Did you know I’m a legit published author? Yup it’s true!!! And it’s a great topic for a Flashback Friday post!!!
My mom always did a great job reading to us when we were kids and I truly believe that helped to foster my love of reading and of writing. In third grade my parents divorced and I think I used writing as a coping mechanism. I loved to write. I even would make a weekly newsletter for my fellow classmates that year…which as an adult makes me appreciate my third grade teacher more, how cool was she to let me do that? My mom continued to develop my love of writing. I remember she bought me a creative writing “game” for our awesome old school Apple computer and I’d spend my free time coming up with creative stories.
I also lived my life thinking I was on a tv show that I was writing. Basically Truman Show before Truman Show existed. Whenever I’d go to the bathroom I’d talk to the mirror (where the cameras were hidden, duh) and fill them in on “behind the scenes” stuff. Basically a Real World Confessional before the Real World existed. I even had a theme song for the show. And, yes, I remember it. It was “Emily…Emily…Talkin’ ’bout Emily…and her family…and friends….Emily!” Awesome right? It’s totally copyrighted so try to resist stealing it haha. And if you know me in real life I’ll sing it for you sometime as it’s even better sung 😉 Even as I got older I dreamed of someday writing parts of my life in a teen type series of books and that it would def get picked up as a show on CW or something. Gotta dream big, right? And I’m not gonna deny it, I might have practiced my Oscar acceptance speech for Best Director a couple of times too. Writers naturally direct right?
Anyways…obviously none of those big dreams ever became a reality (or at least, they haven’t yet…I mean there is STILL time people!) and I don’t think there really were cameras behind the mirrors in my bathroom (although that would make for some interesting footage…). The closest I will probably ever come to any of those childhood aspirations is this blog. It may not be that much “creative writing” and I have toyed with the idea of doing some of that now and again on here actually, but it’s still writing and it’s still my life story! So kinda close to the “Emily” series I dreamed of!
As far as my author dreams go, the furtherest I ever took it was in third grade. I entered into the Mosaic writing contest through my school and won! I won several levels up (not sure how many?) but I ended up getting published in some Mosaic book compilation thing of all the winners. That’s legit, right? I mean I can walk around saying I’m a published author 🙂
winning one of the awards with my teacher and principal (I think?)
I know you’re just DYING to read my award winning piece. It’s hilariously amazing. Ready?
How to Win the Game Old Maid
(without cheating!)
By: Emily, 3rd grade, 1994
Step 1: Play against a 5-7 year old
(Make sure they have not read this advice)
Step 2: You be the shuffler and the dealer
(If they ask why they can’t do it, tell them that only big kids can)
Step 3: When you sit down make sure that you don’t sit near a light
(Because they can see through your cards)
Step 4: Let them go first
(When you get your hand, hide all of your favorite cards underneath)
Step 5: When it gets near the end of the game and you have the Old Maid, put her low where they can still see the card
(If they have the Old Made make sure that you pick a low card because they always stick the Old Maid on top)
Step 6: Now you have won the game of Old Maid
(Do these steps each time you play)
Totally awesome, right? Haha and yes, I’m a BALLER at Old Maid. Poor Kye always gets beat with my skills! 😉
I continued to enjoy writing throughout school…especially in Elementary School. Although in college one of my majors (I was a General Studies Major with emphasis in three areas…) was English and I did consider going down that path. If I’d been a teacher I for sure would have taught English and I even considered looking into becoming an editor. However, I’m thankful to just be writing the blog and staying home with my babies over ANY other career path I could have chosen!
In 5th Grade I again entered a writing contest. This one was called Reflections and, again, I won. I didn’t go as far in the rankings as I did in third grade…but I think I still won for our school?
Here is the poem I won that year, re-reading it totally does take me back to memories of my childhood home:
The Sounds of Nature
Close your eyes and listen
what do you hear?
The whispering wind in the trees
and the rustling of leaves.
The cheery chirping of the birds
as they fly here and there.
The crackling of the pines
in the afternoon air.
Neighborhood dogs barking
at the car that roams the street.
Children laughing as they play
and a mother calling “it’s time to eat!”
You may hear water rushing
through the backyard creek.
And hear frogs and crickets babbling
as they play hide and seek.
Now…as you open your eyes
it is clear that you will see
all the wonderful sounds of nature
are one big happy family!
With my principals from that year
Growing up we were very involved in our church, even more-so once my parents divorced in 1994. I’m not sure how it all came about but I ended up being asked to write “The Christmas Story” (Jesus’ birth story, obviously). I was 10 at the time and remember stressing over it. Our church was pretty big and they put together a marionette show using my story. I narrated it while the marionettes did their thing. It was a pretty big production and even got us in the newspaper. I love my quote from this article “I like the donkey the best…he’s weird and has big nostrils.” I’ve always been such a cool kid right? haha!!!
The play was every year around Christmas time and it did so well that I was asked to continue to narrate it each year. I was well into middle school before I stopped doing it. I’m not sure why? I imagine they found something better to present to everyone than The Christmas Story written by a ten year old 😉
With our priest (I was raised Catholic), Father Don
I know this is a pretty embarrassing post for myself. I mean my chubby glasses stage alone was pretty awful but displaying my “writing career” is pretty hilarious too 😉 I am very thankful that my mom encouraged me to pursue my talents and to foster those skills and that creative aspect of my personality. I am also so thankful for blogging as it has allowed me to fulfill my writing “needs” and to feel like I’m still living out those childhood dreams to some extent!
My work has been featured on Love What Matters, Today Parenting and Babywise.Life. I'm also honored to be a member of the Babywise Friendly Blog Network.
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I think we all have our own "chubby glasses" phase! The beginning of your writing career is too sweet; I have a similar beginning! Love it. Keep up your writing and you never know where it will take you! You definately have a talent for keeping people engaged in your writing.
I remember Father Don! Did you know he left the Priesthood?!?!
Yep, we all have those pictures of ourselves! Mine includes a terrible short hair cut + perm. haha!Your Old Maid piece is hilarious!