I've always wanted to be a writer; ever since the first grade when my story won in the young authors contest. My second grade teacher said I was the "best story writer in class." She told me that and put in on my report card, but none of my classmates believed me when I told them.
All through school I worked on my dream of becoming a writer. I entered all the "young author" competitions and did very well. In high school I took creative writing classes, but the dream was beginning to fade. I don't know why, maybe I thought I should focus on something more praticle. I still wanted to write, but I wasn't sure if I could make a living on it.
I'd always loved being around little kids. There was my career answer, I would teach. I could still write couldn't I? I mean teachers have summers off.
So in college I focused mainly on education classes. However, I couldn't pass the required math class which would get me into EMU's school of education. I tried 3 times and never got higher than a D. Finnally, it occured to me, maybe this wasn't the path God had intended for me.
I switched my major from early elmentary to children's lit. with a minor in writing. I took every writing and lit. class I could. My grade point went up to a 3.5; I was sorry I hadn't done it earlier.
I graduated in 1992 with my BA in English, Lang. and Lit. I was tired of school. I had been in college 6 years. I was expecting my first child. I was ready to begin a new phase of my life, being a mother. My writing dream wasn't forgotten, just put on a shelf.
Being a wife and mother of two, kept me busy. I wondered if my dream would ever come true. I wrote when I could, little things, here and there. But as the years went on, I couldn't help feeling a little depressed from time to time. My marriage was (and still is) great. I loved my husband and my children, but something was missing. I had to get back into my writing, but I didn't know where to start. I called myself "an aspiring writer".
I think it was in 2005 that the Northfeild Writer's Group formed. I saw the notice in the library and my heart lept. This was it! The ticket I needed to persue my dream. I signed up right away. Now, 2009 I think I'm probably one of the only members who has been there from the beginning.
I brought the manuscript I'd been working on and got lots of help and advice. I've become better writer since then and have gained the confidence to call my self not an "aspiring writer" but a writer.
I am seeing my name in print, our local paper The Northfeild Courant. I can't begin to discribe the elation I felt the first time I was published in that paper. People seem to like my articles and the editor has said I'm a good writer. My dream is being realized.
My book, the one I brought to the first Northfield Writers meeting, is finished. Now I'm going through the process of finding an agent to represent me. I've gotten several rejections, but that's okay. I'm not letting this dream die again!
