For a long time I kept my love of writing to myself.

In 9th grade, my best friend at the time, Oliver, had got me back into reading by recommending Percy Jackson by Rick Riordan to me. I grew up reading every night (not necessarily by choice but I didn’t hate it either) and was just starting to read for fun again when he suggested the book. I read that first book in one night. I finished the other four in the series within a few weeks, if that. I read the second series quickly after. I was devouring books left and right.

I have fragments of memories from middle school after we’d finish taking an exam or quiz in class. Teachers would let us take out a sheet of and doodle, write, or do whatever to keep us busy and quiet. I used to write whatever came to mind, most of it probably gibberish or random sentences. I remember after finishing a test in my 7th grade health class I wrote a ‘story’ front and back on a sheet of paper. I have no memory of what it was about, but I remember writing it and tucking it away only to throw it out later.

I didn’t touch writing like that again for years.

Another thing Oliver did was write his own stories. I boy, did I eat those up too. The stories I got to read were captivating to me, and I remember wishing to be that talented (and cool). My love of reading and writing is really all thanks to Oliver. Maybe I would’ve gone down this pass or maybe I wouldn’t have if I never met him.

I never did share my writing with him because of this weird embarrassment. That embarrassment stuck around till my sophomore year of college. My first writing I ever shared with someone was during a creative writing class, which I mostly wrote poetry for, during that spring semester. I was so nervous, sort of embarrassed, and definitely was not happy about having to share. It was uncomfortable because I hadn’t let that guard down before. Sharing your writing is opening the flood gates for criticism, edits, and feedback of any sorts, but you have to welcome it because that’s how you improve. Workshopping is such an important skill to learn and participate in. By the end of the semester, I volunteered to go first in the large class workshop for our portfolios. It was nerve wracking and exciting at the same time.

The following semester I did a fiction creative writing class. Honestly, I was beyond anxious because I focused so heavily on poetry. That was the best class I’ve throughout college. I was challenged, critiqued, given tips and tricks, and met a quality friend in there. The professor is an established writer, and her career path had given her so much experience to share with us. Her personality was a little wacky (in a good way). I wrote two short stories that semester, both I’m proud of.

I try to write as much as I can in my free time. Recently, I started setting aside time in my day to write. Sometimes that looks like a quick 15 minutes, other times it’s longer. Anything to practice is better than nothing. I write with pencil and paper. I feel more productive and less distracted when I do.

Picking back up the pencil was the best thing I could’ve done for myself. I can’t imagine my life with out books and writing, I really can’t. Despite having a blog, it’s still odd to share writing with people, but I think that’s natural.

Cheers to many more years of writing and many more books to read.

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