I’ve been writing since I could hold a pencil! Recently I had guest posts at Helping Hands Press about my DRIVE to write. In “Grandpa Ghost” — My First Real Story” I tell a story that I don’t often share, but which tells of my writing DRIVE.
It seems as if I always have a special writing spot wherever I live. This has been the way since I was a child. At eight years old, when my teacher asked me to write a story, I was elated and headed right for my favorite spot — at that time a blanket on my closet floor. I had managed to arrange my shoes and clothes so that my closet was my little secret office, complete with a light!
As I noted in the post at Helping Hands Press, my story was about a ghost. Not a scary, evil demonic ghost, but a Grandpa Ghost who was a wise kindly ghost who stayed on earth to help his family. Only then could he ‘pass over.’
I gave my story a reassuring ending and waited for time to turn it in to the teacher. I was so proud when I could walk up and put the handwritten ‘manuscript’ on her desk. Should have been a happy event that would encourage a future writer, right?
Wrong! You can read the sad end of my tale at “Grandpa Ghost — My First Real Story” over at Helping Hands Press.
You will learn how my kind, wise Grandpa Ghost became part of the garbage, even though he lingered in my heart for years.
Because of this severe rejection experience, nothing a publisher could ever do in a rejection slip could crush me — I was ‘conditioned’. And more determined to write. And determined to appreciate those who do encourage me, especially Helping Hands Press and the friendly, supportive ‘tribe’ of fellow authors!
It is good that your first rejection experience from the school system inspired you to continue writing and did not crush your desire to write under the boot heel of officialdom!