Encyclopedia

Early life: I was first introduce to the world of writing as a kid. Like many other children, I had many stories read to me by both my grandparents and my mum. Except while my grandparents were reading kid friendly stories like the wonders of Dr Seuss picture books, my mum read entire Harry Potter novels. 

Late childhood: it might come as somewhat of a surprise that despite my early life, I hated reading. I have two older brothers who were excellent readers and I didn’t like to be compared with them. It wasn’t until my mum (once again) proposed a deal with me: for as long as I was reading, I could stay up as late as I liked. Now this was intriguing. In that moment, as my mum offered the deal, I knew I could use it to get up on my older brothers. Stay up later than even they were allowed. Fortunately, I failed to realise she was tricking me into reading. In the end, I only got to stay up late for one night because I was up until 3 AM in the morning. Mum was as unimpressed as she was impressed. She took the deal away to ensure I was getting appropriate sleep, but she knew the reading would stay. I was hooked.

Teen: I am introduced to the crime show Castle which is an instant hit in my house. I watch the main character live a life that’s full of whimsy and genuine connection. Which I can say is definitely true of most fantasy writers I’ve met, which is surprising because all other ways in which a writer is presented in that show seems to be false. Either way, I was hooked. Unfortunately, puberty hit me pretty hard after deciding writing was important to me. So, most of what I write during this time is erotic short fiction. I  couldn’t handle longform content but it taught me some useful skills.

Early adulthood: this is when I wrote two entire books. One came from the concept of daydreaming. I’ve always struggled with concentration, and would often daydream my way through school. I wanted to express this feeling through a fantastical world. This was my first failed book. The second book came from the idea that the first girl I ever loved could read me like a book. Not that it’s very difficult. I tend to wear my emotions on my sleeve. But that doesn’t make the idea of a girl who can read people based on the colours expressed in their aura any less intriguing to me. Another failed book and about a year and a half of my life spent trying instead of achieving. Which I was only able to do because I shifted between fulltime work and fulltime writing. And living at home. I was basically living pay check to pay check but in strange on and off scenario I created. Looking back, I wish I’d tried FIFO work. Would have made the process easier for me. But hindsight is always 20/20, right? If you’re in a similar situation to what I was, this is what I’d recommend, but I can no longer take that recommendation myself.

Still early adulthood (but in a slightly more hopeful tone): now I’m studying fulltime to get my degree in Psychology, working as an administrative assistant at an accounting firm and quite tied up in personal obligations too. Not that I’m complaining. My life is what some people might wish for, but it leaves little time for writing. So, while my main goal is still to write fantasy novels, much like the ones my mum would read to me when I was younger, for now I focus on short stories. They give me room to write, and help me hone my craft. Like I’ve said a few too many time on this website already, I’m on a journey to a million words, and this is the medium I’m using to share it.

So, that’s pretty much my story. So far, at least.