Why I Write – Assignment (written December 2011 in Maui).
 
I write because I have stories to tell. Ever since I was a child my ability at make believe was intense. I created cities beneath the huge bed in the first floor bedroom. I made characters from my grandmother's perfume and special bottles on her nightstand. I wrote my first full-length novel when I was in fourth grade. Of course, it was the classic Mary Sue; the main character was I romping through the streets of Cleveland, Ohio, with my three best friends, Yvette, Maria and Linda, solving crime. And this was pre-Charlie's Angels and the only female crime fighter I knew I couldn’t even remember.
 
Of course, in my teen years, I became an avid reader of the usual suspects for a teenage girl in the seventies – at least in Cleveland Heights, Ohio. Lots of tragic romances or sweeping sagas such as Gone with the Wind, Heathcliff and Kathleen, and Jane Eyre, but also To Kill a Mockingbird and A Wrinkle in Time. And those are just a few of the main headlines. I had a pack with my stepfather that I 'made' a dollar for each book I finished reading. I made nearly a hundred bucks one summer so he changed the rules of the game going into the fall. But by then, I was hooked on books and didn't think so much about getting paid.
 

I just reentered the world of writing a few years ago – actually, it's been about five years since I moved from writing fan fiction (a long story I will explain later if you are interested) to original fiction. 
 
I remember that before I started writing original fiction I read an article that asked what do you believe in? Write that list and it will become the foundation for the stories you write. One of the items on that list was ghosts. And I do believe in ghosts. So my manuscripts now take on the paranormal. I also love cities and what goes bump in the night – that's how I ended up writing urban fantasy. And of course, I enjoy the anti-hero and heroine tremendously. So I take my characters on an emotional, obstacle-filled journey, on every page if I'm doing my job right.
 
My goal is to keep writing and to get published. In the past two years since I took Rebecca’s workshop in 2009, I've finaled in three major writing contests. Had my work reviewed by some of the top editors in the nation as a result. No book deals yet. But I'm getting close. 
 
I also still have a bunch of stories in my head, and I am learning to read more. A challenge with my business and my writing is that time to read takes away time from writing. But I'm working on my organization skills every day. Last class Rebecca recommended a book by Twyla Sharp (one of my dance idols from when I was a professional dancer and choreographer) – and her message was develop a habit into a routine and that's one way to stay focused on your goals.
 
So being here in Maui is another form of commitment to that goal which is being an author.
 
But when you have stories to tell – it's the only goal – and the best goal to have.