Paranormal isn’t my genre but I recently came across a video interview with Stephenie Meyer that captured my attention. She talks about the beginning, the start of her writing career before she ever realized it was going to be a career.
Writers are often asked where their ideas come from. Stephenie’s TWILIGHT story began as a dream. When she awoke in the morning she wrote it down so she wouldn’t forget it. Some time later she shared it with her sister but never intended anyone else to read it or expected it to end up as a published book.
Some might say, “Yeah, sure,” but I find myself believing her. Think back. Whether you are now a published author or an aspiring one, where did your writing begin? Were those initial words intended for public viewing?
I’ve written poetry since my childhood but always for myself. I didn’t have a sister to share it with. Even as an adult most of my poetry has remained private. My first magazine article wasn’t queried for submission but was written at the request of an editor. So what changed? Why have I had magazine articles published over the past decade, devotional pieces shared and multiple novels written or in the works with the dream of publication?
I believe the prodding to write has always come from God. It’s an inner stirring anxious to be expressed. The idea to write my first novel came from a conversation with my best friend… a seed planted after a week-long visit during which we had talked about her writing and her dreams. But God has patiently (or maybe not so patiently) wooed me away from the path I initially chose. I was reluctant to change but when God has something in mind it’s hard to ignore Him. I’ll save more on this topic for a later post, but right now I’m focusing on The Beginning.
Where was your beginning in writing? I don’t mean why you write or where you get your ideas. What do you remember of your earliest writing and why did you embark on it? What was its purpose?
MUSINGS 
I don’t remember, but a lot of my inspiration comes from dreams or random thoughts. I believe Stephanie, too. Especially since I had a similar dream.
I don’t often remember my dreams but they don’t usually seem to have any story potential. Random thoughts, though… they drop all sorts of interesting possibilities into my consciousness.
I wish I knew! I’ve always had a bit of a way with words, and wrote poems as a kid, more to do with the rythym of the rhyming I think than the words themselves. Have never understood how.
Thanks for visiting here, Mariellen. My childhood poems all rhymed. Until my late teens I thought that’s what a poem was suppose to do. 🙂 It wasn’t until I stopped worrying about rhyming that I experienced real poetic freedom.
I truly believe God wires some of us with a desire and an ability to tell stories. I feel like God gave me that gift at birth and it’s always been in my blood. I’ve just needed to nurture and develop the gift over the years.
I was recently reminded that Jesus told stories (parables) and that God often uses stories to convey messages. So stories/books are His way of reaching people. We’re God’s modern story-tellers, right?
Jody, I don’t think I’ve ever heard anyone else relate Jesus’ storytelling to what we do as writers! We sometimes talk about being gifted but I wonder how many of us think of ourselves as “God’s modern story-tellers”. Thanks for mentioning it.
The whole process of having the story grow inside your head to page to finally a real book never fails to fascinate me. I live for this stuff. It reaffirms that what I’m doing matters not just to me but to a lot of other people. I’m not alone.
Thanks, Carol.
It really is a fascinating process… an art… a mystery!
I began writing as a child to express the emotions I held inside. I was a timid, insecure girl with few friends, and writing gave me a way to release my worries and dreams. As I grew older, my love for writing and words also grew. Now I’m blessed to have the confidence to share my thoughts with others.
Writing truly is therapeutic… a wonderful outlet for emotions. I’m sure that’s why so many people keep journals.
My mother got me an old typewriter when I was about nine. I had a lot of ideas, but I think the urge to write was the desire to hear the clacking of those metal keys.
I didn’t get my typewriter until I graduated from high school! Lucky you! Now it’s all about computers, but I still have a miniature typewriter as one of my writing talismen. You can see it at this post: http://wp.me/phaYw-oz .
As a child I loved writing and I wrote a play when I was about ten which my classmates acted out for a few of the classes in our elementary. It was fun but I never thought it would be anything more. There was a time when I didn’t write at all. I was too busy living life. Then, a few years after my third child was born there was a knowing in me that I was supposed to write. Perhaps it was just a matter of self preservation back then. I knew I had to do something just for me. As mothers we give and give, often without leaving time an ounce of time for ourselves. I learned to play on the page. Its where I went when I need some time alone.
“I learned to play on the page. Its where I went when I need some time alone.” What a perfect description of writing, Laura!