When did I start writing, and why do I write? - Part 1
JULY 15H, 2026
As a child, I read constantly and writing my own stories came naturally from that. I was always writing in notebooks. My favourite book series was The Silver Brumby by Australian author Elyne Mitchell, told from the viewpoint of wild horses in the Snowy Mountains.
When I was a teenager, I read a lot of classics, like Jane Eyre, Wuthering Heights, and Little Women, and liked everything from the Diary of Adrian Mole series to the romance, historical sagas, and crime fiction my parents read. My love for dystopian, fantasy or horror fiction didn’t come until much later.
My writing journey is something I’m not sure I would have embarked on if I’d consulted my crystal ball and seen how long and torturous it could be. But the joy of sharing a good book or getting lost in a fantasy world makes me want to keep going.
What book or movie changed my life?
My favourite film as a teenager was Dirty Dancing. Not sure if that changed my life, but I knew all the dialogue, and I don’t want to admit how many times I watched it! Jennifer Grey and Patrick Swayze together were a match made in teen heaven. When I watched Schindler’s List in the cinema in Belfast when it came out, and afterwards, the sombre expressions on everyone’s faces made me see the power of art. That was a pivotal moment for me.
Was writing seen as a phase?
I always dreamed of being a journalist, joined the university newspaper, and wrote only a few articles before chickening out because of a lack of confidence. Back then, it didn’t seem like something girls from my background could do. Instead, after graduation, I worked in accounting, as it was a much simpler way to earn money. I never forgot my first love, though, even if I cheated on words for years with numbers!
What have I learned on the writing journey?
To stop worrying about the outcome and enjoy the journey. And to develop a thick skin.
It can be hard when you think this edit is the one, only to realise there are so many things that need fixing. Writing is rewriting, and rewriting, and rewriting… Like I said, torturous! If only my crystal ball hadn’t run out of batteries…
What’s the best bit of the writing journey?
The feedback and camaraderie from writing groups and mentors have been invaluable and enjoyable. It’s also been a privilege to read others’ work and watch them develop their fiction.
What do you wish you had known years ago?
My new mantra is to avoid overthinking and write faster. Writing sprints, in which I time myself to see how many words I can write as quickly as possible, work. Books such as Chris Fox’s 5,000 Words Per Hour: Write Faster, Write Smarter have helped me become more productive.
- Chris
Fiction Rebellion Heroine