Cosmic Night Owl

Why I Write

When I was six years old, I wanted to be a vet. I absolutely loved animals, and I often buried my nose in zoology magazines in order to learn more about them. I was saddened and disturbed at the notion of people hurting and abandoning them. So when I was a child I vowed to love each and every one of them, and I wanted to help them any way possible. But during a trip to a Colorado zoo in 2008, I realized that I had a little setback: I was terrified of animals, notably the larger ones like elephants, giraffes, ostriches, etc. Although that fear has dissipated over time, I still clearly remember what my mom’s friend had said to me at the time: “How are you going to be a vet when you can’t even get close to an animal?” At that moment I knew being a vet wasn’t in the cards for me. I had to look for a different goal for the future, but thankfully I didn’t have to look very far.

Writing has always been a significant part of my life. I’ve never been much of a talker, and there are moments when I feel that I’m crippled by my own shyness. Through writing I can say what I always wanted to say but was too scared to do so. Writing provides a second voice, one that is more articulate, outgoing, and honest. Unlike most people I know who absolutely detest it, I find the art of writing freeing. It allows me easily step out of my comfort zone and express my true self.

One of the most important aspects of writing is actually the process of storytelling. Telling a good, engaging story can entertain and persuade the readers. I try not to talk about myself too much whenever I converse with others, and therefore I love to present characters that are manifestations of my feelings or concerns. The key to writing, in my humble opinion, is vulnerability. The writing process doesn’t only include plot, heroes, villains, rewrites, setting, and so on. Whenever you create a scenario or you create a certain character, you are conveying a part of yourself. You are putting so many things on paper: your thoughts, your experiences, your loves, your insecurities, pieces of your past and your perception of the future. You are putting yourself on the spot, on center stage for everyone to see.

Now my genre of interest is fantasy, and I’ve been experimenting with classic archetypes of fantasy and mythology throughout my life. The first story I ever wrote was about a grouchy peasant named Jack whose girlfriend was abducted by a man-eating giant. I spent the summer before third grade writing a book on my grandpa’s computer (and drawing out and coloring the books cover). In the eighth grade, my English teacher assigned us to write a Halloween-themed short story. I remember my friends having pushed through their distaste of writing and coming up with only a page and half of story. They were puzzled when I returned to class with an eight page story. I don’t mean to brag, but I’ve realized that I have a problem with writing shorter stories.

After coming off of a two-year hiatus (the most excruciating case of writers block that I pray no one has to go through) I’ve discovered that my love for writing has grown. Call me a weirdo all you want, but writing is a true art form that I get excited about. Sometimes I get lost within my own imagination, and putting my heart and soul onto paper is such an emotional relief. My dream is to tell unique and interesting stories, to convey strong emotions and create new worlds where readers readers can escape to. It’s a dream that I’m determined to achieve.