how this site started…
The Story of My Writing Career
On February 25, 2012, after years and years of determined contemplation blended with hesitation, I worked up the courage to attend a university recruitment session, hoping to finally apply to a graduate program in Creative Writing / Publishing. The recruiter, who coincidentally also pursued this then-unorthodox subject when he was in university, was instantly impressed by my pronouncement.
However, as I elaborated that it was a fear of rejection that kept me from applying to my first choice of universities and a lack of discipline that impeded the completion of two novels that I had been working on for over a decade, I could see the light of enthusiasm that I had initially sparked in his eyes dwindling until it was completely replaced by disappointment and condescension. I was overwhelmed by the realization that my utter lack of initiative and sheer propensity to procrastinate could draw such a disheartened sigh as “I don’t know what else to tell you” from a perfect stranger (who happened to be a professional salesperson of international proportion no less). It struck me that I had a problem, indeed.
It seemed justified that I should take the advice of such a stranger who managed to put a prideful person such as myself to shame (while the shame burned new and strong) and turn to the Internet, which he claimed has broadened the horizon of publishing to unprecedented possibilities, and do what I never expected to do – start my own blog. So Readers (and I hope to claim the attention of a respectable number of you), to teach myself discipline – and perhaps claim my dreams as my destiny – I, who have never completed a single diary or journal, write…
The Romantic Quill 
#1 by Beverly on September 11, 2012 - 8:48 am
Best wishes for your new endeavor.
#2 by lupa08 on September 12, 2012 - 10:01 am
Thank you. Every vote counts. I’m trying to be as consistent as I can with my work schedule and am almost near the end of completing my first full novel, “I’ll Be True” as can be seen posted on this site. I guess the title is self-reflective.
#3 by awritershelper on January 25, 2017 - 9:57 am
I got a kick out of reading this, beginning with the chosen cartoon. Please yes do write!
#4 by lupa08 on January 25, 2017 - 1:04 pm
Yeah? Thanks! I was wondering if I should make changes to that, like make it brief. But maybe not, ’cause I really didn’t want to
#5 by awritershelper on January 25, 2017 - 1:07 pm
I like it how it is. 🙂
#6 by Louise Foerster on June 22, 2017 - 7:55 pm
As a woman of a certain age and decades of corporate experience, I want to smack that man upside the head. How dare he look down, judge in any way! Every one of us comes to writing from our own individual history and experience — none is better, more worthy, more right than any other. The more that I think about it, the more it burns me up.
#7 by lupa08 on June 23, 2017 - 2:48 am
Thank you so much for coming to my defense. Yes, perhaps he should have acted with a little more tact. Not everyone might take his well-meaning but ill-expressed counsel to such a positive end. A less stubborn individual than myself may have been permanently disheartened from writing. But, BUT, I think I will thank him nevertheless, though I no longer even remember his face properly. Because I didn’t know about self-publishing back then or that blogging could be a way of publishing stories too. He actually did manage to point me in a direction that works well for many and, who knows, might for me as well. I mean, if it weren’t for him, I might not be here typing these words right now. All’s well that ends well 😄
#8 by RedheadedBooklover on September 3, 2017 - 8:20 am
Hi there,
I am messaging you today because I am interested in reviewing your book on my blog RedheadedBooklover. My blog has amassed a large and loyal following in a short amount of time and I am always on the lookout for great books I can feature on my blog for my readers. That is why I was so thrilled when I came across your work, you look like a really talented writer and your work looks incredible. I would really love if I was able to review your book for you on my blog. My blog address is: https://redheadedbookloverblog.wordpress.com/ , please feel free to have a look and see whether you would want your book to be featured there! Your work is wonderful and I am excited for us to potentially work together. If you could email me at: redheadedbookloverblog@gmail.com that would be great, we can discuss me reviewing your book in more detail and I can also send you my statistics which I think you would be pleased with! I look forward to hearing back from you.
All best,
Aimee Ann
P.S. I wanted to assure you that this is not an automated message or a message that has been copied and pasted. I am genuinely interested in your work and look forward to your reply. Thanks again!
#9 by lupa08 on September 8, 2017 - 9:20 pm
Thank you so much for your kind interest and words. I’m glad you have enjoyed my writing so far – that is the ultimate life goal here 😀
Sorry to have replied you this late. If you get a chance to read my today’s blog post, you’ll find that I was basically outside the blogosphere the last one month or so. Regarding the book review possibilities, it sounds like a great opportunity so far and will connect with you over email. See you there 😉