Posting the first Wednesday of every month, The Insecure Writer's Support Group, is the brainchild of Alex Cavanaugh. YOU can sign up HERE to participate.
Let's give our co-hosts a warm welcome! Tamara Narayan,Tonja Drecker, Ellen @ The Cynical Sailor, Lauren @ Pensuasion, Stephen Tremp, andJulie Flanders!
We’re revving up IWSG Day to make it more fun and interactive! Every month, we'll announce a question that members can answer in their IWSG Day post. These questions may prompt you to share advice, insight, a personal experience or story.
This month's question is: What was your very first piece of writing as an aspiring writer? Where is it now? Collecting dust or has it been published?
I've been writing so long it's hard to answer these questions specifically. The very first thing I ever wrote, when I was eight, was a three page "essay" about my family. Even though I had terrible handwriting and spelling (dyslexia will do that) my mother saw something in that treatise and from that day onward encourage my every effort.
The first thing ever published was this poem, which appears at the front of my high school yearbook, a tribute to the journey the juniors and seniors are about to make.
The tangled vines of confusion
Suddenly being to separate
And grow straight up.
Suddenly there is a path before you
where there was nothing.
Suddenly there is something from inside you
Encouraging you on - telling you
To take that hesitating step forward.
I have many stories in my file cabinet that I wrote in high school and in the following years that will never see the light of day. So why do I keep them? Because they're a record of my writing journey, a record of my mind's workings, rather like a diary or journal.
I've come a long way, baby. But that doesn't mean I'm not insecure. Trust me, I am. Particularly now, as I struggle to make corrections in my new book... which is full of small mistakes. Oh GAK!
Let's give our co-hosts a warm welcome! Tamara Narayan,Tonja Drecker, Ellen @ The Cynical Sailor, Lauren @ Pensuasion, Stephen Tremp, andJulie Flanders!
We’re revving up IWSG Day to make it more fun and interactive! Every month, we'll announce a question that members can answer in their IWSG Day post. These questions may prompt you to share advice, insight, a personal experience or story.
This month's question is: What was your very first piece of writing as an aspiring writer? Where is it now? Collecting dust or has it been published?
I've been writing so long it's hard to answer these questions specifically. The very first thing I ever wrote, when I was eight, was a three page "essay" about my family. Even though I had terrible handwriting and spelling (dyslexia will do that) my mother saw something in that treatise and from that day onward encourage my every effort.
The first thing ever published was this poem, which appears at the front of my high school yearbook, a tribute to the journey the juniors and seniors are about to make.
The tangled vines of confusion
Suddenly being to separate
And grow straight up.
Suddenly there is a path before you
where there was nothing.
Suddenly there is something from inside you
Encouraging you on - telling you
To take that hesitating step forward.
I have many stories in my file cabinet that I wrote in high school and in the following years that will never see the light of day. So why do I keep them? Because they're a record of my writing journey, a record of my mind's workings, rather like a diary or journal.
I've come a long way, baby. But that doesn't mean I'm not insecure. Trust me, I am. Particularly now, as I struggle to make corrections in my new book... which is full of small mistakes. Oh GAK!
***
The Bowl and the Stone:
A Haunting Tale from the Virgin Islands.
Pirates. Explorers. And spooky ghost hunters.
It’s 1962. Sam and her best friend, Nick, have the whole island of St. John
But when a man disappears like a vapor right in front of
them, they must confront a scary new reality. They’re being haunted. By whom?
And why? He’s even creeping into Nick’s dreams.
They need help, but the one who might be able to give it is
Trumps, a reclusive hunchback who doesn’t like people, especially kids. Are Sam
and Nick brave enough to face him? And if they do, will he listen to
them?
As carefree summer games turn into eerie hauntings, Sam and Nick learn more about themselves and life than they could ever have
imagined.
Pre-order HERE today and enter the
ghostly tale as soon as it releases.
THE SIGN OF THE GREEN DRAGON
***
THE SIGN OF THE GREEN DRAGON
C. Lee McKenzie's latest middle grade novel, is being released into the world TODAY! You can read my review HERE.
Author bio: I love to write for young readers. Sign of the Green Dragon is my third Middle Grade novel.Alligators Overhead and the sequel, The Great Time Lock Disaster were my first two. I’m proud to be a hybrid author with three Indie books out along with four traditionally published young adult novels:Sliding on the Edge, The Princess of Las Pulgas, Double Negative and Sudden Secrets. It’s fun to know both sides of this writing business.
Book Blurb: A crumbling map from 1859, found clutched in the bony grip of the long dead, sends three young boys on a dangerous adventure where an unsolved murder, a modern crime, some lost ancestors and ancient Chinese dragons reveal the true meaning of treasure.
Author bio: I love to write for young readers. Sign of the Green Dragon is my third Middle Grade novel.Alligators Overhead and the sequel, The Great Time Lock Disaster were my first two. I’m proud to be a hybrid author with three Indie books out along with four traditionally published young adult novels:Sliding on the Edge, The Princess of Las Pulgas, Double Negative and Sudden Secrets. It’s fun to know both sides of this writing business.
When I’m not writing I’m thinking about it or scratching my head over how all of this started.
Media Links:
***
When did you start writing? Have you hung on to your earliest attempts? Have you read Lee's book yet?
Congratulations to Lee!
ReplyDeleteThat was a great poem for the yearbook. Well done.
I can remember being quite surprised when the poem was chosen!
DeleteI kept most of my early attempts at writing stories and poetry, too. They are fun to look at because they do show growth. The first thing I ever wrote was a story when I was about 6 or 7 and the spelling is horrible because I, too, was awful with spelling.
ReplyDeleteCongrats to you and C. Lee!!! :D
I'm still bad at spelling, but spell check as actually helped me.
DeleteWhat a wonderful poem! That's pretty neat that it's in the yearbook :) I like to keep some of my old writing, too, for the record of my journey. Best of luck with your upcoming release--can't wait to read it!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Meradeth! Hope you enjoy my book.
DeleteA great poem for a year book, thanks for sharing it here. I think it is important to hang on to early attempts as they can show us how far we have come.
ReplyDeleteCongratulations on your new book and to Lee.
I think it's important to hang on to the old stuff, too. There are jewels hiding... :)
DeleteInside that poem is a beating heart of a writer. And it was published! Here's to your new book, and thanks for posting about mine on its launch day.
ReplyDeleteOooo, thanks Lee. That gave me chills.
DeleteWe'll fix those silly mistakes. That you can write so well with dyslexia is a true testimony of talent.
ReplyDeleteOh Diane, you've given me a BIG lift. I'm going to finish them up SOON!
DeleteI love that you started with poetry. It's been a long time since I sat down to write some serious prose, but once it's in you...
ReplyDeleteYay for Lee! And I love your cover and blurb. Super fabulous!
Oh yes, I wrote lots of terrible poetry, and I have most of it. Every once in a while when I want a good laugh, I read through some of it.
DeleteHi Bish - love your tribute to school and its pupils as they enter and leave it ... that's amazing. Then your new book looks to be fun too .. while Lee with her dragon is bowling everyone over ...
ReplyDeleteGood luck to you both - cheers Hilary
Thank, Hilary. It's not too bad for a first published piece. :)
DeleteI wrote a lot of really bad poetry when I was young. Mercifully, it has all been lost along the way. The world is better for it.
ReplyDeleteMe too. I still have mine... Some of it is really, really bad. Some are uncut jewels.
DeleteI love that you kept evidence of your continuing journey!
ReplyDeleteI hope I won't be blackmailed! :D
DeleteI think it's always a good idea to hold onto those early pieces of writing. They could always inspire something new!
ReplyDeleteI do too, Sarah, but not because they might inspire something new (I have enough ideas!) but because they record how my mind and writing has evolved.
DeleteMust be great to look back on your work from your teenage years. Your premise for The Bowl and the Stone sounds great Bish. Really looking forward to you being a guest on my blog later in the year. Take good care!
ReplyDeleteIt's at least interesting reading over some of that stuff. And I look forward to being your guest, thanks!
DeleteGreat poem. Very inspirational. Best wishes on the edits.
ReplyDeleteI think it's great that you kept all you writing from your early years. I had with my drawing/art for a LONG time, but a few years ago I decided to let it go and trashed it. Mostly all my writing is on my computer, so this works to keep my space less cluttered. Art takes up too much room. lol
ReplyDeleteCongrats to you and Lee on your newest releases! ALL the best!
That's awesome that your poem is in your high school yearbook! I have many of my old poems and stories and it is interesting to read them again so many years later.
ReplyDeleteYay for Lee!
All the best with your edits! :)
~Jess
I love that: A record of your mind's workings. It's a great way of looking at your early writings.
ReplyDeleteCongrats to you on your new book (I love the cover) and congrats to Lee as well!
Love the poem, Bish. I think keeping your work is a wonderful thing. It'll be a cherished gift to your grandchildren one day.
ReplyDeleteGreat poem! Congratulations!
ReplyDeleteEspecially love that you too have a filing cabinet full of stories and ideas. I've always looked at it that way too - my journey, but like Margaret Mitchell I want them burned before they see the light of day. :)