Cutlass Trilogy

Monday, February 13, 2012

Origins Blogfest!


 DL Hammons, Alex J. Cavanaugh,  Katie Mills , and Matthew MacNish are hosting this awesome blogfest! I got to this last minute, but I felt like it was super cool and I wanted to be a part of it. I can't wait to read everyone's origins! 




Well, I’m pretty sure most of you know The Lord of the Rings motivated me to begin thinking of writing as something I could do for the rest of my life. But it began a lot earlier than that.
I guess I could start in the second grade when we were allowed to write stories for the school library. I’m not sure how many I wrote, but I know I loved doing it. I also got to illustrate them. It was a few years later (around the fifth grade) that I read and illustrated another story. I loved this one for some reason. I think because it was my own creation. It was about two princesses who were twins (I like twins, I’m a twin) who ate pie for breakfast and there was this evil witch who wanted them dead. Somehow they outwitted her, but I can’t remember how. 



Periodically after that I would pull out paper sit, staring at the page, wondering why I had pulled out paper in the first place. My body was telling me to write, but I wasn’t sure what I wanted to write. Usually, I just worked on handwriting (I had great handwriting then. I do not now). When I entered the eighth grade I had to begin essay writing. I dreaded it, but as it turned out, I was pretty good. My teacher even asked that I transfer to Honors. Christmastime came and I had to read 700 pages for my Reading Log so I went to the library. My friend had checked out the biggest book (it had to be the biggest book in that library) which was The Lord of the Rings Trilogy. I wanted it. It had a lot of pages. All that was left on the shelf was The Return of the King, but I knew my brother had The Two Towers at home. I decided to check out The Return of the King with the idea that I wouldn’t read The Fellowship of the Ring. Crazy? Yes. 



It was the best idea ever. I had a crazy obsession, but I had a new motivation. I wanted to write my own books and I finally knew what I wanted to write—Fantasy. I had a starting point and soon began to tap away on my computer. Night after night I wrote on a book, not really knowing what I was doing, but I figure I could learn from reading LotR, The Hobbit, Narnia, and other books I never knew existed until after LotR. I feel like sometimes I sound crazy because I attribute so much to this book, but without it, I’m not sure what would have happened. I will never know because it’s been nine years and I’m a writer. 


86 comments:

  1. So the library actually put your books in there for people to read? Do they still have them?

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    1. They did when I was a Senior in HS. My nephew brought one home!

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  2. I think it's cool that the libraries allowed students to write for it. Great idea. And that may have kept the writing spirit alive.

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    1. I thought so too! We all enjoyed it. We were little, so of course we liked making anything.

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  3. What a cool idea your school had...and inspiring!

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  4. It is totally cool that your school encouraged its students to write like that. Also totally cool that you feel comfortable calling yourself a writer. I'm probably old enough to be your grandmother, but I still feel awkward claiming the title. (Like I should maybe whisper the word.) Nice to meet you.

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    1. LOL. I agree! Although, I don't believe they're so keen on this now. Schools are totally into the Math and Science! I actually had a post about how uncomfortable I am with calling myself a writer, but I'm trying to change that by changing my vocabulary and declaring "I am a writer!" lol.

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  5. I love the idea of twin princesses! And how cool that your school put your work in the library.

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    1. Hehe. I think a trademark of mine will be having twins in every novel.

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  6. So glad you were inspired in such a way. That library is a keeper.

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  7. You've survived nine years of being a writer? HUGE feat!
    Disney stories inspired me, too. : )

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  8. Disney inspires everyone - that's why it's magic :) I only hope one day I can do the same. Great origin story!! P.S. Awesome LoTR pics. One of the best series of all time!

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  9. Great origins story. :) Great books are always inspiring.

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  10. Wonderful origins story. So neat that you could put your stories into the school library.

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  11. LOTR and Disney are great sources to draw inspiration from!
    Great story!

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  12. I'm sure a lot of people feel that way about LOTR, and it is certainly an epically worthy story. I myself feel something similar for some of CS Lewis's works. What a great origin story!

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    1. I've noticed there's a thread with LotR and Narnia! LOL. Thank you!

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  13. Helloah :) I'm a fellow campaigner.

    I too started writing fantasy (I still write it, in fact, although on a different level). My favourite novels are still epic fantasy, too.

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    1. Lovely to meet you, Rhiannon! I'm so excited to campaign with you!

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  14. Essays and flash fiction are my favorite things to write.
    To read. Let's just say my Kindle and book shelves offer a variety to satisfy my taste of the moment.

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    1. Oh man, I don't like essays! But write about twelve each semester!

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  15. I'll admit I've never read the books, but I saw the movies. :D

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    1. The movies are fantastic! They're pretty good at sticking to the books, as well!

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  16. Tolkien is my favorite author. LOTR, most likely the best fantasy movies ever made (IMO). And, fantasy books are my favorite as well. Nice to meet you:)

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    1. Nice to meet you! I AGREE! LOL. Nothing else intrigues me like Fantasy. I don't like the real world. I have to live it everyday.

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  17. LOTR inspired me to be a writer too. I gifted two of my sons with that BIG book too. Maybe they'll be writers. Nice to know your origins.

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    1. That's so wonderful! I have that version with the fold out maps and all that awesome decoration. Love it!

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  18. Lord of the Rings is awesome. :D I was inspired hugely by The Chronicles of Narnia when I was growing up. Fantasy is my favorite genre to explore. You have a wonderful story. :D

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  19. I think I'm the only person on the planet who hasn't read Tolkien, but I loved C S Lewis. (I only started reading him because of "The Horse and His Boy" - I was horse crazy :-) Nice to meet you via "Origins" :-)

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    1. You aren't the only one! I've met a lot of people today who haven't! LOL. But C.S. Lewis is wonderful! Nice to meet you as well!!

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  20. I must be the only person alive who has never read those books, but I usually stuck with mysteries or classics when I was a kid. Except for a very brief phase with fairytales. Has anyone ever read the originals? They are quite a trip- not exactly for children unless you want to give them nightmares.

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    1. I started with mysteries, moved to Tolkien, and then classics! I'm not sure about the fairytales, I read the Lost Tales, those are a bit different.

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  21. Good luck with graduation and finding that agent! And Tolein still rules. I should re-read his books. Been a long time. And thanks for stopping by and saying hello!

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    1. Thank you! I need it, lol. I want to reread them, too! Thank you for stopping by as well!

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  22. I'm such a huge LOTR fan! The books and movies make me want to write every time I watch/read them. It's amazing what can inspire us! Great post, thanks for sharing :)

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    1. Yay! Every time I read or watch them, I am inspired again to write! Thank you for stopping by!

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  23. Pie for breakfast... sounds great to me!

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    1. lol! I don't think I'd eat pie for breakfast now, but I sure would have then!

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  24. Have you ever read CJ Cherryh or Roger Zelazny? I devoured everything they wrote when I was in high school. They were my models for the science fiction and fantasy I wrote then.

    And now I'm "Facebook friends" with CJ Cherryh. I can't get over that. *snort, snicker*

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    1. No, but I'll check them out! Being friends with an author you love is great! lol.

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  25. I had a teacher (fifth grade, I think) who thought my friends and I were satanists because we played D&D and read LOTR. That was good times.

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    1. LOL. Many of my friends played D&D and read LotR, too. I don't know Satan is always associated with D&D. Thanks for stopping by!

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  26. You were certainly an ambitious and motivated writer / reader. It's good that the library provided such encouragement.


    Lee
    Wrote By Rote
    An A to Z Co-host blog
    Twitter: @AprilA2Z
    #atozchallenge

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    1. Yes, lol. I still am! Thank you for stopping by!

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  27. That's a wonderful way to learn how to write. Great story.

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  28. Wish all schools did things like that. What a great story! I'm a new follower via the bloghop. Nice to meet you!

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    1. Me too! It's a wonderful thing! Nice to meet you, too!

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  29. Twins who eat pie for breakfast = a quadrupley (not likely a word, but I'm going with it) good concept!

    Thanks for the follow. I'm glad to do the same.

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  30. Reading those are great inspiration for sure. Great story!

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  31. Eek. I haven't read or watched LoTR.

    I love reading these origins stories. You were a creative child. What a wonderful start.

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    1. Thank you! Ohh!! And you must read and watch LotR!!! :D

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  32. Yeah, LotR inspired me too. I think inspiring others to write is a good benchmark of how talented a writer is.

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    1. I love that LotR inspired so many people! How great! And I agree! I hope I can do the same!

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  33. I reckon JRR would be proud to have such a part in your Origins!
    Lx

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    1. Lol. I hope so! I'd love to know I inspire people to write!

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  34. Nice to learn your story. Interesting to learn you are a twin. I always thought that would be so cool!

    Monti

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    1. It's pretty cool! Lol. I'd never want to have older or younger siblings, I don't think.

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  35. Ah, Tolkien is such wonderful inspiration! Thanks for sharing.

    Allison (Geek Banter)

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  36. That's a unique idea letting kids write books for the library.

    I began with The Hobbit in 5th grade and then the Narnia books in 6th. Yes, a little backwards there.

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    1. It is! My brother wrote a book about turkey hunting. LOL

      Nah! Not backwards! Tolkien introduced me to Narnia. Then I was totally interested in The Inklings and everything. lol.

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  37. Hi Ashley!

    I'm catching up on the origins blogfest! What better book to inspire you to write than LOTR?

    Glad to meet you!
    Jen

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    1. LotR definitely gave me the direction I was looking for! Glad to meet you, too!

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  38. LotR is very inspirational. And that's awesome your library let students write their own stories for other people to read.

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    1. I agree! It was very fun, too! Thanks for stopping by!

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  39. LOTR has inspired SOOOO many people to begin writing. Wouldn't it be cool to someday write something that has the same effect on future generations? Great ORIGIN story! :)

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  40. I love how you said your body was telling you to write. I so believe that when we slow down and listen...our bodies tell us so much. :-) Thanks for stopping by yesterday! Looking forward to following a new blogger friend. Happy V Day!

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  41. Cool that your school library let you write & illustrate your own books.

    Tolkein wrote some great stuff. Wonderful inspiration.

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  42. Love that you started with Tolkien. Sometimes you just have to listen to what your body tells you. It knew for sure you were a writer:)
    Great to meet you on this blogfest.

    your newest follower,
    Nutschell
    www.thewritingnut.com

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  43. the best ideas start as crazy notions!
    great beginning!

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  44. Yep, The Hobbit pretty much sparked my love of fantasy too... that and the Narnia series.
    Nice to meet you!

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  45. I love reading these origins stories. You were a creative child. What a wonderful start.

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