Monday, October 29, 2012

Welcome Guest Author - Clara Bowman-Jahn


 
Hi Storee,

So glad I could stop in and visit with you. You are an inspiration to me. I love your book and writing prompts. I understand that you would like a story about how I started writing. I have written since the eighth grade. My mother copied quotes from books she read and I started doing that, too, when I started reading books that impressed me.

Once upon a time in school I read books that impressed me and I started copying quotes from them about what I thought was earth shattering. Insights the characters had that were insights to me. Then one day I started writing my own feelings. I had been angry with my older brother and had no one to talk to about it. I started journaling about that and have never stopped. My journals are in a room I call my office. They are spiral notebooks full of emotion and ideas. They fill one and half filing cabinets. I have them organized according to year.  

The time I started writing was when I changed from just journaling to a character named Annie in a children’s book about four years ago. I was sick and wanted to record the birds outside my window. It was just coincidence that made me write it into a character instead of just journaling. During the time I was recording the “times or o’clocks" that the bird came out, I realized I wanted this to be a children’s book and after I had written it I began asking my kindergarten teacher sister questions about it. She really is the one who made it a reality. She encouraged me and re read it a hundred times giving me help with revisions. Without her support and encouragement and her saying I could write a children’s book I would not have continued.  

 Around this same time I had wanted to make my journals a public writing like a memoir but didn’t know that was what it was called. My writing education began then. I began to be interested in writing something more than just journaling. It was a sudden and unexpected turn of events. I had been a knitter until then. I knitted sweaters for everyone in the family and now I write. I still journal. But with a twist. I journal for someone else besides my self. I’ve included the reader.


Writing Prompt:  Write down your feelings the next time you are angry or especially happy. See what happens.  
 

5 comments:

  1. Hi Storee, so glad you had Clar over to share her story.
    As you know Clar, I've got your book and I loved it. It makes it even more special to hear about when you began to write. :)
    Tracy

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  2. I'm always amazed at how our childhood is connected with our motivation to write. And sometimes, it's a difficult situation that jump starts it. Thanks for sharing your story, Clara!

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  3. I'm amazed at how our childhood directly affects our motivation to write. Thanks for giving us insight into your story, Clara!

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  4. It is always good to hear about another writer's journey to publication and where the ideas come from. Congratulations Clara for beinga guest author here.

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  5. Thanks for having me over on your blog, Storee. I just loved my visit. :)

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