How a Journey Begins

When I was in the third grade, I made a very big decision for myself. For my life.

And that decision was that I wanted to become a published author someday.

Now, as many people may know, writing is a rather difficult field to get into, and even if a person does get in – get published, I mean – it often doesn’t pay well. Therefore, when most people think of having a writing career, their minds instantly turn to the “starving artist” image: a person writing adamantly in his tiny Manhattan apartment (the total area would be close to the size of a closet, of course – don’t forget that) on an old typewriter, whiskey on the table beside him, cigarette in one shaking hand.

And maybe this image is true at times. Maybe, when a person decides to get into this field without a backup plan, he or she is ultimately destined for a burnout.

But whether or not this is true, writing is an art. And art is passion. And passion… passion cannot be dismissed. Passion needs to be built on; it needs to get out there, into the world… imagine a world without books! Without imagination! Without the multitudes of knowledge that can come out of a single piece of paper! Without writing – without writers – our world, I’m sorry to say, would be dull and ignorant.

And I know it’s difficult – to write every day, I mean – with the stress of a day job and/or school, etc. But in all honesty, the hardest part is getting started. It is the simplest thing, really, but at the same time the beginning of a novel seems to hold so much power over the remainder of the story.

However, in reality, a writer must realize that he or she can always change that beginning, that start. It is that person’s own story – a personal journey – and nothing can take that away from a writer.

So start your journey. Nothing but your own mind – your own inhibitions – is holding you back.