8.22.2011

The Spark Blogfest: Who Set You Off? (Part One)

This week I'm participating in Christine Tyler's blogfest and talking about who and what made me decide to be a writer.


I don't think there's one, huge defining moment or person who inspired me to be a writer. As long as I can remember, when people asked me what I wanted to be, I told them an author. (Okay, no, that's only half-true; in my painfully shy days, when someone spoke to me, I would squeak and hide behind my mother. And then she would tell them I wanted to be an author.)

My love for words and books started at a young age, so I might as well start at the beginning. My favorite book when I was little was "A Pocket for Corduroy".

I loved this book with an obsessive love that defines four-year-olds. I wanted it read to me over and over and overandover. My mom was really good about reading to me, but it is a wordy little storybook, and a mom has to make dinner sometime, so one day, after our fifth-in-a-row reading, she set it down and got up from the couch. I begged for another read through. I was denied.

I didn't let it deter me. I don't remember wondering if I could read it myself. I just remember opening it up because I didn't want it to be over.

The first sentence is, "Late one summer afternoon Lisa and her mother took their laundry to the laundromat." I asked my older sister what each of the words were, and then read the rest myself. And then I read it again. And then I read some more. I started reading everything. (side note: early reading is great, but can also cause panic attacks, like when I read the symptoms of prostate cancer [getting up at night to pee!], and, even though I had no idea what a prostate was, convinced myself that I had it.)

I guess loving to read doesn't always equal loving to write, but it's where I started. It was my first spark.

**Also starting today is Rachael Harrie's third Writers' Platform-Building Campaign. It's a great way to network and make new friends and Rachael is super-awesome, so go check it out!

19 comments:

Patricia JL said...

Fun answer! That book looks familiar and makes me wonder if I had it when I was little. I know I had tons of books to read when I was little and a prize box at school that encouraged me to read so I could get a prize for reading 10 books.

Small Town Shelly Brown said...

I am SO glad that you don't have prostate cancer! Whew!

It's funny when we finally say to ourselves, I want to read whenever I want, not just when someone will do it for me.

Love your post!

Small Town Shelly Brown said...

I am SO glad that you don't have prostate cancer! Whew!

It's funny when we finally say to ourselves, I want to read whenever I want, not just when someone will do it for me.

Love your post!

Ruth Josse said...

Who wouldn't love Coduroy?

My hypochodria didn't kick in for a couple more years:)

Anonymous said...

Oh my gosh that is so cute Jeigh!

Keriann Greaney Martin said...

So cute! I love that you somewhat taught yourself how to read. Way to start your love of books at a young age :).

Tara Tyler said...

the two really go hand in hand, when you write, reading is knowledge and inspiration. it takes that extra spark to write!

Gwen Gardner said...

Hi Jeigh :)
I'm in your group over at the Third Writers' Platform-Building Campaign. Just stopping by to say hello. My first spark to be a writer? Not until I went back to college when I was nearly 40! Always an avid reader, though, so I think it was just a matter of time. Loved your post - I'm a new follower.

J said...

Hi Jeigh! I'm in your group for the Writing Campaign, so I thought I'd stop by and say hello. Love the story, by the way. :)

Unknown said...

Hey Jeigh, another campaigner stopping by. My spark for really getting into writing came from some posts at Lisa Shearin's blog about her path to publication. Cool post!

Angela Cothran said...

Love your answer. You are a funny gal :)

Heidi W said...

Cute answer!

I'm a fellow campaigner in your YA group. Excited to see you around the campaign!

Unknown said...

Fellow crusader and new follower popping over to say hello. My spark for getting into writing . . . hmm not sure, but it gives me something to think about,

Anonymous said...

See I just memorized my first book. I thought I had them all fooled. Hah!

Just checking in fellow Campaigner.

Christine Rains said...

Reading and writing do go hand-in-hand. That was a good story. Thanks for sharing! :)

Sarah Tokeley said...

Just came over to say hi as a fellow campaigner. I'm not sure there was ever a 'spark' for me. Writing was just something I was always going to do 'one day', until I thought I'd better make one day 'today' :)

Margo Kelly said...

Hello! I'm a new follower, visiting from the campaign!

Nice to meet you.

Unknown said...

The first book I ever read was about a rabbit constructing his own winter jacket. I have absolutely no idea what it was called, but I'll never forget it, you know? I mean, other than the title.

Also, BAAHA! You made me laugh out loud about prostate cancer for the first time ever.

Christine Tyler said...

You were an adorable child. That, and Corduroy is way motivating. I love imagining little Jeigh going, "If you won't read it again, I'll just do it myself!" *reads out of sheer willpower.* Awesome.