Five years ago, in the Fall of 2005, I signed up for a Creative Writing course, my first "formal" writing course ever (after school).
I've written since I was little. I would spend hours until late at night writing short stories based on the real idols I had at the time. Music and movie stars, world travels, supernatural beings and even beings from other planets were my characters and became part of my little fantastic world. I enjoyed reading the stories over and over and in an effort to be consistent and fact-based (as much of a fantasy as it was), I researched my locations, history, personal data and even sometimes, logic of the situations I was proposing in my stories. My harshest critic? Myself.
Though I did share those stories at the time. First with my sister, who I read them to and -as nonexistent as our relationship is now- I have to say that she listened and she seemed to enjoy my stories. Then I shared with a friend that borrowed my stories and provided always enthusiastic commentary on them. She didn't judge, she didn't criticize, she just enjoyed them and for that, I was also grateful.
But all in all I've never written with the intent to share with anyone or with the desire to be published. What I've continued to write -I've been told by some kind souls- might be worth more than I think, but I'm just not ready to be criticized or edited or mocked. I like it and that's what really matters to me. Writing is my only selfish pleasure, my passion, the one thing I'd do (along with painting) if I won the lottery and didn't have to work (and I will add that I'm lucky that sometimes I have had the chance to write as part of my work and the critics have been kind to me).
So for the first time and in signing up for the same Creative Writing course that just started last week, I'm deciding to share my "writings". I won't label them as poems, or sonets; maybe stories eventually... but it's just my writings for now. If you think they're corny, cheesy, senseless or pointless, don't bother telling me. In a rare display of possible rudeness I will say that I don't care.
But if you like them, do let me know. It'll make me smile and maybe write some more.
