The First Faltering Footsteps of My Writing Journey – Part 1

JULY 15TH 2026

Writing.

Why do I write? Where do I start the story of my writing journey? Was there a definite beginning? A day I thought, "Right now is the time?” A moment when I put pen to paper, or opened my laptop and stared at a flashing cursor?

No.

Looking back, it was a gradual process. Reading was a massive part of my life growing up. Stories allowed my imagination to soar, and I loved wondering what happened to the characters after “The End”. I’d create further adventures, insert myself into the narratives. But life has a way of twisting in ways you never see coming.

Star Wars.

Yep! I can honestly say this movie changed my life, as Twilight, Hunger Games and Harry Potter have changed others. I left the cinema wanting to fly an X-wing. Be a Jedi. Sit in the cockpit of the Millennium Falcon. I was fascinated! How did they make the spaceships look like they could fly? Fire lasers? Explode in space? … My Dad said they used models, and that was it.

I needed to know – HOW?

I found out everything about Special Effects Filmmaking during a time when there was no internet or social media. We had to search for every scrap of information – newspapers – magazines – TV shows. I subscribed to “Starburst” and “Cinefex”. Bought the weekly Star Wars Comic. Devoured the behind–the–scenes articles, interviews with the actors and SFX crew. It became an obsession. A passion. I read movie tie-in and ‘The Making of …’ books. Sci-fi, horror, and fantasy novels.

My family thought it was a “phase” I was going through.

I went to art college at sixteen, and then straight onto a degree course in Animation – it was the only three-year full-time animation course in the UK at that time, and only twelve places. I still loved reading, and met lots of other students who introduced me to new authors. But my focus was definitely getting a job on a movie. I didn’t care what job. I didn’t care what movie. I would have swept up and made coffee, if it meant a job – and a credit.   

The dream was Hollywood.

- Jane

Fiction Rebellion Heroine