Back in the early 1980’s I was working for Kmart as an assistant manager but I wasn’t happy. I was looking for a way out and my dreams of being a writer came to the fore. I didn’t quit my job, but I signed up for a correspondence course in writing children’s literature. This is one of my first assignments, a short letter to introduce myself to my mentor.
*************************************************
This, I think, is the hardest part of the assignment. What do I say about myself? I’m a young man of twenty-five who never decided what to do with his life but has lots of dreams. I am an assistant manager for Kmart by default; I had to do something for a living. My job certainly affects my life, but I like to think that it’s not all I am.
The dreams, I feel, are more important. I always wanted to write, and I always wanted to play guitar.
I learned to play guitar in the early seventies. As important as that is, I think I forgot to mention it in the Aptitude test. For a year I worked on my own, mastering basic chords and strumming patterns. Then I joined the folk group at our church. I stayed with them for nine years, until we moved to Columbia.
The music forever changed my life. It opened me up and brought me many new friends. It put me back in a speaking relationship with God and it introduced me to my wife.
The music I enjoy is the simple, folksy tunes by people like John Denver and Gordon Lightfoot.
The writing part of me stayed hidden for a long time. In high school I was introduced to fantasy through the works of J. R. R. Tolkien (who else?) and the Merlin trilogy by Mary Stewart. I knew then that I wanted to tell a story like that, a long story that would touch their imaginations. In secret I began fabricating my own world, my own story. I kept it hidden in a notebook and told no one about it. Until one day on a hike when I told the beginnings of the tale to Diane, who later became my wife. Since then the story outline has grown in length and complexity, and I’ve actually managed to write the first two chapters.
Writing came hard though. But when it came it was like a burst of lightning surging through me. I know that the ability is in there somewhere, I just can’t seem to tap into it consistently.
Then I saw a pamphlet on the Institute’s course. It awakened in me a desire to write for children. A child’s fantasy must be written with standards every bit as strict, if not more so, as adult fantasy. Mostly I hope that writing on a consistent basis will help me forge a link with the stories in my head.
I don’t think I explained that quite right, but I could ramble on all night and still not say exactly what I mean. I’ve tried to explain to Diane this drive to create. It shows in all my hobbies. I try to write songs and stories. I build model trains.
Well, now for just a quick wrap up of stock “who I am” stuff.
I was born in northern Kentucky in June of 1958. My family moved to Annandale, Virginia when I was five and I lived my life there until two months ago. I went to school there, worked there, got married there.
I went to college a couple of times and dropped out because I couldn’t decide what to major in. I never took a typing course. It shows, forgive me please, I’m learning.
This is the first thing I’ve ever written “in the typewriter”. Normally I write it out on paper first, but I thought I’d give this a try. Also, I’ve forgotten most of my high school grammar. Again, forgive me, and help me learn it again.
I hope this helps you get to know me. I’m looking forward to working with you over the next few years. Both Diane and I enjoyed your letters and I think I can learn quite a bit from you.
