The tale of my writing journey begins with my father, who inadvertently nurtured my love for the written word. His job at a paper mill during my childhood years meant an endless supply of notebooks, which I filled with my early attempts at writing. Despite my father's warnings about living beyond my means, my dream of becoming a renowned writer persisted. However, my writing discipline and productivity did not match my ambition. My obsession with pristine notebooks often led to unfinished stories, as I would abandon one for the allure of a fresh, untouched journal.
My father's job at a paper mill during my childhood years meant an endless supply of notebooks. These were not ordinary notebooks, but leather-bound ones, albeit defective. I was the only seven-year-old in the neighborhood with such a collection. I was convinced that this was a sign of my destiny to become a writer. However, my fascination with these notebooks often led to unfinished stories. I would abandon one story midway to start a new one in a fresh notebook, unable to resist the allure of a blank page.
Fast forward a quarter-century, the paper mill had transformed into a boutique mall, and my father's words about living beyond my means echoed in my mind. Yet, my dream of becoming a renowned writer remained. My vocabulary had matured, but my writing discipline and productivity had not. I was still drawn to the allure of a new notebook, believing that it would inspire my next masterpiece.
My moment of realization came unexpectedly during a shopping trip with my seven-year-old daughter. She, too, showed signs of a budding writer and insisted on buying a new journal. I questioned her need for another one, reminding her of the many unused ones at home. Her response, "I need it to write a story," made me reflect on my own writing habits. I realized that the medium did not matter; what mattered was the story itself. This epiphany led me to complete a piece of writing, which was eventually published. It was not a claim to fame, but it was a start.
According to Writer's Digest, the key to great writing lies not in the medium, but in the story itself. The Guardian also emphasizes the importance of discipline and perseverance in writing.
In conclusion, the journey to becoming a writer is not about the notebooks or the pens, but about the stories that we have to tell. It's about the discipline to finish what we start and the courage to share our work with the world.
