Blog Schedule

I post on Monday with an occasional random blog thrown in for good measure. I do my best to answer all comments via email and visit around on the days I post.

Monday, February 13, 2012

Origins Blogfest!

Today I am participating in DL Hammon's Blogfest, called Origins, in which we share when our writing dreams began. Thanks DL!

I used to think writing by the age of eight was pretty unique. But I have discovered there are many of us out there who began writing at an early age.


I can blame my mother. She home schooled me, using the Calvert School, which has been homeschooling kids for over a hundred years. I began Calvert when I was around seven, or second grade. Mom and I had a daily routine of reading, writing and ‘rithmetic. I remember memorizing lots of poems. I still know quite a few.

Mom was pleased with the course so we continued with it into the 3rd and 4th grade. A 3rd grade assignment was to write a little essay about my family. Up to that point I don’t think I’d written more than the occasional required paragraph. Mom later said she didn’t expect to get more than a page out of me. Writing was torture, both the physical act because my handwriting was HORRIBLE and because I had such a hard time with spelling being that I'm dyslexic.


I surprised everyone, including myself, when I pumped out three pages describing “My Family.” Despite the fact that the pages are long gone, one word from my essay has become part of the family vocabulary. In describing my sister and me I called us “the grils.” At least I was consistent; I called us grils throughout the whole piece. Erva and I have been known as “the grils” ever since.


From that day to this I've been writing, my mother being my biggest cheer-leader, always encouraging me. Years later she gave me The Artist's Way by Julia Cameron.


 








In her lovely fluid script Mom inscribed it thus: For Bish Follow the Way Love Mom.


I do, to the best of my ability.


So, who can you blame for being your inspiration and reason for writing?





20 comments:

  1. I'm not going to answer your question because I blogged about it for the blogfest. But I will say for my first attempt into writing, I coauthored a book (well, tried to) with a friend who had neater handwriting than me and who could spell. So, yeah, you weren't the only one to struggle with those things. :)

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  2. I love that inscription from your mum. And 'the grils'! :)

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  3. Your parents were incredible! I can blame AJ Cronin (at age 12) and Rohinton Mistry (at age 33 and still a lab rat) for inspiring me to write. Countless others have fueled my dream, particularly ICL

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  4. What a cute origin story! Thanks, Bish.

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  5. My mother is the one who sparked the dream in me to spin my own stories in the darkness. A magical bear named Hibbs beckoned me to follow him into his world. Great origin story, Roland

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  6. How fortunate you were to have that mom, Bish. And I'm glad to took her advice to follow the way.

    Here's to many years of wonderful writing.

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  7. Oh Bish! How great you can credit your mother for something so important! I love the story of the "grils" and, if it weren't for Julia Cameron and the Artist's Way, I wouldn't be working on my second novel. The first lives in a drawer as well it should, but I can feel myself improving...I'm not sure I ever would have dared starting either if it weren't for Julia's exercises. Yes, follow the way. I'm right behind you.

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  8. What a sweet story, and an encouragement to a homeschooling mom. Nice to meet you via the blogfest.

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  9. That was so sweet! What a beautiful ORIGIN story. Thank you for sharing it with us. :)

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  10. Ya know, I didn't even see that 'grils'. Ya think maybe my eyeballs need fixing? :) That's a cute story, Bish.

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  11. That's a lovely story! My Origin came from listening to music and the lyrics from a particular song. You can check it out on my blog, if you want. It;s nice to meet you, Bish. I'm a new follower via the Origins bloghop.

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  12. I can only imagine how frustrating and difficult your struggle must have been with dyslexia.

    It sounds as though you had one awesome support system in your mother!

    Thank you for sharing today!

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  13. Your mom sounds like an amazing woman!

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  14. lovely beginning! what an inspiration!

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  15. Bish,
    love how you produced 3 pages and surprised even yourself. :)

    Nutschell
    www.thewritingnut.com

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  16. Grils - I like that! At least all of you were able to find humor in it.
    Thanks for participating in the blogfest!

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  17. It's nice to have that kind of family support. I chuckled at the grils.

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  18. Oh! That made me all misty! Your sweet mom, and you writing grils despite the challenges. And that book inscription is so awesome. Great story~ :o) <3

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  19. What a nice origin story! Thank you for sharing.

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Your Random Thoughts are most welcome!