When I first began writing; it was in 1977 when I was 12 years in 6th grade. I was learning to write sentences because I have been delayed in my academics due to the fact that I was in the special education system before I was mainstreamed into the regular public system. It was the start of my adventure in writing.
When I first begin to write, I have written in simple form still learning to write complete sentences and to convey my thought into the sentences. As I begin to write, I have not been given any type of formal writing training as some gifted writers were given. I have begin early so to learn to write on my own.
I knew that I have to learn to read before I was able to learn to write in order to learn how a sentence is structured in the children’s reading materials geared for early elementary level. I started simple before I level up to the more complex sentences in my reading.
So it was in 1977 when the spark of writing began in my interrupted childhood by adverse circumstances. The reason the spark began in my writing was that I wanted to escape from the harsh reality that I was subjected to in my life.
Since I have my early fascination for science fiction; I have been fascinated by this female alien named Maya an alien character, played by the lovely and inspiring actress Catherine Schell, for some time and she was a first character that I written my very first story on. It was a very short story of her being trapped in a hole that she was encouraged to change herself in order to climb out. It was a very beginning of my writing adventure and it was also a way to escape from the reality that I was living in at the time. Yes, it was the experience of writing that opening my mind to imagine new things and people.
Well, that was the very beginning of my adventure into writing. So I was encouraged to write a few more stories so that I can learn to fine-tune my sentences and grammar.
It has taken a few more years as I have struggled to write and to fine-tune my spelling and grammar. Yes, there was many pit-falls here and there as I continued to write about the imagination of the alien adventures as a form of escape.
As time passed and I was in high school, my writing was maturing slowly as I have learned new things about sentence-structuring as well as grammar. I have yet to learn to write sentences into paragraphs until I was in college.
My writing has progressed from the simple sentence structures to the more complex sentences as I gained more knowledge regarding the grammar and I learn about creating the paragraph.
Time continues to pass as my paragraphs are coming into better form as I continued to learn on my own. What an adventure it was, penning from simple sentences to complex paragraphs.
Sadly; much of my earlier writing have disappeared as I may have thrown the bulk of the drafts away. I had wished I have saved them so that I would know how far I have progressed in my writing. I still remember a few that I have written but it’s not the same as being in writing as everyone can get a chance to see how far I have gone.
Anyway; I managed to save the writing drafts since the early 1990s. I still have them in the form of notebooks. I used to often go to the stores to buy the notebooks that are on sale so I can buy in bulk.
I have tried typing my stories, but it is not easy since I have to lead very close and very often so that I can see what mistakes I have made before I correct them. The size of the print are too small for me to sit comfortably as I type.
During my adventure in writing, I have grown to be known as a "nit-picker" when it comes to grammatical and spelling errors in my writing.
Then came the computer in 1997! The computer has open the new world of writing. I didn’t get my own computer till 1998 as I have bought a used one from my aunt who was gracious to sell it to us. So that began my new adventure in my writing. I no longer have to worry about wasting so much paper as I type and I can easily correct a mistake I have made. The computer is an amazing device that my adventure in writing continue to grow. Even my writing has continued to grow more complex as I learn new techniques in writing.
So I have not left my love for science fiction as I have continued to write about the alien encounters, space travel, artificial intelligence, and even cybernetics. Most of my science fiction writing are a form of escape from the reality as I have mentioned before. So much of my writing are of my fantasies with different science fiction characters that I have seen on television and movies. Maya was the beginning of the long line of science fiction characters that I have written about over time. In a way, Maya was an inspiration to me when I first began my science fiction writing journey.
So science fiction writing has not only been my way of escaping from the reality into the fantasy adventures, but also as a hobby to keep my mind thinking and to fantasize the imaginary adventures. My love for science fiction and writing are merged into my adventures. My love for such things have grown through many adversities over time.
As some people have asked me; "When are you going to publish any of your writing?" My answer to them was (and still is) "I will someday". At this time, I am in the middle of one writing project that I am hoping to publish someday as an accomplishment and a testament that I have made my mark in the science fiction world.
So my adventure in writing began as a sixth grader who has made her first attempt at writing about Maya in the Hole before she progressed years later into a science fiction writer who would someday publish one book.
Well, I believe this is one of the blog entry that I am very willing to write and to conclude with, "Don’t give up on anything that you set your mind to." We will meet again next time.
Catherine Schell as Maya in Space 1999
Image Source: http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-4g7hvTWRUlk/UCHSyL6VeOI/AAAAAAAAKio/v-x5Udf3VKw/s1600/Maya.jpg