How Writing.Com Changed My Life

I started writing poetry at the early age of thirteen. By the time I was sixteen, I was really serious about it. By nineteen I had written a short novel, and drafted a long one. By twenty-one the third novel I wrote was overviewed by a professor in good status, and I was busy becoming a writer.

But at the age of twenty-three, I fell sick with mental health problems and lost the will to write. It appeared as though all of my dreams were dashed to the ground. I just couldn't write. I dumped the novel that I had worked so hard on, with many many revisions. I swept through the seventies and eighties, listlessly with pages, trashing much of my stuff, a bit willy-nilly.

Nothing satisfied me that I put on paper. I attempted publication but was only successful in several poetry magazines. All of the poetry kept getting crumpled up and returned to the trash can. Then, in the nineties, I published two self-published books of poetry. I still wasn't happy. They had been published at my father's printing company. Good quality press and with reproductions of paintings in the second by a young man, John Gurbaks, from Florida. The thing was, it was father's establishment. It didn't count so much, to my mind. And when he died my cousins and brothers sold the business, so I thought then and there I would never publish again. Or at least, in a really respectable Publishing House.

Suddenly in 2002, I found Stories.com by chance. I had just purchased a computer and was interested in different sites. I came up with them logically, and it was as if by a vision and even a bit of desperate writing life that I punched in Stories. Well, it changed my life. As soon as I got online with our community, I was entralled with all its keen navigation. A million things were possible to do, with this site. I immediately itemized fifteen or so of my best items and I have been itemizing ever since. I was so excited when I became a Preferred Author after having been in the midst of SLAM poets who gave me a needed push. I took on becoming a Reviewer for three different Forums since then.

Then just the best thing happened to me. I took some of my best work and sent a manuscript to Publish America and they accepted it, and I was suddenly published! It was a thrilling moment. I have a seven year contract with them and now have the privilege of holding a Profile with Amazon.com. It would never have been possible without the help of those who reviewed me and Managing Reviewers and Contest Holders on Writing.com.

At this time, I am using a computer which I won from writing.com as a back-up. Does this indicate why I wrote the poem, "May Angels Watch" ?

My friend Princess Megan Rose 10 Years has never pressed me into anything but being myself. She is rewarding as a friend in Writing.com, and has taught me much. As well, I feel that Cappucine geared me into three great events of Slam Poetry, and it was wildly adventurous for poetry writing. I have been given over 5000 Reviews and have enjoyed reciprocating that. This is a great place to be. Yes! It changed my life.