Unlike my fellow writers I was not a writer as a child, nor an avid reader. My childhood was consumed in imagination. It was my safety net from the reality of not being an academic.
School was desperately hard for me. My teachers found it far easier to send me out in the hall or to send me to the corner rather than to try to help me put the reading puzzle together.
My parents threw up their hands in trying to make me understand phonics and to this day spelling continues to elude me. (Thank God for spell check.)
So why become a writer? It certainly isn’t a career for the sensitive soul—there is all that rejection, and waiting….for more rejection.
You have to have the patience of a snail crawling from one side of the road to the other and the skin of a dragon (not easily pierced by rejection) to handle this job. If someone asked me to describe myself as a dog, I would be a Golden Retriever: Loving, a pleaser, sensitive, a kissaholic, did I say a pleaser?
Any other career would be easier on my sensitive heart. So why indeed?
Because I can’t help myself. My imagination is never quiet–neither am I. (Another one of my down falls as a child) It is constantly churning. Wherever I go, whatever I am doing my mind is wondering, questioning, seeing things that most people never notice. Those things roll around, and around and the next thing I know I am at my computer typing as fast as I can trying to keep up with my mind.
How did I manage? Being a slow learner and all? I learned the writing rules—slowly. And I continue to educate myself through conferences, workshops, books, mentors, and SCBWI.
What about the rejection? It still kills me but like a Golden retriever I go back, trusting someone along the way will love my work. And I lick my wounds with my writing community that understands the sting of rejection. Their encouragement is like a band-aid.
What about the waiting? I’ve learned to send a manuscript off and get started on something else. The distraction helps the months go by.
So, here I am with all these brainy people, writing, and selling books that will be read by little people. Who’d have thought this is where I’d be when I grew up?
I love people with the Golden Retriever personality. So happy you’re making little people happy. ^_^
Thanks for your kind reply. I’m thinking you may be a golden retriever too.
I particularly like what you said about the rejection and waiting for more rejection, that’s so true. I’ve quickly learned to develop a thick skin because after my first rejection, I had writers block for a year. Joining children’s book insider and seeing that I wasn’t alone but part of a community was a great help. Great blog from the heart and thanks for sharing
This writing business isn’t easy. But as necessary as breathing. Keep writing. The people I know who have made it were persistent.
And your book sounds wonderful. Of course you were meant to be a writer. Those nagging little deatails like learning to read properly will have made you an even better writer. Thank you so much for sharing this.
Thanks!
I was starting to give up on my granddaughter. I was wondering if she had some physical problem. She hated to read. I don’t know what happened, perhaps it was creating her blog, but she’s changed overnight and is reading ‘hard’ stuff. PS – I’d love to be an Irish Setter – love that long auburn hair! *g*
Whaa! Who! for your grandaughter. I’m sure her blog is helping her. My teacher, Miss Cabbage, believed: If you can say it, it can be written down. If it can be written down and they are your own words you will be able to read it. Sounds like Miss Cabbage is right again.
Not in my wildest dreams either that I will I get into the lonely but exciting and challenging world of writing but that motivation and inspiration to put anything down on paper continues to haunt me whereever I go, whatever I do and so here I am writing for the children despite rejection slips, the hard work and challenge. With practice, patience and persistence, we all will see our pot of gold at the end of the rainbow for the love of writing ONE DAY. By the way, I’m still looking for a publisher for Mr. Pete. I had fun revising that with you.Thanks for this site. I love it!
Way to go! Keep working. I’m proud of you.