A Bit of History-Part I

When did I begin to write?
Why do I write?

Trying to remember when I actually started to really write, I can't really come up with anything at an early age.  I do remember playing "newspaper"  on the enclosed side porch of the apartment building when about 7 or 8.  I had a set of  plastic, alphabet stamps and printed a newspaper with information about what, I don't remember.  But I do remember the newspaper. 

I don't remember writing really being done/encouraged in my early years or even in middle school.  I did love the ink wells and fountain pens one year.  It might have been 4th grade--the old wooden desk with wrought iron legs that connected table with bench.  I only remember using that pen and ink one year.  

Side note:  I think I shared this little story about my husband last year in a post.  Steve use to dip his pen in the ink well and put it under a strand of hair of the girl sitting in front of him.  "It really soaked up a lot of the ink!" was his comment.  Boys!

Not until I was a sophomore in high school (1962-'63) when my English teacher, Mr. John Hancock (Yes, that is his real name!), tricked me into being on the newspaper staff.  That's another story.  We also had a lot of writing assignments in his class.  Basically, he brought me out of my shell of shyness.  I had to interview people and write a story about what I learned.  I experienced, for the first time, being in a community of writers.  Loved, loved, loved the company! 

Next I joined the yearbook staff.  Then I became co-editor (along with Alice Dear) of the school yearbook my senior year.  I was hooked!   Never did I have so much fun and become truly creative in my writing. 

I went on to become an English teacher in 1969--Franklin Junior High, Ft. Wayne, IN, 7th grade.

Writing took a long hiatus from that time in high school until much later.

These were the early years.