Writing and Publishing: Why Write?

Sometimes people ask me how come I like to write.

Growing up, I wasn’t a good reader. I rarely read at all. My reading assignments at school were scarce and the few books assigned didn’t call to me. We rarely (or perhaps never) read any fantasy. All realistic fiction, and very little of it.

It wasn’t until I was much older (coming out of high school) that I began to read. 

The first book that inspired me to read was Michael Crichton’s Jurassic Park. It was the first time I realized reading a book was like watching a longer, cooler movie (with better special effects, since they were all in my head). It was the first time I realized that writing a book didn’t have to be a philosophical, deep and emotional affair. No. I started to discover that I could write whatever I wanted. I could make my own movies!

So, 1993 was the year that I became a reader. 

It was 1994 that I became a writer. 

In 1994, a year after I discovered my love of books, I came across the wonderful Vampire Novels. 

Ever since I was a kid I loved vampire stories. I loved transformation stories into vampires, werewolves, animals, etc. I just loved them. And when I read Anne Rice’s Vampire Chronicles (starting with Interview with the Vampire), I knew I could bring any story about the things I liked to live.

So, I started doing what I think a lot of emerging writers do, I discovered fanfiction, read it and then wrote it. It’s a technique I’ve used before. For example, I read the X-Men comic books (starting in 1992, if I’m not mistaken; although I wouldn’t call it reading, I suppose), and I started copying the art. I remember buying poster board and making posters of my favorite X-Men. That’s how I got better at drawing, by copying. Later I would develop my own style – and even drew and wrote my own comic books!

So, back to writing.

Yes, I started with fanfiction, Vampire Chronicle fanfiction… which later turned into my own original stories.

Now, I know my writing has improved over the years. I think it will always need improvement, but at least I’m starting to get my work out there.

And how did you​ get into writing?