Writing career
22Feb2004 Filed under: Writing Author: DawnI was trying to remember when I first decided to be a writer and I can’t do it; I don’t remember deciding.
When I was in first grade my school held a water conservation essay contest (I lived in Roseville, CA where droughts were commonplace) and I wrote my essay very happily and easily. I don’t remember what I said but I do remember that I drew a funny little guy at the bottom holding a glass of water and saying, “How long do I save it?” I thought that was a really funny joke, get it? You know, conserve water like saving water like … never mind.
My mom was on the PTA and they were charged with handling the assembly. My mom’s job was to write up the certificates for each winner (she has beautiful handwriting and wields a mean calligraphy pen) so she came home with a whole sheaf of essays.
“Guess who won first place for the first grade?” she asked me. Then she started reading the winning essay out loud and I thought, “Hey! Someone stole my essay!” But then I peeked over her shoulder and saw my funny little guy at the bottom and knew that I had won.
What I remember was not that winning the essay inspired me to be a writer but that winning the essay convinced me I was right in thinking I could be one. So I know that I decided to write before I was seven but I can’t remember how I decided to do it.
Today Brett and I hung out at the bookstore while Noah was in religious school and I got a couple of pages of notes done. I want to pitch some articles as I go through my research and there are a few things I want to explore along that line. Doing the research for the pitches will help me know whether or not to pitch and then doing the research for the articles (assuming one or two get picked up) will help me figure out whether or not I’m really ready for this book thing. If I get anything published, I can use that as part of my proposal. My friend B. recommended doing this and it’s keeping me more motivated and less intimidated than the thought of writing A Big Overwhelming Book.
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About Me
I have two kids and a delightfully odd husband, Brett. My children are Noah (born to us in 1997) and Madison (born to her first mom, Pennie, in 2004 and brought to our family through a domestic, open adoption). They are my inspiration and also the reason I don't get more done around here.
I'm a writer and sometimes I get published, which is a nice thing. I write for joy, I write for money and when I'm very lucky, both things happen at the same time. My work appears in national publications including Yoga Journal, Disney's Family.com, Utne, Wondertime, Brain Child and Salon. Currently I am working on a book about my daughter's adoption and seeking representation for the proposal. I also own Smart Cookie Communications with my husband.
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shannon
February 24th, 2004 at 5:30 pm
This is a great strategy. I for one would be interested in seeing some of your smaller chnks of work as you go.