It was Stephen King who convinced me of the importance of reading. It wasn't to gain knowledge, or to get smarter, or to attain a deeper sense of culture. It was to become a better writer. I never looked at it that way before. So now I read as a writer...and it's changed everything.
In high school I wrote for the school paper. Humorous top ten lists and sports features. Nothing serious. Not until college did I dare to take risks as a writer. Then I actually began to look at myself as a writer. There was still one problem, though. I wanted to be a writer, but I hadn't actually written anything.
It's much easier to want to be something than to actually be something. I suffered from this affliction for years. In the winter of 2003, I changed my mind. I sat down and wrote. I entered two writing contests and won them both. I finally started to believe. I was, am, and always will be a writer.
I thought writing would bring me riches and fame. Not yet. Since my early success, I've dealt with my share of rejection. It's only made me stronger, better, more determined.
Now I teach writing. I encourage young people to take risks as writers and dare to be great. Don't get me wrong. I still write. But I'm patient. As Rilke said,
- There is here no measuring with time, no year matters, and ten years are nothing. Being an artist means, not reckoning and counting, but ripening like the tree which does not force its sap and stands confident in the storms of Spring without the fear that after them may come no Summer. It does come. I learn it daily, learn it with pain to which I am grateful.
Talk about killing two birds with one click of the mouse.
