Becoming a Writer

A few years ago, I wanted to learn to write creatively as an adult. I hadn't done much outside of things for kids since my college days. The first thing I did was to start teaching a writer's workshop at the community center. (If I have to come through for other people, I will do whatever it takes.) Eventually, I moved the workshop to the local tea shop. I kept learning, and I kept writing materials to help others learn to write creatively, but I didn't get going on my own work. One day, the women at a gathering told me they would not bring me more of their work if I didn't start writing my own. That was untenable. I wrote a short short story, re-worked it once or twice, and sent it in to Writer's Digest under a pseudonym. I won a prize! Twenty-fifth place but apparently out of thousands of entries. I had become a writer.



Katherine A Minden © 2009