Warning: Books Can Be Dangerous!!

If used without proper precautions, they might, just might, change your life.

***

I started writing when I was eight years old, my first project being an Easter story that had to be five pages or less for my Gifted Program.  After my teacher read it, even though it was a disaster in itself, she was amazed.  The way my words flowed onto the page was so graceful with just a touch of inspiration that radiated off of each phrase. 

"Encourage her to write," she told my mom.  But, my mom came to find that she didn't even have to.  I would be keeping notebooks for years to come with all of my short stories in them, up until sixth grade.  It was then, on a hot August day that I sat down and started writing my very first novella, titled Hidden Power. 

I don't remember much.  I just remember putting the pencil to the paper and ending up with half a notebook full of unorganized junk that I didn't know what to do with.  What could I possibly do with it?  It was as if it was beyond repair!

So, I did the only logical thing that I thought to do.  I gave it to my gifted teacher. 

She read it within a day, telling me how, with enough hard work, I could actually do something.

I didn't believe her. 

I got it published a year later.

***

This had only been with a small, children's publishing company named KidPub Press (perhaps you've heard of it?)

I got older, and my childhood publishing came to an end.  There went my glory, and as a result, my confidence. 

Now let's have a chat about this small, but mighty word right here: Believe.

It's seven letters long.  It's just a word.  That is all true.  But behind it lies a much greater meaning. 

I stopped writing for about a year and a half, and there is not a day that goes by that I don't regret not sitting down at the computer and typing during that time.  But how could I?  I turned fifteen, lost my best friend (who is also my cousin), got caught up in an abusive relationship, and got sick over the summer.  Really sick.

In July, I sat down to begin writing Breaking Emily.  Now, I'm going to let you in on a little secret.  I don't control my characters.  I let them run around freely and do, say, or think whatever they want.  Then I write it down. 

One thing that stuck out to me through Emily's journey is that she's brave.  She lost her best friend, got into an abusive relationship, and found out her dad is sick.  Really sick.

I wanted to be Emily, in all ways that I possibly could.  It wasn't until after I finished that I realized that I had just written a slightly different version of my life story.  Emily is me. 

I am brave.  I guess it just took a little time to see it.

But writing this book gave me one thing that I hadn't seen in a very long time.  It gave me hope. 

***

Sometimes, it's nice to just sit back and do these things.  So let's go over a few of my key techniques, in case you wanna take a whack at it.

Let the characters do the talking.  Let them off their leash.  Push down all of the anxiety that this may cause and just let em go.  You'll see that sometimes, what they have to say for themselves is so much better than anything that we could ever force them to say ourselves. Write a few chapters, and then take a break.  Read a book, or watch a movie.  Rewatch another movie, or scroll through facebook until its midnight and you just don't know where time went.  Find a little inspiration and think about that, then jump right back in. Know that practice makes perfect.  I'm writing another novel on the side, one that I hope to find an agent and a publishing deal for in the near future, and I'm on the fifth draft.  That's right.  The fifth!  I'll write, and then I'll put it away, and when I come to pick it back up, I can better find my mistakes or can replace scenes with better ideas. Believe.

***

Whatever your goals are, I hope you found this inspiring.  It takes patience and passion to be a writer, and a deep need in your heart to keep you coming back to the computer every single time. 

I hope you all found that passion J

Books – they give hope.  They make us believe.

And as a result, they change our lives...