First Line

So I love to write. I have always loved to write. One of my favorite school day memories is the teacher that gave us an assignment to write a story. She said the main character in our story could be anyone anywhere. He/she/it had to be lost and was only allowed to have one object with them to help them. I loved this assignment from the moment I saw it. I started writing and it was like I would never stop. I remember when it was due going to my teacher in tears. While my classmates had written one or two paragraphs, I was like 4 pages in and nowhere near finished. I felt I had failed the assignment. Instead she patted me on the back and told me to take as long as I needed. I wish I had that story. I can't remember it all but this much I know...there was a bunny trapped on another planet with...something. I can't remember that part. Anyhow...this awakened in me a love of writing stories.

According to my mother this was NOT when that love began. She says I wrote stories from the time I could write anything. In fact to this day she bemoans the teacher who admonished her for correcting my spelling early on. Apparently the teacher felt I had a gift of creativity but that if my mother marked on my paper or corrected me it would stifle that. Well...let's be honest.I still can't spell. I blame the teacher. On the other hand...still love to write.

My childhood is full of stories I began but never finished. I still have many of them up in my attic. They are, of course, horrible when I go back to read them now. But at the time they were important stories that had to be told. I always seemed to be unable to finish my stories though. This has continued as I have become an adult. I don't write as often as I once did but when I start I often find I still never finish. Sometimes I simply have ideas and I flesh them out beautifully in my head (at night when I can't sleep especially) but if I try to translate it to paper...just does not come out right.

So...I have decided to make writing a particular effort in my life. I don't have time to say it will become a priority by any means, but I do love it and miss it. So...my first "effort" will be to enter this contest

http://www.thefirstline.com

It is not a contest in the sense that you win a prize. It is a magazine that exists to help people write. Four times a year they put out a "first line" and you write a story. The story can be about ANYTHING. There are length guidelines but they even say that they are not strict about that. You just have to start with their first line. Then they read the stories and decide which ones should be published...and then they do it. I love it! I have no illusions about being published, but I think it sounds like great fun. I am going to try my best to start with their first line, and FINISH...with anything. I am excited to participate and think that looking forward to seeing the actual publication with the stories that make it will give me that push I need to get it done.

I don't think it will be about bunnies in space...I do think it will probably take me FOREVER. Here I go...