Article of the Month

Write Now

Since I can remember, I have had the same career goal: to be a world-renowned writer. My dream is to be a published writer and to tour the world (or at least the nation) promoting my work and getting my ideas across. I want to leave my mark on this world through creative expression.

I have been writing short stories since the second grade, poems since the fifth grade, and have been dabbling in playwriting since the eighth grade. Now, eight months from graduation, I believe that I am closer to achieving my dream than I have ever been. In the past four years, I have won a poetry writing competition, and a short story competition. I have attended writing camps and seminars by some of the prairies' best writers. I have had two of my plays performed in front of the student body at my school, with great success. I have written for an internationally distributed magazine, my local paper, an e-zine, and my school's yearbook; and I don' t plan on stopping anytime soon.

Being so involved in the literary community at such a young age has prepared me for the future by showing me what is expected of a writer. I have learned many practical lessons from my experiences; everything from what to expect in publishing contracts to how to examine your target audience to trends in today's market. More importantly though, I have made many valuable connections and have had the opportunity to meet many different people, each with a different view on writing and publishing. It has been amazing to get feedback from so many sources, and I have really enjoyed all of my experiences.

This just goes to show that age should not stop anyone from reaching for his or her dreams; it is never too early to start working at your goals. Young or old, everyone can become involved in his or her community and field of interest, all that you need is a little confidence, perseverance, and a positive attitude. It does not matter where you live either; I live in a small town and have had little difficulty finding people who are willing to encourage and assist me. If you have a dream, you owe it to yourself to go for it and not let anything stand in your way.