Once Upon A Time...

Like any story, good or bad, there is always a beginning. Like a story, my journey to become a writer has a beginning. We can call it page one, the first page to the first chapter to a book that would soon explode with twists and turns and at times the unthinkable... but that's the best type of story. As exciting as my journey has become (I say that with slight sarcasm, you may not finding as interesting as I find it), let's start with the beginning, shall we? Explain how the first word was written down in my life's journal.

It's sort of crazy how I remember the moment I found out this was what I loved so clearly. All the other students around me didn't even exist. I was having fun deciding what words to use and where to place them. My mind was going a thousand miles an hour, actually excited about working, it was insane. My eyes were glued on what I was typing and nothing else mattered. I was in some sort of zone that I had never felt before, but loved the rush I was getting. All these feelings and get this- I was in third grade writing up a paper on Thomas Edison.

Ironically enough, I didn't even want to write this paper. We had to choose an important figure in history to write about, and of course all the girls instantly wanted to write about Amelia Earhart and other female figures. The thing is, no two students could write about the same historic figure. Before I knew it all the girl figures were taken and all the other ones that sounded interesting were gone as well. There I was, stuck with boring Thomas Edison, inventor of the light bulb. Big woop.

After I started working though and got to the writing part, it somehow became fun. I realized I had control. I had control over what was said and how I would say it. All this information I read about Thomas Edison I could now take it, reword it to make it my own, make it interesting, show my opinion, add my take on what I read and write it how I viewed. For some reason that gave me so much joy. Then, when I was done, it was about 3 pages where all the other kids wrote about 1. I got an A+ on that paper, and I'll never forget the feeling I got from accomplishing something like that.

That was the very tiny push that started the snowball effect. I completely lucked out on my next two teachers for 4th and 5th grade. They both promoted creative writing and pushed me to the next level each assignment we were given. Through those two years I began to write short stories and poetry and before I knew it all this writing not only became a huge part of my life, but, in a way, it was saving my life too.

It all starts with a beginning.

The Light Leading The Way

Hey, what's good, I am Jamie Mayer and I am practically 17 years old (just 24 days away!). At the moment I am being educated at Westmont High School, where I am a proud "AP Langsta"; working hard on improving my writing skills and broadening my mind's horizons (while becoming super paranoid about society in the process). To put an imagine in your head: I'm short, red hair (hair dye is magical), have small feet, somehow tanned skin, and hazel eyes that have a dash of green that shines on good days.

As most teenagers I struggle with finding out who I am most every day, but one thing has been clear to me for the longest time. That one thing has shinned through the darkness in life and has kept me on track, and that one thing is writing. Whether it be poetry, writing short fictional stories, working on my book (when that's done I'll let you know), jotting down my thoughts of the day, or even essays for school. There's something freeing, you could even say liberating, about having control over the words put down on paper or type up. You have full control of what's said and exactly how you want it to be said. It gives you a chance to let go. Simple.

Some things you are taught. Some things you pick up along the way. And some things you're born with. I like to think I'm a mixture of all three. Where this passion will take me, I'm honestly not sure, but I'm hoping this blog will help get me one step closer to figuring it all out.