Monday, February 13, 2012

Origins Blogfest!

Today I'm participating in the Origins Blogfest!



The object is to talk about when and how you first became a writer. So here goes:

I'm pretty sure I've been writing stories ever since I knew how to write. I've mentioned before that I was the dorky kid who brought books to parties and picnics, because I'd rather lose myself in a made up story than face the boring reality around me.

Which is probably why my earliest stories were kicked-up versions of every day life.

In 2nd (or was it 3rd?) grade, my friend Bridget and I decided to write stories about each other. We used to dictate plot lines to one another - she wanted to go on vacation in France and have Tom Cruise's look-alike son fall madly in love with her, and I'd give her an equally outlandish scenario - and then we'd bury our noses in our notebooks and write as much as we could without getting caught by the teacher. When we were finished, we'd swap notebooks and read and giggle and put in our orders for what we wanted to happen next.

If only life were really that easy, right?

So that's where it all began. We may not get to dictate our own life events (at least not all the time), but the ability to create and lose myself in a world where I call the shots (or at least where no one does boring things like go to work 8 hours a day and clean the house and cook dinner) is what keeps me writing to this day.

Looking forward to reading about your Origins!

18 comments:

  1. Hey, Gina! I also used to bring books or notebooks to social events and read or write in a corner (especially family events), because stories were more interesting than idle chit chat. Plus I was shy. I still have problem conversing with people I don't know.

    My daughter is like that now. She brings her notebooks to restaurants and composes right at the table.

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  2. There's nothing wrong with writing stories about your life, real experiences revved up a bit. Write what we know, right? It's a great place to start. Congrats on your origins!

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  3. I'd probably still bring books to family get togethers if my husband let me! LOL And that game with the notebooks soudns like so much fun. Unfortunately I didn't have any friends who suffered from the same run away imagination that I had as a kid. They'd all think I was nuts.

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  4. The day I met my husband, I had my nose buried in a book for half our date because I couldn't put it down. I'm so glad he understood and gave me a second chance.

    If he wasn't a bit of a reader himself, he might not have sympathized.

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  5. Losing myself in another world is definitely one of the greatest things about being a writer. Especially since it's a world I created. Enjoyed your origins story.

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  6. Oh, that is a great story. My friends and I never did that but I really would have enjoyed it.

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  7. Having control of your own world in your writing is a lot of fun. Whenever I am having a tough day, I read a book, or watch a really good movie, and lose myself in the fantasy world. We as writers supply people with that escape, and I think it is wonderful! Thanks for sharing!

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  8. What an adorable beginning to your writing career! Thanks for sharing, Gina.

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  9. You started young, Gina! That's wonderful. I wish I had known my love of stories would lead me to writing someday.

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  10. 1. How did I not know this story?
    2. That is the best story EVER. Way better than all the gossip I wasted my elementary school note-passing on.

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  11. What a great way to get started, Gina. Thanks for sharing!

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  12. It sounds like you and your friend had a lot of fun making up those stories.

    My daughter sat with her nose in a book at my brother's Christmas party one year!

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  13. Awesome origins story! I brought a book with me everywhere too. I did so until my son was born and now I have to chase after a toddler. Not good for catching any reading time!

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  14. Your friend and you writing each other's life was cute ... and reminded me of an ancient John Candy movie where he could write his life on his typewriter. Sadly, one night he got drunk and thought he wrote : "My ship comes in." The next day he was almost crushed by a herd of sheep! Refreshing, fun origin story, Roland

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  15. What a sweet ORIGIN! Are you still friends with Bridget? Did she get bit by the writing bug also?

    Thank you for sharing today! :)

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  16. so glad there are still creative youngins out there! we need to get our kids off the screens and inventing and discovering life!
    great beginning!

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  17. I love how you and your friend wrote fiction about each other. :) I hope Bridget kept on writing as well. great to meet you through this blogfest.

    Nutschell
    www.thewritingnut.com

    PS Tried to follow, but for some reason the word verification kept on denying me access :S

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  18. Creating story with each other is a great steps to your dream to become Novel.

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