YOB: #17. Try To Get Something Published: Why I Write

By Beth

I’ve been a “writer” most of my life. I’ve written short stories, poems, essays, research papers (but only for college) and have toyed with writing a full-length book for some time now. My earliest attempts at writing are all very similar. Girl is hurt/a servant/the outcast/the new girl; meets boy who is WAY out of her league (even though I didn’t know what “out of your league” meant back then); boy rescues girl and falls in love with girl; boy and girl live happily ever after. That was elementary school. In middle school I wrote mostly about boys I liked with the occasional poem thrown in. Interestingly enough, all the characters in my stories had names that started with the letter J. All of them, no exceptions. I don’t know why I did that, probably some deep psychological problem that will come out when I least expect it.

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YOB: #17. Try To Get Something Published

By Lara

The Obvious Item

I am a writer. It's my job. I write technical manuals for the United States Army. However, I also like to write for fun. I would love to write books for children at some point (and get them published). I have a couple of drafts in the works. You know how it goes.

When I was in the eighth grade, I was co-editor of the Wissahickon Middle School 1992-93 yearbook. I wrote articles for my high school newspaper as well as the prestigious Harford Owl. I had a couple of poems published in the Harford County Community College Literary Magazine. I think it was called "The Feather and Talon." The magazine... not the poem. I have a blog. It's mostly friends-locked these days. You know. Things get complicated.

Other than that, I have never officially had one of my stories published. I think this was the root of "Try to Get Something Published" item on the Year of the Birthday list.

So... When my friend Ginny asked me to contribute to her website content, I thought it might be a good opportunity for Beth and I to work on a publication project together. BOOM. That's what you're reading right now. Thanks for being a part of this...