I visited a classroom to talk about creative writing...

 I recently got in touch with a colleague I worked with briefly when I first started teaching, and she graciously allowed me to come visit her two junior high creative writing classes. Earlier this week, I took the day off to visit those classes and talk with them about writing creatively across genres. 

I have a lot to share about this experience, and I'm excited to share the information I put together for those classes, but for today's post, I want to share with you some inspiration that spurred from this interaction with these young writers, which I was able to share with my writing group this week. 

As I talked with these students, I really wanted them to be thinking about why they write, as well as what they want to come of their writing, because it's never too early to start working toward that vision. As with any good discussion, this one got me thinking about my own process. I realized that asking yourself some questions about why​ you're working on something and what you want to do with it can be incredibly helpful in keeping yourself motivated (and help with writer's block).

So, here are the questions that came from my discussion with those awesome creative writing students: 

WHO AM I WRITING FOR?
My first answer to this question has always been that I write for myself, because I have such a passion for the stories I have to tell that whether or not I should write has never been a question for me. I write to express myself, to get my stories and ideas out in some physical form.

Over the last couple of years, that has started to shift. Now, while I do still write for myself, I also write for my son. With my children's books, I write and illustrate with him in mind, as all of the stories I have to tell in that form come from my experiences with him (most often an oral bedtime story before they ever reach the page). But it's more than that. Even for my novels and my poetry, I write with my kiddo in mind. I want to have something out in the world that he can be proud of, something that he can look at someday and say, "My mom did this. If she can do this, then I can, too." 

Another change that has come up in the last year is that I now write for my readers. Of course, as a writer, I've always had readers in mind while writing, but for the first several years, I didn't have many readers, and none that I ever had the pleasure of hearing from. Since I released Bound back in September and I started hosting book signing events, I've had the chance to meet and hear from many readers, both in person and online. 

Now, I write with those readers in mind, excited to share my stories with them. 

WHY AM I WRITING?
I write because I love to write. Writing allows me to express myself and create the stories I have to share with the world. I write because doing so makes me feel whole, gives me purpose and direction. Publishing my work makes me feel like I'm contributing to the world, leaving behind a legacy. And maybe one day, a reader like me will find my work and draw meaning and satisfaction from the thing I've created.

WHAT IS MY VISION? WHAT DO I SEE FOR MY WRITING DOWN THE ROAD?
My vision for my main project right now is to have a finished, polished trilogy for Bound. I would love to have this trilogy affect someone's life in the way that many writers' work has affected my life. I would love to have my books affect readers in a positive way, have an impact on someone's life. ​

My vision for my writing overall is to continue writing and putting books into the world. By the end of this year, I hope to have published my tenth book, and I want to continue adding to that collection. 

I hope to continue with the momentum I've gained over the last year, hosting more events and connecting with more wonderful readers and writers. Eventually, I would love for my writing to be my main focus for work. 

Thank you all for reading, and have a wonderful weekend!