I guess I should have realized writing was for me a while ago. At first I thought it was acting but looking back (ahh hindsight..) nope definitely writing. I’ve always had a really over the top imagination. Not that many people realized (till now! *mwahahaha*). It began with an imaginary friend – as they do. My friend was called Tina and she was a dog and I carried her everywhere. My nana still recalls the time she sat down on the couch and I burst into tears, sobbing that she’d sat on Tina (Dad rescued Tina and puffed her back into shape *grin*). This is very likely due to the fact that my nana bred fox terriers when I was young (and yes that’s me as a littley surrounded by them) and I was obsessed with them. My first ‘stories’ were about the puppies (and by stories I mean one line that the teacher forced out of me) accompanied with adorable hand drawn pictures *grin*
The next ‘inspiring’ moment for me was when I discovered the library at school. I’ve never been the popular girl and as a 5yr old would often go hide out in the library at lunchtimes. It was cosy and dark with piles of cushions. I actually couldn’t read very well at all (something my parents didn’t discover till I was 7 at which point they quickly rectified it) so I used to drag out all the books with pictures that interested me. Not the Clifford books like you might expect (though I did love him) no I stumbled across the non fiction section that included Dinosaurs and Mythical Creatures. It was in the darkest corner in the library where I felt ‘safest’. I’d drag out book after book staring fascinated at these phenomenal looking creatures. When I was finally able to read them it was so exciting (and also explains how I went from not reading at 7 to reading at a 15yr olds level by 11 *grin*).
From them on Dinosaurs would remain a solid favourite in my life and my imagination exploded. From believing Moreporks (NZ’s Owl) were Toucans with sharp teeth to discovering a balaclava in Dad’s drawers and thinking it must mean he was a robber (while in actuality it was used when tramping through snow covered mountains ; p). Then there was the times I would daydream away assembly’s, religion class etc by imagining hugely exciting adventures in which I was the heroine *grin* oh yes, visions of grandeur indeed! So really it seems kind of silly that I waited this long to coax all this insane creative energy into ideas on paper.
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What ‘crazy’ ideas did you have as a kid? We all have numerous ones (oooh I could go on *grin*) so what was a favourite of yours?
And don’t forget to tell people about my 500 followers contest – phhuuullleeaasssseee this secret is killing me!
Hi NIcole!
Stopping in after I saw you left a comment under my 100th Follower Feature. Thanks for your visit, comment, and for following! Cute post here as it gives me hope that one day my son will eventually read fluently and love reading since you said as a young girl it took you some time to read well 🙂 Love the cute pic of you with the puppies!
As a child, I used to imagine I was Anne in the book series 'Anne of Green Gables'. I loved these books and imagined living in such a pleasant little town. I am your newest follower now!
BTW, what is your 500 followers contest? Just curious 🙂
Have a blessed day!
Tracy at "A Slice of Smith Life"
http://www.asliceofsmithlife.blogspot.com
I was a bit like you. I loved libraries. Still do. I could always read. I don't remember not being able to. Maybe I came out reading? 🙂
Great to find your blog. Keep on writing 🙂
In 3rd and 4th grade I would go to the school library several times a day. Everytime I finished a worksheet or assignment, I'd get permission to go. I'd help the librarian reshelve books (I remember the Dewey Decimal system screwing with my head) or help Kindergartners sign their books out. ahhhh…that was magical!
You were sooooo cute in that picture!
Hi Nicole.
I discovered your blog through a comment you left on the Pub Rants blog, so I checked you out. I read this entry and it made me smile because it reminded me of well, me.
I was a highly imaginative child as well. My favorite games to play with my brother were superheroes. We also loved coming up with highly complex storylines for our stuffed animals and my plastic collectible horses. We spent hours working out all the details and playing the stories out. Looking back, I too wonder how I didn't see I was meant to write from an early age. Especially when my parents started taking away my library privileges if I got in trouble, as apposed to my tv privileges.
It's nice to see I was not alone in missing my calling at first. I thought I would do something with animals, or religion, or even teaching before I realized that writing was my real passion.
Lovely blog post, and I'll certainly be reading more in the future. I'm so happy I stumbled across you.
I'm glad I'm not the only one whose dad owned a a balaclava (also for tromping in the snow–snowshoeing especially).
Oh Nicole, what a sweetheart you are for posting my Avon link.So grateful.
I wrote my first poem when I was six and then I recited it during a school function in front of a few hundred people. I still remember the excitement I felt about sharing something I had written. I love to write, to read, to fill my sponge like brain with anything creative. This was a lovely blog post thank you for sharing ( cute photos too). Biggest Hugs, Katherine
P.S> posted your button on my favorites page!
Hi Tracey 🙂 Welcome to my blog *grin* and I'm sure your son will learn to read – it's just finding the 'right' key. And hey encourage him to look at all the pictures in the non-fiction stuff. It may help inspire him *grin* And I'll do another post today about my contest 🙂
Hi Tab – I was so envious of Matilda when I read that book ;p okay not the crappy parents but reading from two!?! Wow! And welcome to my blog 🙂
Hi Vicki – I was sooo chuffed to finally be a librarian at College – you weren't allowed till you were in 6th/7th form but man did that feel good ;p
Hi Maria – *hee* wasn't I? I used to giggle at the photos of me from then. I thought my haircut looked like one of those lego dolls 'wigs' and you could just 'pop' it off ;p
Hi Kathy – Welcome to my blog, I'm so glad you checked me out *grin* And yep punishing me in that way was my parents method too. Specially when I began obsessing over The Babysitters Club ;p
Hi Rowena – so did you suspect him of looting too? *lol*
Hi Kate – No problem it was my pleasure – cute button too. And welcome to my blog! Oh and thanks for posting my button, I think you might be the first *grin* I used to buy Avon frequently but our Avon lady moved away 🙁 and I don't like the new one ;p
And welcome to my other new followers – I saw a few new avatars there 🙂
I read all the dinosaur and mythology books I could get my hands on as a kid. I'm pretty sure I was partial to the darkest corners of the library too.
Hi Nicole. Thanks for visiting my blog; I am very happy to have found yours. NZ is my favourite country in the world and anyone from there has got to be cool!
It was interesting to see how you were as a child, Nicole, through this piece.
My imagination would make people with stories out of shadows. I would pretend that my toys were life-size creatures in my mind. I made the adventures in books have me as the main character. I had a crazy imagination as a kid that's probably carried onto my writing, which I think you can say the same about yourself.
So, keep that imagination safe and write on!
Hi!! I had an imaginary friend (who happened to be a reflection) as a child. Her name was heavenly sunshine. I talked to her all.the.time. Anyway, I'm DYING to hear about your 500 followers contest… I'm signing up to follow you right now, too.
I loved the library, too. It definitely was a sort of safe haven. 🙂
Lovely post, a child's imagination is so pure and raw. Carla