Born and raised in central Florida, I graduated high school just before Disney World opened its doors. For those of you who don’t know what that means, let me explain. It means I experienced Florida sans the gazillion tourists. My hometown was small, the beaches pristine and not crowded, and everyone looked out for one another. Picture a flat, sandy Mayberry with orange trees in every yard. I rode my bicycle all over town and my parents knew every wrong thing I’d done before I got home. (That is, if I’d done anything wrong!)
As a kid, I couldn’t get enough of books. Although I had my favorites, I read pretty much anything I could get my hands on. My addiction frequently kept me out of trouble. Well, except for those nights when I’d get caught reading under the covers with a flashlight. (I was almost finished with the book and couldn’t sleep till I knew what happened!)
As I got older, I found that I spent a lot of time speculation about what if. What if that character had done this instead of that? What if the setting had been some other location? What if the time period were different? What if the hero hadn’t gotten there in time? What if the hero was a heroine instead? The next thing you know, I was writing alternative endings. (Gee, I wish I’d had the sense to query a publisher about that! My children spent a lot of time reading “you pick the ending” books!) lol
By middle school I’d discovered romance and wrote my first romantic novel in eighth grade creative writing class. My teacher encouraged me to submit it. Instead, I tried out for cheerleading and a part in the school play. Both were excellent activities, but I sure wish I’d listened to Mrs. Morgan instead. It might have saved me years of frustration.
You see, if you’re a writer—you write! You can’t seem to help it. And when those around you give you the “that’s nice, dear” reply when you’re trying to work through a character sketch or a plot problem, it’s quite discouraging. But no matter how much you subjugate your muse, eventually she wins. You WILL write. The only question is, will you do it for personal satisfaction, or will you be compelled to share your stories with others?
For years, I was content to keep my creations to myself. Eventually the characters got rowdy and insisted I give them a bigger audience. So, here I am a slave to my inner voices, each of whom thinks they are the only one important. It’s like having an endless supply of family members inside your head. Though very different, you love them all and want to give them each the attention they deserve. Unfortunately, like family members, they tend to be greedy and want all your time, of which you have a limited supply in each day. Chaos! My favorite state of mind.
