Origins

Before I start in on the next blogfest I want to say THANK YOU to all the Tumble 4 Ya participants!  I had way more fun than I should've reading about your 80s crushes and truly appreciate each post. I'll do a retro recap later this week, but for now...

Today is the Origins blogfest hosted by D.L. Hammons, Katie Mills, Alex J. Cavanaugh and Matthew MacNish in which we explain how it is we got started on this writing thing.  Just like we've all got different writing styles/genres/etc., I'm sure we're all going to have varied Origins stories, so this is going to be interesting.

I've always been enthralled by words, and looking back, I see they've played an important role in my personal history, whether writing up quarterly reports in my former life as an investment consultant or drafting a memo for school parents in yet another former life as president of the parent-teacher organization. But creative writing didn't grab me by the throat and refuse to let go until a month or so after I finished reading the final installment of the Harry Potter series.

Rowling made it clear she wasn't going to give us more, but I needed more.  I couldn't stand the pathetic way Snape's story had ended, and I had to give him something happy in his mortal life. I only meant to scratch out a few thousand words, a scene or two...but I had to know more, and...well, as writers you know how that goes---before I fully understood what was happening, the other stuff of my life got relegated to bite-sized pieces of time so I could sneak away to my notepad or computer every chance I got.

Soon it wasn't just the story itself that held me captive, but the writing. The words, the flow, the editing, the reworking, the everysinglethingaboutit. I ended up with a complete novel-length fiction, but more important than that was the realization along the way that this writing thing wasn't just one of my fickle obsessions.  I'd found my missing piece.  And after finishing that story, I just kept going.
 
Not quite as exciting as getting bit by a radioactive spider, but I'll take it.
To see what got other writers going, click on the big O. 


Comments

Oh yes, I have gotten caught in the throws of fan fiction and honestly I think that's how a lot of us get started to. For me it was the vampire diaries and the secret circle series by lj smith. I just couldn't let it go:)
I actually loved the way Snape's story ended... (I probably have issues...)
L. Diane Wolfe said…
One of these days I'm going to read Harry Potter.
M.J. Fifield said…
I don't know. That seems pretty exciting to me. I love it when a book grabs a reader by the throat and refuses to let go. That's the very best kind of writing.
Johanna Garth said…
I've heard so many other people say they were inspired to write by JK Rowling! It's amazing that she not only inspired readers, but writers as well!
Matthew MacNish said…
What an awesome origin story. I think Rowling and Harry Potter influenced a lot of writers.
Luanne G. Smith said…
I agree, Rowling inspired an entire generation of new writers, which is a great thing. If it opened up some creative trap door in someone's brain, it's all to the good.

And your '80's blogfest really was a rousing success!! I got my most pageviews in a day ever for that post. :)
Julie Flanders said…
Oh, I'm looking forward to reading your Harry Potter story now! I'm sure it's great. Loved your story, and thanks again for hosting the 80s fest, it was such a fun time. :)
Steven said…
We all have the writers who turned us on to writing. I suppose we will all be responsible for inspiring a new crop of writers as well. Very cool!
Allison said…
Ah, yes, Harry Potter is inspiration for us all! If writing grabs you like the throat like that, it's definitely what you are meant to be doing. I can't say I'm the fan of editing my own work that you are, though!

Allison (Geek Banter)
So your indignation at Snape's demise spurred your writing?
And had fun the with blogfest last Friday!
Jennifer Lane said…
I've actually never read Harry Potter. Did he get bitten by a radioactive spider? *giggles*
DL Hammons said…
I've read a lot of ORIGIN's today that involve fan fiction. I I can definitely see the attraction, and understand your motivation. Lucky for us JK bobbled that part of her story! :)
Christine Rains said…
Cool origins story. I didn't like the way Snape's story ended either. I did some Harry Potter fanfiction years ago. I think it's still out there on fanfiction.net too.
Anonymous said…
It's so awesome when a story / series does that... great origin story.
Rek Sesh said…
Snape gave up his life to uphold his promise...besides had been a Death Eater, needed to go, but with some dignity in my opinion.
Each of our stories are gems whatever genres or age groups we write for....not all us are literary geniuses...some are here to entertain and maybe even rankle. :)
Anonymous said…
I haven't read all her books, but Rowling is an inspiration.

I haven't tried fan fiction before, but have thought about it. Sometimes a story is so gripping that I want to change or add to the ending.
Bonnie Gwyn said…
Haha Fanfiction is a very popular way for people to get started. Glad it happened to be Potter that caught you!
nutschell said…
great to meet you through this blogfest. Love how you started out with Harry Potter. I'm a big fan of Rowling myself.

Your newest follower,

Nutschell
www.thewritingnut.com
J.L. Campbell said…
The bug bit you good and hard. It's really cool that you started out by trying to add to something that already existed. I'd guess there are many other people who've been inspired by Rowling.
What a fantastic way to get started! Rowling has had such a huge impact on readers... and writers.

Thanks for sharing. Enjoyed this.
Deniz Bevan said…
Ooh Snape! Glad you posted a link :-)
Scarlett said…
Nicki, if I could've kept up with Diana Gabaldon's brilliance, I would have put my own spin on some of the atrocities she wrote into her series, 'Outlander'! It would have been my first attempt at fan fiction.

But alas, I am no Gabaldon!

I can see why Snape's, somewhat pathetic, demise got you to pick up the pen!
Jeremy Bates said…
Nice story! fan fiction is great its awesome..

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