Do you ever think about how you got to where you are right now? I’m an introspective person, so I chew on stuff like this a lot.
Lately, I’ve been thinking about my time in publishing and how it was I decided to pursue storytelling as a career. I’ve been reminding myself of those stepping stones. The moments that turned my head, moved my feet, and had me going in a different direction.
THIS direction.
We don’t often recognize those flashes of life for what they are when they present themselves. Sometimes it isn’t clear for years that we’ve begun a journey of sorts. But when we look back, those stones shimmer with secrets and purpose and, if we’re lucky, we see them for the magic portal they are.
For me, one of these stepping stones materialized at an office party in Portland, Oregon.
It was my first week at a new job, and it happened to be someone’s birthday. To celebrate, the entire office went out to Applebee’s. I didn’t know a single soul, so I sat silent, observing, honing my people watching skills. It wasn’t long before one rather feisty individual demanded the table’s attention.
I’d never met her before, but I recognized her as one of the secretaries from down the hall. And man, was she heated.
You see, her son’s teacher was reading Harry Potter to the class.
Clearly, CLEARLY, she had a problem with this book and she wanted everyone to hear how she handled the situation. To be honest, I was mortified by her actions–but also a little curious.
What kind of children’s book could inspire such passion?
This was years ago and the Harry Potter phenomenon hadn’t yet reached its fever pitch, so I knew very little about the stories. I certainly hadn’t read them.
But you can bet I walked out of Applebee’s with a mission. I needed to know: are these books about a boy wizard going to have the same effect on me that they did on her?
For the record, no, they didn’t. In fact, they reminded me just why I like make-believe, why I put so much stock in story. They reminded me that imagination has value. For kids and grown-ups alike.
After that, I read the books as quickly as they came out. And while I was waiting for the next book and the next, I trolled the shelves for other children’s books. It was like a whole new section of the bookstore had opened up to me, and I had the angry Applebee’s lady to thank.
Looking back, I know: it was that moment that led me back to children’s literature. Who knew that a little over a decade after this gal’s lunchtime tirade, I’d have three young adult books on the shelf with more on the way?
It would have never crossed my mind at the time. But she formed an important moment for me; she opened a portal. And I am forever grateful.
Gotta love how books evoke emotion–good or bad. Fun story!
For me, 9/11 stands out as my first stepping stone. I was a scared kid who didn’t understand the why. So I created imaginary friends who were brave and everything else I wanted to be. And I made up problems they could always rise above. That small measure of control was addictive.
Wow. That’s a big stepping stone, isn’t it? And such an important moment for everyone. I’m glad it changed you in good ways.
Awwww I love stories like this! I certainly have shimmering stepping stones in my storytelling journey. One of them was when I was 13 or 14, I loved writing fun, adventurous short stories. My dad used to tell me and my siblings funny stories about these characters he made up, so I decided to write my own as a surprise for him. It started out just like any of my other short stories, but as I kept writing it, it got longer and started changing, the story started going deeper. It actually meant something. I came to a sort of crossroads: I could either keep the story the way I saw it at first, or I could abandon that and see where this new adventure, this new kind of writing, would take me. Long story short, that’s how my first novel was born. Now, five-ish years later, I’m hooked on novel writing, and recently I discovered a love for the middle-grade genre, so we’ll see where that takes me. ;D
Oh, I love this! What a great stepping stone! Thank you so much for sharing it with us.
Storytelling must run in your family. :0)
I always loved to read, but never thought about pursuing writing as a career. Stories were just for “fun” until my senior year of high school. I picked up a copy of Sarah Dessen’s The Truth About Forever at my school library. I was hooked. I never realized that contemporary stories could be so engrossing (I spent my whole childhood with my head in fantasy). But that was the first book that made me write my first story. Now I write across genres in YA (contemporary, fantasy, urban fantasy, and sci-fi). That book was my stepping stone, and still my favorite book to this day because of it!
I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE when books turn out to be stepping stones. Hunger Games was one of mine.
One of my stepping stones was when a friend suggested we start a writing club. I latched onto the idea and organized it.
I didn’t like writing too much–I loved stories and made them up constantly, but hardly ever wrote them down.
Once I started writing for the writing club, I realized this was actually something I enjoyed.
Another stepping stone was reading Jaye L. Knight’s phenomenal “Resistance.” That’s what started my love of fantasy (I used to hate it, not counting Narnia, I loved that.). It certainly helped that she was a young author just like me. And now I write fantasy!
Another book as a stepping stone! I love this. And how cool to have a writing club. I’m a little jealous!
I’ve always loved books since I was little. Fantasy was my first favorite genre. One of the earliest fantasy books I remember reading are The Bridge, The Crown and Jewel, and The Two Collars by Jeri Massi. Those books made me want to create my own worlds and characters.
Also, another stepping stone was the fact that my grandma and my mom encouraged me to write. They always cheered me on, and I am so grateful for their part in fostering my love for writing.
Having family that cheers you on is so incredible! I’m lucky in that way too, but I know many authors who aren’t. It’s a blessed place to occupy.
Yes, it is! I often take it for granted but it really is a blessing that not everyone has.