When Did You Start Writing?

Dorlana Vann ♦ September 1, 2012 ♦ 3 Comments

When Did You Start Writing?

I think this probably the most common question that a writer is asked. And I think my answer is pretty common, too.  I’ve been writing since I can remember – But I didn’t think much about the fact, that I liked to write, until the 7^th grade.

After completing the assignment of turning my spelling words into a story, my 7^th grade teacher called me to his desk.  He asked if I would be interested in joining his Essay Team the following year.  Even though I moved away and didn’t get a chance to compete, it made me realize that not only was writing something I liked to do, but maybe it was something I was actually good at.  But that wasn’t the only thing that happened that year school year.

So, at the time, (Some will argue that is still true… ) I was a little weird and had this giant, pink comb that I carried around in my back pocket and had named Harvey. When we had to write and illustrate a children’s book to be laminated and then given to a charity, I decided to write my book about him (ok,”it”). The story was about a giant, pink comb, named Harvey (of course) that didn’t want to be a comb anymore; he wanted to be a cowboy. I made the book huge and pink and in the shape of a comb.

Here again, the result wasn’t ideal: I turned it in late and got a D.  However, I think the process of writing the story and turning it into a book really sparked something in me. For a long time, I thought I wanted to write children’s books. That wasn’t exactly turn out to be my strong point, but it was still the starting point.

You know, I wonder what happened to Harvey. If I could talk to him again, I guess I would tell him thank you… or point at him and say, “It is all your fault!

Love and Laughter,

Dorlana