It's my daughter's last week of summer break, and we've been busy formatting her first book and reading. She read three books in two days! I can't tell you how happy it makes me to see her love of the written word. She's even writing news articles--okay, so they're about Monster High dolls, but she's nine. ;) I'm amazed at how well she puts her thoughts to paper and/or screen.
She reminds me of someone--a little girl who always had a book in her face (hence my awful eyesight). A little girl who wrote poems and short stories and thought they made the best gifts for her family members.
For some of us, writing is something we've done since we could hold a pencil. But I know that's not the case for everyone, so today I want to hear how you came to be a lover of the written word (as a reader and/or writer).
How did it begin for you?
As an only child, I was left to entertain myself a lot and allowed access to any book in the house (my parents were big, diverse readers). That began my love of books. The writing began when I was knocked down by a car and spent a few months in hospital. It gave me a different viewpoint on life and plenty of time to think up stories. From that point on, I decided all I ever wanted to be when I grew up was a writer.
ReplyDeleteOh wow! Months in the hospital sounds awful. I'm glad you came out of that okay, and it sounds like you were able to take something positive from it since it began your love of writing.
DeleteI just evolved from a reader to one who also writes. Just seemed a natural transition like growing.Long been in love with books and recall my library days. My first writing love was poetry and I expanded to fiction. Never looked also. Also in high school I started fan fiction which I love. Your daughter's news reports on those dolls could also qualify as fan fiction as well.
ReplyDeleteIt does seem like a natural transition. Growing up I devoured books but never thought about the people who wrote them. I just knew I loved R.L. Stine. Once I realized writing could be a career, I was hooked.
DeleteI never had a single urge to write anything I til about 25 years ago. The thought never occurred to me. Since then there has hardly a day without me writing, editing or thinking of my next book.
ReplyDeleteIsn't funny how that happens?
DeleteI wrote my first book at around age 7, a poignant tale about selling our family car. I even folded cardboard to make a cover and "bind" it. I've always written to make sense of situations or my surroundings. I don't think I truly process events until I write about them.
ReplyDeleteOoh, I love that! What a great connection to the written word.
DeleteI love that your daughter has started writing! <3 It seems that she's going to become author, too ;) I can only imagine how proud you are.
ReplyDeleteI think the love for written word has always been there: my mother read books to me when I was a child and always took me to libraries when I wanted. I was eight when I realized I want to write books: I was visiting our school library and decided to start reading Harry Potter and Philosopher's stone for the first time. After reading only the first chapter I came to think that if I ever could write a story as great as the one I was reading, I would be the happiest person in the world. I still remember the situation like it was yesterday. And here I am now, 16 years later, searching for the right story to tell first.
I credit R.L. Stine for the fact that I write about creepy things. I loved reading his books when I was growing up.
DeleteWriting for me sprang up out of reading. I was already reading before nursery school.
ReplyDeleteI was an early reader too. I loved books.
DeleteI love it! I actually have to take my kids books away at night if I want them to sleep. Super frustrating.
ReplyDeleteYou know, I can't remember when it started for me. I know it was 3rd grade when I caught on fire, but it has been such a long standing love...
Same here. My daughter has a bookshelf above her bed and she stays up late reading all the time. Can't bring myself to get mad about it. ;)
DeleteLike mother, like daughter. That's beautiful.
ReplyDeleteI was a late-bloomer, I guess you'd say. Hated to read when I was a kid. Don't recall anyone reading to me. So I became a teacher. Yeah, weird. And my students taught me reading was fun. They also inspired me to try writing, so I did, for children's magazines at first. Now, I'm addicted. :)
Aw! I love that your students taught you reading was fun! :)
DeleteI didn't enjoy writing when we had to do it with pencil. I started enjoying it when I discovered the keyboard and got my first word processor! :)
ReplyDeleteTechie! :) Nothing wrong with that.
DeleteMy mom reading books to me. Picture books are still my favorite to this day. To read and to write.
ReplyDeleteI think reading to your kids really makes a difference.
DeleteLike mother... What a delight. May she grow to be as awesome.
ReplyDeleteShe's already more awesome. ;)
DeleteI love that your daughter is transitioning a love of reading to writing. That doesn't always happen. Both my children love reading--and they're now late 20's--but while good at writing, they don't seek it out. It'll come.
ReplyDeleteI'm very proud of her. Loving to write really helps out in school too.
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