part of each of my four adult children's Christmas gifts.

Two of them pleaded with me for months to at least make an effort to have the novel published. We made a deal. I would send query letters to five mainline publishers. If all five rejected my story idea, the matter would be dropped and I could resume enjoying my retirement.

One of those publishers offered me a contract. After 11 months of learning that my completed, polished manuscript was neither complete nor polished and doing what it took to make it so, the book was released on August 9, 2011 and I still receive an occasional royalty check. It is my one and, to-date, only writing venture. There are so many other interesting things to do and so little time to do them.

[A.J.]

Helen wrote: "Thanks A.J., I enjoyed this blog. So very true: I used to write ghost stories around the age of 10/11 and my class teacher used to read them to everyone as a treat every Friday afternoon. When I wa..."

Hi Helen - what a great story - congratulations!

[A.J.]

Chris wrote: "Quality blog post A.J. In 4th grade I won a writing contest, but never thought being a writer was in my future until I needed to explain how to use some complicated software and it seemed like I wa..."

Thanks, Chris - glad you discovered your great skill.

[A.J.]

Julia wrote: "Yes! When I was 6 I wrote a two-page love story where the boy I had a crush on proposed to me (because he totally ignored me in real life.)

I loved reading poetry as a child and I wrote a few poem..."

Hi Julia - you're absolutely right - you have to write the kind of book you'd love to pick up from the shelf. Congratulations!

[A.J.]

Jim wrote: "In my particular case, the answer is a resounding no.

In 2009, eight years into my retirement from a 33-year career in management with a major food processing corporation, I decided to write a boo..."

Thanks, Jim - the main thing I think is to discover your passion. It might change through life - but it can bring great joy when you find it. I hope you love whatever claims your energy!

[Arlene]

No, I don't think so, for if I was meant to be a writer all my life, that's what I would have been. Writing never occurred to me until I got my first computer and I had to learn to type. I was 41. But looking back, I used to spend hours at a time just writing stuff - anything, like to-do lists, my ambitions, daydreams. That time should have been spent writing something worthwhile. The writer was there, waiting to blossom, but it must have been the case that the time wasn't right. Now I use my life experiences to form my characters and stories. I couldn't have done that in my younger days.

[Regina]

I've done this my whole life. Before I could write, I made my mom take dictation.

Used to write (terrible)novels in longhand.

[Daniel]

Almost trained to it. My mum allowed me to learn to type on her portable typewriter at age 4 and gave me a small book to collect my poems in when I was 7. At 11 I write a terrible pastiche of Enid Blyton. At 14 I knew I wanted to write for children.

so I do. But a writer should stretch themselves so I have written for radio, have poems published and a first adult novel out to a beta reader.

[L.F.]

Wow, Brian. Really?

Anyway, I 've had a passion for writing all my life. Just wish I knew how to be a success at it. lol. But I don't let that stop me :)

[Carolyn]

I wrote my first story at 5. It was "The Weed That Wouldn't Go Away." There was a lot of screaming with "AAAHHHH" in capital letters, but I think that's mostly because it was so easy to spell.
So now, at 36, I've written a novel called "Soul Particle," and I'm trying to figure out how to get it to sell. We'll see, I guess.

[Regina]

Brian, have you ever heard of "negative press"? :-(

[A.J.]

Arlene wrote: "No, I don't think so, for if I was meant to be a writer all my life, that's what I would have been. Writing never occurred to me until I got my first computer and I had to learn to type. I was 41. ..."

So true, Arlene - the timing has to be right. I think, for me, I needed to do all my years as a Psychotherapist to give me a deep insight into behaviour etc before writing psychological thrillers!

[A.J.]

Daniel wrote: "Almost trained to it. My mum allowed me to learn to type on her portable typewriter at age 4 and gave me a small book to collect my poems in when I was 7. At 11 I write a terrible pastiche of Enid ..."

Good point, Daniel - good to stretch yourself and develop as a writer. I find the whole process extremely challenging - but the most satifiying thing I've ever done, I think.

[A.J.]

Carolyn wrote: "I wrote my first story at 5. It was "The Weed That Wouldn't Go Away." There was a lot of screaming with "AAAHHHH" in capital letters, but I think that's mostly because it was so easy to spell.
So n..."

I love the title of that very early novel! Good luck with Soul Particle...

[Justin]

I don't think so. When I was little I wanted to grow up and be a waiter. Then in high school I wanted to become a bartender and sports broadcaster. Though writing is now part of my life I still have a dream to be a bartender and broadcaster. Although if becoming a writer is now in my life for good then I can't complain and shall embrace it.

[Jenelle]

Definitely. I dictated stories to my mom before I could write, and started writing stories as soon as I could form letters. I never really stopped.

When I wasn't writing stories, I was creating them in make-believe realms with my siblings, cousins, friends... or just by myself. Imagination is where I lived most of my childhood. Our house was full of books, and I couldn't get enough of them. Both of my parents read stories to us all the time.

I think the "signposts" are clear. :)

Loved the blog post, by the way, A.J.! Very nice.

[Stan]

Yes, ever since my parents found me in the basket that was lying in the bullrushes with the note: Stan the Writer.

[A.J.]

Jenelle wrote: "Definitely. I dictated stories to my mom before I could write, and started writing stories as soon as I could form letters. I never really stopped.

When I wasn't writing stories, I was creating th..."

Thank you, Jenelle - lovely story of your own experiences.

[A.J.]

Stan wrote: "Yes, ever since my parents found me in the basket that was lying in the bullrushes with the note: Stan the Writer."

Ha, Ha - nice one, Stan!