When I first started writing at a young age (around 11 I believe) I knew I wanted to someday be a published author.  I wasn't interested in writing short stories, and the encouragement was somewhat lacking for the most part. I was too shy to show my work to anyone, but always received high marks in that particular subject in school.  

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Finally, one day one of my favorite teachers wrote a writing prompt on the blackboard (back when they still existed) and told us to finish the sentence, then complete a paragraph.  

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"I jumped into my time machine and suddenly..."

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That day I not only learned what an "ellipses" was, but wrote five pages instead of a single paragraph.  I was upset when I had to turn the assignment in because I wasn't finished with the story yet. My teacher, Mr. Lee, the loving man that he was, calmed me a bit.  He told me that he'd give it back to me after grading it, so I could write as much as I wanted.  

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When he returned it to me, he hadn't corrected anything but spelling errors, and a time or two where he thought a paragraph should start anew.  Then, in bright red ink in the margins, he wrote a note to me.  

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"When you're done writing your story, please turn

it in to me again. I want to see what happens." 

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There was no way he could ever know, but he solidified the writing bug in me that day and I knew I wouldn't ever stop putting thoughts into words, and adventures into paragraphs. If my beloved teacher wanted to know what happened next, I couldn't wait to show him. 

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I've never looked back.  

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Most of my writing was kept secret for a very long time, but it's always been at the backbone of who I am.  Now, I'm just a little more public about it. 

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