Reader Question: Early Inspiration

Was there a specific author or book that inspired you to become a writer?

The short answer is, no.

The long answer is–I would never say I wasn’t inspired by the authors I read while I was growing up. I devoured all the Zilpha Keatley Snyder and Roald Dahl books I could find, and re-read my favorites (THE CHANGELING and THE WITCHES, respectively) over and over, for example. Those books definitely influenced the paths I took with my writing.

But, I think I was bound to become a writer before I even knew how to read. I loved stories from the first time my parents started reading picture books to me, and right away I was trying to make up my own (dictating to my mom so she could transcribe them, since I didn’t yet know how to print, either). There was never a moment when I read a particular book and thought, wow, I want to do this too. I was already doing it. I’ve never known how to not do it.

Fellow writers–did you have a moment of inspiration when you decided to pursue writing? Or was it something that just sort of happened?


Comments

Reader Question: Early Inspiration — 8 Comments

  1. I feel the same way! I was *always* wanting to tell stories, and I remember having to ask my mom how to spell every single word because I didn’t know how to read yet. There were definitely books I LOVED over the years, but I was in love with storytelling way before those books came around.

    • It’s good to know it’s not just me! It’s funny because even though I loved telling and writing stories, I never considered it as a possible career until I was in junior high. Not sure why–maybe it seemed like too much fun to possibly be a job! 🙂

  2. I know I write today, due to the encouragement of my grade 9 English teacher, Mr. Walter Thurtell. Mr. Thurtell was the first to acknowledge I had any talent, thus, vindicating my passion, and the first to help me see it was worth pursuing.

    • It’s so wonderful to have a supportive teacher like that! My ninth grade English teacher really encouraged me, too (and has kept in touch–he came to my book launch party for GHOST!).

  3. I know for a fact it was HOMECOMING by Cynthia Voigt that really inspired me to become a writer. It was so beautiful, so ugly, so real. It felt like a “grown-up” book yet it was written for me. I think I first read it in fifth grade.

      • It’s interesting that for some people there’s one definite book and for others it’s harder to pinpoint. I wonder if you compared the groups whether there’d be any difference in writing journeys or something?

  4. Thanks for ones marvelous posting! I definitely enjoyed reading it, you are a great author.I will be sure to bookmark your blog and will come back in the foreseeable future. I want to encourage yourself to continue your great work, have a nice evening!

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